Chassis number LML 705 was dispatched to the selling dealer HR Owen, who first registered it in April 1954 for use as a demonstrator. They subsequently sold it to Thomas Bland & Son of Haworth West Yorkshire for use by their Managing Director, Harold Evan Jones. The car was transferred into Mr Jones’ name in 1962, the original buff log book recording the change of keeper.
In 1973 Mr Jones sold the car to his Solicitor, Mr Robert Ackroyd, who owned the car for the next forty three years.
His enthusiastic use of the Aston is evidenced by badges from crossing the St Gotthard and Glossglockner Passes before construction of the tunnels, and a unique Continental Travel Kit in the specially constructed box finished to match the interior and fitted in the passenger footwell.
An unrestored, matching numbers example, LML 705 has been extremally well maintained and cared for throughout its life with early service records logged in the ‘Certified Log Book’ issued by the Castrol Oil Company. This maintenance history stretches through to the present day when in November 2018 the Project Workshop in Bicester completed a full 10,000 Mile Service and other ancillary work to bring the car to a fully roadworthy condition, at a cost of over £5,000.
Present with the car is two fantastic history files containing a remarkably complete set of historical documents tracing the ownership history, use, and maintenance of the car, including a copy of the original build sheet, Heritage Certificate, and the original “brown” folding log book. LML 705 is also presented with its original tool kit, jack and starting handle, spare wheel, period Continental touring kit, handbook and Workshop Manuals
One of the two History Files is dedicated to the car’s aforementioned service and maintenance history, containing over one hundred pages, documenting items such as a very extensive engine rebuild in 1999, including balancing and complete rewiring of the car, and invoices from respected suppliers of parts for Aston Martin’s Feltham models, such as Aston Service Dorset, Four Ashes Garage, and Post Vintage Engineers.
Do not expect a ‘rotisserie restoration’; this is a car that has been maintained and enjoyed, not stripped to the last nut and bolt, to then only sit in a collection unused. Rarely do unrestored, well-documented cars in such fine fettle become available.