1939 Aston Martin 15/98 Sports Tourer

This car, chassis number G9/871/S), is believed to be the last 15/98 sold before the war. The chassis is dated July of 1939. In the early 1950s, it was given its first restoration which was published in the Spring 1953 edition of the Aston Martin Owners Club Register by its new, second known owner, Mr. Louis Carvill. Mrs. Carvill earned a 1st in class in the 1953 Dublin M.C. Speed Trials. From 1960 through 1995, it lived a rather dormant life, after which it was sourced for a California client by Andy Bell. The car was stored for some years at Kevin Kay Restoration in Redding, California, before it was given a comprehensive body-off restoration was commissioned. During the restoration, a period-correct engine was supplied by Andy Bell, and the whole process was completed in 2011.

The car is finished in 'Elephant's Breath Grey,' with Saddle Tan seats and a Black folding top and carpets. Upon completion, the car was show at the Kirkland Tour d'Elegance and the Kirkland Concours (Participant's Choice Trophy, chosen by Ed Hermann, 2011), the Kuwait Concours d'Elegance (2012), The Elegance at Hershey and The Grand Ascent Hill Climb (Spirit of Competition Trophy, 2012), the Aston Martin Owners Club Lime Rock Classic Richard Stafferton Tour and Club Concours (First Place, Prewar, 2012), the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum's Best of British exhibit (Aston Martin Tribute, 2013), and the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance (2013).

By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2014

The 2-liter Aston Martin designated as 15/98 was one of the last cars to use this outdated nomenclature. The numbers refer to the old fashioned Royal Automobile Club horsepower rating of 15 as well its actual rating of 98 bhp. Launched in 1936, the early 15/98s were built by Enrico Bertelli, the brother of Aston's managing director A.C. Bertelli. After his resignation in 1936 Astons used other coachbuilders, including Abbey Coachworks of Willesden in London. Abbey produced their first Aston Martin for the first London Earls Court Motor Show in 1937. In all, Aston Martin built a total of 176 2-liter cars of which 50 were short chassis open cars like this example.