WHEN we are watching films of James Bond hurtling around in specially converted Aston Martins it is, perhaps appropriate to take a nostalgic look back to see how these amazing sports cars evolved.

The real true Brit of the sports supercar, the modern Aston Martin is usually recollected in the shape of the six-cylinder DB2 of 1949, but there was a DB before it which is now very rare and commands crazy prices when sold.

The Aston Martin 2.0-litre, retrospectively known as the DB1 was the company's first true post war production model and rolled out of the factory in 1948.

It was also the first product of the company under new owner, David Brown and was based on the Aston Martin Atom prototype which was developed during WW2.

Under the bonnet was a sturdy 2.0-litre engine designed by Claude Hill which enabled the road car to develop 90bhp and whizz along at 96mph.

But shortly after David Brown took over, the potential of the new design was realised and a prototype was raced in the 24 hours endurance event at Spa and it proved its durability by winning the race outright. The Spa Replica was shown at London's Motor Show as an example of what to come from this company.

Brown directed Aston to build a two-seat roadster with a more conventional body for road use and 13 of the cars wore an open roadster body, complete with a three-part grille suggesting the later Aston Martin design.

A typically British feature was a compartment in the front wing to house the spare wheel.

It was an elegant aluminium car with sweeping lines, a split windscreen and two plus two seating.

Despite the car being slower than later six-cylinder cars, its handling was excellent with independent coil-spring front suspension and coil spring live rear axle. Stopping power was by virtue of Girling brakes.

Without doubt one of the influential British sports car designs.