24h Le Mans
Cars that have raced at Le Mans 24 Hours are rarely seen at auction. Pre-war cars that have raced at Le Mans 24 Hours are rarer still. Save the date to see the LM19 Aston Martin Ulster that will be under the Bonhams hammer at the Goodwood Festival of Speed on Friday 26 June from 10.30am BST.
The ex-Works #28 Aston Martin Ulster did not actually reach the chequered flag in the 1935 Le Mans 24 Hours due to wet conditions, but it definitely influenced the race. When Tom Forthringham took over the wheel from Clifton Penn-Hughes, he was determined not to be outdone by the sister cars. Unfortunately the British driver encountered a puddle in the twilight rain at Maison Blanche, which sent him into a spin. The car mounted the kerb and overturned, ejecting the driver, who fortunately walked away with a few bruises and superficial burns.
The car also ran in the prestigious RAC Tourist Trophy in 1935 and 1936 as well as the Mille Miglia and the Grand Prix de France ACF, the forerunner of the Formula One Grand Prix de France in Montlhéry. However, subsequent drivers had no more luck than Forthringham and the car was retired from competition in 1936. It was not used until sold in 1969 for a little over £1,500, equivalent to £17,800 today. It cost three times as much to restore, but the Ulster was able to take part in concours d’élégance and classic races. It returned to the 24 Hours circuit in 2002 for Le Mans Classic and completed more laps than the 47 it had covered in 1935.
Today’s estimated value of the LM19 Aston Martin Ulster is £1,400,000 - 1,600,000. It is sure to attract a crowd as its three sister cars are all privately owned and unlikely to be up for sale in the foreseeable future.
If it’s a little pricey for you, then take a look at the 1:2 scale replica of the Porsche 936 “Jules” that won Le Mans 24 Hours in 1981 driven by Jacky Ickx and Derek Bell. The current owner is none other than Derek Bell himself. The junior Porsche has an estimated value of £12,000 – 15,000 and its single-cylinder engine can take it to a top speed of... 77kph!
Cécile Bonardel / ACO — Translated from French by Emma Paulay
Photo: D.R. Archives ACO
PHOTO: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, LE MANS 24 HOURS, 15 & 16 JUNE 1935. The #32 and #33 Aston Martin Ulsters, the LM19’s sister cars, await the start of the race.
