Aston Martin DB2
1950-1953 (DB2); family to 1959 · Aston Martin DB2 — Sports Car, Inline-6, designed by Frank Feeley.
The Story
The DB2 is where the legend really began. After tractor magnate David Brown bought Aston Martin (and Lagonda) in 1947, the 1950 DB2 married a Frank Feeley body to Lagonda’s W.O. Bentley-derived 2.6-litre twin-cam six – and went straight racing, finishing 1st and 2nd in class at Le Mans 1950.
The DB2/4 (1953) added a side-opening glass tailgate, making it an early hatchback; the DB Mark III (1957) gave the marque the grille shape it still uses – and was Ian Fleming’s choice for James Bond in the Goldfinger NOVEL, years before the DB5 film car.
The Numbers
Benchmarked against its class
Each dial ranks this car within its Sports Car class — fuller means higher, and the tick marks the class midpoint.
Signature Colors
The Designer
Frank Feeley
Joined Lagonda as an office boy; became Aston’s in-house stylist after David Brown’s 1947 takeover. Designed the DB1, the DB2 family and the DB3S racer; left in 1956 when production moved to Newport Pagnell. Source: Wikipedia.
Studio Motors POV
The cornerstone of the whole DB dynasty and the literary Bond Aston – undervalued against the DB4/5/6 it sired. The Mark III is the one to own.
The Engine
Lagonda 2.6 I6 (DOHC)
Market & Value
Values on cars like this move monthly. Our brokers price from real transactions.
What Reviewers Said About DB2
Worth Knowing About the DB2
3 Things You Didn’t Know
- 1. The DB2/4 Mark III – not the DB5 – is James Bond's car in Ian Fleming's Goldfinger novel.
- 2. The DB2/4 introduced a side-opening glass tailgate, making it one of the earliest hatchbacks.
- 3. The DB Mark III debuted the classic Aston grille shape still used today.
5 Fast Facts
- 1. 1950-1959 family (DB2, DB2/4, Mark III); ~1,700+ total.
- 2. Lagonda 2.6 (later 2.9) twin-cam six; up to ~178-195 bhp (Mark III DBD).
- 3. 1st & 2nd in class at Le Mans 1950.
- 4. Body by Frank Feeley; first great car of the David Brown era.
- 5. Established the design theme that ran through to the DB6.
Provenance
Owners & what to look for
Famous Owners
The DB2/4 Mark III is James Bond’s car in Ian Fleming’s Goldfinger NOVEL (the literary forebear of the film DB5). No individual private celebrity owner verified.
Studio Buyer’s Brief
The DB Mark III (most developed, modern grille, DBD top power) is the connoisseur’s pick; dropheads are rarest. Check the Lagonda six, alloy bodywork and provenance – matching-numbers cars with race or Mark III history command the most.
Full Specifications
- Make / Model
- Aston Martin DB2
- Class
- Sports Car
- Production years
- 1950-1953 (DB2); family to 1959
- Units built
- 411 DB2 (folded family: + ~764 DB2/4, ~551 DB Mark III = ~1,726)
- Variants
- DB2/4 (1953); DB2/4 Mk II (1955); DB Mark III (1957)
- Engine layout
- Front
- Engine
- Inline-6
- Engine family
- Lagonda 2.6 I6 (DOHC)
- Displacement
- 2,580 cc (2.6L) straight-six
- Power
- 125 hp
- Torque
- lb-ft
- 0–60 mph
- 11.2 s
- Top speed
- 116 mph
- Power-to-weight
- 104 hp/tonne · 21.3 lb/hp
- Transmission
- 4-speed manual
- Drivetrain
- RWD (front engine) · Petrol
- Curb weight
- 2660 lb
Questions
DB2 FAQ
Is the Aston Martin DB2 James Bond’s car in the Ian Fleming novels?
The DB Mark III — part of the DB2 family — is James Bond’s car in Ian Fleming’s Goldfinger (1959). Fleming referred to it as a ‘DB III’ in the text. It is the only Bond car in the original Ian Fleming novels to be fitted with gadgets. The Goldfinger film (1964) updated the car to the DB5.
How did the Aston Martin DB2 perform at Le Mans?
Aston Martin’s DB2s finished first and second in the three-litre class at the 1950 24 Hours of Le Mans, finishing fifth and sixth overall. The result established Aston Martin’s competition credibility and directly inspired the road car’s sporting image.
Who designed the Aston Martin DB2?
The DB2’s body was designed by Frank Feeley, who gave the car its distinctive oval grille and long-bonnet proportions. The twin-cam 2.6-litre straight-six engine was developed by W.O. Bentley and Willie Watson at Lagonda, acquired by David Brown alongside Aston Martin in 1947.
What is an Aston Martin DB2 worth today?
Standard Aston Martin DB2 saloons trade well below the $300,000-$600,000 range often quoted — many sit at lower realised prices. The high end of $300,000-$600,000 (and above) is reserved for exceptional Drophead Coupes, DB Mark III specials, and cars with documented provenance. The full DB2/DB2-4/DB Mark III family (1950-1959) is the relevant scope.
How does the DB2 relate to the DB4 and DB5?
The DB2 established the core Aston Martin DNA: Frank Feeley’s oval grille, twin-cam six-cylinder engine, and sports-GT character. The DB4 (1958) succeeded it with a new Touring Superleggera body and a more powerful engine; the DB5 (1963) refined the DB4. The literary Bond association of the DB Mark III was later carried on screen by the DB5.
The Aston Martin Lineup
Explore every Aston Martin
DB4 GT Zagato ’60DB5 ’63DB6 ’65DBS (1967) ’67V8 ’69
Lagonda ’76V8 Vantage (1977) ’77
V8 Vantage (Supercharged) ’93DB7 ’94DB7 Vantage ’99
V12 Vanquish ’01DB9 ’04V8 Vantage (2005) ’05DBS (2007) ’07V12 Vantage (2009) ’09One-77 ’09
Rapide ’10Vanquish (2012) ’12V12 Zagato ’12V12 Vantage GT12 ’15DB11 ’16Vanquish Zagato ’16Vantage ’18DBS Superleggera ’18
DBX ’20Valkyrie ’21V12 Speedster ’21V12 Vantage (2022) ’22Valour ’23Vanquish (2024) ’24Valiant ’24Valhalla ’25
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