Aston Martin - Aston Martin 1.5 litre
After the bankruptcy of the Aston Martin company in 1925, A. C. Bertelli and parner Renwick purchased it renaming the company Aston Martin Motors. The all new cars they built had the Bertelli / Renwick overhead camshaft 1.5 litre engine, starting in 1927 which continued through the second series. For 1934 the new much improved third series or "Mk.2" Aston Martin appeared with a much stiffened chassis, larger brakes and generally everything improved, available in short and long chassis options, with their Bertelli designed Mk2 saloon arguably one of the best looking 2 door sports saloons built prewar. These Mk2 models are easily distiguished externally by their radiators having a shell with vertical slats (which open automatically as the water heats up), the Mk2 being the first Aston Martin to have the enamelled winged badge. Production of the Mk2 Aston Martin continued to 1936.
Tyre sizes for the earlier Aston Martins were:
- For the Bamford and Martin cars tyre size was originally beaded edge type and size 710x90 . Blockley produces the best 710x90 tyres available anywhere, along with correct thick butyl inner tubes to suit.
- Tyre size for the 1 1/2 litre Bertelli Aston Martins was originally 450x21 for the "first series" cars built between 1927 and 1932, and Blockley produces the perfect 4.50x21 tyre, which offers better handling than any other tyre available, with an authentic period correct tread pattern. See details of this tyre below:
-Tyre size for the Aston Martin series 2 and Mk2 was 5.25x18, which is a size no longer available, so the tyre size used for the past 80 or so years has been the 5.50x18. Blockley produces two variations of the 550x18 tyre, one being a 3 stud tread pattern and the other our A6C pattern. We would suggest the A6C pattern for the road cars and the 3 stud pattern for those using their cars harder. See full details of both these 5.50x18 tyres also, at the links below.
It may be that some Mk2 Aston Martins left the factory with 19 inch front wheels (we have a highly original Mk2 ourselves), so there's the alternative of having 5.50x18 rear tyres and 5.00x19 front tyres which we think is by far the best combination - and as it happens both these 18 and 19 inch tyre sizes have the same diameter. Again, full details of these prewar Aston Martin tyre sizes at the links below:
