Aston Martin
Ulster works team cars LM18, LM19 & LM21

Why it matters

LM18, LM19, LM20 and LM21 were the final batch of full works-prepared Ulsters, built for Le Mans in 1935 and the last Aston Martin works team cars to run there until after the war. Designer A.C. Bertelli described them as 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

At the 1935 Le Mans 24 Hours, LM19 (Penn-Hughes, Fothringham) led the 1.5-litre class early, with Jim Elwes in LM18 and Martin in LM20 also in the works team. Fothringham spun at the White House curve in the rain and the car rolled; it was rebuilt at Feltham on a new chassis frame with a new front axle, keeping its engine, gearbox and rear axle.

LM19 then ran the RAC Tourist Trophy at Ards in September 1935 with Charlie Martin, where leaking oil pipes damaged the engine and it was not classified. In April 1936 it retired from the Mille Miglia with valve gear trouble at Fano, and in June 1936 Dick Seaman drove it in the French Grand Prix sports-car race at Montlhery, where his pace distorted the brake drums. It was then retired from racing and passed to private owners.

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.

Cars of the 1935 batch carry LM-prefixed chassis numbers (LM18, LM19, LM20, LM21). They differ from the 1934 team cars in a radiator 3 inches lower, which gives the sloping bonnet line, and in undrilled chassis frames, and they were painted bright red. LM19 is documented with a replacement chassis frame and, since 1995-96, a newly made engine block (LM19-2), the original components having been kept.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

1. 1
   Aston Martin Ulster: a Le Mans and Mille Miglia veteran (LM19 feature) Level B Octane

   • low-radiator cars (LM18 to LM21)
   • 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
2. 2
   Ecurie Bertelli – Team Cars LM11 to LM21 Level B

   • 3 Works team cars built and prepared in 1935 (source: "three further works team cars built and prepared; LM18, LM19 and LM20"; LM21 then ran at the 1935 TT as the last 1½-litre team car)

   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