1935 Aston Martin 1½-Litre Mark II Long-Chassis Tourer

• One of only 166 Mark IIs built
• Extensive listing in the AMOC Register
• Owned by Tony Armstrong from 1968 to 2022
• Totally rebuilt in 1994
• Resprayed in 2023/2024

"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 fewer than 60 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 11.9hp 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.To say that 'D4/419/L' has been 'extensively campaigned' would be a gross understatement, for its entry in the AMOC Register for the period 1959 to 1999 runs to no fewer than 33 lines! All entries but the very first of 1959 date from the ownership of long-term custodian Tony Armstrong, who had bought the car in 1968 and kept it until 2022. As well as numerous races, rallies and other events, the Register records that the car underwent a 'total rebuild' in 1994.

This 1934 Aston Martin Mark II four-seater long-chassis sports car celebrated its 90th birthday this year by winning the prestigious Aston Martin Owners' Club's St John Horsfall Trophy at Silverstone on 9th August, 40 years after it last won the competition in 1984.

In 2023/2024 the car benefitted from a bare-metal respray, returning its colour to factory original green, and has benefited from many other improvements over the last two years including to its wheels and rear axle, while the interior has been refreshed. 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. Here is your opportunity to continue this motorcars remarkable story.