1937 2 litre supercharged 15/98 ‘Speed Model’.
Chassis no. A7/732/LS
This car was built in 1937 as a saloon, in fact the third saloon built. Although elegant and comfortable, this particular type was never terribly successful and many were broken up in the 1950’s and 60’s or had their chassis shortened. This is one such car.
At some time in the 1970’s it was fitted with an ‘Ulster’ style ‘Speed Model’ body and had a Riley engine fitted. The present owner removed it and fitted a 2 litre Aston Martin overhead cam engine using a new cylinder block fitted with steel crank and conrods, and a new cylinder head. Also fitted is one of Ecurie Bertelli’s supercharger conversions. This gives the engine greatly increased power and torque (165 bhp and 190 lbft) and makes this a truly fast car. At the same time it was also fitted with a straight cut close ratio ‘Speed Model’ gearbox manufactured by Ecurie Bertelli Ltd. to the exact correct specification using the original works drawings.
This car has Dunlop racing tyres fitted to Torino aluminium rimmed wheels which are some 4 kilos lighter than steel rims. It has recently had a body off repaint in ‘works’ racing red and is in concours condition.
This well sorted car has been carefully maintained and used regularly both on the track and on the road and is an extremely competitive race or rally car, or simply a very exciting road car. Amongst the top four fastest pre-war Aston Martins, this astonishing car would frighten most modern traffic and is a testament to the potential of the later cars that left the Feltham factory.
Contact Andy Bell or Robert Blakemore for further details.