1935 Aston Martin Ulster Boattail Racer

Aston Martin introduced the Ulster for the 1934 season. They were a Works racing car with a MK II chassis and lightweight two-seater body. Power was from a 1,496cc dry-sump four-cylinder engine giving the car a top speed reaching 100 mph.

Several Works Ulsters are numbered 'LM' although many were never raced. This car, CMC 614 (chassis B5/549/U) is believed to be an 'Ex. Works Car.' There is speculation around its early ownership and is believed to have been built for E.R. Hall, though he may never have paid for it. Even though it does not have the 'LM' prefix, there is evidence that it was owned by Works for its first season, and was certainly Works supported for the 1935 season. It is believed to have been driven at the Mille Miglia by Eddie Hall and his mechanic Marsden where it encountered an early oil leak and was forced to retire at Siena. The car was properly repaired by the factory and brought to LeMans along with seven other Aston Martin entries. The car was driven by Maurice Falkner and Tommy Clarke to an 8th overall and 4th in class. This was the second best position for Aston Martin at the race.

In the Targa Abruzzo, CMC 614 was meant to be driven by Eddie Hall and Count Johnny Lurani. Instead, it was shipped to Pescara when Hall suddenly decamped and refused to drive, citing an uncomfortable hotel. Lurani asked his friend Gildo Strazza to fill the void left by Hall. Together they drove the Ulster to a 1st in Class finish.

After the RAC Tourist Trophy race, CMC 614 was sold in 1936 to H.H. Porter Hargreaves, who raced it with little success, despite having added a supercharger. In 1950, the car passed to R.F. MacNab Meredith who returned it to the track and enjoyed several podium results at club events.

The car later entered the care of Derrick Edwards and served as his personal racer with great success. He once estimated he'd won 650 awards in 40 years of racing.

After Edwards' death, CMC 614 passed to Ecurie Bertelli owner Fred Blakemore, who refitted all of the original components that had been meticulously stored by Derrick during his years of racing.

The car is currently presented in its 1935 LeMans configuration.

By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2017