1936 Aston Martin 2-Litre Speed Model Competition Two-Seater | Bonhams | Goodwood Revival | 19 Sept 2026

Registration no. DLB 538

Chassis no. L6/713/U

Engine no. L6/713/U

• One of only 15 2-Litre Speed Models built

• Formerly owned by Nick Mason

• Restored by Ecurie Bertelli

• Present ownership since 1992

Manufactured initially from 1915 by Robert Bamford and Lionel Martin, the first Aston-Martins (the hyphen is correct for the period) rapidly established a reputation for high performance and sporting prowess immediately after World War 1. Unfortunately, concentration upon motor sport rather than the available motoring market saw only some 50 cars sold by 1925 resulting in the company's first change of ownership.

The foundations were laid for the commencement of proper series production with the formation of Aston Martin Motors Ltd in 1926 under the dynamic leadership of Augustus 'Bert' Bertelli and William Renwick. Built in Feltham, Middlesex, England, the first 'new generation' Aston Martins were displayed at the 1927 London Motor Show, Olympia. Like his predecessors, 'Bert' Bertelli understood the promotional potential of competition success on Aston Martin sales. Consequently 1928 saw construction of two works racers. Based on the 1½-Litre, overhead-camshaft road car design, this pair featured dry-sump lubrication, which was carried over into the International sports model, new for 1929. Theis updated Aston rapidly made its mark on track, 'Bert' Bertelli and Pat Driscoll winning the Biennial Cup at Le Mans in 1932, one of many competition successes achieved before the International model was superseded by the Le Mans and Ulster.

Racing remained at the forefront of company policy under the stewardship of subsequent owner R. G. Sutherland, and Le Mans 1936 was chosen for the new 2-Litre model's public debut. Derived from the existing 1½-Litre model, two works cars were produced before for that year's Le Mans 24-Hours was cancelled as a result of industrial unrest in France. However, Speed Models did subsequently compete not only at Le Mans, but also in the RAC TT at Dundrod, Ulster, at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium, and in the Italian Mille Miglia, and naturally at Brooklands and Donington Park. The cars also contested speed events and hill climbs throughout Europe, proving fast, reliable and competitive. Known as the 'Type C', the last examples were bodied immediately prior to WW2 by Enrico Bertelli and given aerodynamic coachwork. According to the AMOC Register, some 15 2-Litre cars were built with varying body styles. Including the successor 15/98hp model, some 140 in all were built 1936-1939.

The most desirable pre-war Aston Martin now offered here is an example of the significant new overhead-camshaft 2-Litre model designed by Claude Hill. This particular example, 'DLB 538', began life as a 2/4-seater 2-Litre Speed Model in December 1936. After covering some 12,000 miles it was purchased by prominent contemporary racing driver T. A. S. O. Mathieson, always known as 'Taso', who had it prepared for sports car racing. This involved replacing its original coachwork with the body from a 1½-litre Aston Martin Ulster. The car was then raced in Continental events during 1938, though without conspicuous success. It did however, win a third-class award in the 1939 Junior Car Club Rally.

'DLB 538' then spent the war years in the ownership of "a Lancashire enthusiast", who replaced its original twin-carburettor set-up with quadruple SUs, a modification later reversed. When the car was road-tested by Motor Sportmagazine in mid-1945 it gave a brief but spectacular display of its road holding on a twisting Yorkshire road. Total mileage was then in the region of 19,000. The car was subsequently shared by Jack Fairman/Richard Stallebrass in Belgium's 1948 Spa 24-Hours race. Stallebrass was an early postwar luminary of the Aston Martin Owners' Club. He was highly regarded and had competed in sprints and hill-climbs but Spa was to be his maiden motor race. Jack Fairman brought in 'DLB 538' after an initial two-hour stint in heavy rain. Stallebrass was reportedly very tense before taking over and tragically soon after rejoining the race he lost control on the wet road, crashed heavily and was fatally injured.

The car was later rebuilt and re-registered 'JAB 8', before being regularly campaigned in 1950s events and on into the '60s by R. Chamberlain.

In 1978, respected car collector - and famed Pink Floyd drummer - Nick Mason acquired the car and commissioned Morntane Engineering to restore it, work which included fitting an Ulster-type body. During this process the car was acquired by a new owner 'in mid-restoration' and by the early 1990s it had been completed by the same company, by that time renamed as Ecurie Bertelli.

The current vendor informs us that he purchased 'DLB 538' from Middlebridge Engineering, who it is believed were the purchasers when the car was sold at Brooks' Olympia Sale in April 1992 (Lot 200). The vendor tells us that he has enjoyed every moment of ownership over the years: "I have used it in lots of sporting events, hill climbs, sprints, etc, etc. The steering is very light and has a modification to stop tramping, which works brilliantly. It had a new cylinder head a few years ago which was supplied by Ecurie Bertelli and gas flowed. The magneto has been overhauled as well as the water pump. More recent works have included upgrades to the carburettor to cope with modern unleaded fuel, but I always use an additive."

Amongst such post-Vintage Thoroughbred Aston Martins this is a well-known example with a familiar history, and we commend it very much to the market.