Arrol-Aster
Encyclopedia
Arrol-Aster was a British car maker founded in 1927 when Arrol-Johnston
and Aster
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's Blue Bird car in 1929 and an Arrol-Aster car was entered in the 1931 24 Hours of Le Mans
.
A Cozette supercharger
was an optional extra costing GBP50 giving the car a top speed of 72 mi/h and an economy of 17 mpgimp
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
(TT) in Ulster driven by E.R. Hall
and N. Garrard. Both cars crashed.
Arrol-Johnston
Arrol-Johnston was an early Scottish manufacturer of automobiles, which operated from 1896 to 1931 and produced the first automobile manufactured in Britain...
and Aster
Aster (automobile)
The Aster was an English automobile manufactured from 1922 to 1930. The companies car roots can be traced to 1899 when Begbie Manufacturing of Wembley, in north London became British licensees of the French Aster company making mainly stationary engines...
merged. The Wembley, London works of Aster was closed and production concentrated at the Heathhall, Dumfries
Dumfries
Dumfries is a market town and former royal burgh within the Dumfries and Galloway council area of Scotland. It is near the mouth of the River Nith into the Solway Firth. Dumfries was the county town of the former county of Dumfriesshire. Dumfries is nicknamed Queen of the South...
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's Blue Bird car in 1929 and an Arrol-Aster car was entered in the 1931 24 Hours of Le Mans
1931 24 Hours of Le Mans
The 1931 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 9th Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on June 13 and 14 1931.-Official results:-Disqualified:* #31 failed to complete the final lap of the race in under 30 minutes and was disqualified....
.
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 valveSleeve valveThe 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 USA 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
Supercharger
A supercharger is an air compressor used for forced induction of an internal combustion engine.The greater mass flow-rate provides more oxygen to support combustion than would be available in a naturally aspirated engine, which allows more fuel to be burned and more work to be done per cycle,...
was an optional extra costing GBP50 giving the car a top speed of 72 mi/h and an economy of 17 mpgimp
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
Monte Carlo Rally
The Monte Carlo Rally or Rally Monte Carlo is a rallying event organised each year by the Automobile Club de Monaco which also organises the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix and the Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique. The rally takes place along the French Riviera in the Principality of Monaco and...
driven by the Hon Mmrs Victor Bruce, and two supercharged cars were entered for the 1929 RAC Tourist Trophy
RAC Tourist Trophy
The International Tourist Trophy is an award given by the Royal Automobile Club and awarded semi-annually to the winners of a selected motor racing event each year in the United Kingdom. It was first awarded in 1905 and continues to be awarded to this day, making it the longest lasting trophy in...
(TT) in Ulster driven by E.R. Hall
E.R. Hall
Edward "Eddie" Ramsden Hall 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 exploits...
and N. Garrard. Both cars crashed.
