Q by Aston Martin Celebrates the First A3

Aston Martin paid tribute to the oldest surviving Aston Martin, the ‘A3’, by building new Vantage Roadster celebratory model. Aston Martin has a history of cool cars that have made it to the hallowed halls of museum collections world-wide. Who could forget the Aston Martin Lagonda for example. James Bond is famous for preferring the posh Brit. The A3 started a fine racing tradition too, and like all car makers, now does a nice line in SUVs wth the DBX.

Of their current range, it is possible the DBX that is their most important model, but the passenger cars are not yet gone.

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ABOVE:Aston Martin A3, and Q by Aston Martin

It has been 100 glorious years since chassis No.3 (also known as ‘A3’) rolled somewhat less than elegantly out of the marque’s then production facility at Abingdon Road in Kensington, London. A3, as the name might suggest, was the 3^rd of 5 prototypes made by Aston Martin. He loved it so much, Lionel Martin, co-founder of Aston Martin, used it often.

The A3 came with an 11hp, 1.5 litre 4-cyl side valve engine, with a streamlined racing body. Back in the day it managed several records including a 1st at the Essex Motor Club Kop Hill Climb in 1922. The lightwight race car got to an impressive 84.5mph at the iconic Brooklands circuit in 1923.

The last 100 years has passed quickly and A3 is now with the Aston Martin Heritage Trust’s (AMHT) collection. You might think it has been there all its life, but in fact was bought at auction in 2002 with a “generous donation”. The ‘A3’ was then restored to be as close as possible to its original factory specification by Ecurie Bertelli, the pre-war Aston Martin specialist.

It would have been churlish of Aston Martin not to mark this event, so the AMHT and Aston Martin HWM got together to create the Q by Aston Martin. They claim the spirit of ‘A3’ has been transmuted into this slinky new Vantage Roadster.

The Q by Aston Martin will make its debut at the A3 centenary celebration being put together by the AMHT and the Aston Martin Owners’ Club.

The event is on Saturday 26 June at the Dallas Burston Polo Club, Southam, Warwickshire. There, a group of insanely rare and stupidly expensive Aston Martins are curated to show the company timeline which will take visitors on a guided tour through the fascinating era-themed car parks.

The ‘A3’ itself has been given the once over by pre-war Aston Martin specialists Ecurie Bertelli but other notable entries are:

Pre-war Aston Martin models
Pre-war Lagonda vehicles
Feltham era members of the DB2 family
Newport Pagnell six cylinder cars, to include DB4, DB5, DB6 and DBS
A V8 showcase covering the period 1968-2000 – Saloon, Volante, Vantage, Lagonda and Virage
Aston Martin Tickford specials – Frazer Metro, Tickford Capri
DB7 & V12 Vanquish
Gaydon VH-era sports cars to include examples of DB9, Vantage, Rapide, and Vanquish, as well as appearances by rarities such as the One-77, Cygnet and Aston Martin Vulcan
Current range – Vantage, DB11, DBS Superleggera, and DBX

HWM is the world’s longest serving Aston Martin dealership, so it seems only right that this bespoke commission is revealed first at their showroom. HWM began in 1938 in Walton on Thames, and operates today from the building they moved to in 1948.

The Q by Aston Martin gets a grille with bright aluminium surround and black square mesh portraying the retro finished look of ‘A3’. More impressive is the Aston Martin heritage badge. It is this cursive nameplate that was seen when ‘A3’ was created, so can be seen on the mesh of the historic car.

Mud guard panels are with saddle leather straps meant to harken back to those on the exposed aluminium bonnet and bonnet strap seen on the 1921 car. This panel is hand polished by Ecurie Bertelli, giving the car a true bespoke look. ‘No 3’ is engraved there as a nod to the stamping seen on the original. A set of rather fine bronze brake calipers, findly remember the bronze detailing on ‘A3’, as well as looking dazzling set against the bespoke 20-Inch Lightweight Forged Gloss Black wheels.

The cabin has similar fine detailing such as micro-perforated fluted seats, and embroidered heritage Aston Martin script on the rear cubby lid and centre console. The Obsidian Black interior has Chestnut Tan leather accents and Chestnut Tan Contrast stitching.

Yet more fine detailing is seen in the Vantage Roadster’s bespoke rotaries which have been specially cast from brass. There is an almost Steam Punk feel to the heritage ambience.

Simon Lane, Director of Q and Special Project Sales at Aston Martin, said: “It is only right that this great marque takes the opportunity to celebrate the centenary of its oldest surviving model and I am thrilled that my team, working with the AMHT and Aston Martin HWM, have been able to create this tasteful yet suitably exhilarating tribute to our historic forebear.”

Numbers are strictly limited. Only 3 Orders will be taken for the ‘A3’ Vantage Roadster, and all will be through Aston Martin HWM in the UK.