• Engine: An enlarged 2,922cc engine producing 140-165 bhp.
• Bodywork: Handcrafted aluminium bodies by Tickford at Newport Pagnell, with a more generous roofline and the introduction of a fixed head coupe body style.
• Design: Characterised by vestigial tail fins and bubble-type taillights, in line with mid-century styling trends.
• Chassis: A live rear axle and a 2.9L engine.
• Rarity: Only 199 units were built between 1955 and 1957, with just 145 being saloons.
• Handling: Lively and responsive, but requires a delicate driving style due to a lack of grip.

The DB2/4 Mark II is considered a classic British luxury and performance car, embodying the principles of the Aston Martin brand. Its exclusivity and refined engineering have made it a sought-after collectible for enthusiasts of 1950s sports cars.

The example proudly offered for sale here is chassis number AM300/1193, built on the 22nd of November 1956 and dispatched to the Aston Martin dealer in Adelaide on the 6th of May 1957. Only 145 DB2/4 MKII saloons were built in total, and only a very small number (believed to be no more than 12) of those made it to our shores making an Australian delivered car very rare indeed. What a sight this car must have been when it arrived in Adelaide in 1957!

Finished in Deep Carriage Green with beige interior with chrome wire wheels, exactly as the car presents today, it certainly is a stunning period combination. As verified by the accompanying British Motor Heritage Trust certificate and the factory build sheet records that we have obtained, the car was heavily optioned. The most exciting option being the VB6L/1 cylinder head which raises the horsepower from 145hp to 165hp thanks to bigger valves and high lift camshafts. The car was also optioned with alloy elfin brake drums, a motorola radio, twin exhaust system and a close ratio gearbox.

The car spent all of it’s early life in Adelaide and was used regularly by the first owner who had changed the exterior colour to red. Colin Dugdale of Adelaide purchased the car in 1970. Colin regularly used and thoroughly enjoyed the car up until 1999 when he sold it to his son and daughter-in-law, Arthur and Megan who were residing in Canberra at the time. They enlisted a local restoration company to begin a bare metal complete restoration of the car. With model specific knowledge and experience required to complete the restoration of an Aston Martin DB2/4, Arthur and Megan relocated the restoration in February 2003 to Concours Sportscar Restoration.

Every single nut and bolt was restored, the body masterfully restored and returned to it’s rightful colour. The engine was completely rebuilt along with all of the other mechanical componentry. The interior woodwork was completely refurbished and the interior retrimmed in it’s correct beige. The restoration was as complete and thorough as it gets, and it took a while! Finally completed in 2012, the car was to be no trailer queen whilst it was a regular concours d’elegance entrant, it was always driven. Having completed approximately 20,000 miles since restoration, the speedometer now shows 79749 miles.

In 2014, “Grace”, attended the AMOC National concours d’elegance achieving 1st in Class, People’s Choice award 2nd outright in the Motorkhana event against all comers from all over the country. Grace was to go on and attend the 2017 AMOC National in Tasmania, the 2022 National in Victoria and now the 2025 NSW AMOC National in Bowral. In 2021 Grace was awarded best in show at the RACQ Motorfest which is a testimate to how she is cared for and maintained by the long term owners and the car presents just as superbly today. Most recently, the car gained entry to the prestigious 2024 Noosa concours d’elegance where she sat amongst 50 of Australia’s finest concours cars.

Concours Sportscar Restoration have just completed a full major service and replaced the 10 year old tyres with new correct Michelin X 185R16 tyres.

On the road, a DB2/4 is a throwback to the 1950’s and the wonderful era of manual chokes, wind up windows and drum brakes! As mentioned, Grace is cherished by her owners but also driven as intended regularly and is very well sorted. Power delivery from the 165hp 6 cylinder is adequate and propels Grace along at a lively pace. The suspension is tight, steering as precise as an 1950’s car with a steering box can be and the big drum brakes nice and strong. But driving a classic 1950’s Aston is less about how fast one travels, it’s more about the experience and imagining what it must have been like driving amongst the more mundane vehicles that occupied the roads back then. Today, concentration is a must as curious onlookers photograph and video the car in traffic but Grace takes it all in her stride.

An unfortunate decline in health of the current owners has brought about the heart breaking decision to entrust Concours Sportscar Restoration to find the next custodian to continue on Grace’s fabulous journey.