At its Goodwood Festival of Speed auction in June, Bonhams hopes to sell a very special Aston Martin Ulster: one of the last of the famed ‘Team Cars’...
The 1935 Ulster in question is best known as LM19, one of a series of cars that was continually developed from 1928 onwards, with Le Mans glory in mind. According to Aston Martin’s then-chief designer and co-owner, Augustus ‘Bert’ Bertelli, the final clutch of cars – of which LM19 is one – were among “the best cars I ever built”. Today, LM19 is widely accepted to be one of the very best pre-War sports cars.
From France, to Ireland, to Italy
Indeed, the LM19 Team Car was entered in the prestigious Le Mans race in 1935, which was followed soon afterwards by the RAC Tourist Trophy race in Ireland. The year after that, it was robbed of a likely class victory at the Mille Miglia due to a burnt-out valve.
If the going’s good at Goodwood...
Owing to the car’s exceptional provenance – which also includes an outing at the 1936 French Grand Prix – the car is eligible for a host of top-tier historic racing events. What’s more, should it sell within its £1.6m – £2.2m estimate or higher, it will also become a World Record holder as the most expensive pre-War Aston to be sold at auction.
Photos: Bonhams
The 1935 ex-Works Aston Martin Ulster ‘LM19’ will be sold at Bonhams’ Goodwood Festival of Speed sale on 26 June, 2015.
