THE WASHBOARD REGISTER
ASTON MARTIN DB2
LML/49/3
(UMC 66)
PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE
TO SEND
CONTRIBUTIONS !
The third of the three works cars built in 1949 known at
Works as "Le Mans Fixed Head
Coupes" (LML/49/4 is a road car built for David Brown using the same
lines).
A later record calls them "DB Mark II" and a log book issued
in 1961, "Saloon".
LML/49/3 is the first car powered by the new 6 cylinder.
This engine, with three SU carburetors as fitted for Le Mans in 1949,
developped 120 bhp but suffered from overheating. It took a long time
to solve this problem hence the nickname of the car: " The Sweatbox ".
Body number 48004.
Engine: LB6/49/20/R
Registration: UMC 66.
Almond Green with green interior.
Below, LML/49/3 almost built with both LMA/49/1 and LMA/49/2 behind:
(Source AM Magazine v25 no 111)
The same car, outside works, from two different angles:
(Source:
BRITLM)
(Source : French magazine Automobiles
Classiques no 135, Dec 2003)
Please note that LML/49/3 lost its grille very early as it had only a
chrome surround at Spa.
1949 : Spa 24 Hours (Johnson/Brackenbury) 7th overall. 3rd
in class
Le Mans 24H (Johnson/Brackenbury)
Retired- loss of water
The three DB MkII racers
(LML/49/3, LMA/49/2 and LMA/49/1 in that order)
with Stapleton/Monkhouse Speed Model behind en route for 1949 Le Mans.
(Source : RAC1)
(Source:
BRITLM)
1949 : Monthléry
24H record for 3-litre (Thomson/Brackenburry/Macklin/Bouchard)
abandoned due to
fog.
5 hours
completed at 104 m.p.h., i.e. 167 k.p.h. (engine LB6B/50/45)
There was fog ! (Source : RAC1)
1950 : Le Mans 24H (Thomson/Gordon) Retired lap 8. Broken crank.
Indeed as LML/50/9 crashed on its way to Le Mans, LML/49/3 was called
back.
Le Mans 1950 with LML/50/7 and
LML/50/8. (Source AM Magazine
v25 no 111)
(The Citroën H van behind is one of the very first built by the
way...)
From left to right:
Drivers: Reg Parnell, Chrles Brackenbury, John Gordon, Eric Thompson,
Georges Abecassis.
Mechanics: Jack Sopp and Fred Lown.
Almost the same photo !
(Source : TAM)
Looks like same place. This is "place des Jacobins" at Le Mans
before pesage. With John Gordon and Eric Thompson.
(Source: Gasnerie/Automobile
Historique no 49)
It is reported that Charles Brackenbury took the "Sweatbox" back to
Feltham and that when the engine was opened up, the crankshaft fell out
in two pieces !
Subsequently
used as development vehicle for DB2.
Silverstone 1952: UMC 66 (LML/49/3) and EML 129 (J6/707/U, Stapleton's
Speed Model, seen before)
(Source: eBay)
1990 : Restoration.
1994 : Lime Rock Sprint (Burt) 1st in class, Winner J.S. Inskip Trophy.
LML/49/3 is still often seen on the track or concours.
Here are
some photos from conceptcarz.com,
supercars.net and Tim Cottingham's reference site:
Aston Martin Scrapbook
http://astonuts.free.fr
BACK
