Solved - NEH 1081: Special-bodied 1951 Aston Martin DB2 S/N LML/50/44

[Carnut]

1 point for explaining what this car is, where it was built and what subsequently happened to it in its later years:

[Carnut]

Experts?

[SACO]

Aston martin DB2 ?

[Carnut]

Aston martin DB2 ?

It is, yes.
I'll lock it for you for 24 hours to come up with the full story and answer all the questions posed.

[Carnut]

Aston martin DB2 ?

It is, yes.
I'll lock it for you for 24 hours to come up with the full story and answer all the questions posed.

This puzzle is open to any Rookie or Expert to come up with the details asked for originally now!

[Carnut]

I know the Pro's know..

[Allemano]

It's a Aston Martin DB2 numbered LML/50/44

Sold new by the Swedish distributor (Bilaktiebolaget Imperia in Nykoping) to Solve Relve in 1951.
Registered in Sweden M45041 on 24 April 1952 but delivered to 1st owner on 13 October 1951. Reg O 24763 (25 July 1952), P 8477 (31 July 1953, 24 June 1956), F 8285 (15 August 1960, 24 July 1964), FSW 379 (25 June 1973, 22 February 1979).
Exported to San Diego (California) in 1987-1988 and for sale in Road and Track (with the claim, of which there is no evidence that it raced at Le Mans and in the Targa Florio in 1958).

Another pic of the same car:

[woodinsight]

Aaargh! You beat me to it......

[Carnut]

Well, yes, that is the car.
But the question is not yet really fully answered.
For instance when and where did it receive this body?
Also you might note there are fundamental differences between the puzzle car photo and the photo posted by Allemano; explain the difference!

There is still a point up for grabs here!

[Allemano]

Well, yes, that is the car.
But the question is not yet really fully answered.
For instance when and where did it receive this body?
Also you might note there are fundamental differences between the puzzle car photo and the photo posted by Allemano; explain the difference!

There is still a point up for grabs here!

I'm happily waiting when you will tell us!

All I can gather is as follows:

Listed as a saloon in the AMOC 1959 register and wrongly as a DHC in the 1996 one.
Reworked body in early 1960s. (...) Then the car was reworked with bigger rear window, opening side windows. It was also converted to LHD.

The engine also got three Webers.

[Carnut]

Not the answer though I'm afraid.
As far as the bodywork goes, I'm not looking for any specific name as I think it's not generally known - just when and where, as the question asks!

[woodinsight]

I can probably answer this but I have an appointment in Nice this afternoon so I won't be able to reply until this evening

[Allemano]

I believe I've seen the same car with more (family) pictures somewhere else, but I can't recall anymore. Think it was mentioned there.

[Carnut]

I believe I've seen the same car with more (family) pictures somewhere else, but I can't recall anymore. Think it was mentioned there.

Actually, reading your post again you did mention the fact I'm looking for but only as a quote - not written by you.

So I think there's actuallly nothing more that can be added but if woodinsight can be more specific he can have a point as well.

What I was looking for is the fact that the car was converted to LHD; you can tell by comparing the 2 photos and the windscreen wipers tell all!

I thought my source said the car was rebodied in Sweden, but checking again it doesn't say where it was - just that it was in the early 1960s.

So I'm giving Allemano a point for coming up with the majority of the info, but if you can find anything more definitive woodinsight there's a point in it for you too!

[Carnut]

Unmodified puzzle photo and a rear view:

[Allemano]

I believe I've seen the same car with more (family) pictures somewhere else, but I can't recall anymore. Think it was mentioned there.

Actually, reading your post again you did mention the fact I'm looking for but only as a quote - not written by you.

So I think there's actuallly nothing more that can be added but if woodinsight can be more specific he can have a point as well.

What I was looking for is the fact that the car was converted to LHD; you can tell by comparing the 2 photos and the windscreen wipers tell all!

I thought my source said the car was rebodied in Sweden, but checking again it doesn't say where it was - just that it was in the early 1960s.

So I'm giving Allemano a point for coming up with the majority of the info, but if you can find anything more definitive woodinsight there's a point in it for you too!

Thank you Carnut, I was really stuck!

[woodinsight]

I've done some further research on Swedish DB2s and have found more than one car rebodied.
I'll post my findings with photos shortly......

[woodinsight]

As I mentioned I have found two more Swedish bodied DB2s.
This first one was owned by Gunnar Elmgren and certainly looks similar to the puzzle car although the registration numbers don't tie up. Unfortunately I don't have a chassis number for this car.
Mr. Elmgren had one of his other cars (non-Aston) bodied by Sickla Karosserie, Stockholm? and it may be speculated that his DB2 came from the same coachbuilder.

Gunnar Elmgren's DB2 -

[woodinsight]

and here is the other one I found.
Unfortunately no indication of the chassis number on this one either.
This one appears to have a different front.

[Carnut]

This car has been auctioned by Bonhams recently.
According to the blurb it was customised in Sweden for its first owner Mr Yngve Erikson: