1933 Aston Martin 1.5 Litre 12/50 Tourer

Lot details
Registration No: 474 XUC
Chassis No: F3/289/L
Mot Expiry: May 2008

By the early 1930s Aston Martin boasted a fine sporting reputation but empty coffers. Although, racing was undoubtedly 'improving the breed', it had also forced the company into the arms of various backers and even seen Frazer-Nash proprietor H.J. Aldington assume control of sales in 1931. Launched the following year, the Aston Martin Series II was bankrolled by dealer Lance Prideaux-Brune (whose arrival had seen off Aldington). The work of Augustus 'Bert' Bertelli, the newcomer was based around a low-slung ladder-frame chassis equipped with all-round leaf-sprung suspension, friction dampers, and cable-operated drum brakes. Finding like many of his rivals that proprietary components were not only cheaper but often better than their in-house equivalents, Bertelli employed ENV spiral-bevel back axle gearing and a Laycock four-speed manual gearbox. Powered by the marque's well established, Claude Hill-designed 1494cc SOHC four-cylinder engine, the Series II could be had in '12/50' (60bhp) or 'International' / later 'Le Mans' (70bhp) guises and thus with a choice of Standard (10ft 0in) or short (8ft 6in) wheelbases.

Finished in black with green upholstery, this particular example is variously described by the vendor as being in "good" (electrical equipment, chassis, bodywork, wheels / tyres), "average" (engine, interior trim) or "very good" (gearbox, paintwork) condition. Beginning life as a 12/50 Standard saloon, the decision to convert '474 XUC' into a tourer was apparently prompted by bomb damage it suffered during the London Blitz (interestingly, we are informed that none of the seventeen Series II saloons made have survived in their original form). Stated to have had "only two owners in the last thirty years" and to have been "Ecurie Bertelli maintained for the past few seasons", the Aston has reportedly been treated to the following by the renowned specialist: "a new dashboard (complete with restored instruments), front end engine overhaul (new timing gears / timing chain / sprockets, refurbished oil pump etc), replacement front shock absorbers and sundry brake / exhaust work". Judged by the seller to "run very well (if slightly smoky)" and to be "delightfully easy to drive with very good brakes and a sweet gearbox", he further notes that the 12/50 has "matching engine and chassis numbers which is relatively rare on a pre-WW2 Aston Martin".

Given that the Series II 12/50 is so closely related to its 'Le Mans' sibling, the two essentially sharing the same running gear and cylinder block etc, we are lead to believe it would be comparatively easy to uprate '474 XUC' to a more performance-orientated specification. Looking every inch the 1930s gadabout 'as is', the four-seater tourer sports a wooden dashboard, side-exit exhaust, rear-mounted spare wheel, slab petrol tank, aero screens, helmet wings and headlight stoneguards. Simply charming, this delightful pre-WW2 Aston is offered for sale with MOT certificate valid until May 2008 and historic class (free) road tax valid until April 2008.

PLEASE NOTE: This 12/50 has just been retrimmed in red using Bridge of Weir hide and Wilton carpets