- Rare and interesting model, attractive short wheelbase version

- Very authentic presentation

- Racing history, including the 1934 Tourist Trophy

- Well documented history since new, 30 years in Evert Louwman’s collection

With their modest engine size, the early Aston Martin cars were quite different from the more well-known and more produced models of the David Brown era, apart from a decidedly sporty character. In the 1920s, the arrival of “Bert” Bertelli at the manufacturer led to the development of a 4-cylinder 1500 ACT engine fitted on a lightweight car exhibited at the 1927 London Motor Show. This model ended up being a success, notably winning its class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1931 and finishing fifth place overall. This victory prompted the use of the “Le Mans” name on the sportiest models and in 1934, Aston Martin introduced a new model at the London Motor Show called the MkII, derived from the Le Mans versions.

This particular short wheelbase Aston Martin MkII was delivered new on the 9th June 1934 to a C. Lindsay, residing in County Antrim in Ireland. He had apparently bought it to take part in racing events, as evidenced by a correspondence included in the file which indicates an entry in the Tourist Trophy in September 1934 in the team of John Hodges, who was himself racing at the wheel of a Singer Nine. This car was also seen at the Craigantlet Hill Climb in Northern Ireland, where Lindsay secured second place in its class.

This car comes with a service logbook which indicates that it was serviced in 1946 when it had 49,927 miles (80,350 km), a mileage reflecting its regular use. It was at this point that its original engine No D4/415/S (which was thought to be tired) was replaced with a new equivalent engine, number D4/420/L.

Two years later in 1948, this car (which was then black with black leather upholstery) was sold to Mr. H. A. Smith from Chester in the south of Liverpool. According to a letter from Mr. Bruce, referencing the Aston Martin Owners Club register, Smith kept the car until 1967, when it was then exported to the Federal republic of Germany and later in August 1970, to the Netherlands via the Dutch freight forwarder H.V. Gerlach, from Glanerbrug.

This car was subsequently restored before being offered at an auction in November 1975 at the Louwman Museum in Leidschendam, on the outskirts of The Hague. And it was in fact the owner of the museum, Evert Louwman, who was also selling several cars at the auction (a Bugatti, an Adler, a Dodge, a Rolland-Pilain and a Rolls-Royce) and who was also the one acquiring this Aston Martin MkII. It remained in this collection for over 30 years, during the time when the museum curator (JCP Weber) had it serviced at Morntane Engineering, a workshop that has long specialised in these “Bertelli” Aston Martin cars.

In 2012 and through a well-known Swiss dealer, this car was sold to an English collector who kept it for only a few months. The next owner had a high-quality restoration carried out, the quality of which has enabled the car to withstand the test of time remarkably well. The paint is extremely well preserved in a typical colour of that era and the black leather upholstery has a superb patina. Instruments on the dashboard are in working order and the current owner (who loves to drive) had the original unit replaced with one purchased from the Bertelli team. The original engine is included with the car; the new owner will be able to choose whether or not to reinstall it for “concours” purposes or for a more sporty reason.The car is accompanied by an extensive file of correspondence, invoices, photos and other documents covering much of its history since it left the factory in 1934. It’s also worth mentioning that this Aston Martin is particularly rare, since there are only 48 examples of the MkII 1.5-litre short wheelbase produced out of a total of 61 examples.

With its amazing 1,500 cc ACT engine fed by two SU carburettors and its slim and light bodywork, this car is known as one of the most beautiful Aston Martin models of the Bertelli era, not to mention road qualities that this model demonstrated by winning multiple sporting successes at the time.

This Aston MkII will therefore be an ideal companion today for leisurely drives, sports rallies or for taking part in high-end concours of elegance. 

Photos © Alexis Ruben