With co-founder Martin Bamford having departed the company at the start of the decade, Aston Martin found itself in financial dire straits come the mid-1920s. The marque was offered for sale and eventually bought by Augustus Bertelli and William S Renwick, who believed that the British firm would perfectly showcase their newly engineered 1.5-litre single overhead camshaft inline four-cylinder engine.

The most successful model of the Bertelli First Series, the International featured a low and sporting chassis that was ideally suited to sprints, hill climb, and rally events—Bertelli himself was a regular competitor in the car. Initially shown to the world at the 1929 London Motor Show, the International also boasted dual SU carburettors, semi-elliptical front and rear leaf springs, drum brakes all round, and cycle wings over the wheels that turned in time with the steering.

Out of approximately 130 cars produced by 1932, offered here is chassis number S73. An accompanying copy of the factory build sheet records that this International was completed in November 1930. First owned in Saxmundham of Suffolk, the Aston Martin was specified in Black over a Red interior.

Although the car’s complete history is not known, it was subsequently acquired by a member of the King’s Own Royal Regiment before the International enjoyed a stint in Betchworth, Surrey. Under the ownership of Mr Peter Jepson, chassis S73 is recorded in the Aston Martin Owners Club registry for having scored 2nd place in the Bertelli 1½-Litre class at the 1970 Fort Belvedere Concours event in Surrey.

The Aston Martin would later find a new custodian in Stuttgart, Germany. Between 2006 and 2011, they embarked upon a restoration of the International. Some 212,783 CHF was spent with the famed Roos Engineering (now known as Emil Frey), based on the outskirts of the Swiss capital Bern, to undertake a total mechanical overhaul plus bodywork repairs, including the fitment of new wings. Please note, as part of an engine rebuild, the block was replaced. During this time, early Aston Martin specialist Ecurie Bertelli completed a further £22,154-worth of mechanical maintenance.

Acquired by the consignor, a pre- and post-war Aston Martin collector based in Germany’s Meerbusch, the International has since been enjoyed on driving tours and exhibited on static display, where it is sure to also delight its next owner.