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1 1/2 litre 1st Series (1926-1931) |
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Pre War Era (1914-1940)
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 Despite Bamford and Martin Ltd being in dire financial straits, their efforts with their early Aston Martins were not ignored. A new company, Aston-Martin Motors Ltd, was formed, an association between the Charnwood family (who had supported Lionel Martin) and Renwick & Bertelli Ltd. William Renwick & Augustus ‘Bert’ Bertelli had only just designed their own car in order to test and perfect a 1½ litre engine they planned to make and sell to other motor manufacturers. By buying Aston Martin, the marque had acquired a new high quality and powerful engine. Aston Martin moved to a factory in Victoria Road in Feltham, Middlesex in late 1926 and by the 1927 Motor Show at Olympia, a new range of cars was unveiled. A bodyshop adjacent to the factory was also opened by A.C. Bertelli's brother, Enrico or ‘Harry’. Later known as E. Bertelli Ltd, this is where a vast majority of Aston Martins received their coachbuilt bodies for the next ten years.
Over the next five years, demand increased for these relatively small but high quality automobiles culminating in the sporting International in 1929 which was closely based on the factory's race cars. During this time cars were usually purchased chassis only (in either short or long wheelbases) with the bodies added afterwards by your chosen coachbuilder, dependant on what style was required. The cycle wings, which were attached to the brake backing plates, turned with the steering wheels, a distinctive feature of many pre-war Aston Martins. First series 1½ litre cars are distinguished from later cars by their separate gearbox and worm drive rear axle.
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Apr 09, 2012
