At Aston Martin Reading, there’s one way to make a Sunday really special: turn it into #Astunday. This regular gathering of friends and enthusiasts – most recently held on Sunday 19th September – welcomes a cavalcade of amazing Aston Martins to the Reading showroom along with their owners for a morning of crepes and coffee.
September’s #Astunday had just that little extra flair, supported by the factory with a limited edition V12 Speedster finished in even rarer DBR1 specification. The Aston Martin DBR1 was a pure racing model – and a winner at Le Mans in 1959 – and this Speedster homage is finished in the same Aston Martin Racing Green, with the distinctive Clubsport Gloss White roundels on doors and bonnet.
Attendees had an extra insight into Aston Martin’s history courtesy of a near-perfect DB2/4 Mark III, provided by Aston Martin Heritage Trust. The DB2/4 is the ultimate expression of the 1950s Aston Martin road car, and many consider the Mk III the best variant. Continuous improvement meant the 2.6-litre straight six-cylinder engine offered 125 bhp matched to an overdrive four-speed gearbox, and disc brakes were also fitted. Among its owners was a friend of Ian Fleming who was so impressed that he featured the Mk III in the Bond book Goldfinger – although it would never appear in the silver screen.
But the special guests couldn’t overshadow the incredible collection of Vantages, DBS Superleggeras, DB11s and a rare motorsport-inspired Vantage N430 brought along by attendees. So impressive was the line-up that a new Astunday ‘Style’ Award was judged on the day, given to the top three car and driver pairings in a process led by Tom Howard, better known as the Gentleman Racer.
Special thanks to the Aston Martin factory and Aston Martin Heritage Trust for their support.
To find out about future events contact H.R. Owen Aston Martin in Reading or Cheltenham.
