Aston Martin DB1 Sports Car

Aston Martin DB1-Details of this sports car including performance, technical data, features, rival comparisons, history, used prices and more

From classic to modern

car

The first sports car from Aston Martin appeared in 1914.

In 1939, the Aston Martin Atom, a two-door, four-seater coupe, was introduced. This coupe is equipped with a 2-liter, 4-cylinder, SOHC engine and two Zenith carburetors.

In the early 1940s, this unit was replaced with a 2-liter, 4-cylinder, OHV engine, two SU carburetors, and a 7.25: 1 compression ratio.

Linked to a 4-speed semi-automatic gearbox, which developed 90bhp at 4750rpm.

There was a separate front suspension and a rear leaf spring with arm strong hydraulic shock absorbers. Astro Boy production ended in 1944.

The design of the new car was decided in 1947, but by that time it was in financial difficulty and needed cash injection.

According to history, when businessman David Brown drove Astro Boy in 1947, he was so impressed that he bought an Aston Martin company that had already acquired a Lagonda company.

Using Astro Boy as a base, David Brown felt that a convertible or drophead coupe variation with long sweep body styling was the most suitable format for the production of new cars.

The chassis needs additional reinforcement to withstand the additional stress created by removing the roof section.

A larger, alternative, 6-cylinder twin-cam engine, even if available from Lagonda, holds the same 2-liter unit used by the Atom, David Brown’s 4-speed, all-synchromesh, manual gearbox. It was decided to equip.

The steel chassis had a steel body with a very distinctive three-part grille, and the curb weighed 1140 kg.

I used Girling 12-inch hydraulic drum brakes on a 16-inch rim with worms and roller steering.

An interesting design feature was the presence of a compartment in one of the front wings to accommodate the spare tire.

The new sports car has been designated as a 2-liter sport and was launched at the 1948 London Motor Show. The show continued to be produced until the introduction of DB2 in 1950, at which point it was nicknamed the Aston Martin DB1.

Unfortunately, the presence of a heavy two-seater, drophead-style body, and engine with only moderate power was created for underpowered cars. This is reflected in the fact that only 13 DB1s are manufactured.

In addition, the chassis was only suitable for a limited production process, making automobiles costly and not a profitable venture.

Aston Martin Spa Convertible

Prior to the launch of the DB1 sports car, it was decided to participate in the 1948 Belgian Spa 24-hour race as a means of thoroughly testing the chassis and engine.

The existing body has been replaced with a special version based on a small 2-seater convertible.

As a result, the car completely won the race and was officially designated as a spa car.

After the race, the car was rebuilt and exhibited alongside the DB1 at the 1948 London Motor Show.

However, this single spa replica, as is known, failed to generate enough interest to guarantee actual production and was subsequently exhibited at the Dutch Automobile Museum.

competition

The markets in which Aston Martin was marketed included sports cars such as the Triumph 2000, Cicitalia 202 SMM Spider Nuborari, Bristol 401 and Maserati A6.

This concludes my Aston Martin DB1 Sports Car Review.