They say that every picture tells a storY and in the case of a car manufacturer with such a rich history as Aston Martin, this saying holds even truer than most. From memorabilia of the marque’s glory days on the world’s most famous racetracks to engine parts from some of the earliest examples of classic models, these examples of the brand’s deep history can portray its heritage and soul in a simple yet beautiful way. The Aston Martin Heritage Trust is based in Drayton St Leonard, Oxfordshire, where the museum and archive occupies a restored 15th-century tithe barn that contains a rotating display of Aston Martin Owners Club members’ cars, as well as four unique models spanning Aston Martin’s 100-year heritage of road and race cars. These include A3, the earliest known surviving Aston Martin, lovingly restored by the Trust from 2007 to 2009, as well as a Series 3 Lagonda from 1986 and the Aston Martin AMR1/01 sports car, loaned by Peter Livanos, the former owner of Aston Martin.

The barn also contains copious archival riches from every era of the company. The Trust’s close involvement with both Aston Martin and the AMOC ensures that it holds many collections of personal memorabilia, including items belonging to the legendary racing driver Jock Horsfall and former Aston Martin engineer Ted Cutting, the main designer of the Le Mans-winning DBR1 and its successors. This richness and variety of material allows us to tell the story of Aston Martin’s history, embedded within the elegance of engineering and steeped in the patina of use. To order your copy of the Aston Martin Centenary Yearbook, go to www.yearbook/astonmartin.com