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Reading
Savile Row – Coachbuilt Aston Martins of the ’50s & ’60s
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This 1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 (LML/507) was sold to Chicago dealer Stanley “Wacky” Arnolt, who sent it to Bertone for a racy, Scaglione-designed spider body. Photo: RM Auctions
1910s1950sFeatured Editorials & ContentRoadcar ArticlesRoadcar Features

Savile Row – Coachbuilt Aston Martins of the ’50s & ’60s

 Casey Annis
Six (possibly seven) DB2 chassis were sent to Graber, in Switzerland, for custom convertible bodies that featured fixed front fenders and a separate bonnet, as opposed to the standard DB2’s forward-hinged front end. Photo: Kevin Kay Restorations

After World War II, many of the world’s auto manufacturers returned to car production embracing many of the technologies and manufacturing innovations developed as a result of the war effort. Aerodynamics and unit-body construction were just a few of the advents refined by the war effort that would soon become central tenets for any manufacturer hoping to stay alive on the new automotive landscape. However, money and resources were extremely tight—especially in war-ravaged Europe—and competing manufacturers still needed exciting, exclusive “halo” cars to draw attention to their products. The solution for many small manufacturers was a return to the venerable, pre-war practice of custom “coachbuilt” vehicles. As had been done since the birth of the automobile, a manufacturer could send a rolling chassis to any number of European—though mostly Italian—coachbuilders or carrozzeria, that would efficiently clothe their chassis in a sexy, one-off, custom body. For many British sports car manufacturers, this coachbuilt tradition became a very easy, inexpensive way to offer their more exclusive clientele the automotive equivalent of a Savile Row suit. One British manufacturer that used this custom tailoring to great effect was Aston Martin.

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Casey Annis
Steve Natale has been playing with cars ever since he was old enough to first hold a matchbox car in his hand. A lifelong enthusiast of anything old with an engine in it or wheels on it, Steve has been active in the hobby for over 35 years. Currently he owns a successful marketing company with his wife Mary, is an automotive photographer, blogger and writer for several automotive magazines and regular contributor to various automotive websites. Steve has attended vintage car events and visited car museums and collections around the world.
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