The roof I believe has been made by the same company that has worked on the Rapide concept roof, but in this instance, it is fully transparent without the ability to turn opaque. I must add that the glass has a heat reflecting coating without which the car would get unbeatably hot in the sunny climate that it will be based. The colour is stunning; a special formulation called Copper Chestnut (base coat of Royal Cherry) – very difficult to photograph accurately but I think that the top picture just about has it right and if I say so myself, more accurately than as captured in AM Magazine.
Externally, the lower nose panel has been modified with the addition of horizontal bright grille bars and hidden front parking sensors; the wings also have the ‘Works Prepared’ badges fitted. Also the fuel filler cap has the ‘HWM’ dealer logo etched into the chrome finish, a garage door opening system has been built into the car and a fire extinguisher built into the interior rear locker.
The body colour is also brought into the cabin for the interior door handle surrounds and interior light housings. The interior upper areas, seat outer faces, instrument panel and luggage-retaining bars are trimmed in Saddle Tan leather with lower areas and seat centre panels in Tan Alcantara. The contrasting Sandstorm Wilton carpet is edged with the Saddle Tan leather. Even the black steering wheel is modified with non-standard perforated leather on the rim.
The car was a closely guarded secret until finally described in the second issue of the official AM Magazine produced for owners and customers. The first public viewing was at the AMOC Autumn Concours at Chatsworth House, Derbyshire in September 2007.
As all Aston Martins have to have a name, an initiative initiated by Kate Martin, wife of Lionel Martin (much like the Violins of Antonio Stradivari) and following suggestions made on the AMOC web forum, the first owner settled on ‘The Copper Kettle’. And as more than one special roof was made at the time, it is not surprising that the conversion of more cars has taken place. The whereabouts of a further two cars is known.
We would like to thank the extremely proud first owner of ‘The Copper Kettle’ for allowing me unrestricted access to this unique and fitting tribute to the AM ‘Tickford Works’ in Newport Pagnell.
