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Even the Cygnet was at the A3’s birthday celebration, albeit in thoroughly mad one-off V8 form. Of course, it was Aston Martin chassis number 3, known as A3, that was the star of the day, and the jewel in the AMHT’s collection, being the oldest surviving Aston Martin. Built in 1921, A3 was used by Lionel Martin, co-founder of Bamford & Martin Ltd, manufacturers of the first Aston Martin sports cars, for both personal and competitive use. Fitted with a 1.5-litre, 11 hp (8kW) four-cylinder side valve engine, A3 was often seen with a streamlined racing body and in its heyday 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.