Olney, UK –  Ecurie Bertelli, a global specialist in pre-war Aston-Martin motor cars, has introduced the 1923 Aston-Martin Razor Blade to the market for the first time since the 1980s. The complete specialist racing car was originally built to break the one-hour ‘light car’ speed record with a focus on aerodynamics, reduced cross-section and lightweight performance.

One of the earliest motorsport examples of aerodynamic design, the Razor Blade’s bodywork was manufactured by the de Havilland Aircraft Company. Measuring just 18.5 inches at its widest point, the Razor Blade is believed to be the narrowest race car ever built, hence its unique name. This is further reinforced by an inswept chassis, with a much narrower rear that gives it a distinctive look and driving characteristics.

The Razor Blade attempted to break the record – held by AC Cars – in 1923, at Brooklands. While it was able to maintain record-breaking pace, the attempt was eventually abandoned after the race car repeatedly shed its front offside tyre at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour. Later in the year, however, the Razor Blade was able to set a new record for the standing start mile and kilometre. It went on to see racing success throughout the 1920s.

Bamford and Martin car, chassis number 1915, the Razor Blade’s slender bodywork conceals a bespoke race engine originally developed for the 1922 French Grand Prix. The four-cylinder, twin overhead cam, 16-valve engine outputs 55 horsepower and was derived from half of a three-litre eight-cylinder Ballot engine.

It was raced regularly until the 1950s when it was sold to the Harrah Motor Museum in the USA, which eventually became the National Automobile Museum. During this time, it was returned to the UK and placed into the care of Brooklands Museum, with the owner enjoying occasional racetrack forays. It has previously appeared at Goodwood FoS and is currently able to race at numerous events, including VSCC, AMOC and Shuttleworth events. Perhaps most surprisingly of all, the Razor Blade is road registered and carries the plate XO9958.

About Ecurie Bertelli

Ecurie Bertelli is the pre-eminent global sales and service specialist for pre-war Aston-Martin motor cars. We are passionate about Aston-Martins; their unique heritage and their continued enjoyment. With more than 40 years’ experience we are experts in pre-war Aston-Martin motor car sales, care, repair, restoration, conservation and the leading supplier of pre-war Aston-Martin racing and event support worldwide. With peerless, authentic, technical expertise garnered over decades, EB is the acknowledged global specialist for discerning Aston-Martin owners.

For more information, please visit https://ecuriebertelli.com/

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Pat Aust, of Redondo Beach, Calif., says his 1938 Ford sedan delivery (780-B) is one of only 22 built in similar configuration. It carries an 85-hp V-8 and was “originally sold to the Pomona Calif. Fire Dept. and used as a fire chief’s car. I restored it and have owned it since 1979.”

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A heavy hauler came to an abrupt stop when it hit a dirt embankment on a Pennsylvania road. This big rig belonged to C. Richard & Sons, a long-running transport company from  Bridgeport, Conn.

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“Rarely seen these days — to be replaced by minivans,” notes OC contributor John Bellah, who spotted this Ford 1/2-ton panel truck slowly rusting away in a public park in Springdale, Utah. This circa 1948-’50 Ford could carry either a 226-cid six with 95 hp or a 239.4-cid V-8 with 100 hp. The postwar Ford haulers were billed as the “Bonus-Built Trucks” with the panel truck using an all-new body.

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Many modifications and oddities about the early Corvette body appear to be consistent with records showing that body No. 002 served as a test car for production Corvettes, including whether the then-developmental small-block V-8 would work in the two-seater.

GM records show body No. 002 was assigned duty as an engineering test vehicle (and assigned No. 3951), and was used in various V-8 design tests, as well as cooling system, 12-volt power, Powerglide and exhaust development. The body that was recently found was removed when car No. 3951 received a new body in May 1955.

Among the contributing evidence for the found body to be No. 002 are:
• The body has a one-piece floor, thought only to exist among the first 12 Corvette bodies.

• The fiberglass finish is extremely crude, especially in trunk and behind seats, per early cars.

• The right-side inner fender has been reworked to fit a 12-volt battery.

• The brake pedal arm and emergency brake have differences from any other Corvette.

• Several sets of holes in the firewall indicate multiple placements of heater motor and hoses.

• The normal exhaust holes were covered with factory-type materials, and there is evidence that extra exhaust holes were cut in rear fenders, as on 1956-’57 V-8 models. An early photograph known to be of body No. 002 shows two sets of exhaust holes, and they are in the same location on the body of the car in question.

The earliest known Corvette is No. 003, which has been restored to show condition. Corvette No. 001 is known to have been destroyed in a burn test by General Motors.

For more on this early Corvette body, watch your upcoming Old Cars Weekly editions for expanded interviews surrounding this car. If you have any details about Corvette No. 002, please contact the owner, Pete Wilzbach, at peterwilzbach@msn.com.

For details on joining the Solid Axle Corvette Club, contact Lucy Badenhoop, SACC secretary, P.O. Box 2288, N. Highlands, CA 95660, call 916-991-7040, or e-mail badenhoop.lucy@bigfoot.com.

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Burr entered the contest while attending the event and will use the prize package to restore the 1948 Willys Jeep he inherited and a Mustang he is hoping to purchase soon.

“I’m pretty tickled to win this prize,” Burr said upon learning he had won the contest. The Ultimate Garage Giveaway drew more than 15,000 entries, both online and during the Iola Old Car Show. Burr’s name was selected while he was on vacation, and when he returned, he found the news of his win waiting on his answering machine.

The Ultimate Garage Giveaway is conservatively valued at more than $10,000 and includes prizes to aid a hobbyist restore his or her collector car, including a vehicle lift from Complete Hydraulic Service & Sales; a tool chest with the Old Cars logo from Garage-Toys; a garage heater from Hot Dawg; a welder from Miller Electric Mfg. Co.; a body lift from Accessible Systems; and many other prizes donated by the sponsors listed below. The Olds Cars Weekly staff would like to thank these sponsors for making the contest a success, especially Dennison Building Supply, who constructed buildings to house the prize package during the Iola Old Car Show.

Ultimate Garage Giveaway sponsors:
Complete Hydraulic Sales & Service, Inc. www.completehydraulic.com
Garage-Toys.com www.garage-toys.com
Dennison Building Supply www.dennisonbuilding.com
Miller Electric Mfg. www.millerwelds.com
Accessible Systems www.accessiblesystems.com
Hot Dawg www.modine.com/hotdawg
Pit Pal www.pitpal.com
Meguiar www.meguiars.com
Vintage Shop Coats www.vintageshopcoats.com
Lectric Limited www.gmwiring.com
Gino’s Malt Shop Collection
Kwik-Poly http://kwikpolyllc.com/
Vanderbrink Auctions www.vanderbrinkauctions.com
Midwest Remanufacturing www.walshwiper.com
The Tray Man www.traymanpa.com
Enviro-Safe Refrigerants www.es-refrigerants.com
dwautoart.com www.dwautoart.com
Rustbeeter www.rustbeeter.com
Classic Heaters & Radiator www.classicheaters.com
Bardahl www.bardahl.com
Grain-It Technologies www.woodgraining.com
RockAuto.com www.rockauto.com
Waupaca Sears
Midwest Air Compressors

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