Arrol-Aster was a British car maker founded in 1927 when
Arrol-Johnston
Arrol-Johnston (later known as Arrol-Aster) was an early Scottish manufacturer of automobiles, which operated from 1895 to 1931 and produced the first automobile manufactured in Britain. The company also developed the world's first "off-road" v ...
and the English
Aster company merged. The Wembley, London works of Aster was closed and production concentrated at the Heathhall,
Dumfries factory of Arrol-Johnston.
At first, manufacture of all the cars previously made by the two companies was continued along with those made under the Galloway badge but in 1928 a rationalisation was carried out. The cars were complex and expensive and sales were poor resulting in the company going into receivership in 1929 and finally closing in 1931.
The company was responsible for making the body for
Sir Malcolm Campbell
Major Sir Malcolm Campbell (11 March 1885 – 31 December 1948) was a British racing motorist and motoring journalist. He gained the world speed record on land and on water at various times, using vehicles called ''Blue Bird'', including a ...
's
Blue Bird
The bluebirds are a North American group of medium-sized, mostly insectivorous or omnivorous birds in the order of Passerines in the genus ''Sialia'' of the thrush family (Turdidae). Bluebirds are one of the few thrush genera in the Americas.
B ...
car in 1929 and an Arrol-Aster car was entered in the
1931 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Model range
*1927-1930 Aster 21/60 3042 cc Straight-6 Overhead valve
*1927-1930 Aster 24/70 3460 cc Straight-6 Sleeve valve
*1927-1929 Arrol-Johnston 15/40 2413 cc Straight-4 Overhead valve
*1927-1930 Arrol-Aster 17/50 2370 cc Straight-6
Sleeve valve
The sleeve valve is a type of valve mechanism for piston engines, distinct from the usual poppet valve. Sleeve valve engines saw use in a number of pre-World War II luxury cars and in the United States in the Willys-Knight car and light truck. ...
*1929-1930 Arrol-Aster 23/70 3293 cc straight-8 Sleeve valve
Arrol-Aster 17/50
The 17/50 used a straight six, single sleeve valve engine of 2370 cc driving the rear wheels through a four speed gearbox. Suspension was by semi elliptic leaf springs at the front and cantilever springs at the rear.
A Cozette
supercharger was an optional extra costing GBP50 giving the car a top speed of and an economy of
The car had a distinctive two part V shaped windscreen and was available with saloon, open touring or coupé bodies.
In 1929, a car was entered into, and completed, the
Monte Carlo Rally driven by the Hon Mmrs Victor Bruce,
[ and two supercharged cars were entered for the 1929 ]RAC Tourist Trophy
The RAC Tourist Trophy (sometimes called the International Tourist Trophy) is a motor racing award presented by the Royal Automobile Club (RAC) to the overall victor of a motor race in the United Kingdom. Established in 1905, it is the world's ol ...
(TT) in Ulster driven by E.R. Hall
Edward Ramsden Hall (17 July 1900 – 12 May 1982) was an English racing driver. He was born in Milnsbridge into a wealthy Yorkshire family in 1900, the heir to a successful textiles business which funded his motor racing and other sporting e ...
and N. Garrard. Both cars crashed.
Arrol-Aster 23/70
The 23/70 shared the same basic layout as the 17/50 but was fitted with a straight-8 sleeve valve engine. The exact capacity of the engine is quoted by various sources as between 2760 and 3293 cc. The engine was said to be vulnerable if taken above 3400 rpm.
See also
* Ateliers de Construction Mecanique l'Aster
L'Aster, Aster, Ateliers de Construction Mecanique l'Aster, was a French manufacturer of automobiles and the leading supplier of engines to other manufacturers from the late 1890s until circa 1910/12. Although primarily known as an engine mas ...
(Original French 'Aster')
* List of car manufacturers of the United Kingdom
References
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External links
1927 21/60 4-Door Fabric Saloon advertisement
Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of Scotland
Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1927
Companies based in Dumfries and Galloway