Research Dossier — 1939 Aston Martin Speed Model Type C

Origins & Body Design

Engineer Claude Hill created the Type C as the final and most advanced version of Aston Martin’s 2-litre Speed Model. His brief was simple: maximise aerodynamic efficiency while keeping the car small, light and competitive in sports-car racing. The result was a short-wheelbase, wide-track chassis wearing rounded, full-width front wings, recessed headlamps and a long, tapered tail.

Light-alloy main body panels were mounted over a steel frame, with the wings themselves fabricated in steel. This hybrid construction kept weight down while retaining strength for competition. The smooth nose and faired lamps were a sharp break from Aston Martin’s earlier cycle- wing cars and made the Type C look almost like a land-speed record machine.

Chassis, Engine & Performance

Under the bodywork sat Hill’s 2-litre inline-four, a development of the earlier 1½-litre racing engine. In Speed-Model tune it used larger carburettors, high-lift camshafts and dry-sump lubrication, pushing output roughly a quarter higher than the earlier design and allowing genuine 100 mph performance in road-racing trim.

The chassis itself was shorter, wider and stiffer than previous Aston frames, with improved suspension and powerful brakes to cope with the extra speed. Period tests and Brooklands running showed at least one Type C reaching over 110 mph when geared and tuned for maximum speed, a serious figure for a two-litre car on pre-war tyres.

Rarity & Historical Context

The Type C body style arrived in the late 1930s as Aston Martin sought a fresh look and faster customer cars. In total only eight Speed Models were completed with this distinctive bodywork before the Second World War halted production, making the Type C one of the rarest Aston Martins ever. Surviving examples are prized both for their racing pedigree and for their unusual, streamlined styling.

Modelling Priorities for a LEGO Clone

• Preserve the short-nose, long-tail stance with its flowing front and rear wings, and the teardrop bonnet bulge running back between the rear haunches.
• Use a compact Technic spine to support live-axle style rear suspension, steering suggestion at the front, and a brick-built 2-litre four under a removable bonnet.
• Capture the two-tone paint separation (cream over dark green in the reference car) with gentle color blocking, then add the small windscreen, twin seats and simple dash with large steering wheel.
• Tune the wheel and tyre choice to keep the car low but not slammed, with wire-wheel style rims and subtle knock-off hub hints.
• For museum displays, include a low base with gravel or grass texture, a small information plinth and space for a mechanic or driver minifigure.