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The company, Bamford and Martin Ltd was incorporated in 1913 to formalise a partnership between Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford.

They had been modifying and selling Singer cars from their workshops at 16 Henniker Place, Callow St, Kensington, London. Together, they made a decision to design and build a whole car of their own.

The very first Aston-Martin car was known as Coal Scuttle due to it's resemblance to what would have been a common item in most households at the time. It was registered in 1915 with the number AM4656 and remained the only Aston Martin in existance until a second car was finished in about 1920 due to the Great War getting in the middle of things. Thank goodness they build them a little faster now.

COAL SCUTTLE

The car was a 2 seater with a sporting body which it is believed carried the chassis number A1. The engine was a 1389cc 4 cylinder side value and was built for Bamford and Martin by the Coventry Simplex company.

Sadly it was last registered for the road in 1928 and has not been seen since. It is thus presumed that the car has been lost forever.

The first Aston Martin was granted the irreverent nickname of 'Coal Scuttle', because of its upswept cowl, and it was the only car to be built until 1920, due to the Great War halting development. 

'Coal Scuttle', which had already taken a Gold Medal in the 1919 London-Edinburgh Trial, made the marque's first race track appearance, when Martin took three second places and a fourth at the Junior Car Club May Meeting at Brooklands. 

The 1486cc 'clover-leaf' three-seater road car and a two-seater that was to become the short-wheelbase racer 'Bunny', were the only two cars built during 1920. The company's first racing victory came the following year when Lionel Martin won a handicap race at Brooklands Meeting in the 'clover-leaf' prototype road car 'B2'.

COMPETITION BEGINNINGS FOR A SPORTY NEW MARQUE.

Bamford & Martin's specialty was tuning up 10-hp 'Singer' light cars, with which Martin enjoyed success at the Aston Hill climb. 

Clive Gallop and Count Louis Zborowski (L-R) were regular co-drivers of some of the very first Aston Martins - racing at the 1922 French Grand Prix together.

COUNT LOUIS ZBOROWSKI
Among the many white knights to have rescued Aston Martin over the years, perhaps none was as romantic as Louis Zborowski. His £10,270 investment in Bamford & Martin in 1921 enabled the firm to meet its desperate need for a truly competitive power unit for international racing. He is chiefly remembered for his monster aero-engined 'Chitty-Bang-Bang' racers, fictionalised as 'Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang' by Ian Fleming.