VIN: the works Aston Martin DB2 Le Mans Prototype chassis LMA/49/1
History of chassis LMA/49/1
Chassis LMA/49/1 was one of four DB2 Le Mans Prototypes built. These cars pre-dated David Brown’s first all new model since his acquisition of Aston Martin: the DB2.
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.
After shakedown tests in England, chassis 1 (registered UMC 64), chassis 2 (UMC 65) and chassis 3 (UMC 66) were entered for the 1949 Le Mans 24 Hours. All three Almond Green cars were 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 1 was driven by Pierre Marchal and Donald Mathieson.
Instead of practice times, the grid order was decided on engine size. This meant the two-litre cars began 27th and 28th while the solitary 2.6-litre entry lined up 19th.
The race started 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 in seventh overall and fourth in the Index of Performance when a brake line fractured heading into Maison Blanche. The subsequent brake failure caused Marechal to crash at high speed.
Chassis 1 violently barrel rolled, the engine was torn from its mountings and the roof was completely flattened.
The unfortunate Pierre Marechal succumbed to spinal injuries in hospital the next day.
LML/49/1 was destroyed in the accident.
Notable History
David Brown / Aston Martin Ltd.
Four cylinder Claude Hill engine
Almond Green
Registered UMC 64
26/06/1949 IND Le Mans 24 Hours (P. Marechal / D. Mathieson) DNF (#28)
Destroyed in Pierre Marechal’s fatal accident at Le Mans
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Aston Martin - https://www.astonmartin.com
