1951 Aston Martin DB2 'Washboard'

Chassis Number: LML/50/49

​

1 of 49 Examples Manufactured ​

​

Car Number 49

​

The Final DB2 'Washboard'

​

Original livery of Steel Dust over Beige trim. 

​

This DB2 was first registered on 2nd April 1951 and delivered to S.A. Allimetal of Brussels. The Belgian registration was: 305.336. Following on from the owner in Belgium, the car went into the ownership of Mr Henry Staal of Middlesex in June 1973. 

​

In January 1974, Mr Neil Murray bought the DB2 from Mr Staal. There is correspondence between Mr Murray and a company in Belgium, Remy Mannes, detailing Murray asking the company if they had any record of the car, as he planned on restoring the car to its original condition. He states in the letter that the car returned to England in 1961, and from 1963 until 1973 it was in a car breaker's yard, where it was very badly neglected. He then apologises that the letter is in English, he says his French is very bad! 

 

Unfortunately, Remy Mannes did not have any record of the car; the only thing they were able to confirm was that the car was sold on May 9th, 1951, to S.A. Allimetal, and the original engine was LB6B/50/328. Lastly, they were willing to send parts for the car at a special price. 

​

Mr Neil Murray was a trustee of the Aston Martin Heritage Trust. The trust was founded in 1998 by the Aston Martin Owners Club to protect the ever-increasing collection being amassed by its members, which included a 1934 Ulster, archival material, and memorabilia. When Walter Hayes passed away in 2000, Neil became acting chair of the AMHT before stepping down in October 2001. 

​

Neil kept the DB2 in his garage for the next 51 years, unfortunately he never got around to restoring it himself. Aston Martin aficionado and historian Stephen Archer, who was aware of the 'barn find' DB2, introduced Richards of England to the car for inspection in 2023. It was evident that the car was by far the definition of a 'barn find'; luckily, the chassis has been retained, along with the body panels and flecks of its original livery of Steel Dust. The original David Brown Lagonda Service Manual and DB2 Instruction Book are also both present with the car. 'Britain's Best Ace Number Plates', is also preserved with the DB2.  

​

History of the DB2 Washboard

​​

The earliest DB2 cars were equipped with a three-part grille and a substantial slated vent behind each front wheel, which gave rise to the 'Washboard' nickname. After the initial run of 49 cars, the design was simplified with the deletion of the side vent and the three-part grille was replaced with a single unit. 

​

The first DB2s were fully fledged competition cars. Frank Feeley designed three cars, not yet called DB2s, for Le Mans, and they were built from full-size drawings. Later redesigns for the DB2 gave rise to a new body, accompanied by upgraded brakes with exceptionally good reliability and handling. There is a 'Washboard' register online detailing all of the early DB2 'Washboards' with LML/50/49 present. The photograph is from 1972, and the car is pretty much in the same condition as it is today. 

​

Representing the DB2 in its original and pure form, right-hand drive Chassis No: LML/50/49 is an extremely rare car, being one of the most desirable Aston Martin cars built. Eligible to participate in the most prestigious international historic events, which is what the current owner is planning on achieving following the full restoration by Richards of England, to participate in the famous 1000 Miglia race in 2027. 

​

Richards of England is very excited to be taking on this unique and sympathetic restoration.​​