Vendor will handle all necessary export documents and deliver to SA port if requested
Highlights
• Remarkable Aston Martin with pedigree
• Near concours condition
• Known history from new
• Upgraded to ‘Ulster’ specification
• UK Registration document included in history file
• UK Registration document included in history file
The Appeal
Introduced in 1934, the Mark 2 was Aston Martin’s replacement for the Le Mans model. It had a longer and stronger chassis and was offered in two wheelbases, the shorter of which was almost identical to Aston’s famous ‘Ulster’ racing car that came 3rd in the 1935 Le Mans 24 Hour Race.
Mk 2s were always hugely popular competition cars and were sold with coach-built bodies. This one is a four-seater touring cabriolet and was converted by Aston Martin Works in 1935 to full Ulster mechanical specification, increasing the power output for 84.5bhp to over 100bhp. It’s a genuine 100mph touring car that has been cherished and adored from new and is now offered for sale to a new lucky owner, who will get their hands on a unique piece of automotive history that’s eligible for almost all of the high-end motoring events.
The History and Paperwork
• Known history from new
• UK registered
• MOT and tax exempt
• Invoices and bills going back years
• Correspondence included about the car from previous keeper
• Matching engine and chassis numbers
• Chassis soda blasted to bare metal and rebuilt carefully, keeping as much originality as possible
• Engine rebuilt with new bearings and rings plus valves, rockers, oil pump,water pump and intermediate gear
• Converted to a steel crank, conrods and forged aluminium pistons
• Very rare Ulster type aluminium SU carburetors retained
Aston Martin job number C4/411/1 was bought new by Mr Tristram Rainey on 28/05/1934 through Winter Garden Garage on Tottenham Court Road, London.
On the 11/10/1935 it was returned to Aston Martin Works Service and on Job R5963 the engine was upgraded to Ulster Specs.
At this time dashboard, switchgear and steering levers were also upgraded to Ulster specification. In effect, it therefore became a long wheel base Ulster.
Mr Rainey married a Polish lady from a wealthy family and they and the car lived there until the start of World War Two, when they and their car returned to England. The second owner, Mr R L Barnett bought it on 14/03/1950
In 1955, it passed into the hands of a Mr K Banks and from there it passed to a Mr G.V Grimes in the early Sixties. The car comes with numerous letters from Mr Grimes detailing his time with the car. In 1966, it then sold to a Mr R Wilson-Kitchen in 1966, who kept it all the way through until 1999. It was then owned by a Mr Paisley form 1999 until 2006, and now resides with a titled owner who has kept it since then.
The Interior
• Ulster dials and dashboard
• Immaculately presented
• Black leather seat facings and black metal dash
The motorsport origins of the Aston Martin are apparent as soon as you sit inside it – this is a car that pre-dates the company’s luxury aspirations and is purely focused on being a true sports tourer. It’s a genuine, comfortable four-seater, but the back painted dash is all about focus – multiple dials showing speed, revs, engine and oil temperature, oil pressure, electrical charge and fuel level are complemented by a bank of rocker switches, operating everything from lighting to the switchable fuel tank reserves. It’s gorgeous – and exceptionally well-presented.
The Exterior
• British Racing Green
• Coach-built body
• Stunning condition
• Concours levels of detail
The Mk 2 long chassis convertible was styled by Enrico Bertelli, the brother of Aston Martin’s Italian Technical Director, Augustus Bertelli. It’s a grand and imposing looking thing, much lower-slung than most touring cars of its era.
The presentation is second-to-none, from its gleaming paint to its detailed chrome and brass features, it’s a car that takes your breath away from every angle. A very, very special machine indeed.
The Mechanics
• 1.5-litre four with overhead cams
• Advanced designed for its day
• Lively performance
• Reported to drive very well indeed
The 1,492cc OHC engine was a very advanced design for its day and even in standard tune could muster 84.5bhp – a very decent power output for its modest capacity.
In Ulster tune, with reprofiled cams and a 7.5:1 compression ratio, power was suggested to be closer to 100bhp. The vendor reports that the car drives well and is equipped with a Laycock transmission that operates faultlessly.
Summary
Quite simply, this is just wonderful. A car with pedigree, provenance and undeniably gorgeous styling, along with one of the finest names in automotive history. It’s a real collectors’ piece.
A car that will always be something particularly valuable and worthy of cherishing. A unique opportunity.
A car that will always be something particularly valuable and worthy of cherishing. A unique opportunity.
Notice to bidders
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