Aston Martin The Puckett Restoration 1958 / 1960

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The low bright red car looked so wickedly impressive when I first saw it that I insisted upon Murton - Neale driving it out of the melee of London traffic, a precaution which subsequently was proved quite needless. It still bore proudly its Le Mans numbers, and Murton Neale told me it was the exact condition in which it had finished the race.

"preparing for the race" he said "we fitted new pistons, valves and springs, and assembled everything very carefully, 'Chick' Fowler, Sir Malcolm Campbell's old mechanic, did most of the tuning, but practically all the running in that was possible was the run down to the coast and then across to France.

"In the race itself the car was steadily running itself in till we eventually we were getting 5,500 rpm in top , or perhaps a maximum of 5,600 if we wanted it. That would be about 111mph"

"Did you have much in hand" I asked as we negotiated the traffic.

"Lots" he said "If we had used all our speed we might have picked up several places. One can always say that after the race though!"

He was at the wheel, he told me , when the multiple crash occurred, and was held up for a few moments while the debris was removed. We were both silent for a short time, thinking of the tragic consequences for poor Pat Fairfield.

We were making for the Brooklands track of course, and at last on the Kingston by pass could open up a little. Watching the rev counter mount, and admiring the steady cornering. I asked what was the car's best lap at le mans was.

"About 83 mph " returned the driver. This was certainly shifting for an unblown car.

End.

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