The Aston Martin Heritage Trust (AMHT) has launched a global search for ‘Coal Scuttle,’ the first car ever built by Bamford & Martin Ltd, the company that would later become the iconic British luxury car brand, Aston Martin. This historic vehicle, officially known as A1 but affectionately nicknamed ‘Coal Scuttle’ due to its simple, utilitarian design, was created in the summer of 1914. Despite its significance in the brand’s history, the car was sold in 1924 and has since vanished.
As Aston Martin approaches the 110th anniversary of ‘Coal Scuttle’s’ creation and 100 years since its sale, the AMHT is appealing to car enthusiasts worldwide to help uncover this lost piece of automotive history. The search comes ahead of the Trust’s annual festival, which will be held on Saturday, August 31, at the British Motor Museum in Gaydon. The AMHT is encouraging people to search their garages, barns, and storage spaces for any trace of the missing car.
Garry Taylor, Treasurer of the AMHT, highlights the importance of this search: “We are very fortunate to have the oldest known Aston Martin in existence, now known as A3, but ‘Coal Scuttle’ has eluded us. As we prepare for our annual festival, we are appealing to car enthusiasts to help us find that very first car, or at least discover definitively what became of it.”
Built by a small team of engineers led by Aston Martin’s founders, Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford, ‘Coal Scuttle’ was envisioned as a high-quality sporting car, set to rival the likes of Bugatti. The car was formally registered as an ‘Aston-Martin’ on March 16, 1915, but its development was interrupted by the outbreak of World War I. After the war, in 1919, the car was entered into the London to Edinburgh Trial, a grueling test of endurance. It completed the event successfully, earning a Gold Medal and establishing the brand’s reputation for engineering excellence.
Throughout the 1920s, ‘Coal Scuttle’ continued to be tested and developed, appearing at events like Brooklands and even making a salmon fishing trip to Loch Awe in Scotland. The AMHT holds an extensive collection of photographs documenting the car’s journey, showing it with various upgrades and modifications. Despite its storied history, the car was sold for £50 in 1924, after which its whereabouts became unknown.
Aston Martin company historian and AMHT Trustee, Steve Waddingham, shares his fascination with the mystery: “I have often wondered what might have happened to it. If it was scrapped, did parts of it survive, such as the beautiful radiator housing? Did the body get replaced, or did the chassis find a new life in another vehicle? We’d love to know the whereabouts or fate of our very first car.”
As the AMHT embarks on this quest, they are asking enthusiasts to check their collections and storage spaces for any clues. Those who believe they may have information on the car’s fate are encouraged to contact the AMHT through their website.
The AMHT, established in 1998 as a charitable organization, is committed to preserving and celebrating the history of Aston Martin. More information about the 2024 AMHT Festival and how to get involved in the search for ‘Coal Scuttle’ is available on the AMHT’s website.
Source: Aston Martin Heritage Trust
This Article use tools from Chatgpt
