Aston Martin Puts Out an A.P.B. for Its First Car

Aston Martin is on the hunt for A1—the very first car built by the fledgling Bamford & Martin Ltd in 1914.

The car, dubbed “Coal Scuttle”, thanks to its basic, functional design was kept for ten years as a publicity machine but then sold off for just £50 in 1924. After that the car effectively disappeared and Aston Martin has been unable to track it down.

Now, however, the British brand is launching a global hunt for its missing treasure. Aston Martin Heritage Trust Treasurer, Garry Taylor, explains, “We are very fortunate here at the AMHT to have the oldest known Aston Martin in existence, now known as A3, along with extensive records from the earliest days of the company and priceless artifacts from across the history of the brand, but, to date, Coal Scuttle has eluded us. Now, we are appealing for car enthusiasts to help us find that very first car, or discover definitively what became of it.”

The car was designed to be a Bugatti rival by founders Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford, but the First World War put a pause on their plans. Martin did manage to register the car as an Aston Martin on March 16, 1915, however, it was only after hostilities ceased that the car was put into action.

A1 was entered into the gruelling London to Edinburgh trial where it won a gold medal and it also raced at Brooklands in the 1920s, but after the company sold it, it was never heard of again.

Aston Martin company historian and AMHT Trustee Steve Waddingham adds, “In what would have been, and may still be, its 110th year, we would love to know the whereabouts or fate of our very first car. We are asking enthusiasts to check their automobilia collections, outhouses, stores and, yes, even orchards! If anyone knows more about the car, or has unidentified automotive remains they think could be relevant, we would dearly love to hear about it.” 

If you have any idea what happened to the Coal Scuttle contact that AMHT via its website.