Bertone was commissioned to build this one-of-a-kind Aston Martin for Chicago-based businessman Stanley Arnolt.
A stunning 1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 Spider will head to auction at the Gooding & Company London auction later this year. This extraordinary creation was crafted by Bertone for one Stanley “Wacky” Arnolt, a Chicago-based industrialist and car fanatic.
Known as the DB2/4 “Indiana” Spider, this one-of-a-kind Aston was custom-built as Arnolt's personal car and styled by the legendary Franco Scaglione, the genius behind Alfa Romeo's gorgeous 33 Stradale. Destined for a life in the spotlight, the Indiana Spider toured the globe, making appearances at all the big auto shows. Later, it would be displayed in Chicago and New York, leaving crowds in awe with its pretty coachwork.
Chassis LML/762 was sold to a collector in the '70s and has been a permanent fixture at the world's most prestigious motoring events ever since, making appearances at Concours d'Elegance shows in the 1970s and 1980s. The vehicle later went on to live with a Swiss Aston Martin collector, who treated the Indiana Spider to a concours-style restoration, where it was resprayed in its original light metallic blue finish.
The fascia is color-matched to the bodywork, and the interior has been trimmed in cream leather with blue carpeting. These hues work beautifully with the exterior, which is further accentuated by the gorgeous wire wheels. Since then, the car received a Mention of Honor at the 2009 Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este, among several other accolades.
There's a very interesting story behind this Bertone-bodied Aston. It all started in 1951 when Arnolt partnered with the design house to build several custom-bodied vehicles. As a distributor of British marques, the Chicago businessman decided to market Bertone-designed British vehicles under the Arnolt name.
During the '50s, he created the Arnolt-MG, Arnolt-Bristol, and even an Arnolt-Bentley. Despite the British underpinnings and Italian styling, Arnolt reportedly sold these cars as American vehicles. However, when he decided to create the Arnolt-Aston, the businessman completed just three cars before the sports car company intervened and put a stop to it.
In total, Arnolt commissioned seven Bertone-designed cars with an Aston Martin badge, but only three are considered to be Arnolt-Astons. This is one of them and the only Spider of its kind.
This is an exceptionally special Aston Martin and one that collectors would do just about anything to get their hands on. As you'd expect from such a desirable car, the DB2/4 Indiana Spider is estimated to sell for £1,200,000-£1,800,000 (approximately $1,525,000-$2,300,000), which is a lot of money. In fact, you could buy nearly 10 examples of the new Aston Martin DB12 for the same amount.
The Arnolt-Aston will hit the auction block on September 1 at Hampton Court Palace in London. Before then, the purveyors of classic cars will offer an enviable collection for sale at its Pebble Beach auction. Vehicles on offer include a '66 Ferrari 275 GTB, a '65 Aston Martin DB5 Convertible, and a '58 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL. If you had to choose, which classic European sports car would be deserving of your hypothetical millions?
Keyword: One-Of-One Aston Martin DB2/4 Indiana Spider Is Heading To Auction