1924 Aston Martin 'Side Valve' three seat tourer

One of the earliest Aston Martins with a superb and engaging history.  Only four owners from new.

Bamford & Martin's chassis numbering for production cars began at '1916', making the side valve-engined chassis number '1941', one the oldest surviving production Aston-Martins and one of only a handful of cars remaining from before 1926. 

First delivered to the Midlands in 1924 and registered as MPG 503 for the first owner, R.H. Turner.  Intriguingly for such a high-quality car it was used as a tractor by the Home Guard during the Second World War before ending up in a scrap yard.  Fortunately, it was rescued in 1945 by a Cambridge medical student who built it a new body and used it for 16 years before it was once again found its way back to a scrap heap.  In 1961 it caught the eye of the fourth and present owner, James Cheyne, who rescued it and restored the car to its original condition, re-registering it as DS 7621 and then used it as a daily driver for many years.  Under James Cheyne’s ownership this car competed with some success in Concours and race events.  James Cheyne also lent the car to numerous museums and Aston Martin special exhibitions leading to it being featured in multiple publications and becoming a very well-known car.  During the last sixty-four years, James has kept a detailed and now very large history file on the car including original log books and the invoice from his purchase of the car.  Currently in complete and running condition with attractive patina, this car would benefit from sympathetic improvements to ensure reliability and improve driveability.  Once restored to top mechanical condition, this will make a superb touring car very capable over the more attractive but more less well maintained back roads, probably in similar condition when this car was produced!  Equipped with four-wheel brakes and good luggage space or a third seat this is perfect for shorter trips to collect your morning paper or the most comfortable and stylish conveyance to a pub or restaurant!

Manufactured by Robert Bamford and Lionel Martin, the first Aston-Martins established a reputation for high performance and sporting success with a series of prototype and racing cars in the years immediately following WWI.   Bamford & Martins first Aston Martin cars used four-cylinder side valve engines capable of propelling every car to 60mph.  In 1922 the side valve Aston-Martin enjoyed its finest hour when one set 25 light-car and 10 outright world speed records at Brooklands. The management's concentration on motor sport in the pursuit of publicity, delayed manufacturing cars for sale, the result being approximately 60 cars manufactured when the company underwent the first change of ownership.