When David Brown acquired Aston Martin in February 1947, the 2-Litre Sports was the first car to emerge under his ownership — a hand-built open tourer that established the DB bloodline stretching all the way to the DB5 and beyond. Cult Scale Models has reproduced the open Spider Cabriolet variant in 1:18 resin, in a period-correct Light Blue Metallic finish that suits the sweeping aluminium coachwork of this late-1940s British sports car.
A Post-War Aston Martin Built in Aluminium
The 2-Litre Sports — often catalogued as the DB1 — was constructed between 1948 and 1950, with approximately 15 examples produced in total. Its bodywork was hand-formed in aluminium over a tubular steel chassis, and the open Spider cabriolet variant featured a fold-flat hood and long, roadster-style flanks. Power came from a Claude Hill-designed 2.0-litre overhead-camshaft inline-four producing around 90 bhp, mated to a David Brown 4-speed gearbox. The car was publicly unveiled at the 1948 London Motor Show.
The Car That Started the DB Dynasty
David Brown's purchase of Aston Martin in 1947 and his subsequent acquisition of Lagonda gave the marque both the resources and the engineering talent to grow. The 2-Litre Sports was the immediate result: a low-volume, coachbuilt road car aimed at the serious sporting driver. With only around 15 built across the 1948–1950 production window, surviving examples are among the rarest Aston Martins in existence — rarer, in numerical terms, than virtually any DB-series model that followed.
Cult Scale Models: Resin at 1:18
Cult Scale Models specialises in limited-run resin models of historically significant road cars that mainstream diecast producers rarely address. The 2-Litre Sports Spider Cabriolet is precisely the kind of subject the brand exists for. Produced in resin — a material that allows fine surface definition across the aluminium body contours and hood detailing — the model measures approximately 22.5 cm in length. Cult Scale Models also releases the same subject in alternate colours under separate variants, making colour choice relevant for the collector building a focused display.
In the Display Cabinet
At 22.5 cm long, this 1:18 model requires a shelf depth of at least 12–13 cm to accommodate the open bodywork and wing lines comfortably. The Light Blue Metallic finish pairs naturally with other British classics of the late 1940s and early 1950s — the Aston Martin DB2 (1950) or a Lagonda 2.6 Litre make logical display companions given their shared David Brown ownership. For collectors building a chronological DB-series display, this 2-Litre Sports is the natural starting point.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the 1:18 scale model?
The real Aston Martin 2-Litre Sports measures approximately 4,115 mm in length. Divided by 18, that produces a model length of roughly 22.5 cm. Allow at least 12–13 cm of shelf depth for the open cabriolet bodywork.
Does the model have opening parts?
Opening parts for this Cult Scale Models resin release have not been confirmed. As is typical for resin models from this manufacturer, the body is likely a sealed one-piece construction; detail is concentrated on the exterior surfaces — the aluminium coachwork, hood surround, and period roadster lines.
What material is the model made from?
The model is made from resin, the material Cult Scale Models uses across its range of limited-run 1:18 reproductions. Resin allows crisp surface detail on complex hand-formed bodywork such as the aluminium panels of the 2-Litre Sports.
How rare is the real Aston Martin 2-Litre Sports?
Only approximately 15 examples were produced between 1948 and 1950, making it one of the rarest Aston Martins ever built. It was the first model produced under David Brown's ownership following his acquisition of the company in February 1947.
