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Today the Aston Martin Atom, taxed, tested, with UK V5C registrationdocument and FIVA passport, is ready to rally or exhibit, being wellrestored/conservedwith painstaking attention to retaining absolutelyas much of its surviving originality as possible, it is believed to havecompleted some 250,000 miles running; including that during theownership by W.O. Bentley’s godson Bob Gathercole of Samurairacing and Pebble Beach fame. The car comes complete with animpressive archive of documents and photographs that chart itsprovenance, together with essential and valuable running spares.This most significant cornerstone of Aston Martin marque historyhas changed hands only once over the past 49 years. The currentowner , recognizing the once in a lifetime opportunity – acquired theAtom sight unseen – in 1986 from France where it had been in anex Aston racing driver’s collection and had been loaned from time totime to the Musee de l’Automobile, in Chatellerault, Vienne, and theexclusive Le Mans Motor Museum. This largely unsung little jewel –yet one so absolutely iconic amongst true cognoscenti – has longbeen conserved and maintained by one hyper-enthusiast owner.Such is the importance of the Atom that it receives numerousinvitations to events worldwide. Most recently it has receivedaccolades by being voted Best Car of Show 2012 at the NECInternational Classic Car Show and being chosen for the AMLCentennial timeline at Kensington Palace in 2013. The new ownerwill have the opportunity of enjoying many more such occasions.The Atom is, in short, one of Aston Martin’s absolute landmarkdesigns. It is certainly one of the most exciting one-off British carsthat Bonhams has have ever been asked to offer. It is unique, itis super sophisticated, and - when one considers it within thecontext of 1939-40 – its creation alone represents a monumentalachievement.That the Atom has survived in almost constant use, and is today sobeautifully conserved in highly original order, is a great tribute to theenthusiasm and taste of the Aston Martin connoisseurs who havefostered it for so many years...In short, if it were not for the Atom, David Brown might not havebought Aston Martin. What fate would then have befallen thecompany we do not know, but without David Brown, there wouldbe no Aston Martin DB series cars - no DB3S, no DBR1, no JamesBond DB5. We all owe so much to the mighty Atom.This is a unique opportunity to buy into motoring history’s mostsophisticated stratum.£600,000 - 1,000,000€740,000 - 1,260,0001Atom at Chessington, 13 July 1941. This was the only rally of itskind held during the War years262 | Goodwood festival of speed