The photograph above shows the car in it’s original form with its proud owner at the wheel and partner in the passenger seat. But there was a problem – Jimmy used the car to travel up and down the country and it had no room for luggage – so during 1932, the car was converted to a 2/4 seater by Freestone and Webb. So to see this rare car in it’s original form is special indeed. I bought this picture late in 2002, but, perhaps foolishly, I swapped it for a 1959 Le Mans poster signed by Roy Salvadori.

The full story of this car was featured in the AMOC quarterly in the Summer of 1981 – perhaps by coincidence, a few pages back from the article was a news item about another celebrity comedian/actor AM owner, Rowan Atkinson, who had just taken delivery of his first new Aston Martin. Spooky or what.

I managed to catch up with this famous and important car in late 2003 as it’s being slowly restored whilst in the hands of an enthusiast in Lincolnshire, UK. The AMOC register records the car as having a Riley engine, although I’ m now please to inform you that it has now been reunited with a correct 1.5 litre Aston Martin unit. I’m no expert, but to my eyes, the car appears to be not to far from complete, and could well be back on the road without too much further effort. As can be seen, the car retains the unique Freestone and Webb 2/4 seater body tub which has already been restored.

The AM register lists no more than 8 International Le Mans, all but 2 are listed as 2 seaters. And this car pictured below, VN8435, is one of the only two 2/4 seaters listed (also known as four seater). I photographed it during the 2006 AMOC St John Horsfall race and also on the 101 car timeline for the Aston Martin Centenary in 2013.