DB2/4 Rare 1954 Aston Martin with Bertone Body

Aston to Fetch $1.2-1.6M at Auction.

Some cars can only be regarded as stunning, and the 1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 Coupe by Bertone definitely falls into that category. Its undulating contours, gentle curves, teardrop outline, and slight tail fins all come together to make an absolutely enthralling shape. RM Sotheby’s will put this marvelous vehicle up for auction on December 8th in New York City, with a predicted sale price between $1.2 million and $1.6 million.

There’s no denying the stunning beauty of this Aston Martin; however, it stands out even more for being the only DB2/4 coupe with a body made by Bertone. The Italian coachbuilder produced six variations as convertible models, but the sole fixed-roof variant is this one!

The narrative of this vehicle begins with Stanley H. Arnolt II, an affluent businessman from Warsaw, Indiana who was fond of vehicles. He established a powerful affiliation with Bertone, beseeching them to fabricate a unique chassis for the MG TD in 1952. A few years later, the duo worked together again resulting in a series of DB2/4s.

Bertone was evidently quite proud of their coupe. After having delivered it to the initial owner, they showcased the auto at their display for the 1957 and 1958 Turin Motor Exhibition.

As suggested by the posting of the public sale, Bertone had aspirations to fabricate duplicates of the coupes. Nonetheless, Aston Martin declined to give any additional frames to the firm.

The proprietor commissioned a $800,000 overhaul of the Bertone-finished Aston Martin coupe in 2019. This elaboration returned the vehicle to its original condition showcased at the 1958 Turin Motor Show, dressed in a pale hue of blue. New parts for the front bumper, tail lights and the majority of the interior and outside trim had to be fabricated as part of the process.

The initial Aston Martin 2.9-liter inline-six motor sits untampered beneath the hood. Sometime over its history, a reconstruction included remodelled valves and cams to boost performance.

This automobile earned first-place honors at the 2023 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. And it has already acquired an invitation to the 2024 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in Italy, offering the new proprietor a wonderful justification to attend the exclusive event.

Source: RM Sotheby’s