VIN: the works Aston Martin DB2 Le Mans Prototype chassis LMA/49/2
History of chassis LMA/49/2
Chassis LMA/49/2 was the second of four DB2 Le Mans Prototypes built.
Cosmetically, the four rakish Le Mans Prototypes differed substantially from the Series 1 DB2. They were produced to test the DB2 platform to its limit and, accordingly, three of the four cars were raced at the top level.
The fourth and final example (LML/49/4) was reserved for David Brown’s personal use.
LMA/49/1 and LMA/49/2 were equipped with 1970cc four cylinder Claude Hill engines.
LML/49/3 and LML/49/4 came with 2580cc versions of the WO Bentley-designed inline ‘six’ that would go on to power most Aston Martins for the next 20 years.
The three Almond Green team cars destined for competition use were consecutively registered UMC 64 (chassis 1), UMC 65 (chassis 2) and UMC 66 (chassis 3).
They were entered for the 1949 Le Mans 24 Hours and driven to France for what was the first post World War 2 running of the event.
The race took place over the weekend of June 25th and 26th.
Chassis 2 was driven by Arthur Jones and Nick Haines.
Instead of practice times, grid order was decided on engine size. This meant the two-litre cars began 27th and 28th while the 2.6-litre entry started 19th.
The race began badly for Aston Martin when the six cylinder car went out after just six laps as a result of water loss.
By contrast, the pair of four cylinder entries ran with no major problems until disaster struck with little more than an hour remaining.
Pierre Marechal was seventh overall in chassis 1 when a brake line fractured heading into Maison Blanche. The subsequent brake failure caused him to crash at high speed and violently barrel roll. The unfortunate Marechal succumbed to spinal injuries the next day.
In chassis LMA/49/2, Jones and Haines inherited Marechal’s seventh position and took third in the two-litre Sports category behind the race winning Ferrari 166 Mille Miglia and a Frazer Nash High Speed Le Mans Replica.
After a refresh back at the factory, chassis 2 and 3 appeared at the Spa 24 Hours two weeks later. Aston Martin had won this event the previous year with their cycle-winged 2-litre ‘Spa Special’.
Chassis 2 would, on this occasion, be driven by Nick Haines and Lance Macklin.
Against stiff opposition, both DB2 Prototypes ran for the duration of the 24 hour race.
Johnson / Brackenbury placed third overall and second in class with the six cylinder car while Haines / Macklin took fifth overall and third in class driving chassis 2.
Both cars were retained by Aston Martin throughout 1950, but LMA/49/2 was not raced again by the factory.
It was purchased for the 1951 season by privateer Bill Whitehouse who was the owner of Westmount Garage in Blendon, Kent.
Whitehouse was friends with fellow car dealer, Bernie Ecclestone, and started racing a 500cc Cooper Formula 3 car in 1949.
Whitehouse used the car sparingly in 1951 but picked up a few good results.
In 1954, chassis 2 reappeared at some minor club events with a driver named Barrow.
In 1965, it passed to Aston Martin Owners Club member, Christopher Angell. After an outing at the 1971 Le Mans 24 Hours demonstration parade, Angell’s health began to fail and chassis 2 was laid up in his garden.
The unrestored car was stolen in 2002 and Christopher Angell passed away in 2003. His relatives subsequently had to retrieve the car via litigation.
Having done so, they sold LMA/49/2 at the Bonhams Goodwood Festival of Speed Sale in 2016.
Notable History
David Brown / Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd.
Four cylinder Claude Hill engine
Almond Green
Registered UMC 65
26/06/1949 IND Le Mans 24 Hours (A. Jones / N. Haines) 7th oa, 3rd S2.0 class (#27)
10/07/1949 IND Spa 24 Hours (N. Haines / L. Macklin) 5th oa, 3rd S2.0 class (#30)
Sold to Bill Whitehouse, Blendon, Kent
26/03/1951 IND National Gamston Handicap (B. Whitehouse) 3rd (#??)
05/05/1951 IND Silverstone International (B. Whitehouse) 16th (#31)
12/05/1951 IND Altcar Sprint (B. Whitehouse) 2nd in class (#??)
14/06/1951 IND British Empire Trophy, Douglas (B. Whitehouse) DNF (#11)
01/09/1951 IND Turnberry (B. Whitehouse) 1st in class (#??)
Sold to Barrow and used at some minor club events in 1954
1965 sold to Christopher Angell
2002 stolen
Later retrieved and sold by Bonhams at Goodwood in 2016
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Aston Martin - https://www.astonmartin.com
