1933 Aston Martin 12/50 Le Mans – BME 119

BME 119 – chassis D3/252/L – is one of those pre-war Aston Martins that needs no introduction to those who know the marque. It is the car on the front cover of the Osprey Automotive book Aston Martin 1913–1947 by Inman Hunter, photographed in full flight at a race circuit.

The Aston Martin Works Record Card tells the story from the beginning. Finished in two-tone grey and bodied as a four-seat tourer, the car was sold new to Mrs Armstrong of Hethpool in Northumberland – a journey from the works of well over 300 miles to its new home. From the outset, D3/252/L was a bespoke commission: specified with twin exhaust pipes, an extra door for the rear seats, an outside hood, and a special 6:1 final drive ratio. At 2,774 miles, recorded on the Works card dated 27 August 1934, the rear axle ratio was adjusted and the oil filter cleaned. By October 1948, the card records the car having covered 21,062 miles, now under the early ownership of A.C.C. Dixon of Pall Mall and later Courtfield Gardens, London.

The AMOC records show that in the mid-1950s the chassis was shortened to short chassis (Le Mans) specification and a MKII engine was fitted – a significant and important upgrade. By 1965 the car was owned by John Dunne of West Didsbury, Manchester, who always intended to fit Le Mans bodywork to complete the transformation, but this was not realised during his ownership.

That task fell to Andy Bell and his father Preston Bell, who purchased D3/252/L in 1986. Under Preston's direction, the car was converted by Ecurie Bertelli, to fully correct Le Mans specification – retaining the MKII engine and benefiting from some characteristically subtle Ecurie Bertelli upgrades along the way. The car was back on the road by 1990 and has been in near-continuous use ever since.

The competition record that followed speaks for itself. Back on the road in 1990, the car immediately went into action: a first class award at the V.S.C.C. Silverstone High Speed Trial, double class victories at the A.D.A.C. Prix-Maritim rally and race in Germany, and the Sutherland Trophy for Preston Bell. The following year brought first on handicap at Brands Hatch, first in class and on handicap at Wiscombe Park with the Spam Trophy, and first in Class B at the Louis Vuitton Concours. In 1993 the car competed at the Goodwood Festival of Speed Concours and the V.S.C.C. Pomeroy Trophy. By 1994 class wins were coming at Mallory Park, Silverstone's Pre-War Race and Oulton Park. The AMOC register, which allowed owners a maximum of three entries per year, records consistent success right through to 2000 – and BME 119 continued competing well beyond that.

The car is intimately known to the Ecurie Bertelli team – maintained, fettled and developed in their workshops for the entirety of its modern life. A very recent addition is a brand new MKII engine, little more than run in and ready for whatever comes next.

Fitted with a Brantz rally meter, additional driving lights and race catch tanks, BME 119 is ready for immediate competition or touring use. Holding a FIVA card and eligible for FIA HTP papers and VSCC Buff form, it is eligible for a wide variety of the most prestigious events on the calendar.

This is a rare opportunity to acquire a pre-war Aston Martin with a known and continuous history from new, the original Works Record Card, decades of Ecurie Bertelli care, and the kind of competition record that most cars can only aspire to. Please contact Robert Blakemore to arrange an inspection and test drive.