This year, Aston Martin’s oldest surviving car — the A3 — celebrates its 100th anniversary. To commemorate this milestone, the British luxury automaker built a special-edition Vantage Roadster to pay homage to the third sports car made by the then-fledgling brand.
Through Q by Aston Martin (the brand’s bespoke division) and Aston Martin HWM (the world’s longest-serving Aston Martin dealership), the bespoke Vantage Roadster will combine heritage details with the company’s latest developments in technology and engineering.
Featured is a unique grille with a bright aluminum surround, black square mesh, and Aston Martin’s heritage badge.
The side profile is highlighted with fender panels fixed with a saddle leather strap with an engraved “No 3,” (immediately below) similar to the original stamping of the A3.
In addition, the A3-inspired Vantage Roadster will feature a set of bronze brake calipers and will ride on 20-inch lightweight forged gloss black wheels (first photo), taking design cues from the A3.
Inside, the bespoke commission sports micro-perforated fluted seats with embroidered heritage Aston Martin script on the rear cubby lid. The carmaker says that it was the same script used by the company back in 1921 when the A3 first rolled out of the marque’s production facility.
The Vantage Roadster will also feature bespoke rotaries that take inspiration from the A3’s interiors.
“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,” said Q and Special Project Sales Director Simon Lane.
Aston Martin says that this exceptional commission will be shown publicly on June 26 at the Dallas Burston Polo Club, Southam, Warwickshire. The celebration event will be organized by the Aston Martin Heritage Trust (AMHT) with support from the Aston Martin Owners’ Club.
It will be featured alongside other Aston Martins belonging to the same era.
Chassis “No.3,” now commonly known as A3, was built with a 1.5-liter four-cylinder, side-valve engine. In its prime, the A3 “took several light-car speed records including first place at the Essex Motor Club Kop Hill Climb in 1922, as well as lapping the famous Brooklands circuit at 84.5mph in 1923,” said the carmaker.
Today, the A3 is now under the care of AMHT which acquired the A3 through a generous donation at an auction in 2002. After its acquisition, AMHT faithfully restored the A3 to its original factory specification by Ecurie Bertelli, the pre-war Aston Martin specialist.
Photos from Aston Martin
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