Description
For sale in our forthcoming auction during Le Mans Classic, on 30 June 2023:
French title
Chassis No C4/ 403/ S
Engine C4/ 403/ S
- The first of 21 Ulster Competition Client examples built by Aston Martin
- Known and highly documented history, considered like the prototype of Ulster cars
- Meticulously restored and serviced by Ecurie Bertelli
- Fitted with its original engine experimented by the factory before Le Mans 1934, restored and improved by Bertelli in 2013, Approx. 100 hp
- One of only two Ulster machines equipped with a drilled chassis taken from one of three Aston Martin cars of the 24 Hours of Le Mans 1934
Under the leadership of Augusto Cesare Bertelli in the 1930s, the British manufacturer offered a small series of brilliant sports cars with 1, 500 ACT engines. Following a first appearance at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1928, it raced there every year from 1930 to 1935, which contributed to its reputation. As an Aston Martin customer, Richard J. Barton acquired a "Le Mans" model in 1933 (not to be confused with the factory cars entered in the Le Mans race) with which he participated with success in various events; and as an amateur driver, he wanted to progress with a more powerful car. He consequently turned to the manufacturer and its Director Gordon Sutherland to get a more advanced model and this is how the first mention of Barton's car made its way into the Aston Martin engine workshop. On the 4th March 1934, a special engine No C4/ 403 with lightweight parts was tuned and tested on behalf of Richard Barton by Joe Bestante, Engine Chief Engineer at Aston. Perhaps in the first instance, the plan was to initially fit the engine into Barton's Aston however, circumstances decided otherwise.
At the same time, three cars were prepared for the 1934 24 Hours of Le Mans, with lightened and drilled chassis, as well as many lightened parts, narrow bodywork, rounded rear-end with horizontal spare wheel (the first of its kind), special wings and improved engine. They had the following chassis numbers: LM11, LM12 and LM14. After the race, the first two were modified to take part in the Tourist Trophy in September (in Ulster, Northern Ireland); they also didn't have their drilled chassis which was prohibited for the TT, and instead opted for a more classic structure renumbered respectively LM15 and LM16. It was thanks to the success achieved during the event that future Aston cars (with identical configuration) were called Ulster.
The manufacturer therefore had two unused drilled chassis and, considering Barton as a valuable customer and also a very good driver, he chose to have the LM11 chassis on his car, as well as the engine mentioned above and other lightened LM12 parts. After Le Mans, the workshop completed Barton's car within a month and it was delivered on the 20th or 21st July 1934. The manufacturing document stated "MkII Special 2-Seater Green, Le Mans Racing Cars Replica" and it had all the characteristics of Le Mans cars aesthetically, mechanically and with ultra-lightweight components. It was registered as BML 58.
In October 1934, it benefited from a new Ulster cylinder head and special carburettors. Barton then took part in several English events where the car was noticed thanks to its performance. Between July 1935 and November 1936, it was occasionally advertised in Autocar, sold by its distributor Winter Garden, then by Jack Bartlett, until its acquisition by JC Waterlow on the 15th June 1937. It then moved to the Denham Motor dealership before being purchased by Rowland Smith and then in August 1938 by David Handley. The latter decided to modify the rear in order to have a boot: he removed the rounded tip and fitted a vertical flat tank carrying the spare wheel, just like the standard Aston MkII. On a foggy day of the 8th January 1940, the car was involved in an accident and the chassis was straightened due to the damage. It was sent to Aston for repairs and it just so happened that the factory preferred to replace the chassis with the only drilled one still available: the LM12 chassis, which was hung on the factory wall since 1934. It was therefore another 1934 Le Mans chassis which was used to rebuild the car.
Then, it consecutively continued its existence in the hands of Jack Bartlett, G. Sturgess, Bob Swift and finally Richard Prentice in 1953. In February 1955 and due to his overconfidence on a wet road, the latter lost control of the car and hit a truck. The damage at the front was repaired and Prentice took this opportunity to modify the rear end with a Bugatti-style tip (which will be delivered to the buyer) and repaint the car in white. In August 1955, it was sold to Kenneth Mills who repainted it in red (similar to 1934 TT cars)
During a restoration in the workshop of specialist David Elwell-Smith in 1958, the engine was swapped for a Le Mans engine from another car.
After Kenneth Mills, the car was bought consecutively by Richard Jones, Tetsuya Takahashi and Chris Mann. Between 1988 and 1991, It was restored by Ecurie Bertelli and on this occasion, the rear tip was redone, this time according to the original configuration. In 1993, it was for sale at auction by Robert Brooks. Bought by Bruno Vendiesse and exhibited in 1995 at Retromobile, it was sold that same year to a French enthusiast well known in cyclecar scenes. He participated in many rallies and historic racing events with C4/ 403/ S, including Le Mans Classic in 2010.
What the current owner discovered is the fact that the original engine, once rebuilt by Elwell-Smith in 1958, was fitted in another Aston in 1959, no other than chassis E5/ 575/ S which he owns. We have several documents establishing that both cars were with Bill Elwell-Smith at the same time. The change of ownership took place in 2016 and shortly after, both cars were sent to Ecurie Bertelli in order to swap both engines, which enables our particular Aston Martin to be fitted today with its original engine.
A sports or racing car does not stop to evolve throughout its existence. This is even more true when it comes to a special machine built in an artisanal way by a small passionate manufacturer, which is exactly the case for this particular Aston Martin. This very special example has been the subject of in-depth research and notes; the history we are relating matches well with written comments from the most renowned specialists such as Alan Archer, Neil Murray and the Aston Martin Owners Club. We invite interested buyers to dive into the generous literature that is included with this car.
This long story brings us to some interesting conclusions: Firstly, this car is considered to be the first "client racing car" ever sold by Aston Martin and also as the prototype of the 21 Ulsters cars produced (plus 10 factory examples) even though it left the factory before the official release of this name. Indeed, "Ulster" cars built from the victory at the TT in September 1934 have the same configuration as C4/ 403/ S.
Furthermore, compared to classic Ulster cars, it has the advantage of having an official Le Mans chassis, drilled (the only one in this case, with LM14), an engine tested for Le Mans 1934 and several Le Mans lightened parts, such as the brake drums.
The car is consequently a major milestone in the manufacturer's history. In addition to being more efficient than a classic Ulster (the ultimate pre-war Aston in itself, with the ultimate evolution of the 4-cylinder 1500 engine), it has a unique history enabling us to understand the transition from the Aston Martin cars of Le Mans 1934 to the Ulster cars that followed. In a condition great enough to hit the road with no worries, it is eligible for the most prestigious historic events such as the Mille Miglia, in which it took part brilliantly in 2017. The car will be delivered with its additional parts, including the rear part of the modified car by Prentice (Bugatti-style tip).
Photos © Kevin Van Campenhout
Auction estimate: €1 100 000 / €1 300 000
