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In action.
DBR2 [b]copy[/b] at Canberra's [i]Terribly British Car Show[/i] last month.
Thats some paint job on the dash!!!
The DBR2 was created from a short lived Lagonda project known as DP166 (DP for Development Project), This was a multi tube, back bone space frame chassis designed by Willy Watson. This was a progression from the DP115 'wide tubed ladder type' chassis which was similar to that used in the DB3S. Both the DP115 and the DP166 chassis were originally fitted with the failed Lagonda 4.5L V12 engine. Using two of the three DP166 chassis made, the chief race car designer for Aston Martin at that time Ted Cutting was given the job of re-working the chassis so to fit the new prototype DB4 engine. Ted Cutting mentioned that all three DP166 chassis were slightly different on the rear end, Ted Cutting chose the two chassis that were most alike for the task. Ted Cutting also changed the design of the pedal box, as the Willy Watson design had some maintenance issues. The all aluminium bodies for the DBR2 were also designed by Ted Cutting. This was a similar design to the one he later used on his Le Man winning DBR1. The DBR2 was slightly larger and more aerodynamic. These cars would be christened DBR2/1 and DBR2/2.
For an engine, the new Tadek Marek-designed 3.7L (3670cc) Straight-6 from the newly launched DB4 road car was initially installed. For the 1958 season, the engine was enlarged to 3.9L, then again with a 4.2L engine later in the year.
[B]Racing history[/B]
DBR2/1 initially began competition at the 1957 24 Hours of Le Mans, where it unfortunately retired. Its only notable success for 1957 was at the Daily Express Trophy at Silverstone Circuit in the hands of Roy Salvadori.
Due to a 3.0 engine capacity limit introduced for the World Sportscar Championship in 1958, the DBR2 was relegated to non-championship British, European, and American events that permitted the larger capacity cars.
For 1958 the DBR2's program was expanded, including the upgrade to the newer 3.9L engines. DBR2/1 won both the Sussex Trophy at Goodwood and the British Empire Trophy at Oulton Park, driven by Stirling Moss in both wins. After finishing 2nd and 3rd at Spa, Aston Martin decided to concentrate on the DBR1 for Europe, while both DBR2s were upgraded to the 4.2L engines and transferred to America where they could compete easier with larger engine capacities. George Constantine drove DBR2/1 to victories at Lime Rock and Marlborough before the end of the season.
Continuing in the United States in 1959, the cars again took victory in New York and twice in the Bahamas, driven by George Constantine and Stirling Moss. Both cars were then returned to Aston Martin in 1960.
[SIZE="1"]Source: wikipedia.org[/SIZE]