1955 Aston Martin DB2/4

Fine car though the Aston Martin DB2 was, its sales had been affected by the limitations of two seats and minimal luggage space. Aston Martin thus redesigned the rear of the car to enable two occasional rear seats to be installed, at the same time raising the roof line slightly to increase headroom and fitting a larger rear window in an opening lid; as such this Aston, appropriately renamed the DB2/4, was arguably the world’s first hatchback.

The windscreen also became a one-piece molding, the quarterlight windows were reshaped, the headlights repositioned higher in the bonnet and the overall length increased by six inches. Beneath the aluminum body the rigid steel chassis retained its independent trailing link/coil spring front suspension, with transverse torsion bar, and a live coil-sprung rear axle located by parallel arms and Panhard rod. Brakes were large and powerful drums all round.

The DB2/4 made its debut at the 1953 London Motor Show,...