Formerly the property of Henry Williamson, author of 'Tarka the Otter'
1938 Aston Martin 15/98 2/4 Seater Tourer

• Owned by Henry Williamson from 1946 to 1955
• One of only 125 built
• Brooklands competitor in 1938
• Present family ownership since 2012
• Restored by Ecurie Bertellli 2014-2015

Come 1933 and racing was still at the forefront of Aston Martin policy under the stewardship of new owner Robert Gordon Sutherland, and the 1936 Le Mans race was chosen for the new 2-Litre model's public debut. Basically the same as the existing 1½-Litre, two works cars were produced, only for the '36 Le Mans to be cancelled as a result of strikes in France. However, Speed Models did subsequently compete at Le Mans, the Ulster TT, Spa Francorchamps, the Mille Miglia, Brooklands and Donington Park, as well as speed events and hill climbs all over Europe, proving to be fast, reliable and competitive. Known as the 'Type C', the last examples were bodied immediately prior to WW2 by Enrico Bertelli and given aerodynamic coachwork.

Although sold in strictly limited numbers, the Speed Model did provide the basis for the more successful '15/98', some 125 of which were sold between 1937 and 1939. The 15/98 reflected Sutherland's policy of developing a more refined and luxurious product that had begun with the preceding 1½-Litre Mark II. A new 2.0-litre version of Aston's overhead-camshaft, four-cylinder engine - first seen in the 1936 Speed Model - powered the 15/98, albeit with the flow through the cylinder head reversed. The model took its name from the long-stroke, wet sump engine's RAC-rated horsepower (15) and the actual output at the crankshaft (98), and could touch 85mph flat-out. Short and long-chassis models were built, both featuring a Moss synchromesh gearbox, Girling rod-operated brakes, and Luvax hydraulic rear dampers. Early examples were bodied by E Bertelli, subsequent chassis by Abbey or Abbott. The overall design of the chassis and particularly the front suspension endowed the 15/98 with exceptionally good handling and a very smooth ride. Aston Martin's well-documented difficulties of this period kept production disappointingly low - a mere 176 2.0-litre cars of all types were completed between 1936 and 1939 - and today the 15/98 is both rare and highly sought after.

This Aston Martin 15/98 was owned from 1946 to 1955 by Henry Williamson, author of the much-loved children's classic, Tarka the Otter. Williamson had seen an advertisement for a 1938 2-litre Aston for sale in the regional Eastern Daily Press newspaper (for which he had written articles during the war years). The car was owned by a Dr Julius Vincenzi (1910–1996) living near Woodbridge, just a few miles away from Williamson's home. Williamson paid £800 for the car.

The AMOC Register records 'DYY 764' as competing at the JCC Members' Day at Brooklands in 1938 driven by 'Pritchard' (probably its first owner), finishing in 2nd place on handicap. Henry Williamson is the next owner listed, from 1946. Williamson's trials and tribulations with his Aston Martin - and there were many - are recorded in exhaustive detail on the web site of The Henry Williamson Society (https://henrywilliamson.co.uk) where a wealth of original documents is reproduced in the 'Mad About Motors' section (inspection recommended). Diary entries include the following: "Bought Austin 'Countryman' in morning. Allowance £300 for Aston Martin. Rather sad to see last of the motorcar which has caused so much trouble." In fairness to the Aston, it should be said that Williamson appears to have been somewhat unfortunate in his choice of mechanics...

The car's AMOC Register entry resumes in 1969 with the owner listed as 'Cann' (Malcolm Cann). 'DYY' made appearances that year at Wiscombe and the VSCC's Madresfield Driving Test, finishing 1st in the latter. The Register records further entries throughout the 1970s and into the early 1980s (all with 'Cann'). The final entry is for 1982, when the car competed at Wiscombe, Brands Hatch and Silverstone. Driving tests seem to have been a speciality, there being numerous 1st Class Awards and top-three finishes recorded. Cann often competed with his dog as passenger, concealed in the back of the car under a tonneau!

On 30th October 2012 the Aston was purchased from Mrs Lynn Sally Stockley of Broxbourne by the late Jacques van Vlymen. The accompanying V5C document shows that Mrs Stockley had acquired 'DYY' on 31st December 1986. Contemporary paperwork shows that famous marque specialists Ecurie Bertelli acted as agent/intermediary. Ecurie Bertelli went on to restore the Aston between 2014 and 2015, with further improvements made subsequently. Related email printouts and other documents may be found in the history file assembled during the current family ownership. In his ownership Mr van Vlymen was fastidious, and living in London, wanted an Aston Martin as capable on the open road touring as it was negotiating London traffic on the way to his Hampstead home. What resulted was an incredibly well fettled car, looked after by Alan Brooke in recent years who is undoubtedly one of the best in the business. Now offered from the van Vlymen estate, the chance for a new custodian to take on this significant Aston Martin