1955 Aston Martin

Chassis # LML/842 Engine # VB6J/316 In the Spring of '55, LML/842 embarked upon it's first of what would be many extensive and doubtless exciting journeys, departing the Feltham factory in the April and being handled by D. B. Australasia as the agent. One Mr Austin Thomas Wilshire of Castle Hill, New South Wales, Australia was the happy recipient and first custodian of this pretty little topaz-tinged gem and upon its safe landing in the Antipodes. In actual fact, during its infancy, LML/842 was registered within the archives of AMOC (Aston Martin Owners Club) as being cared for by a Mr L.W.M. of Bombaderry, New South Wales. Not long after establishing the Eastern coast of Australia as home, we find a change of owner to a ‘neighbour' of Mr M's, down the road at Manly where the smooth-lined, minimum frilled DB2/4 was doubtless seen whizzing along the sunny roads of this peninsular suburb in the hands of Mr B.B., (in 1970). In the autumn of 1972, a mechanical design engineer, Mr R.H.P. took it upon himself to assume the custodian role and drove our fond acquaintance, over to Earlwood on the other side of Sydney. This was not the first time the family had laid eyes on LML/842 as back in 1970 when their family friend Mr B. had acquired the car, he took it over to the other side of town, as preparations and all attention begun in earnest by the family with much to be done, necessary for the annual C.V.V.T.M.C Concours only the following day. Little did they realise then, some two years later they would be enjoying the car themselves. When acquired, ‘Brian' had by then chosen to dress our sports car in a Francophile ‘Bugatti Blue' and chrome plated the original cream enamel wire wheels. Many family adventures ensued, with our devoted engineer remaining true to the purity of the original Middlesex creation and returning the exterior to Blue Haze, bestowing much care and attention upon the prize possession, as a significant assortment of receipts attests. ‘842' regularly entered annual Concours events and travelled further afield, across the Tasman Sea to New Zealand, where Mr P. also had residence. Upon Mr P.'s passing in 1988, ‘842' was left to his son, who took on the mantle of responsibility, committing to finish a restoration programme on the Aston Martin that had begun in 1986. This time, the younger Mr P. selected ‘Silver Haze' as the pantone of choice, believing the colour to be more in keeping with 1950's contemporary and inherently elegant styling. Perhaps its notable swansong in the concours world came in 1993 when entered in the 2nd Annual Australian Concours d'Elegance, Gold Coast, Queensland - ‘842' returned to Auckland with the winner's trophy that year. The tale picks up again in 1997. Much consideration as to the future relationship between Mr P. Jnr. and ‘842' had clearly been undertaken &nd

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