Ulster 1934 Team Cars « Aston Martins.com

Ulster 1934 Team Cars

Home > Pre War Era > Ulster 1934 Team Cars

Ulster 1934 Team Cars

(Third Series, 1½ litre - LM11, LM12, LM14. LM15, LM16, LM17, 1934)

Things were going well at Astons in the mid 30's which enabled them to build three new team cars for the 1934 season. LM11, LM12 and LM14 were based on the Mark II but with a rakish two seater body and with the spare wheel was stowed horizontally in the tail. A.C. Bertelli was very superstitious and LM13 was never built. The three team cars, complete with drilled, lightweight chassis were entered for Le Mans where sadly all retired.

Ulster 1934 Team Cars

Following Le Mans, LM11 and LM12 were rebuilt with new un-drilled chassis in order for them to be eligible to enter the RAC Tourist trophy race in Ulster. They were both re-numbered as LM15 and LM16. A third completely new car also joined the team, LM17. At this time it was decided to paint the Team cars in Italian Red, as green was considered unlucky by the Italian born Bertelli. It worked! the LM15, 16 and 17 gained overall 6th, 3rd and 7th places respectively, 1st, 2nd and 3rd in class, and also the team prize. Thus the name ‘Ulster’ was coined for replicas of these victorious machines.

This LM15, (LM11 rebuilt with an un-drilled chassis) has recently returned to racing in club events.

The LM16,(LM12 rebuilt with an un-drilled chassis) was photographed at the AMOC Le Mans 40th Anniversary Meeting at Donington in 1999 in the company of LM3 and Green Pea.