After the success of 2013's auction, Bonhams is preparing to break records once more at its Goodwood Festival of Speed auction on June 27 with a rare ex-works Aston Martin Ulster.
 Arguably the most extensively raced Aston Martin in the world |
With Bonhams adding that this is "arguably the most extensively raced Aston Martin in the world", the car is valued at £1.4m-1.6m ($2.3m-2.6m) - an estimate that would beat the record for a pre-war car from the prestigious British marque, set at £1.3m by another of the 21 Ulsters at Bonhams in December.
Aside from a short rest during the second world war, the car has raced every year since 1935, its debut coming at the 1935 Mille Miglia. It finished eighth in the 1935 Le Mans 24-Hour race, as well as coming third and securing first in class in the Targa Abruzzo race in Italy in the same year.
 Let's hope Eddie Hall's green overalls aren't necessary at the Aston Martin's next race |
Perhaps even more attractive to collectors is its ownership history, which includes racing legends such as the charismatic Eddie Hall, an oh-so-British driver who was the first man to drive solo for the entirety of the Le Mans 24-Hour.
When asked about his toilet arrangements, Hall characteristically replied: "Green overalls, old boy!".
Other owners include Count "Johnny" Lurani, founder of the Italian Scuderia Ambrosiana Grand Prix team.
Chassis CMC 614 is "not only eligible but positively welcomed to the great historic motor sports event worldwide" according to Bonhams' group head of motoring James Knight, who added that it "certainly has the potential to exceed the existing Ulster record we established a few months ago."
"This car has the added benefit of being a Works entry that competed at the very highest international level."
However, the Ulster will almost certainly be overshadowed by "the world's rarest Aston Martin" at Goodwood as Bonhams also offers the 1940 "Atom" - one of the earliest concept cars ever produced.
Aston Martin is riding high on the market at the moment, after Bonhams saw a record for a DBS on the weekend at its annual auction at the marque's Newport Pagnell works.
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