21st August 2026: Thanks to generosity of an Aston Martin Heritage Trust member, a 1924 Aston Martin has been bequeathed to the organisation. The car, one of the original side- valve engine models produced by the original makers of Aston Martin’s, Bamford & Martin Ltd, is one of twenty-seven surviving cars from the sixty-one that were built in period.
Like most Aston Martins of the 1920s, chassis number 1944 has a 1.5 litre, in-line, four cylinder of the side-valve type. These powerful, sporting ‘light cars’ were boldly advertised as being capable of lapping the Brooklands circuit at around 70mph. Indeed, this very car was raced on the famous Surrey banked circuit in 1927 and 1928 by R.H. Corbett.
Aston Martin company historian and AMHT Trustee, Steve Waddingham, takes up the story: “the car must have made quite an impression on Mr Corbett, as he told his children about his exploits and so it was very much part of his own motor racing story. By complete chance I’ve been recently talking to the family of R.H. Corbett about another car the family related to, so to be told that we were receiving chassis number 1944, which he raced, was a very pleasant surprise. We hope to unearth more about this part of the car’s history”.
At some point during the car’s long history, the chassis was shortened and gained a new body, of a later type design. By 1997 the car had been acquired by the donor, who two years later had an authentic type of body constructed. They meticulously researched one Aston Martin from the same period and using available photographs created the coachwork that car wears today. He then enjoyed driving and showing the car for many years until he was unable to do so in 2024.
Trust Collections Manager, Clare Hirst, said: “We are very fortunate here at the AMHT to have an extensive archive material from the Bamford & Martin period of Aston Martin history, plus the oldest known Aston Martin in existence, now known as A3. Adding this car, chassis number 1944, to the collection opens the opportunity to having a working car that will support a few new initiatives we are developing at the trust. This really is so exciting for us!”
The AMHT, a charitable organisation formed in 1998, is dedicated to preserving, celebrating, and sharing the history of this iconic luxury British sports car brand.
