Company Profile - Ecurie Bertelli

Ecurie Bertelli

For the past 20 years Ecurie Bertelli of Olney, UK, has exclusively been involved in the restoration of pre-war Aston Martins, under the guidance of owner Andy Bell. Andy was all set for a life on a different course, studying and attaining a degree in Psychology at Cardiff University until a visit to a vintage car meeting at Silverstone in early 1977. Such was the impact of that day, he answered an advertisement in the Motor Sport magazine where a company was looking for a young lad to learn the business of vintage car restoration. He got the job working for Morntane Engineering, a firm set up by Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason, Derrick Edwards and Judy Hogg. It quickly established an International reputation for high quality restorations of exclusively vintage pre-war Aston Martins. However, Andy’s first job was to paint the floor of an empty building – he was in at a very embryonic stage of the business. The very first car he worked on was a Bamford and Martin car purchased by Nick Mason, who at the time was buying old racing cars such as these. Morntane’s only competition was from another renowned expert who worked on pre-war Astons, Bill Elwell-Smith, a very knowledgeable man, who had just a couple of small sheds to work from and was very low key, almost just a hobbyist. Morntane offered much more and satisfied a growing need in a time when vintage racing was becoming increasingly popular in the UK.

From these beginnings, Morntane Engineering raised awareness of pre-war Aston Martin cars both in the UK and Europe. Derrick Edwards taught Nick Mason the business of motor racing, how to race and prepare cars for scrutineering and they raced extensively across Europe, thus spreading the Morntane Engineering name. For the next ten years the company helped Nick build his collection of racing cars and was an essential part of his racing team. In 1987, however, he sold Morntane to Kohji Nakauchi and Dennis Nursey and it became part of the Middlebridge Group. It was business as usual for the next couple of years until Derrick Edwards and Judy Hogg left and set up Ecurie Bertelli. The Middlebridge Group were suffering financial difficulties and Ecurie Bertelli were ultimately able to purchase the assets of Morntane Engineering, which was a boost as they were able to use the client base they had previously built up.

Andy Bell was still part of the business, but his roll changed in 1992. Following a crash on the UK stock exchange, trade at Ecurie Bertelli fell and the company was offered for sale. He purchased the company and with Judy Hogg and one engine builder, Ivor Bowen, they worked hard to build it back up. Andy is clear, “Both Judy and Ivor were pivotal to the eventual success of Ecurie Bertelli.”

Over the next ten years, the company built a good stock of spare parts for pre-war Astons. With careful management, ploughing profits back into the business and assistance from Aston Martin Heritage, Ecurie Bertelli could, as today, be asked for any mechanical component of a pre-war Aston and post it to any country in the world the same day. The company again supported owners of racing Astons in various historic events all over the world, with Andy competing at the wheel of his own car he spread the word of what they had to offer.

Today, excellence of service is paramount and with Andy Bell at the helm – a man who is part of the DNA of the company, that`s exactly what customers are offered whether they are wanting to buy, service or restore their pre-war Aston Martin.

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