The Aston Martin DB1 – A detailed have a look at this sports activities automobile together with efficiency, technical information, options, evaluating rivals, historical past, used pricesfrom Basic to ModernTHE CARThe first sports activities automobile from Aston Martin appeared in 1914.In 1939, the Aston Martin Atom, a two door, 4 seater coupe was launched, powered by a 2 litre, 4 cylinder, SOHC engine, with two Zenith carburettors.Within the early 1940’s, this unit was changed by a 2 litre, 4 cylinder, OHV engine, with two SU carburettors, and a compression ratio of seven.25:1.Linked to a 4 pace semi-automatic gearbox, this developed 90 bhp at 4750 rpm.There was impartial entrance suspension, and leaf springs on the rear utilizing Armstrong hydraulic shock absorbers. Manufacturing of the Atom led to 1944.In 1947, it was determined to design a brand new automobile however, by that point, the corporate was in monetary issue, and required a money injection.Historical past has it that when the industrialist David Brown drove the Atom in 1947, he was so impressed that he bought the Aston Martin firm, having already acquired the Lagonda firm.Utilizing the Atom as a foundation, David Brown felt {that a} convertible or drop head coupe variant, with lengthy sweeping physique styling, can be essentially the most acceptable format for the manufacturing of the brand new automobile.To resist the extra stresses encountered by eradicating the roof part, the chassis would require further strengthening.Regardless that bigger, various, six cylinder twin cam engines had been obtainable from Lagonda, it was determined to retain the identical 2 litre unit, as used within the Atom, and fitted with a David Brown 4 pace, all-synchromesh, guide gearbox.It had a metal physique, with a extremely distinctive three half grille, on a metal chassis, with a kerb weight of 1140 kg.It used Girling 12 inch hydraulic drum brakes all spherical on 16 inch rims, with worm and curler steering.An intriguing design function was the presence of a compartment in one of many entrance wings as a way to retailer the spare wheel.The brand new sports activities automobile was designated the Two Litre Sports activities, and launched on the 1948 London Motor Present, when manufacturing would proceed till the introduction of the DB2 in 1950, at which level the automobile would obtain the choice identify of Aston Martin DB1.Sadly, the presence of a heavy two seater, drophead-styled physique, and an engine with solely modest output, made for a automobile that was underpowered, which was mirrored in the truth that solely 13 models of the DB1 had been constructed.Moreover, the chassis was solely appropriate for a restricted manufacturing run, which meant that the automobile was costly to supply, and therefore not a worthwhile enterprise.THE ASTON MARTIN SPA CONVERTIBLEPrior to the launch of the DB1 sports activities automobile, it was determined that, as a method of completely testing the chassis and engine, the automobile can be entered within the 1948 Belgian Spa 24 Hour race.The present physique was changed by a particular model primarily based on a small two seater convertible.Consequently, the automobile gained the race outright, and was duly designated the Spa automobile.After the race, this automobile was rebuilt, and displayed alongside the DB1 on the 1948 London Motor Present.Nevertheless, this single Spa Duplicate, because it was identified, failed to supply enough curiosity to warrant precise manufacturing, and was subsequently exhibited on the Dutch Motor Museum.COMPETITIONThe market during which the Aston Martin was pitched included the next sports activities vehicles: Triumph 2000, Cisitalia 202 SMM Spider Nuvolari, Bristol 401, and Maserati A6.This concludes my Aston Martin DB1 Sports activities Automotive Assessment.