DB2, DB2/4 and DB Mark III (1950-1959)

The 2-litre sports car sold by Aston Martin from 1948 to 1950 was mounted on a tubular frame designed by Claude Hill. Unfortunately, this car, subsequently called the DB1, proved not to be fast enough in competition. The remedy was the DB2 model, which combined the familiar frame with the Lagonda six-cylinder with a body designed by Frank Feeley. By 1953, some 411 coupés and 102 cabriolets had been produced. The DB2 was very successful in motorsport, but suffered from the low compression ratio necessary for the poor English fuel. The first Vantage version from the end of 1950 had 20% more power due to the increase in compression, but could hardly be driven in England itself.

There was also a DB3, which used some parts of the DB2, but was purely a racing car in character. Only 10 examples were produced until 1956.

The successor to the DB2 was the DB2/4, which was sold from 1953 to 1957. The new model had a slightly smoother body, drawn by the then 17-year-old John Turner. 565 units of the MK1 were produced. The DB2/4 MK2, available from 1955, had an engine with enlarged valves. More important, however, was the improvement in the production processes of the MKII. David Brown had taken over the coachbuilder Tickfort in Newport Pagnell. So bodywork production was moved from Mulliners to the company's own plant in Newport Pagnell. The MKII was also the type that started the collaboration with Touring. Touring Milano had a patent on the construction of "Superleggera" coachwork, which was licensed to Aston Martin.

The DB Mark III was built from 1957 to 1959 in 551 examples. The bodywork had again been slightly modernised, and for the first time the Aston Martin grille was used in the form still in use today. The engine had been heavily revised and the cars now had Girling disc brakes at the front.