98 bhp, 1,949 cc inline four-cylinder engine, twin SU carburettors, manual gearbox, live front and rear axles, and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes. Wheelbase: 102"

- Forty years of single ownership and extensive service history from 1938

- Sporting British 2/4-passenger roadster coachwork

- Just 1,250 miles travelled since engine replacement by specialist David Taylor

Aston Martin’s pre-war 2-Litre models offered a wider product line, but sales were slow for the four-seat, two-door long-wheelbase open model, and planned saloon production was halved from 100 to just 50 units. To utilise existing production capacity, a sportier and less-costly short-chassis 2/4-passenger car was conceived and powered by a standard wet-sump engine to provide sporty open motoring without racing pretentions.

Abbey Coachworks of Willesden in London produced the sporty body for the new model, which debuted at the inaugural Earl’s Court Motor Show in 1937. The car, dubbed the 15/98, was priced at £575 complete, and just 50 were produced. Now, as then, it remains a quintessential pre-war English roadster with handsome styling and room for up to four.

This example, J7/823/SO, was built and registered in 1937 but delivered in 1938. Documented ownership history in the logbook dates to 1951, when it was acquired by a Mr. Cossins of Messingham from a Mr. R. Gray of Doncaster. However, the current owner has researched the car’s earlier history through Rob Davis of Elwell Smith & Co. The first owner was Mr. P.B. Mayne, followed by RAF Pilot Officer G.F. Sleight. On 25th March 1945, A.C.H. Walker acquired the car, followed that September by A.R. Prestige and then Reginald Grey on 3rd June 1949, who then sold the car to Mr. Cossins in 1951.

The current owner acquired the car in 1971, and for the next four decades, it remained the family’s pride and joy, with usage limited to occasional tours and regular attendance at AMOC events. The original engine was replaced in 2002/2003 by specialist David Taylor with a new cylinder block, pistons and head. Since that rebuild, the car has covered just 1,250 miles. It should be noted that the engine is a faithful recreation of the original unit, with development by David Taylor together with noted marque experts Ecurie Bertelli.

According to the current owner, "I first saw the car when it arrived in the village at the age of six; twenty years later I was able to buy it. The first few years were spent restoring the car followed by attending AMOC & VSCC race meetings. At one of these meetings, I met Mr. Crawford Jackson, another 2-Litre owner, followed by my friendship with both Mr. & Mrs. Michael Potts and Mr. & Mrs. David Crook. This developed into many tours – North Wales, France, Devon & Cornwall, Ireland, Scotland and Le Mans." There is a marvellous photographic record of these events, as well as the car in its natural habitat at the Prescott Hill Climb, with its outings faithfully recorded in contemporary club newsletters. The car’s history file includes detailed correspondence regarding the replacement engine.

Pre-war Aston Martins have a substantial following, and many of those that come to market are a reflection of a restorer's skills or interpretation. This car, J7/823/SO, has an outstanding ownership history, service history dating to 1938 and MoT history from 1971. It clearly benefits from the past four decades of single ownership and is a very enjoyable and usable classic Aston Martin with great heritage.