THE ASTON Martin range of today encompasses some of the most aspirational cars ever made, but this quintessentially British take of supercar motoring owes much of its success to the Aston of the early 1950s which some say is the best car the company ever made. For its day the DB2, produced from 1949 to 1953, was astonishing in terms of styling and performance. It came about after tractor manufacturer David Brown took control of the company in 1947. Before the Second World War Aston Martin had produced some exciting cars but as the 50s dawned everything changed and modernism was accelerating away in the fast lane. Car buyers, especially the well-heeled sort who could afford an Aston wanted the latest and the best and the company went that extra mile to see that they were not disappointed. Up to then Aston Martin had been making the DB1 which was a reasonably good looking car with classy handling, but it was let down by the fact that its two-litre four-cylinder pushrod engine only developed a modest 90bhp. The answer to the problem came when David Brown also bought Lagonda which had a superb double overhead camshaft in-line six-cylinder engine designed by W.O. Bentley with 105bhp on tap, vigorous acceleration, and a cracking exhaust beat. When teamed up with the DB2 body - which became one of the most inspirational styles of all times - a legend was born. This 2.6-litre model was a sensation at a point in time when many cars were still dragging their feet back in the 1940s or even earlier. The production DB2 was a star at the New York Motor Show in April 1950 and examples competed at Le Mans in the same year. They achieved first and second in class and continued competing through 1951. The 21st example was raced by American sportsman Briggs Cunningham in the first Sebring race in December 1950 attaining second in class. This success brought fame to David Brown's resurgent company and the die was cast for a significant future. In total 411 DB2s were produced from their 1950 introduction through 1953. The first 49 cars used a square three-part grille in front with large rectangular side vents. This was soon updated with the more familiar integrated, rounded Aston Martin grille with horizontal slats. As with any car that was capable of more than 100mph in the 1950s the media were clamouring to get behind the wheel and the DB2 did not disappoint. An example tested by the The Motor magazine in 1950 proved its mettle with a top speed of 116.4mph and acceleration from 0-60mph in 11.2 seconds – good by today's standards but back in those days it was phenomenal. The DB2 was, without doubt, a car for the rich with a fuel consumption of just 20mpg and a pricetag of £1,914 including taxes. It opened the field for Aston Martin and further developments of the car followed. Then came the 240bhp DB4, the DB5 of James Bond fame and increasingly more powerful cars including one of my all-time favourites, the 160mph 5,340cc V8 of 1972. What started with the DB2 became a legend which continues to this day. | 
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