1932 Aston Martin Racing
LM10-
Year of manufacture1932
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Car typeConvertible / Roadster
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Chassis numberLM10
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Competition carYes
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FIA PapersYes
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DriveRHD
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ConditionOriginal Condition
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Interior colourRed
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Number of seats2
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Location
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Exterior colourRed
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GearboxManual
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Drivetrain2wd
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Fuel typePetrol
Description
Special Features
External
One of 3 Pre-War Astons featuring a lowered radiator design and the only fully original existing 1932 works car.
Original registration number as registered by the works
Finished in red but the 1932 cars were originally green and changed to red in 1933 by order of Bertelli as he considered red cars to be a luckier colour.
Original quick release bonnet straps.
Has both 1932 and subsequent 1933 front axle (resulting from LM10 being the AM development car).
Internal
Original cast alloy Bulkhead with original chassis plate
Original Chassis
Twin Bucket rexine seats
4 Speed Gearbox with original gate.
Description
In 1932 Aston Martin built 3 new race cars of a lowered design, with pointed tails and a new ‘V’ shaped radiator. These are generally regarded as the most attractive of all the pre-war competition Astons.
LM10 was the most successful of the 3 cars built, winning its class in 1932 and going on to finish in 1933 and 1934, the only Aston Martin to have achieved 3 consecutive Le Mans finishes.
Between the 3 cars , LM8,9 &10 achieved over 50% of all pre-war Aston Martin Team car Le Mans finishes. LM10 was in fact responsible for over 50% of Le Mans Team car finishes.
LM10 was raced in period by a veritable ‘who’s who’ of drivers:
Augustus Cesare Bertelli “Bert”
Jock Manby-Colegrave
Sammy Davis
Sammy Newsome
Henken Widengren
Richard Shuttleworth
Reggie Tongue (Alias Vincent)
Maurice Falkner
Elwes
LM10 is the only one of the 3 cars to have remained totally original. LM8 was rebodied after the 1932 Le Mans as a 4-seater and LM9 following accident damage, received LM8’s body and subsequently a replacement engine. Furthermore, LM10 has a complete documented history from new as set out in detail in the award-winning book “Aston Martin & LM10” by Jonathan Wood. A copy of the book can be bought from the dedicated website: https://astonmartinlm10.com/
LM10 has remained in private ownership since its career with Aston Martin works and is for the 1st time offered for sale on the open market.
Given LM10’s unique racing history, it stands alone regarding pre-war Astons. A guide is the sale of LM19 at the Bonhams sale at Goodwood in June 2015 which realised £2,913,500 (excluding VAT). It should be noted that LM19 failed to complete a single race pre-war in which it was entered.
In 1934, LM10, went on to become the works development car for the Aston Martin Mk2’s and Aston Martin Ulster models.
Later in its life the car was owned by Tony Gaze, a World War 2 Spitfire Ace and who was instrumental in persuading Lord March into turning Westhampnett airfield into Goodwood.
LM10 has recently benefitted from a complete new period correct wiring loom and general health check by a leading insdutry specilist.
What comes with LM10
-DVLA records of previous registration documents
-FIA historic vehicle identity documents
-FIVA identity cards
-Various magazines recording race results and history of car
–Extensive photographic records Shuttleworth archive material proving LM10 competed in the 1932 TT driven by Shuttleworth and Edmunds
-Extracts from correspondence relating to Tony Gaze’s (World War 2 Spitfire ace) memories of LM10
Parts
-Set of 4 original wheels with Dunlop road speed tyres
-Original large Le Mans petrol tank
-Original 1932 front axle stamped LM10 (present axle fitted for 1933 and 1934 Le Mans by factory)
-Original front wings (modified by the lady owner in 1949)
-Magnesium castings for clutch housing. (Could be repaired but replaced with aluminium Aston).
Ownership
–12 (Aston Martin owned the car twice, the car was passed between spouses and was also bequeathed by one owner to his trusted mechanic).
–Detailed account of each owner exists within the Award-winning book on LM10 (Aston Martin & LM10)
Provenance
-Pre-War Le Mans Works Team Aston Martin. 1st in Class in 1932 Le Mans and finished again 1933 and 1934 and the only Aston Martin to have finished 3 consecutive Le Mans.
-Competed and finished 2nd in the Belgian AC Spa 10-hour race in 1935.
Of the three 1932 Works Team cars (these were unique as they featured the elegant low radiator) only LM10 retains its original body, chassis, engine, and gearbox.
-Car was sold to Squire Motor Company in 1932 due to AM lack of funds and was bought back by AM from Squire for the 1933 Le Mans
-Post 1933 LM10 became the AM works development car and was used to trial parts for the AM Ulster series.
-Competed 3 times in the Retro Mille Miglia, and in Classic Le Mans, where it came 1st in class in 2002.
-Subject of an award-winning book (LM10 and Aston Martin) written by Jonathan Wood