Aston Martin
Ulster works team car LM20

Why it matters

LM20 was one of the four 1935 works Ulsters (LM18 to LM21) that Aston Martin built for Le Mans, the last works team cars to run there until after the Second World War. Their designer, A.C. Bertelli, called these team Ulsters the best cars he ever built.

How rare is it?

Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.

History

LM20 started the 1935 Le Mans 24 Hours in the works team with C.E.C. Charlie Martin and co-driver Charles Brackenbury. In the second hour Martin passed Penn-Hughes in LM19, and later LM20 and LM19 were still running in fairly close formation before LM19 crashed in the rain. The cars were built at the Feltham works, and several of the LM chassis had their frames replaced in period.

Technical specifications

Engine

Transmission & drivetrain

Chassis, body & dimensions

Performance

“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.

Identification guide

How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.

The 1935 works Ulsters carry the LM prefix (derived from Le Mans); this car is LM20. Compared with the 1934 team cars they have a radiator 3 inches lower, giving a sloping bonnet line, and undrilled chassis frames, and they were painted bright red. Bertelli avoided the number 13 in the LM series.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

1. 1
   Ecurie Bertelli – Team Cars LM11 to LM21 Level B

   • 1 individual car: works team car LM20, one of three 1935 team cars (LM18–LM20); 3rd at Le Mans 1935 with 1½-litre lap record (identity confirmed)

   Accessed 2026-11-12
2. 2
   Aston Martin Ulster: a Le Mans and Mille Miglia veteran (LM19 feature) Level B Octane

   • four-cylinder engines
   • 1495cc, single-overhead-cam, four-cylinder engines
   • high 9.5:1 compression ratio
   • single-overhead-cam
   • 13/8in SU carbs
   • close-ratio four-speed 'box
   • capable of more than 100mph for long periods

   Accessed 2026-11-12
3. 3
   1935 Aston Martin Works Ulster LM19, lot 323 Level C Bonhams · 2015-06-26

   • wrung out of the engines 85bhp at 5,250rpm
   • 85bhp at 5,250rpm
   • with peak revs of 5,400
   • Chassis frames on these four cars were undrilled

   Accessed 2026-11-12