Late Pre- and Early Post- World War 2 Aston Martins

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One label for this post is "First and Last," but the subject actually is "Last and First."  In this case, the final pre- World War 2 Aston Martins and the postwar models when David Brown assumed ownership of the firm.  General Aston Martin background is here, that of the postwar "DB1" (a retroactive designation) is here, and for the 1950-vintage DB2, here.

Aside from modernized styling, postwar Astons featured the "A" form grille design that the marque has continued with detail variation until this day.  But even that feature had prewar origin in the form of a prototype/concept car, the Aston Martin Atom that was first displayed in 1940.

Gallery

1938 15/98 Sports Tourer - Bonhams photo
An example of the last prewar Aston.  Styling is 1933-ish, but still prevalent in late-1930s England.  The grille design was abandoned following this model's end of production.

1939-1940 Aston Martin Atom prototype/concept - Bonhams photo
The idea was to explore streamlining, but even here English design conservatism yielded distinct fenders instead of an "envelope" body with flow-through fenders that were speculative in the late '30s and common production items not long after the war ended in 1945.

1939-1940 Aston Martin Atom prototype concept - Bonhams photo
The car has four doors and what looks like a cramped passenger compartment.  The grille opening is delta-shaped, not very far removed from the postwar "A" pattern.

1950 Aston Martin DB1 - for sale
In 1948 the Aston Martin Two Litre Sports Drophead Coupé appeared; the car in this image is one of the last built.  The central grille element slightly echoes the prewar design, but the flanking openings are the that of the so-called "A" pattern.  Note the opening panel atop the front fender: apparently it provides access to a spare tire.

1952 Aston Martin DB2 - Hyman consignment sales
The first actual DB was the DB2.  This coupé is recognizably in the styling idiom of subsequent Aston Martins, though all details have changed to varying degrees since then.

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