Aston Martin DB2/4 Vignale – Long Live the King

If one of us, let’s face it, commoners were to walk into a car dealership and ask them to build us something truly bespoke, we would probably be laughed out of the building rather quickly. You might think that if you’re sitting on stacks of cash, the scenario might be different. The laughter may be kinder on the ear drums, but the answer will still be the same. It’s just not the done thing. Some companies offer more customisation options than others, but ultimately these options tend to come from a pre-defined list. You can’t walk into your local Vauxhall dealership and ask them to build you a six wheel-drive Astra limousine. Which is probably for the best, as that would be hideous. But we digress.

What if you do want something special and standout, then? Is there a way to accomplish this? History tells us that there is indeed a way, and this utterly glorious 1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 Vignale is evidence of that. How? Well, it was built to be quite literally fit for a king. King Baudouin of Belgium, in fact. Not your typical member of the monarchy, King Baudouin ascended to the throne at the tender age of 24, and rather than do typical Royal things (count money, collect swans, we have no idea) he instead opted to have this custom machine built. A man of fine taste, it has to be said.

The DB2 was an important car for Aston Martin. It was the first model to wear the initials of new owner, David Brown (DB1 was colloquial) and it was the first model to use the W.O. Bentley designed Lagonda straight-six engine. This was a new direction for Aston, one boasting more speed and performance than ever before. Early models were powered by a 2.6 litre version of the double overhead cam engine, which pushed out 125hp. However, later models including the DB2/4 (with +2 seating) employed a 2.9 litre version, this time with 140bhp and a top speed of 120mph.

The car, with its standard factory body – coupe or drophead – was utterly magnificent. For the young King, however, magnificent wasn’t enough. He wanted more. The only issue came with the timing. By the 1950s, the business of coachbuilding cars was in decline. The post-war automotive landscape saw more manufacturers making their own bodies. Rolls-Royce, Bentley and Aston Martin were all a ‘complete’ operation by this point. All was not lost though. Aston sensed what an opportunity it would be to put wheels under King Baudouin, and gladly supplied two rolling chassis to Carrozzeria Alfredo Vignale.

Vignale needs little in the way of introduction. Of the Italian Carrozzeria, Vignale was arguably the finest. Cars to emerge from its Turin facility include bespoke versions of myriad Ferraris, lots of Lancias, many Maseratis and an array of Alfa Romeos. Vignale brought us the Triumph Italia, the De Tomaso Pantera, the Jensen Interceptor and many, many more. It was a powerhouse of production, a glowing light within the automotive world. It did the impossible and made already beautiful cars even more beautiful, and the King’s DB2/4 would be no exception.

Just look at it. Very little of the original Aston remains. Instead, we are treated to a cheerful, flowing collection of curves and lines only broken up by the welcome inclusion of some utterly stunning details. Look at those rear lights, for example. Expertly frenched into the rear, they are small sculptures in their own right. The way the body line intersects with the lights exactly between the outward curves. Glorious. Then you have the bumpers. Look how the rear one is tucked into the body, faithfully following the shape across the width of the car. Even the little bar that runs over the corners to the over-riders has been teased into a shape that compliments the body. The same can be said for the front end, which now sports an oval grille. Simple, but sculpted and perfectly sized, it makes the nose of this Aston look lighter than the factory car. The bonnet, with its slim leading edge that, if you look closely, houses a thin air intake. It’s so elegant.

Then of course you have the rest of the body. The lower half, with its subtly flared arches and simple chrome detail is finished in a deep shade of Peacock Blue, while the roof and tailgate, with its impressive huge curved glass element, has been painted a contrasting silver metallic, breaking up the lines of the car and in the process creating more detail in which to lose yourself. Vignale knew, and believed in the concept of less being more. It would have been very easy for a lesser coachbuilder to throw everything at this car. To over design it, almost. Vignale didn’t. Instead, it took the car and gave it a lightness and delicacy, they made it even more elegant. It doesn’t scream ‘look at me’. To do so  would be uncouth. Instead, it just waits for your gaze to find it, then it locks you in with exquisite details and raw beauty. That is how good design should be.

It hasn’t always been this way though. Two were built, though the other is thought to be long gone, sadly. The King’s car stayed with him for a few years before being sold to a royal aide in the late ’50s. The car then lived in France before it was sold again to James Toth in the ’60s. He was an American soldier serving with NATO in Paris. So smitten was he with the Aston, he brought it back to the U.S with him. However, when on American soil, the original engine let go, shortly followed by the replacement. Toth sold the car as a non-runner to a colleague, who in turn sold it to Roland Womack in Virginia, at which point the car’s fortunes turned for the better. He sent the car to the Aston Workshop as a restoration project.

And what a job they have done. The car was, as we understand it, in something of a sad state when it arrived. No interior to speak of, a dead engine, the wrong axle and with a tired chassis. However, those all important aluminium hand-formed panels were all present and correct, as were the detailed parts we enthused over earlier. It needed love, and the Aston Workshop was the facility in which to do it. And in doing so, not one nut nor one bolt has been ignored. The chassis was checked, measured and confirmed good before being treated to minor rust repairs and then protected and powder coated. The internal structure of the car needed love, and so new pieces for the fillet sections, rear arches, floors and B pillars were fabricated and expertly fitted. The body was of course restored, rid of any imperfections and painted the stunning silver over Peacock Blue you see here.

The engine was beyond saving, so a period correct replacement was sourced. New pistons, connecting rods, liners, copper rings, new crank and new bearings were all fitted. The original carbs were stripped and rebuilt, while the cylinder head was completely overhauled with new valves, springs and seats. The engine was then dyno tested, delivering 175bhp and 200lb ft. More than the original brochure suggested! The transmission was rebuilt, and a new correct specification rear differential was fitted. The suspension, as you would expect, is all fully refurbished and as good as, if not better than new. Some modifications have been made, but don’t panic. We’re talking about electronic power steering, electronic ignition and a more modern starter motor.

Finally, there is the interior. A stunning work of art, of which fawn leather was the artist’s medium. Just look at the pictures, drink in how utterly exquisite this cabin is. You’d honestly buy the car simply to sit in it and interact with the welcomingly tactile fixtures and fittings. The wood is flawless, the leather of high quality and soft feel, the chrome glistens with enthusiasm. It’s stunning, and is a credit to its creator. There was nothing to go off other than historic images, yet even so, the interior has been recreated to a world class standard. And while it is still 2+2, there is no denying the appeal of leaving the rear seats flat and using the space under that domed glass to store your luggage for those jaunts through Europe.

This car is, in the truest sense of the word, unique. Sure, another one was built way back when, but for reasons unknown, it has been consigned to the history books. This car is the one survivor. It is the car that belonged to a king. It is the car that has been restored to a frankly incredible, jaw-dropping standard. For a moment in this car’s history, the future looked uncertain. Faded paint, threadbare and largely missing interior. A non-functioning engine. It could have been the end. Thanks to the Aston Workshop, however, the fortunes of this Aston Martin DB2/4 Vignale turned for the better, once again returning it to a standard fit for royalty. At one point, this king’s car was dead, now though, it’s more deserving of the crown than ever before.