David BROWN
(and
family) own cars
Note : all photos are clickable to see them in a much larger size.
all photos have a
'source' given. Please have a look at my bibliography to decode.
David Brown (later Sir David Brown) had bought Aston Martin and also
Lagonda and incorporated them in his own group.
The car department was something fun even if it was run seriously. It
sounds logical that he had some Aston Martin cars... some of them very
special!
David Brown's list of Astons appears to be an Aston fan's wish list !!!
I'll try to list them or as much of them as I can.
Also the cars used by Mrs Daisy Brown (his wife) and by their children
(Angela and David Jr.)
YOUR HELP IS UPPERMOST WELCOME
TO
MAKE THIS LIST MORE COMPLETE!!!
G40/900 (Atom)
This landmark car was a car tryed by David Brown when he bought Aston
Martin.
In his own words: "It was
late in 1946 that I read an
advertisement in The Times, offering a sports car company for sale. I
replied to the advert and, rather
to my surprise, learnt that the company was Aston Martin, which was
quite a name, even in those days. I went to see Gordon Sutherland, who
had this little place in Feltham and a prototype of tubular
construction, the famous Atom. I tried the car and found it had very
good roadhandling but was very much under-powered. Nevertheless, I
thought it would be fun to have and play around with, so I bought Aston
Martin myself - completely outside the David Brown company - for
£20,000. That was a lot of money in those days and for it I
got the prototype [read the Atom], a few rusty old machine tools and the
services of
the Atom's designer, Claude Hill who was very good." (source
RAC1).
(Source: Wikipedia)
Photos (sometimes history) links:
AstonMartins.com
MotorLegend.com
AllSportAuto.com
(wallpapers)
CarStyling.ru
and THE
Atom site: www.astonmartinatom.co.uk
LMA/48/1 (was SPA/48/1)
(THX 259) (David
Brown Jr.)
Raced at 1948 Spa 24 Hours (St. J. Horsfall/L. Johnson). 1st (72.07 mph
i.e. 115.96 km/h).
First David Brown
car raced, first win !
(Source : FRO)
(Source : French magazine Rétroviseur
no250, November 2009)
Rebuilt for Motor Show as "Spa Replica" with new body and engine
SPA/48/4 (was SPA/48/1).
1948 Show
(Source : RAS)
Used by David Brown Jr. from 1948 to 1950.
Received new chassis SPA/48/8 in 1952 following a crash.
Much later ...
(Source : FRO)
Some more colour recent photos on AstonMartins.com
AMC/48/7 (TME 474) (Angela Brown & David
Brown Jr.)
Two Litre Sports (a.k.a. DB1) shown at 1948 Earls Court Show then works
experimental.
Car used by Angela and David Jr.
1948 Earls Court Show: AMC/48/7 next to a Lagonda (chassis number
unknown)
(Source: RAS)
LMA/49/2 (UMC
65) (David Brown Jr.)
Used by David Brown Jr.
David
Brown Jnr. driving LMA/49/2 at the Huddersfield rally still
with Spa
numbers !
(Source : 1996 AMOC Register)
More information about this car here.
LML/49/4 (UMC
272)
(Source AM Magazine v21 n88)
A " DB MkII ". Built specially for David Brown with a 6 cylinder
engine. First one built for road use.
See this page from my Washboard Register for
more
information.
LML/50/5 (VMG
606)
(Source:
FRO)
(Source: AM Magazine
vol
21 no 88)
" Experimental Prototype DB MkII ". First true
DB2.
Used by David Brown but left to Press and demonstration.
See this page from
my Washboard Register
for
more information.
LML/50/11
Often described as the first DB2 built for direct sale.
Nevertheless it seems David Brown used it a little while waiting for
the
prototype DHC
LML/50/10 to be finished. Indeed LML/50/5 was extensively used for
publicity and was no more available...
He drove
LML/50/11 around on trade plates for most of the year testing the new
heater / air system ,
hence it never being registered !
David Brown drove down through
France to Cannes where he was approached by George F Schraft who was
staying at the same hotel ,
he liked the car and eventually purchased it , he then drove it around
southern Europe and Africa
and eventually with the help of Hoffmans of New-York shipped it back to
the USA , there the car had
the top sprayed light grey and was placed in Schrafts showroom in
Florida , Palm Beach Foreign Motors !
See this page from
my Washboard Register
for more
information.
LML/50/10 (VMF
37)
(Source : Sotheby's catalogue, see
this page)
(Source : RAS)
The DHC model of the DB2 was announced in June 1950.
LML/50/10 was built in time for the London Motor Show of October 1950.
It's in fact the DHC prototype and demonstrator even if it was in fact
the personal car of David Brown who especially liked DHC. It was a
welcome change for him after LML/50/5 and even more LML/49/4 as this
car had the same specs than LML/49/3 which was known as "the Sweatbox".
Fresh air was to come with a DHC!
See this page from
my Washboard Register
for
more information about LML/50/10.
LML/50/8 (VMF 64)
Ex 1950 works racing car.
VMF 64 became
David Brown's personal car because LML/50/10 was more used for
demonstration.
It had been detuned (with a standard, low
compression, engine).
For Le Mans 1951, a team of three
new cars was intended. It would be
one new DB3 and two lightweight DB2s and not three lightweight DB2s as
sometimes told. Both DP47 /
lightweight DB2s registered XMC 76 and XMC 77 (chassis number LML/50/50
and LML/50/55) were on their way to completion before Le Mans but for
the third car,
which was to be the first DB3, it was becoming evident it would not be
ready for the race.
So decision was made to call back "old" VMF 64 and send three DB2s.
See this page from
my Washboard Register
for
more information about LML/50/8.
DB3/2
DB3/2 is the second DB3 built just after the prototype.
David Brown had it built for
him as a DHC!
I will soon write a separate page for this car as it's really
fascinating...
Photo scanned by Alex.
LML/50/186
David Brown later had another DB2 DHC.
Originaly had engine VB6B/50/1077 replaced by DP/101/5V, a
prototype VB6J engine (a special DP/101)
I think this is the DHC DB2 you see at the center of the photo below
behind DB3/1 at Le Mans in 1952. See this page
for more info about DB3 FHCs.
(Source: FRO)
The car was for sale in 1989:
(Source : Classic & Sportcar, June &
July)
LML/515
Works experimental department 1953-1955.
It was a DHC soon converted to a FHC by Mulliners. This body type only
appeared on the DB2/4 MkII.
Sold to driver Peter Collins in 1955 and used in publicity photographs
for DB2/4 MkII.
Has had several engines and registration numbers (VMF 123 in 1974)
Once the property of H.M., King Hussein of Jordan.
Sold by Christie's in 1984 (at Beaulieu).
Has been restored to a show standard. A bit too much for my
taste ...
This car has since often been seen for sale ...
Here are a few exemples (PDF):
Family Classics Cars: 
Nicholas
Mee: 
World Wide
Group: 
Russo
& Steele: 
Finaly, here are 27 photos of this car in a ZIP file: 
LML/558 (DHC,
Angela Brown)
A DHC registered 68 AMF.
Has a side opening with a short chrome side strips.
1954 Was a demonstration car. Was VB6E/50/1289.
Later DP/101/39. See my DP/101 register.
1955 B.A.R.C. Members Goodwood (Angela Brown), 4th overall, 60.54 mph
Oulton Park (Angela Brown),
1st class award
Bristol M.C. Castle Comb
(Angela Brown), 1st
eBay
photo
LML/666 (Mrs
Daisy Brown)
(Source: Bonhams catalogue)
A 2.6 litres DB2/4 used by Mrs Brown.
Was for sale by Bonhams in
2002.
DB3/7 (Angela)
DB3/7 has been built directly with a FHC body. First owner was Tom
Meyer. In 1954 car was for sale by H.W. Motors (see below) and it was
bought by Angela Brown (David Brown's daughter).
(source POST)
By the way, Angela Brown was to marry George Abecassis of
H.W.M. !
Angela Brown had a new bonnet made with oval shape grille. Car was
painted deep green.
Photo above on the left shows Angela Brown being chased by Peter
Sargent's XK during at Silverstone in 1955 (source: VOL1). right photo
from Alex.
It is often said (and written...) that DB3/7 is a
small car
with a somewhat cramped interior because Angela Brown was petite.
But the car was definitely not built for her !
She sold it in December 1955.
For more information about this car, see this page.
DB3S/120
One of the three production DB3S FHC. See this page for more information.
David Brown is seen below with his friend
Laurence Pomeroy.
David Brown always listened very carefuly what
Pomeroy
thought ; remember the "washboards" deletion (see this page).
(Source : AM
Magazine Spring 1985)
AM300/3A/1301
Photos and information sent by fellow Astonhill.
Used by David Brown. This car had an experimental engine and a special
interior.
Engine DBA/938. Registration was 140 LMC. Now in France.
Please see this page for more details
about "3A" chassis numbers and MkIII types.
AM300/3/1490 (Mrs
Daisy Brown)
This rare DB MkIII DHC will be sold by Barons
on 7 September 2010.
According to some Aston specialists, this could "only" be a
demonstrator, not an ex Mrs Brown car.
DP114/2 (Mrs
Daisy Brown)
One-off works experimental saloon (nicknamed the "Walls ice-cream van"
because first paint was white with blue top) largely based on the DB
MkIII but with DB4 front suspension and de Dion rear axle and
originally called "DB4". The Touring option got on it.
First engine DBA/2. Now DP164/2.
Link to
history by Tim Cottingham.
Two photos in its original livery (blue and white) sent by Alex:
It was hard used and rallyed ...
(Source: Classic & Sports
Car magazine, February 1989)
Later it was restored to show standards. Quite a contrast with above
photo ...
(photos Tim Cottingham)
By the way, DP114/1 was never completed.
an unknown DB5 registered
EHX 8A
Seen on Flickr. Said to be ex
David Brown.
an unknown DB6 Shooting
Brake
Still used in the 1970s by Mrs Brown.
DBS/5063/R
Recently seen on eBay. This car was completed 5th July 1968.
A letter from the works stating DB ownership ... 
Page (PDF): 
MP/230/1
A stretched DBS built for David Brown in 1969. Registered JPP 5G.
Originally with a 5 litre V8 and wire wheels (unique combination). Now
with alloys and
production 5.3 litre.
The basis for the Lagonda series 1.
A Lagonda series 1 (left) and MP/230/1 (right)
(photo Tim Cottingham)
Link
to history by Tim Cottingham.
Aston Martin Scrapbook
http://astonuts.free.fr
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