'Underdog' Aston Martin joins NEC sale

A 1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 with an incredibly story is to be offered in Silverstone Auctions’ two-day sale at the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show on the 15th and 16th of November.

In February 1954, Mr Frank Defty took delivery of a brand new Aston Martin from Kirk & Kirk Ltd in Putney. Almost immediately, Defty, with barely a modification added, entered his standard road-going car into the 2000 mile RAC Rally. This was followed by events at Goodwood, Oulton Park and Snetterton.

Just three months into its life in May 1954, the car was lined up against the stiffest of competition at the very first meeting at the brand new Aintree Race Circuit. Racing cars which today are worth tens of millions of pounds, Defty was pitted against now legendary drivers such as Colin Chapman, Carroll Shelby and Roy Salvadori. His trusty Aston went on to finish the race 24th out of 25 starting cars, with Chapman crashing out of the race!

Defty continued to race ‘UPC 893’ at meetings up and down the country before being sold in 1955, seemingly having only ever covered racing miles. The car’s plucky spirt endured surviving a garage fire in 1978 and was restored to a high standard by a subsequent owner. The current vendor discovered the car in storage, albeit in amazing condition, in 2007 and set about completing a simple recommission. Estimated at between £130,000 and £160,000, today this Aston looks sensational, authentic and proudly bears the patina of a car that's been driven and enjoyed.

Commenting on the wonderful car, sales manager of Silverstone Auctions, Paul Campbell, said: “This is an amazing car with an equally amazing history and the vendor’s enthusiasm for the car is infectious. The car is completely authentic, ready to be enjoyed and begin a new chapter of its fascinating story.”

The car will be sold as part of Silverstone Auctions’ sale at the UK’s biggest classic car show, which takes place at the NEC, Birmingham next month.

To find out more about the car please visit http://www.silverstoneauctions.com/1954-aston-martin-db24-with-period-competition-history.


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