The Bertone-bodied Aston Martins of the 1950s paired Italian design flair with solid British engineering. One of only two DB2/4 chassis built with this striking convertible body style, and possessing a fascinating provenance, LML506 is an important coachbuilt Aston Martin from the early years of the David Brown era.
Based in Chicago, S.H. “Wacky” Arnolt made his money in steel, later diversifying into automobile distribution. Wacky loved foreign cars, and at the 1951 Torino Auto Show he struck a deal with Carrozzeria Bertone to build some custom-bodied MG TDs and later a limited number of Aston Martin DB2/4s.
The spectacular DB2/4 drophead coupe here is among this exclusive group of Bertone-bodied Aston Martins. According to factory records, chassis LML506 was completed by Aston Martin on June 9, 1953, and dispatched to Carrozzeria Bertone in Torino on November 16.
While Nuccio Bertone had in-house stylist Franco Scaglione design three DB2/4 Spiders, the two drophead coupes have long been attributed to freelance designer Giovanni Michelotti. Not only did these two virtually identical cars possess a decidedly Italian flair, they maintained traditional Aston Martin design cues, including the firm’s distinctively shaped radiator grille. Both cars were built to the highest standards, with extraordinary attention to detail and luxurious appointments throughout.
Ordered through British Motor Car Distributors in California, chassis LML506 was delivered to its first owner, Edith Field, on November 12, 1954. Ms. Field was a charter member of the San Francisco Opera Association and an avid car enthusiast, also owning an AC Ace Bristol. In 1955, Ms. Field entered her new Bertone-bodied Aston Martin in the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and received third place in the class for Two-Seater Sports Cars, $4,500–$10,000. A photograph of Ms. Field’s Aston Martin appears in Robert T. Devlin’s classic book, Pebble Beach: A Matter of Style.\
