Special Vantage Roadster celebrates oldest Aston

The oldest extant Aston is the car that’s always been known as A3. The 1.5-litre sports model was the third of five prototypes built at the Aston works (then in Kensington) and driven – probably quickly – around London by co-founder Lionel Martin. Despite just 11PS (8kW) from the side-valve engine, A3 was no slouch, especially when fitted with streamlined bodywork. In 1923 it lapped Brooklands at 84mph.

One hundred years on, a Vantage Roadster will double that speed without raising a sweat. It’s not at all like its famous forebear in other ways either: four wheels and a steering wheel are about all they have in common. Well, standard Vantages anyway; the one you see here has been embellished with A3 touches as a homage to mark the old stager’s centenary.

So how do you give a car born in 2021 some retro character from a car of 100 years earlier? Subtly, is the answer to that. So note the new black mesh grille with its shiny aluminium surround and the bronze brake calipers. The limited edition Vantage doesn’t quite get 1920s-style leather bonnet straps but in a beautifully executed touch it does get leather inlays on a polished panel aft of the front wheels, along with a discreet No3 badge. Very classy.

The car has also been retro’ed with the firm’s original AM badge and, on the inside, embroidered Aston Martin script, as used in 1921. The star in the cabin for us though is the switchgear. The rotary knobs hark back to veteran days by being cast from brass.

Three ‘A3’ Vantage Roadsters are available. They have been commissioned by HMW of Walton on Thames, Aston’s longest established dealership, and put together by bespoke arm Q by Aston Martin.

The oldest and newest Aston Martins come together at an A3 centenary celebration on 26^th June organised by the Aston Martin Heritage Trust at the Dallas Burston Polo Club, Southam, Warwickshire. On show will be some of the rarest, oldest and most highly prized Astons (and Lagondas), from pre-war models to Aston Martin Tickford specials (Frazer Metro, Tickford Capri), oddities like the Cygnet and latterday supercars including the One-77 and Vulcan.