A green 1938 Aston Martin leads an assortment of classic race cars down the international straight during the 2017 Silverstone Classic Media Day
In 1936 Aston-Martin started production of the Speed Model. This is the most technically advanced of all the pre-war Astons, fitted with a 2 litre engine and specially developed hydraulic brakes as well as improved handling. Due to the high costs involved, Aston-Martin only made 23 of these, including one specially narrowed single seat version. Aston-Martin Speed Model, known as ‘Red Dragon’, Chassis H6/711/U was built in the Experimental Shop by Aston-Martin for the 1936 TT race in Ulster (N. Ireland) with a body built by E Bertelli. E. Bertelli was the brother of ‘Bert’ Bertelli who owned Aston-Martin at the time, E. Bertelli bodied most of the pre-war Aston-Martin cars built. ‘Red Dragon’ was first raced by the famous racing driver Dick Seaman at the TT race in 1936 but retired with a seized engine due to oil starvation, a new engine was built and stamped with the same 711/U number to aid sale and export to Holland for a Mr. Hertzberger. The fortunes of this car then began to improve dramatically and it went on to lead perhaps the most active racing life of any Aston-Martin ever made, highlights are as follows: Mille Miglia (Hertzberger / Debille) 16th overall, 2nd in class. Le Mans 24 hours (Hertzberger / Debille) retired Monthlhery Speed Cup (Debille) 1st Grand Prix des Frontieres Belgium (Hertzberger 1st AGAGI Grand Prix (Hertzberger) 1st 1938 Mille Miglia (Hertzberger / Debille) retiered Coupe de Paris Montlhery (Hertzberger) 1st St. Anneken Belgium (Hertzberger) retired 1948 AGAGI 12 Hrs Sports car race Motlhery (Folland / Connell) 3rd, 2nd in class Belgian 24 hrs at Spa, (Folland / Connell) retired 1949 Le Mans 24 hours (Folland / Heal) retired Belgian 24 hrs (Folland / Heal) retired 1950 Managed, rebuilt and re-bodied by the great John Wyer who went on to win Le Mans for Aston Martin with the DBR1 and develop the Ford GT40 1952 Silverstone (Stewart) 3rd BARC Goodwood (Fairman) 1st on Handicap.
Size: 5256px × 3364px
Location: Silverstone, Towcester NN12 8TN, UK
Photo credit: © John Gaffen / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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