Solved - MJW #698 - Gartside Aston Martin Special 1939/1951

[woodinsight]

What was the name of this old sports racer?
What car was it based on and who built it?
One point for the correct answer....

[woodinsight]

Moving up

[woodinsight]

Up again

[barrett]

Well, as this has been around for a while with now guesses at all, perhaps you will allow me more than one 

It looks British, early post-war but based on a pre-war chassis. am I close?

[woodinsight]

Well, as this has been around for a while with now guesses at all, perhaps you will allow me more than one 

It looks British, early post-war but based on a pre-war chassis. am I close?

Correct on both counts!

[barrett]

Based on a Riley?

[woodinsight]

Based on a Riley?

Not based on a Riley

[woodinsight]

Small clue - it was rebodied from a single-seater.

[barrett]

Was the single seater from a fairly well known company?

[woodinsight]

Was the single seater from a fairly well known company?

Yes, from a famous company.

[barrett]

Alta?

[woodinsight]

Alta?

Not Alta but it does begin with an 'A'

[barrett]

Austin?

[woodinsight]

Austin?

Not Austin......

[Wendax]

Alvis?

[barrett]

I thought it was too big for an Austin.... how about Aston-Martin?

[woodinsight]

I thought it was too big for an Austin.... how about Aston-Martin?

Yes!
I'll lock it for you until your next reply.....

[barrett]

Well, Aston didn't build very many single seaters, so this was easy to find with a little searching...

It's the 1939 Aston Martin 2-litre 'Brooklands' Speed Model, as modified by Gordon Garside in around 1948. Here's a couple of paragraphs taken from a website that sum up the history of the car quite well:

"In 1936 after Bertelli had resigned, Claude Hill became chief designer at Aston Martin Ltd. He realised that very soon the company would need to develop a new engine for the next series of production. So, Aston Martin established an arrangement with the Cross Company Ltd. to develop an application of their rotary valve arrangement for a motor car engine.

This unique Speed Model racing car was built by the works prototype department, with narrowed Speed model frame and narrower front and rear track, to run at Brooklands with the 'new' engine fitted. It was hoped that success would promote the new Aston Martin/Cross engine. Sadly war was to break out and development ceased, but the car did run at Brooklands with a crude single-seater body and with wings fitted, being tested by Gordon Sutherland and Charles Brackenbury, but, with the 1936 ex. Dick Seaman T.T. engine installed. It was found to be capable of 60mph in first gear.

After the war the car was sold to David Brown as part of the assets of the pre-war company, and the car quickly passed into the hands of well-known special builder Gordon Garside. He rebuilt the car with two-seater sports bodywork and raced it in national events, including with the AMOC, in the early 1950's."

[woodinsight]

Well, Aston didn't build very many single seaters, so this was easy to find with a little searching...

It's the 1939 Aston Martin 2-litre 'Brooklands' Speed Model, as modified by Gordon Garside in around 1948. Here's a couple of paragraphs taken from a website that sum up the history of the car quite well:

"In 1936 after Bertelli had resigned, Claude Hill became chief designer at Aston Martin Ltd. He realised that very soon the company would need to develop a new engine for the next series of production. So, Aston Martin established an arrangement with the Cross Company Ltd. to develop an application of their rotary valve arrangement for a motor car engine.

This unique Speed Model racing car was built by the works prototype department, with narrowed Speed model frame and narrower front and rear track, to run at Brooklands with the 'new' engine fitted. It was hoped that success would promote the new Aston Martin/Cross engine. Sadly war was to break out and development ceased, but the car did run at Brooklands with a crude single-seater body and with wings fitted, being tested by Gordon Sutherland and Charles Brackenbury, but, with the 1936 ex. Dick Seaman T.T. engine installed. It was found to be capable of 60mph in first gear.

After the war the car was sold to David Brown as part of the assets of the pre-war company, and the car quickly passed into the hands of well-known special builder Gordon Garside. He rebuilt the car with two-seater sports bodywork and raced it in national events, including with the AMOC, in the early 1950's."

Yes, that's it but the name is Gartside with a 't'.
Gordon Gartside was based in Knaresborough.
The car was originally a Claude Hill designed single-seater built for the Brooklands Outer Circuit in 1939.
It was a prototype and didn't appear to have a chassis number. Engine came from H6/711/U, a Speed Model 2 litre.
Gartside removed the body 1950/51 and fitted a two-seater body.
The car was rebuilt by W. Smith for O. Uberg 1980-1987.

Well done and thanks for the full reply.