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Aston Martin got its start in 1914. The frames came from Isotta Fraschini, which carried 1,388cc, 4-cylinder, Climax engines. From 1919 to 1926, they manufactured 50 (13 for racing) 1500 and Standard Sport models with engines displacing 1,487ccs, producing 38 and 45 bhp respectively, and capable of 105 kph. In 1927, racecar driver A. C. Bertelli acquired Aston Martin. He designed a 1.5-litre, dry sump, SOHC in-line 4 that made 56 bhp. The car, named the Mark II, was produced from 1927 to 1932. 129 examples, making 110 bhp, were produced. Between 1929 and 1936, 12 International Mans, with 81-bhp engines and capable of 120 kph; 72 Mans; 20 Standard Saloons; 117 70-bhp Mark IIs, capable of 120 kph; and 24 70-bhp Ulsters, capable of 165 kph, were built. The Ulsters’ racing history was brief, but they were some of the most highly respected of the pre-WW II racecars. They dominated the British Tourist Trophy and Goodwood, taking 2nd and 3rd place. In 1935, Chassis LM20 achieved the Ulsters’ best LeMans result with 3rd overall and 1st in the 1101 to 1500cc class.
While waiting for the 1:24 scale precision mints to put out the cool cars, you can always look to the 1:18 scale manufacturers. Signature Models has put out an under-$25 version of the 1934 Aston Martin LeMans MK II Short that’s just beautiful. Considering the price, I’m impressed with the overall quality. The paint’s flawlessly applied (mine is done in British Racing Green—red is also available) and the seats and carpeting are nicely simulated in hard plastic. I’m not sure if the wheel spokes are done in wire or molded plastic, but they’re delicately done. The top-up and top-down convertible tops are hard plastic but nicely simulate cloth (a la FM). And, here’s a feature I've yet to see on 1:24 models. The top-up side supports actually snap into the body sides to hold it firmly in place. The chrome parts, many separate items, are beautifully done. Some of the overall details are a tad simplistic, such as on the engine and undercarriage, but the overall “look” works very well. Even the box this image comes in is set up like a diorama, with a plastic base textured to look like paving blocks. Not bad for 25 bucks. Sure, a precision 1:24 image can knock this one out of contention but you’d be paying five times the price. I’m impressed with how far the once-lowly 1:18 scale image has come. While we wait for the precision mints to do a wider span of worthy cars, the 1:18 manufacturers are recreating many of those great cars of yesteryear. While I’ll always be a 1:24 maven, I've decided to take advantage of 1:18 images like this one to satisfy my hunger for truly beautiful and unique cars, like the 1934 Aston Martin.
Aston Martin has always been a low-volume producer of fine cars—a distinction that carries through to today. But, far from being just a quality, hand-assembled saloon, or touring car, Aston Martin, like Bentley, proved its worth on the fast turns of the racetrack. No wonder James Bond got one for his personal ride.
(10/12/2005)
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