A 92-year-old race car with mysterious links to Ayrshire is coming ‘home’.
The 1930 Aston Martin, known as LM4, will be on display outside- Belleisle House in Ayr on the morning of Tuesday, September 27.
And an Aston Martin historian, along with a genealogist, aim to uncover the car’s history – and its association with the region.
Aston Martin historian Steve Waddingham takes up the story: “The car, known as LM4, was an Aston Martin team racing car built in 1930.
“After its racing career with the Aston Martin factory, LM4 was sold to its first private owner, Henry Leeson, in 1931.
“Mr Leeson sold the car a few months later to Rolland Cookson, a young businessman from the north of England.
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“For reasons still unknown, Mr Cookson gave his address as ‘Belleisle House, Ayr’ in October 1931.
“As to why he gave Belleisle House as his address, we are not sure.”
One theory is that he was on an extended honeymoon trip with his new wife, or staying in Ayrshire to conduct business.
Steve said: “We are hoping that returning the car back to the house might stir up some memories amongst local people.”
LM4 was built as a racing car by Aston Martin and it raced in the prestigious JCC ‘Double Twelve’ held at Brooklands in 1930, finishing fourth and second in its class.
A few months later the car won its class in the RIAC Irish Grand Prix and came seventh overall.
The car has a 1.5 litre four-cylinder engine and has been recently repainted in its original racing green colour scheme by Aston Martin Works at Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire.
Steve said: “The car is maintained and prepared for racing by marque experts Ecurie Bertelli Ltd and although it spends most of its time on the race track, it is road registered too.”
The new owners of the car have commissioned Steve and genealogist Martin Saul to uncover the car’s history. As such, the team are taking the car back to places where it has ‘lived’ and raced.
Steve said: “From this, we hope to publish a book in the future that will tell the story in words and dramatic photographs.
“As part of this exercise, we will be photographing LM4 in Belleisle Park and in front of the remains of the old house.”
The team will be at Belleisle House from 9am on Tuesday, September 27.
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