How Many Vincents Left?

timetraveller

Well Known and Active Forum User
VOC Member
Oh ye of little faith! Please note that I not only do not own this car but it is not for sale either so there is no need for any exaggeration. Albervin’s description is pretty much spot on though. This Aston Martin really is the prototype, Reg.No YMP 200, Chassis No. LML 50/221. The engine DP101/9. The car was used as the training car for the Mille Miglia and the engine used for the Le Mans 24h driven by Peter Collins and Paul Frere. It is the pre-production prototype and started life as a DB2 and then had the rear of the body reworked, at the factory, to make it an occasional four seater and what is possibly the first ‘hatch back’. The car was used for a road test published by Autocar on October 2, 1953.
Of particular interest to Vincent owners is the performance. Best two way speed 110 mph, best one way speed 120 mph, 0 – 60 time 12.6 seconds. Power from the 2,580 cc engine was 125 bhp meaning that the power per 1,000 ccs was somewhere between a Rapide and a Shadow. Look at that 0 – 60 time and you will start and realise just why Vincents had such a mythical status at the time. There was the ‘toff’ in his £2,600 car being left in the dust and wake of the bike costing about an eighth of the price.
For anyone who would like to know more and wants to realise that Vincent owners are not the only ‘obsessives’ around look at the web site astonuts.free.fr and read about ‘A strange DB2/4? No, a prototype!’ To further indicate that we are not the only eccentrics about, the owner of the Aston also has a 1919 Delornay Bellville, sitting out in his garden under rags. He claims that he lost his virginity in this car and therefor has a special affection for it but it is a real shame to see the state of it. That is also not for sale.
 
Top