1931 Aston Martin 1½-Litre International 2/4 Seater

This Aston Martin International was the most successful model of the Bertelli First Series. They are also regarded as one of the best light sports cars of the period.

The Aston Martins were very competitive, but by the mid-1920s, money was tight. Robert Bamford left the company and 1925. Thankfully, Lady Charnwood gave the company a large donation, and Lionel Martin managed to keep the business afloat for another year. By 1926, however, it was again staring at the possibility of bankruptcy, and the Aston Martin marque was put up for sale.

Augustus Bertelli and William S. Renwick had finished engineering a new 1½-liter engine around this time. It was an all-new design with wedge-shaped combustion chambers and inclined overhead valves. They built one Renwick & Bertelli car and intended on marketing the new engine to the motor industry at large. However, the idea of designing their own car was too appealing, and so Renwick and Bertelli bought the rights to Aston Martin in 1926.

During the early years of their ownership, the company produced a short chassis and a long chassis, which were available with the new engine or as a chassis only. Their vehicle was intended for the luxury end of the touring car market. However, Aston Martin's reputation had been forged in competition, and Bertelli quickly realized they should sell a more sporting car.

The International was introduced in 1929 at the London Motor Show. It was based on the team cars of the 1928 season and given several changes to make it more suitable for road use. Changes were made to the brake arrangement and the gearbox was moved back to provide more foot room. It did have the team car's dry sump lubrication system and twin carburetors. It was available in several different specifications, although the 2/4 Seater was the most popular.

This particular example is one of only 129 Bertelli's first series cars to be produced. It has been given a restoration which brought it back to its original glory. Initially sold to a Mr. Halstead, of Bradford, in 1931, A1/100 was bought by several owners in the United Kingdom before being exported. During its early life, A1/100 received new brakes, a new gearshift, and new carburetors.

In the 1950s, it was exported to the United States by J.M. Morgan, of Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. Over the years, it has spent time in Georgia, Virginia, and California while in the care of several owners.

It currently has an older green paint scheme, a newly fabricated green interior, new Dunlop tires, original wire-spoke wheels, and correct-type headlamps with diagonal mesh guards. The engine is a 1496cc single overhead cam four-cylinder unit with dual SU carburetors and offering 56 horsepower. There is a four-speed manual gearbox and four-wheel drum brakes.

By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2015