Gregor Wenner
Specialist Consultant
LOT 179
1934 Aston Martin 1½-Litre Mark II Long-Chassis Tourer Chassis no. I4/466/L
Estimate: €250,000 - €350,000
Lot 179
RAC Rally participant in 1935
1934 Aston Martin 1½-Litre Mark II Long-Chassis Tourer
1934 Aston Martin 1½-Litre Mark II Long-Chassis Tourer
1934 Aston Martin 1½-Litre Mark II Long-Chassis Tourer
Chassis no. I4/466/L
Chassis no. I4/466/L
• One of only 166 Mark IIs built
• Listed in the AMOC Register
• Well maintained with numerous service invoices on file
"Big-car enthusiasts are apt to think that effortless, fast touring is a quality exclusive to vehicles of high horsepower rating, but their views will be considerably altered after they have taken the Aston Martin over a 300 mile journey." – Motor Sport magazine on the Aston Martin Mark II.
Partners Robert Bamford and Lionel Martin registered the first Aston Martin in March 1915, the name's first part deriving from success gained by the duo's earlier cars at the Aston Clinton hill climb, near Tring. Resuming its activities at the end of WWI, the firm devoted most of its time to racing, with very little energy being expended on building cars for sale to the public. Financial crisis was the inevitable result, and in November 1925 the company was in the hands of the Official Receiver, having sold less than sixty cars.
In October 1926, the firm of Aston Martin Motors Limited was formed by new owners John Renwick and A C Bertelli. The latter was an experienced automobile engineer, having designed cars for Enfield & Allday, and an engine of his design - an overhead-camshaft four-cylinder unit of 1,492cc - powered the new 70hp Aston. More ruggedly built than the Bamford & Martin cars, the newcomers, with coachwork by Bertelli's brother Enrico, made their debut at the 1927 Motor Show.
A firm that owed its reputation to competition success could not turn its back on the racetrack however, and while greater emphasis was placed on building cars for sale, the racing programme continued. One of the firm's early developments - dry sump lubrication - would stand them in good stead in long distance sports car events, and this innovation duly appeared on the International sports model of 1929. The latter was so successful that the Standard models, which retained a wet-sump engine, were dropped, their place being taken by long-wheelbase versions of the sports chassis.
Aston Martin's next phase of development - the Series II cars - commenced in 1932. Extensively revised, the Series II abandoned two of the marque's hitherto characteristic, if rather old-fashioned, features: the separate gearbox and under-slung worm back axle. Instead, the gearbox was mounted in unit with the engine, and the differential now contained spiral bevel gears.
Introduced in 1934, the Mark II sported a new, stronger chassis and a revised engine with a counter-balanced crankshaft. Short (8' 7") and long (10') wheelbase versions were built, the latter with its more generously proportioned interior being a very useable car for four people. Testing an Aston Martin Mark II alongside a Squire and an SS1 Jaguar for its December 1992 edition, Classic & Sportscar magazine found the Aston had 'roadholding the best of the trio, as is quality of construction'. With only 166 built up to the end of 1935, the Aston Martin Mark II is exceedingly rare today.
Its entry in the AMOC Register records that the long-wheelbase Mark II offered here, 'I4/466/L', received a 3rd class award at the 1935 RAC Rally driven by someone called 'Hulse'. The car was formerly registered in the UK as 'AKB 193'. The earliest piece of documentary evidence we have is an old-style continuation logbook (issued in 1962) listing four owners, all in the UK, the last of whom, Charles Pipkin, acquired the Aston in June 1976. The comprehensive history file contains bills for extensive works carried out during Mr Pipkin's ownership together with others accumulated throughout the 1980s by the next two owners: Mr Brian Rivett and Mr Anthony Bolton. There are also numerous expired MoTs on file for the period 1978-1991. The Aston remained in the UK until 1992 when it moved to France where Garage Lamy carried out an engine rebuild in 1994. Garage Lamy's bills are on file together with others testifying to the fact that the car has continued to be very well maintained.
Presented in good overall condition, this charming Mark II will surely reward its fortunate new owner with a delightful driving experience, as well as the opportunity to continue the preservation of a particularly rare Aston Martin model eligible for a wide variety of prestigious historic motoring events.
• Listed in the AMOC Register
• Well maintained with numerous service invoices on file
"Big-car enthusiasts are apt to think that effortless, fast touring is a quality exclusive to vehicles of high horsepower rating, but their views will be considerably altered after they have taken the Aston Martin over a 300 mile journey." – Motor Sport magazine on the Aston Martin Mark II.
Partners Robert Bamford and Lionel Martin registered the first Aston Martin in March 1915, the name's first part deriving from success gained by the duo's earlier cars at the Aston Clinton hill climb, near Tring. Resuming its activities at the end of WWI, the firm devoted most of its time to racing, with very little energy being expended on building cars for sale to the public. Financial crisis was the inevitable result, and in November 1925 the company was in the hands of the Official Receiver, having sold less than sixty cars.
In October 1926, the firm of Aston Martin Motors Limited was formed by new owners John Renwick and A C Bertelli. The latter was an experienced automobile engineer, having designed cars for Enfield & Allday, and an engine of his design - an overhead-camshaft four-cylinder unit of 1,492cc - powered the new 70hp Aston. More ruggedly built than the Bamford & Martin cars, the newcomers, with coachwork by Bertelli's brother Enrico, made their debut at the 1927 Motor Show.
A firm that owed its reputation to competition success could not turn its back on the racetrack however, and while greater emphasis was placed on building cars for sale, the racing programme continued. One of the firm's early developments - dry sump lubrication - would stand them in good stead in long distance sports car events, and this innovation duly appeared on the International sports model of 1929. The latter was so successful that the Standard models, which retained a wet-sump engine, were dropped, their place being taken by long-wheelbase versions of the sports chassis.
Aston Martin's next phase of development - the Series II cars - commenced in 1932. Extensively revised, the Series II abandoned two of the marque's hitherto characteristic, if rather old-fashioned, features: the separate gearbox and under-slung worm back axle. Instead, the gearbox was mounted in unit with the engine, and the differential now contained spiral bevel gears.
Introduced in 1934, the Mark II sported a new, stronger chassis and a revised engine with a counter-balanced crankshaft. Short (8' 7") and long (10') wheelbase versions were built, the latter with its more generously proportioned interior being a very useable car for four people. Testing an Aston Martin Mark II alongside a Squire and an SS1 Jaguar for its December 1992 edition, Classic & Sportscar magazine found the Aston had 'roadholding the best of the trio, as is quality of construction'. With only 166 built up to the end of 1935, the Aston Martin Mark II is exceedingly rare today.
Its entry in the AMOC Register records that the long-wheelbase Mark II offered here, 'I4/466/L', received a 3rd class award at the 1935 RAC Rally driven by someone called 'Hulse'. The car was formerly registered in the UK as 'AKB 193'. The earliest piece of documentary evidence we have is an old-style continuation logbook (issued in 1962) listing four owners, all in the UK, the last of whom, Charles Pipkin, acquired the Aston in June 1976. The comprehensive history file contains bills for extensive works carried out during Mr Pipkin's ownership together with others accumulated throughout the 1980s by the next two owners: Mr Brian Rivett and Mr Anthony Bolton. There are also numerous expired MoTs on file for the period 1978-1991. The Aston remained in the UK until 1992 when it moved to France where Garage Lamy carried out an engine rebuild in 1994. Garage Lamy's bills are on file together with others testifying to the fact that the car has continued to be very well maintained.
Presented in good overall condition, this charming Mark II will surely reward its fortunate new owner with a delightful driving experience, as well as the opportunity to continue the preservation of a particularly rare Aston Martin model eligible for a wide variety of prestigious historic motoring events.
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