1933 Aston-Martin Le Mans chassis E3/265/S
Supplied new in 1933 to J. Cadbury Esq of the Cadbury chocolate family, this was one of numerous Aston-Martins supplied to the Cadburys in the pre-war era. Most cars bought by the family were mildly modified from ‘standard’ and this was no exception. In this case, the normal external exhaust was replaced and, according to the build sheet, it was ‘fitted with Town style exhaust system i.e. inside bonnet’. The AMOC register shows Cadbury won a Glacier cup for a penalty-free run on the 1934 Alpine Trial. The Works recorded on 14th March 1936 ‘body repairs and driver’s door altered’ and later, on 27th May 1937, ‘various body adaptations. These changes to the original bodywork can be seen in photos taken when the car was next owned by Mr Appleby. It appears Cadbury crashed the car, probably in 1937 or 1938 as there is an entry in the official Works Record ‘Rectify accidental damage’ and another note that he ‘bought 2 litre 20.10.38’. The crash appears to have ended the ownership by Cadbury and second custodian, Stephen Appleby, owned the car between 1939 and 1944. We have two photos of the car during this time which clearly show the Works-altered bodywork at his country house, Hollingbourne Manor. Appleby lived in numerous countries as a child before taking to aviation in France then moving to the UK. He was involved in building and flying an aircraft called the Flying Flea, in this YouTube clip about the aircraft Appleby is featured. https://youtu.be/oiCuHpMEOCc Appleby even crossed the English Channel in his Flea!
There are three more owners during 1944 and 1945, likely aviators during WWII as it was very common for pre-war sports cars to be driven by pilots in the war and the Appleby connection makes this more likely. In 1948, E3/265/S was bought by Major Kite. His name features both on the Works record card and the AMOC records. Mr Johnson owned the vehicle next; the AMOC records him buying the car in 1950, he is the last owner on the Works record which has the last entry dated 1952. In the 1953 AMOC register the car was still owned by W.E. Johnson but by 1954, the AMOC records denote a Mr RH Rowlands as the owner. The current owner purchased the car in 1965.
E3/265/S remains a fully matching numbers car. It has been well kept with a lovely restoration of the bodywork and interior maintaining the original maroon paint colour and black interior. The restoration has aged well with appropriate gentle patina. Mechanically, this car is in good condition with an uprated crankshaft and conrods in a re-built engine which has covered only modest mileage each year.
It is eligible for all major motoring events including 1000 Miglia, Le Mans and Goodwood, has good period history, matching numbers and a complete ownership history, this is one of the nicest Le Mans Aston Martins available.
