Aston Martin Ulster Basket of Bits

Introduced at the 1934 Motor Show, the Ulster Aston Marin is simply regarded as the epitome of pre-war Aston Martin achievement. The narrow two-seater coachwork by Bertelli was a replica of the 1934 Team Cars and featured a flat scuttle and a long streamlined tail with the spare wheel laid flat in its base. The Ulster chassis was very similar to that of the MkII model but assembled, tuned and split-pinned to the Works specification, and the engine featured dry-sump lubrication, a special Laystall fully balanced crankshaft, twin SU carburetors, domed pistons and highly polished inlet and exhaust ports.

Approximately 21 Ulsters were built and were regularly seen racing at Ulster, Le Mans, Donnington Park, Brooklands, in the Mille Miglia and in the Belgian and South African Grand Prix. Each had a guaranteed maximum speed of 100 mph and Aston Martin claimed they were sold “ready to race without further preparation;” indeed, a Motor Sport road test in 1935...