The Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk II was produced between 1955 and 1957, and a total of 199 vehicles were built during that period. Of those, 146 were the Saloon variant. This is one of those cars, and it will require a full restoration. However, it does appear to be complete, and there are no signs of any rust problems. The Aston is located in Los Angeles, California, and has been listed for sale here on eBay. The BIN has been set at $185,000, but the option is available to make an offer.

With only 199 vehicles rolling off the line, the DB2/4 Mk II is a rare beast. The Saloon wasn’t the rarest variant because there were a mere three examples of the Touring Spider produced. If you can find one of those cars, then you truly will have struck gold. That doesn’t detract from the rarity and potential value of this car, which means that it is well worth considering for restoration. One of this car’s defining characteristics is its hatchback configuration, which was an unusual feature to find in a car from the 1950s. The Aston is finished in iconic British Racing Green, and while there is evidence to suggest that the vehicle has received at least one repaint during its life, this does appear to be the original color. The aluminum body appears to be in respectable condition, with no signs of any significant dings or dents. The weak point for these cars is the frame, and the owner provides no information about its condition. However, the frame design is not complicated, so most rust problems should be addressed fairly easily. All of the chrome is present, although both bumpers look like they might sport some minor damage. This looks repairable, which is a good thing. Bumpers are not a component that will be thick on the ground for a car like this. The glass all looks good, and this is a bonus because finding replacement pieces could be nearly as difficult as locating bumpers.

Tilting the hood forward reveals the 2,922cc DOHC 6-cylinder engine that would produce 162hp when in good health. A 4-speed manual transmission backs this. The DB2/4 was designed to be more of a true Grand Tourer than a sports car, but the ¼ mile ET of 17.1 seconds was still respectable in 1957. Given enough space, the Aston would have been capable of working its way to 122mph. The mechanical condition of this classic is another one of those great unknowns. The owner doesn’t indicate whether the Aston runs or drives, but the engine bay’s condition and cleanliness are quite encouraging. A few minor aftermarket additions are visible, but it generally appears to be as it would have looked back in 1957.

The “2/4” designation that the Aston Martin carries is a nod to its seating capacity. It is essentially an evolution of the 2-seat DB2 but features a rear seat. This makes it a 4-seater, although rear-seat space was quite limited. The interior of this car continues the trend of being largely complete but in need of restoration. The leather upholstery is beyond salvation, as is the carpet. The wheel has some cracks and will need to be restored or replaced. One positive to take away from here is that the timber trim looks to be in a restorable state. The gauges look to be in good condition, and I don’t believe that these will need any work.

There is a lot to like about this 1957 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk II Saloon, but there are also many unknowns. The state of the frame and the drivetrain both have a question mark hanging over them. This is by no means a cheap project car, and I feel that the owner hasn’t helped his cause by not including any information on these aspects of the vehicle. So, is it worth the time and effort to restore this one? That depends on the state of the frame and the engine. A pristine example can quickly push up towards the $300,000 mark, although higher figures are possible. If you’ve got the money, then maybe it would be worth asking the seller a few of the right questions.