If you’re not a classic car nut, a seven figure price tag for an 80-year-old hunk of metal can sound ludicrous. Consider: the 1935 Aston Martin Ulster CMC 614 pictured here is expected to sell for over $2.4 million when it goes on the block at Bonham's auction at the Goodwood Festival of Speed Sale on June 27.
But a closer look reveals how low production numbers and race history can converge to make an automobile like this ridiculously expensive.
For most people, the name Aston Martin means James Bond’s DB5 and modern, muscular tourers like the DB7 and Vantage. But the marque goes back to before World War II, and this Ulster is one of the finest specimens of that early period.
The first part of the $2.4 million equation is that only 21 production Ulsters were made--production started in 1935 and was halted in 1936, as the buildup to World War II began and Aston Martin dedicated their resources to the budding war effort. There’s no official word on how many CMC 614s have made it all the way to 2014, but it's likely not many. Scarcity begets value.
Now add the CMC’s incredible racing pedigree. The driver’s seat has hosted names like Eddie Hall, Tommy Clarke, and Maurice Falkner. Those names probably mean nothing to you--just understand that the men who piloted this car and others like it were brave badasses. With a four-cylinder 1496cc motor, the Ulster could get up to 100 mph, and drivers would lean into turns using all the grip provided by the car’s bicycle-tire wheels.
Remarkably, this car has competed in over 100 races, and competed at least once every year of its existence--resting only while the Allies fought the Axis powers. The name “Ulster” refers to a region in Ireland famous for a race in which this Aston once competed. The car ran the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in 1935, placing eighth.
The Ulster is a compellingly active race car, competing most recently run in the April 2014 Vintage Sports Car Club Spring Start at England's Silverstone Circuit. It's the Cal Ripken, Jr. of autos.
As nuts as it sounds, we fully expect this car to keep racing, if only because no new owner will want to be the guy who ends its record by locking it up in a garage.
