VIN: the George Schrafft / David Hirsch Aston Martin DB2 chassis LML/50/11
History of chassis LML/50/11
After building four DB2 ‘Le Mans’ prototypes in 1949, Aston Martin switched focus to the DB2 proper in 1950.
Over the spring and summer of 1950 two prototype DB2 Coupes plus one Drop-Head and three works racing Coupes were constructed.
The first DB2 production car was chassis LML/50/11, signed off by the factory in October.
Chassis LML/50/11 (body number 68004) was one of seven production DB2s built in 1950. These vehicles closely resembled the Le Mans, Mille Miglia and RAC Tourist Trophy-class winning DB2 team cars used to such great effect that season.
Each of the seven 1950 production DB2s came with twin fuel fillers, lightweight plastic rear windows and exterior sill strips. Uniquely among them, chassis 11 was built with a steering column-mounted gear-shift and close-ratio gearbox.
LML/50/11 was painted Black with matching wheels. Contrasting Grey VM3230 leather upholstery with matching carpet was used inside. It was the first DB2 built new with a bonnet-mounted cooling scoop.
Three of the seven 1950 DB2 production cars were sent out to the United States and delivered to Aston Martin’s US distributor, Max Hoffman. From his Frank Lloyd Wright-designed showroom on Park Avenue in New York, Hoffman was also the North American agent for Rolls-Royce, Bentley and Jaguar.
Chassis 11 was delivered via Hoffmans Limited to car dealer and occasional racing driver, George Schrafft (401 South County Road, Palm Beach, Florida).
In addition to running his auto dealership (Palm Beach Foreign Motors), Schrafft like to race. He contested the 1951 Le Mans 24 Hours in his Crosley Hotshot and later ran a Siata and Lotus in addition to his own specials.
George Schrafft had been at the Carlton Hotel & Casino in Cannes during the summer of 1950 when David Brown pulled up in a DB2 prototype. Telling his wife he liked the car, Schrafft went over, introduced himself and concluded a deal to buy one on the spot.
While in Schrafft’s possession, LML/50/11 was used with dealer plates and fitted with a water-injection pump that gave the engine a little power boost via a dash-mounted button.
Chassis 11 was purchased by aspiring privateer, David Hirsch, who became the car’s first registered keeper. Hirsch’s residence was listed as: The White House, Miami Beach, Florida. He is also understood to have held property in The Bronx, New York.
Hirsch purchased the by now two-tone DB2 (Dark Blue with a Silver roof) which Schrafft described as “in good shape with low miles”.
On March 15th 1952 Hirsch entered LML/50/11 for the inaugural Sebring 12 Hour airfield race which took place 170 miles up the road from his home. He was co-driven by Bob Gegen.
Described by Motor Sport magazine as ‘a great pre-race favourite’, chassis 11 was pitched against a formidable grid of machinery to include Bill Spear’s Ferrari 4.1-litre 340 America (shared with Briggs Cunningham), a couple of two-litre Ferrari 166 Millia Miglias, an Allard J2, an extremely rapid Frazer Nash Le Mans Replica and an array of Jaguar XK120s.
A torrential rainstorm forced the start to be put back by an hour. The 32 cars finally got underway at 11am.
Bill Spear soon streaked into the lead where he remained until one third distance when his Ferrari retired with a fractured oil pump drive.
By this time, Hirsch and Gegen had also retired; during the third hour a rear shock absorber failure caused LML/50/11 to spin out during its 29th lap.
Victory ultimately went to the Frazer Nash of Larry Kulok and Harry Grey who covered a distance of 1213km.
In front of a 40,000-strong crowd, Hirsch brought his DB2 home in 18th position overall and fifth in the 5M class.
Having dropped out from the lead at Sebring, Bill Spear took the victory in his Ferrari 340 America.
After another ten-week gap, David Hirsch returned to the track and LML/50/11 was entered for The Convair Trophy Races on August 3rd.
Held at the Convair Field airport in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Hirsch and his DB2 contested the 20-lap race for Class D and E machinery. They reputedly placed fourth overall and second in Class D.
Sebring winner Larry Kulok was the outright winner in his Frazer Nash Le Mans Replica.
Chassis 11’s fourth and final competition appearance came at the Watkins Glen Grand Prix which took place on September 20th.
This was the fifth time the event had been held and it had become one of the biggest domestic sports car races of the year; over 200,000 spectators flocked to the 10.6km New York road course.
The high quality entry comprised three works Cunninghams, seven Allard J2s, myriad Jaguar XK120s and a smattering of privateer Italian exotica.
David Hirsch entered LML/50/11 for Bob Gegen to drive.
Ten weeks after his appearance at Sebring, Hirsch attended the SCCA National Sports Car Championship event at the Bridgehampton road course in New York.
By this time (May 24th), LML/50/11 had been re-painted red and fitted with a pair of front spot lights.
Perhaps because of its non-standard water-injection boost facility, the DB2 was placed in the 25-lap event for over 1.5-litre Modified cars (the Bridgehampton Cup) as opposed to the 10-lap contest for over 1.5-litre Production cars (the Hamptons Cup).
Unfortunately, the race was abandoned in tragic circumstances after an Allard J2 clipped several members of the crowd. Twelve spectators were injured and a seven year old boy lost his life.
As a result, no more road racing ever took place at the Watkins Glen road course.
David Hirsch subsequently went on to purchase a brand new Jaguar C-Type for 1953. It most significantly finished fourth at the Sebring 12 Hours in the hands of Bob Gegen and Harry Grey.
After LML/50/11’s appearance at Watkins Glen in September 1952 it disappeared from view until 1971/1972 at which point it appeared in the AMOC owner ledger with Terry Bennett of Shade Tree Garage in Chelsea, Massachusetts.
The car has since gone through the hands of several private owners, initially in the US until its repatriation to the UK in 1990.
Notable History
Painted Black.
10/1950 supplied via Hoffmans, New York to George Schrafft (Palm Beach Foreign Motors, Miami)
Registered 'Florida 6-21412'
Painted Blue with Silver roof.
Sold to David Hirsch, Brooklyn, New York
15/03/1952 Sebring 12 Hours (D. Hirsch / B. Gegen) DNF
Painted Red.
24/05/1952 Bridgehampton Sports Car Road Races (B. Gegen) 18th oa, 5th 3M class
03/08/1952 Convair Trophy Races (D. Hirsch) 4th oa, 2nd D class
20/09/1952 Watkins Glen Grand Prix (B. Gegen) race abandoned
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Aston Martin - https://www.astonmartin.com
