VIN: the works / Rob Walker Aston Martin DB2 chassis LML/50/9
History of chassis LML/50/9
Chassis LML/50/9 was one of three DB2 team cars assembled for the 1950 season.
The team cars followed a pair of standard DB2 prototypes which had themselves been preceded by four racing prototypes in 1949.
The trio of team cars were all painted Cadillac Green and consecutively registered in May of 1950. LML/50/7 was VMF 63, LML/50/8 was VMF 64 and LML/50/9 was VMF 65.
They were completed in time to run at the 1950 Le Mans 24 Hours. Special modifications included long-range fuel tanks with roof-mounted fillers, a variety of extra cooling ducts, bonnet cut outs for quick fluid top ups, illuminated ID plates and leather bonnet straps.
LML/50/9 was allocated to Eric Thompson and Jack Fairman. All three entries were driven to France in convoy along with a spare car (LML/49/3). However, en route to the circuit, Fairman missed a corner and LML/50/9 overturned. It could not be repaired in time for the race so was sent back to England.
The sister cars went on to finish first and second in class by placing fifth and sixth overall.
LML/50/9 next appeared with the other pair of team cars at the Silverstone International One Hour Production Car Race. By this time, the Le Mans addenda had been removed and the DB2s ran in more or less standard trim.
Eric Thompson had two gearboxes seize in practice so a third was installed which had rather unsuitable Le Mans ratios. Nevertheless, Thompson finished ninth overall and fourth in class.
George Abecassis was behind the wheel of LML/50/9 for the Dundrod Tourist Trophy on September 16th. The three hour event took place in dreadful conditions and the DB2s displayed remarkable roadholding throughout. Abecassis placed fifth overall and second in class behind team-mate, Reg Parnell.
One week later, all three team cars attended the Shelsley Walsh Hillclimb for a celebratory run. Abecassis finished fifth in the three-litre production class as the DB2s were outclassed by the works Frazer Nash crews.
LML/50/9 then made the works car’s final appearance of 1950 when it contested the Daily Express 1000 mile Rally between November 8th and 10th. Stirling Moss and Lance Macklin were entered in the car which attracted more attention than any other vehicle on the rally.
The event kicked off from eight control points and headed through Wales to Ross-on-Wye, on to Gloucester and then down to Torquay for a series of sea-front tests.
Moss and Macklin departed from the Chester control and finished without a loss of road marks but did not figure in the awards list. They did, however, set a record for times taken between controls.
LML/50/9 then served as a press car.
In this role it appeared in an Autocar road test published on November 17th.
It also starred in an Autosport road test for their March 2nd 1951 edition. By this time, LML/50/9 had been repainted a light silver grey.
In the spring of 1951, LML/50/9 was sold to Johnnie Walker heir and noted sportsman, Rob Walker.
Walker occasionally drove the car in the odd speed trial and sprint but, as a condition of his marriage in 1940, he had agreed to give up serious competition.
LML/50/9 was therefore more frequently driven by Eric Thompson and Tony Rolt. Rolt would go on to race Walker’s Connaught single seater in 1953.
Walker sold LML/50/9 to Mercedes-Benz distributor, Woking Motors, in January 1955. It was part-exchanged against his first 300 SL Gullwing (chassis 4500141).
By the mid 1960s, LML/50/9 was in the possession of Nigel Mann who loaned it to the Le Mans Museum until 1998.
Notable History
Cadillac Green
Aston Martin Ltd.
05/1950 registered VMF 65
25/06/1950 IND Le Mans 24 Hours (E. Thompson / J. Fairman) DNS (#20)
26/08/1950 IND Silverstone International (E. Thompson) 9th oa, 4th S3.0 class (#15)
16/09/1950 IND Dundrod Tourist Trophy (G. Abecassis) 5th oa, 2nd S3.0 class (#21)
23/09/1950 BHC Shelsley Walsh (G. Abecassis) 5th in 3.0 Production class (#54)
08-10/11/1950 IND Daily Express 1000 Miles Rally (S. Moss / L. Macklin) ran (#195)
Sold to Rob Walker, Nunny, Somerset
14/06/1951 IND British Empire Trophy (G. Abecassis) 11th oa (#12)
15/07/1951 IND Ramsgate Speed Trials (R. Walker) 1st in Saloon car class (#15)
18/08/1951 IND Goodwood Handicap (T. Rolt) 3rd oa (#??)
18/08/1951 IND Goodwood 3.0 Race (T. Rolt) 4th oa (#??)
01/09/1951 IND Brighton Speed Trials (R. Walker) 25th in 2.0+ class (#??)
15/09/1951 IND Dundrod Tourist Trophy (E. Thompson) 8th oa, 3rd S3.0 class (#23)
29/09/1951 IND Goodwood Sports Handicap (T. Rolt) ran (#93)
13/07/1952 IND Ramsgate Speed Trials (R. Walker) 1st in class (#??)
21/09/1952 AMO Snetterton (E. Thompson) 1st oa (#??)
27/09/1952 IND Goodwood International Handicap (E. Thompson) 11th oa (#81)
27/09/1952 IND Goodwood International Sports (E. Thompson) DNS (#81)
04/10/1952 IND Tarrant Rushton Sprint (R. Walker) 1st in class (#??)
??/??/1952 IND London & North Herts Speed Trial (R. Walker) 1st in class (#??)
Continued to be used by Rob Walker during 1953 and 1954 by which time it was fitted with a three-litre engine.
Late 1954 converted to Series 2 front bodywork.
1955 sold to Woking Motors
Later sold to Nigel Mann and loaned to the Le Mans Museum until 1998
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: unattributed
