Aston Martin
Encyclopedia
Aston Martin Lagonda Limited is a British manufacturer of luxury sports cars, based in Gaydon
, Warwickshire. The company name is derived from the name of one of the company's founders, Lionel Martin, and from the Aston Hill speed hillclimb
near Aston Clinton
in Buckinghamshire. It also designs and engineers cars which are manufactured by Magna Steyr
in Austria.
From 1994 until 2007 Aston Martin was part of the Ford Motor Company
, becoming part of the company's Premier Automotive Group
in 2000. On 12 March 2007, it was purchased for £479 million by a joint venture company, headed by David Richards
and co-owned by Investment Dar
and businessman John Sinders. Ford retained a (or 12.1%) stake in Aston Martin, valuing the company at .
Aston Martin was founded in 1913 by Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford. The two had joined forces as Bamford & Martin the previous year to sell cars made by Singer
from premises in Callow Street, London where they also serviced GWK
and Calthorpe
vehicles. Martin raced specials at Aston Hill near Aston Clinton
, and the pair decided to make their own vehicles. The first car to be named Aston Martin was created by Martin by fitting a four-cylinder Coventry-Simplex engine to the chassis of a 1908 Isotta-Fraschini
.
They acquired premises at Henniker Place in Kensington
and produced their first car in March 1915. Production could not start because of the outbreak of World War I
, and Martin joined the Admiralty
and Bamford the Royal Army Service Corps
. All machinery was sold to the Sopwith Aviation Company
.
, and the cars set world speed and endurance records at Brooklands
. Three works Team Cars with 16 valve twin cam engines were built for racing and record breaking: chassis number 1914, later developed as the Green Pea; chassis number 1915, the Razor Blade
record car; and chassis number 1916, later developed as the Halford Special
. Approximately 55 cars were built for sale in two configurations, long chassis and short chassis. The company went bankrupt in 1924 and was bought by Lady Charnwood, who put her son John Benson on the board. The company failed again in 1925 and the factory closed in 1926, with Lionel Martin leaving.
Later that year, Bill Renwick, Augustus (Bert) Bertelli and a number of rich investors, including Lady Charnwood, took control of the company and renamed it Aston Martin Motors, and moved it to the former Whitehead Aircraft Limited works in Feltham.
Renwick and Bertelli had been in partnership some years and had developed an overhead cam 4 cylinder engine, using Renwick's patented combustion chamber design, and had tested it in an Enfield Allday chassis. It was the only "Renwick and Bertelli" motor car made. It was known as "Buzzbox" and survives to this day.
They had planned to sell this engine to motor manufacturers, but having heard that the Aston Martin car was no longer in production they realised that they could capitalise on the reputation of the Aston Martin name (what we would now call the brand) to give themselves a head start in the production of a completely new car.
Between the years 1926 and 1937 Bertelli was the technical director of Aston Martin, and the designer of all subsequent Aston Martin cars during this period, these being known as the "Bertelli cars". They included the 1½ litre "T-type", the "International", the "Le Mans", the "MKII", its racing derivative, the "Ulster", and the 2 litre 15/98 and its racing derivative the "Speed Model".
Mostly open two seater sports cars and mostly bodied by Bert Bertelli's brother Enrico (Harry) a small number of long chassis four seater tourers, dropheads and saloons were also produced.
Bertelli was very keen to race his cars and he was a very competent driver. One of the very few motor manufacturers to actually sit in and race the cars he designed and built, the competition no doubt "improved the breed" and the "LM" team cars were very successful in national and international motor racing including at Le Mans and the Mille Miglia.
Financial problems reappeared in 1932 and the company was rescued by L. Prideaux Brune who funded the company for the following year before passing the company on to Sir Arthur Sutherland. In 1936, the company decided to concentrate on road cars. Car production had always been on a small scale and until the advent of World War II
halted work only about 700 had been made. During the war years aircraft components were produced.
In 1947, David Brown Limited bought the company under the leadership of managing director Sir David Brown
—its "post-war saviour". David Brown also acquired Lagonda
that year for its 2.6 litre W. O. Bentley
designed engine, both companies shared resources and workshops and that was the beginning of the classic series of cars bearing the initials "DB". In 1950, the company announced the DB2
, followed by the DB2/4
in 1953, the DB2/4 MkII
in 1955, the DB Mark III
in 1957 and the Italian-styled 3.7 L DB4
in 1958. All the cars established a good racing pedigree for the firm, but the DB4 was the key to establishing the company's reputation, which was cemented by the famous DB5
in 1963. The company continued developing the "grand touring" style with the DB6
(1965–70), and the DBS
(1967–1972). In 1955, David Brown bought the Tickford
coachbuilding company and its site at Tickford Street in Newport Pagnell
.
-based consortium, and chaired by chartered accountant
and company director William Willson
, MBE. The company was resold, following a further bankruptcy event, by the Receiver in 1975 to North American businessmen Peter Sprague and George Minden for £1.05 million. A successful turn-around strategy led to the recruitment of 360 new employees and, by 1977, a trading profit of £750,000. The new owners pushed the company into modernising its line, producing the V8 Vantage
in 1977, the convertible Volante
in 1978, and the one-off William Towns
-styled Bulldog
in 1980. Towns also styled the futuristic new Lagonda
saloon, based on the V8 model.
In 1980 Aston-Martin had plans, which did not materialise, to buy MG
, which they would have utilised as a sister marque, probably building smaller sports cars. Ideas were plotted to design a new model and they revealed to the press their approach to an "updated" "1981" model MGB
.
The company was badly hit by the economic contraction of the early 1980s as worldwide sales of Aston Martin shrank to three per week and chairman Alan Curtis
together with fellow shareholders American Peter Sprague and Canadian George Minden came close to shutting down the production side of the business, to concentrate on service and restoration
. At this point Curtis attended the 1980 Pace sponsored Stirling Moss
benefit day at Brands Hatch
, and met fellow Farnham
resident Victor Gauntlett
.
into Persian Gulf states, particularly Oman, Kuwait and Qatar.
Understanding that it would take some time to develop new Aston Martin products, they created an engineering service subsidiary Tickford
to develop automotive products for other companies. Products included a Tickford Austin Metro, a Tickford Ford Capri
and even Tickford train interiors, particularly on the Jaguar XJS
. Pace continued sponsoring racing events, and now sponsored all Aston Martin Owners Club events, taking a Tickford engined Nimrod Group C car owned by AMOC President Viscount Downe
, which came third in the Manufacturers Championship in both 1982 and 1983. It also finished seventh in the 1982 24 Hours of Le Mans
race. However, sales of production cars were now at an all time low of 30 cars produced in 1982.
As trading became tighter in the petroleum market, and Aston Martin was requiring more time and money, Gauntlett agreed to sell Hays/Pace to the Kuwait Investment Office in September 1983. As Aston Martin required greater investment, he also agreed to sell his share holding to American importer and Greek shipping tycoon Peter Livanos
, who invested via his joint venture company with Nick and John Papanicalou, ALL Inc. Gauntlett remained chairman of the AML company 55% owned by ALL, with Tickford a 50/50 venture between ALL and CHI. The uneasy relationship was ended when ALL exercised options to buy a larger share in AML; CHI's residual shares were exchanged for CHI's complete ownership of Tickford, which retained development of existing Aston Martin projects. In 1984, Titan the main shipping company of the Papanicolaou’s was in trouble, so Livanos's father George bought out the Papanicolaou's shares in ALL, while Gauntlett again became a shareholder with a 25% holding in AML. The deal valued Aston Martin/AML at £2 million, the year it built its 10,000th car.
Although as a result Aston Martin had to make 60 members of the workforce redundant, Gauntlett bought a stake in Italian styling house Zagato
, and resurrected its collaboration with Aston Martin. David Martin gained part ownership in 1997.
In 1986, Gauntlett negotiated the return of fictional British secret agent James Bond
to Aston Martin. Cubby Broccoli had chosen to recast the character using actor Timothy Dalton
, in an attempt to re-root the Bond-brand back to a more Sean Connery
-like feel. Gauntlett supplied his personal pre-production Vantage
for use in the filming of The Living Daylights
, and sold a Volante to Broccoli for use at his home in America. Gauntlett turned down the role of a KGB
colonel in the film, however: "I would have loved to have done it but really could not afford the time."
Although the company was doing well, Gauntlett knew it needed extra funds to survive in the long term. In May 1987, Gauntlett and Prince Michael of Kent
were staying at the home of Contessa Maggi, the wife of the founder of the original Mille Miglia
, while watching the revival event. Another house guest was Walter Hayes
, vice-President of Ford of Europe. Despite problems over the previous acquisition of AC Cars
, Hayes saw the potential of the brand and the discussion resulted in Ford taking a share holding in September 1987. In 1988, having produced some 5,000 cars in 20 years, a revived economy and successful sales of limited edition Vantage
, and 52 Volante Zagato
coupes at £86,000 each; the company finally retired the ancient V8 and introduced the Virage
range—the first new Aston launched in 20 years.
Although Gauntlett was contractually to stay as chairman for two years, his racing interests took Aston back into sports car racing in 1989 with limited European success. However, with engine rule changes for the 1990 season and the launch of the new Aston Martin Volante
model, Ford provided the limited supply of Cosworth
engines to the Jaguar cars racing team. As the "small Aston" DB7
would require a large engineering input, Ford agreed to take full control of Aston Martin, and Gauntlett handed over the company chairmanship to Hayes in 1991. In 1992, the Vantage version was announced, and the following year the company renewed the DB range by announcing the DB7
.
, substantially invested in new manufacturing and quickly ramped up production. In 1994, Ford opened a new factory at Banbury Road in Bloxham
. In 1995, the company produced a record 700 vehicles. Until the Ford era cars had been produced by hand coachbuilding craft methods, such as the English wheel
. In 1998 the 2,000th DB7 was built, and in 2002 the 6,000th, exceeding production of all previous DB models. The DB7 range was boosted by the addition of V12 Vantage
models in 1999, and in 2001 the company introduced the V12-engined Aston Martin Vanquish.
At the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan in 2003, Aston Martin introduced the AMV8 Vantage
concept car. Expected to have few changes before its introduction in 2005, the Vantage brought back the classic V8 engine to allow the company to compete in a larger market. 2003 also saw the opening of the Gaydon
factory, the first purpose-built factory in Aston Martin's history. Also introduced in 2003 was the DB9
coupé, which replaced the ten-year-old DB7
. A convertible
version of the DB9, the DB9 Volante, was introduced at the 2004 Detroit Auto Show.
In October 2004, the company set up the dedicated 12500 square metres (14,949.9 sq yd) AMEP engine production plant within the Ford Germany
Niehl, Cologne plant. With capacity to produce up to 5000 engines a year by 100 specially trained personnel, like traditional Aston Martin engine production from Newport Pagnell, assembly of each unit is entrusted to a single technician from a pool of 30, with V8 and V12 variants assembled in under 20 hours. By bringing engine production back to within the company, the promise was that Aston Martin would be able to produce small runs of higher performance variants engines. This expanded engine capacity allowed in 2006, the V8 Vantage
sports car to enter production at the Gaydon factory, joining the DB9 and DB9 Volante.
In December 2003 Aston Martin announced it would return to motor racing in 2005. A new division was created, called Aston Martin Racing
, which became responsible, together with Prodrive
, for the design, development, and management of the DBR9 program. The DBR9 competes in the GT class in sports car races
, including the world-famous 24 Hours of Le Mans
.
. After suggestions of selling Jaguar Cars, Land Rover
or Volvo Cars
, Ford appointed UBS AG
to sell all or part of Aston Martin by auction and announced the fact in August 2006.
chairman David Richards
purchased Aston Martin for £475m / US$848m. Prodrive
had no financial involvement in the deal. Ford will keep a stake in the company (valued at £40m / US$70m). The consortium also consisted of John Sinders, an Aston Martin collector; and two Kuwaiti investment companies, Investment Dar and Adeem Investment Co.
On 19 July 2007, the Newport Pagnell
plant rolled out its last car, a Vanquish S. Nearly 13,000 cars had been made there since 1955. The Tickford Street factory remains in Aston Martin ownership as the restoration and service department. U.K. production is subsequently concentrated at Gaydon on the former RAF V-bomber airfield. On 4 March 2008, in announcing a partnership with Magna Steyr
to outsource manufacture of 2000+ cars annually at Graz, Austria, the company stated
Aston Martin has also boosted its worldwide appeal by opening more dealers in Europe, as well as branches in China for the first time in its 93 year history in Beijing and Shanghai. This has brought their dealership programme to 120 dealers in 28 countries.
On 1 September 2008, Aston Martin announced the revival of the Lagonda
marque. A concept will be shown in 2009, coinciding with the brand's 100th anniversary. The first production cars should come in 2012.
In December 2008, Aston Martin announced that it would cut its 1850 workforce by 600.
On September 16, 2011 Aston Martin became head sponsor of German soccer club 1860 Munich.
race as a factory team in the prestigious LMP1 division. After competing throughout the 2008 season with a Lola B08/60
LMP1 Coupe under the Charouz Racing banner, Aston Martin used a slightly modified Lola LMP1 design for their programme, the Lola-Aston Martin B09/60
. Three Lola-Aston Martins were entered in the 2009 and 2010 Le Mans 24 Hours by Aston Martin Racing. Aston Martin also competed in the complete Le Mans series with the Lola-Aston Martin LMP cars, starting the season at Barcelona in early April. The 2009 programme got off to an unfortunate start at the pre season Paul Ricard test on March 8 when Tomas Enge destroyed the 007 car in an accident. Aston Martin Racing subsequently took delivery of a new Lola to replace the written off chassis.
sports cars rolled out of the Magna Steyr
factory in Graz
, Austria. The contract manufacturer provides dedicated facilities to ensure compliance with the exacting standards of Aston Martin and other marques, including Mercedes-Benz
Ulrich Bez has publicly speculated about outsourcing all of Aston Martin’s operations with the exception of marketing.
Gaydon
Gaydon is a parish and village in Warwickshire, England, close to Leamington Spa. In the 2001 census, the parish had a population of 376.The village is at the junction of the B4100 and B4451 roads, a mile from Junction 12 of the M40 motorway, and is two miles north-east of Kineton.-Motor...
, Warwickshire. The company name is derived from the name of one of the company's founders, Lionel Martin, and from the Aston Hill speed hillclimb
Hillclimbing
Hillclimbing is a branch of motorsport in which drivers compete against the clock to complete an uphill course....
near Aston Clinton
Aston Clinton
Aston Clinton is a village and civil parish close to the main A41 road in Buckinghamshire, England between Tring and Aylesbury. The parish covers and is about east of Aylesbury. The village is at the foot of the chalk escarpment of the Chiltern Hills at the junction of the pre-historic track the...
in Buckinghamshire. It also designs and engineers cars which are manufactured by Magna Steyr
Magna Steyr
Magna Steyr Fahrzeugtechnik AG & Co KG is an automobile manufacturer based in Oberwaltersdorf, Austria, with its primary manufacturing location in Graz...
in Austria.
From 1994 until 2007 Aston Martin was part of the Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
, becoming part of the company's Premier Automotive Group
Premier Automotive Group
The Premier Automotive Group , was a group within the Ford Motor Company which was formed in 1999 to oversee the business operations of Ford's high-end automotive marques....
in 2000. On 12 March 2007, it was purchased for £479 million by a joint venture company, headed by David Richards
David Richards (racing)
David Pender Richards CBE is the chairman of Prodrive and Aston Martin, and a former team principal of the BAR and Benetton Formula One motor racing teams. He lives with his wife, Karen, in Warwickshire and has three children....
and co-owned by Investment Dar
Investment Dar
Investment Dar is a Kuwaiti shareholding company founded in October 1994 with a declared capital of KWD 22.752 million . The company’s success is built on a three-tier long-term strategy focused on clear vision and prudent policies...
and businessman John Sinders. Ford retained a (or 12.1%) stake in Aston Martin, valuing the company at .
History
Singer (car)
Singer was an automobile company founded in 1905 in Coventry, England. It was acquired by the Rootes Group of the United Kingdom in 1956, who continued the brand until 1970...
from premises in Callow Street, London where they also serviced GWK
GWK (car)
The GWK was a British car made in Maidenhead, Berkshire, between 1911 and 1931. It got its name from its founders, Arthur Grice, J Talfourd Wood and C.M. Keiller. The cars were unusual in using a friction drive system....
and Calthorpe
Calthorpe cars
The Calthorpe Motor Company based in Bordesley Green, Birmingham, England made a range of cars, motorcycles and bicycles from 1904 to 1932.-Formation:...
vehicles. Martin raced specials at Aston Hill near Aston Clinton
Aston Clinton
Aston Clinton is a village and civil parish close to the main A41 road in Buckinghamshire, England between Tring and Aylesbury. The parish covers and is about east of Aylesbury. The village is at the foot of the chalk escarpment of the Chiltern Hills at the junction of the pre-historic track the...
, and the pair decided to make their own vehicles. The first car to be named Aston Martin was created by Martin by fitting a four-cylinder Coventry-Simplex engine to the chassis of a 1908 Isotta-Fraschini
Isotta-Fraschini
Isotta Fraschini represents two Italian manufacturing companies which produce, respectively, marine engines and luxury goods. In the early 20th century it was famous worldwide as a luxury car manufacturer.-History:...
.
They acquired premises at Henniker Place in Kensington
Kensington
Kensington is a district of west and central London, England within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. An affluent and densely-populated area, its commercial heart is Kensington High Street, and it contains the well-known museum district of South Kensington.To the north, Kensington is...
and produced their first car in March 1915. Production could not start because of the outbreak of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, and Martin joined the Admiralty
Admiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
and Bamford the Royal Army Service Corps
Royal Army Service Corps
The Royal Army Service Corps was a corps of the British Army. It was responsible for land, coastal and lake transport; air despatch; supply of food, water, fuel, and general domestic stores such as clothing, furniture and stationery ; administration of...
. All machinery was sold to the Sopwith Aviation Company
Sopwith Aviation Company
The Sopwith Aviation Company was a British aircraft company that designed and manufactured aeroplanes mainly for the British Royal Naval Air Service, Royal Flying Corps and later Royal Air Force in the First World War, most famously the Sopwith Camel...
.
Inter war years
After the war the company was refounded at Abingdon Road, Kensington and a new car designed to carry the Aston-Martin name. Bamford left in 1920 and the company was revitalised with funding from Count Louis Zborowski. In 1922, Bamford & Martin produced cars to compete in the French Grand PrixFrench Grand Prix
The French Grand Prix was a race held as part of Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile's annual Formula One automobile racing championships....
, and the cars set world speed and endurance records at Brooklands
Brooklands
Brooklands was a motor racing circuit and aerodrome built near Weybridge in Surrey, England. It opened in 1907, and was the world's first purpose-built motorsport venue, as well as one of Britain's first airfields...
. Three works Team Cars with 16 valve twin cam engines were built for racing and record breaking: chassis number 1914, later developed as the Green Pea; chassis number 1915, the Razor Blade
Razor Blade
The Aston Martin Razor Blade team car was built in 1923 to break the one hour light car record of held by AC Cars. Although it failed to break the record, it did have success in race and record attempts in the 1920s....
record car; and chassis number 1916, later developed as the Halford Special
Halford Special
The Halford Special was a Grand Prix racing car of the 1920s built by Frank Halford on the chassis of an early Side Valve Aston Martin tourer. It was one of the most advanced British-built racing cars of the mid 1920s and had many racing successes....
. Approximately 55 cars were built for sale in two configurations, long chassis and short chassis. The company went bankrupt in 1924 and was bought by Lady Charnwood, who put her son John Benson on the board. The company failed again in 1925 and the factory closed in 1926, with Lionel Martin leaving.
Later that year, Bill Renwick, Augustus (Bert) Bertelli and a number of rich investors, including Lady Charnwood, took control of the company and renamed it Aston Martin Motors, and moved it to the former Whitehead Aircraft Limited works in Feltham.
Renwick and Bertelli had been in partnership some years and had developed an overhead cam 4 cylinder engine, using Renwick's patented combustion chamber design, and had tested it in an Enfield Allday chassis. It was the only "Renwick and Bertelli" motor car made. It was known as "Buzzbox" and survives to this day.
They had planned to sell this engine to motor manufacturers, but having heard that the Aston Martin car was no longer in production they realised that they could capitalise on the reputation of the Aston Martin name (what we would now call the brand) to give themselves a head start in the production of a completely new car.
Between the years 1926 and 1937 Bertelli was the technical director of Aston Martin, and the designer of all subsequent Aston Martin cars during this period, these being known as the "Bertelli cars". They included the 1½ litre "T-type", the "International", the "Le Mans", the "MKII", its racing derivative, the "Ulster", and the 2 litre 15/98 and its racing derivative the "Speed Model".
Mostly open two seater sports cars and mostly bodied by Bert Bertelli's brother Enrico (Harry) a small number of long chassis four seater tourers, dropheads and saloons were also produced.
Bertelli was very keen to race his cars and he was a very competent driver. One of the very few motor manufacturers to actually sit in and race the cars he designed and built, the competition no doubt "improved the breed" and the "LM" team cars were very successful in national and international motor racing including at Le Mans and the Mille Miglia.
Financial problems reappeared in 1932 and the company was rescued by L. Prideaux Brune who funded the company for the following year before passing the company on to Sir Arthur Sutherland. In 1936, the company decided to concentrate on road cars. Car production had always been on a small scale and until the advent of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
halted work only about 700 had been made. During the war years aircraft components were produced.
The David Brown era
David Brown (entrepreneur)
Sir David Brown was an English entrepreneur, managing director of his family firm David Brown Limited and one time owner of shipbuilders Vosper Thornycroft and automobile manufacturer Aston Martin....
—its "post-war saviour". David Brown also acquired Lagonda
Lagonda
Lagonda is a British luxury car marque, founded as a company in 1906 in Staines, Middlesex by a former opera singer from Ohio, but of Scottish ancestry, named Wilbur Gunn . He named the company after a river near the town of his birth, Springfield, Ohio, United States...
that year for its 2.6 litre W. O. Bentley
W. O. Bentley
Walter Owen Bentley, MBE engineer; designer of aero engines, designer and racer of motor cars, founder of Bentley Motors Limited in Cricklewood near London.He was known as "W.O." without any need to add the word Bentley....
designed engine, both companies shared resources and workshops and that was the beginning of the classic series of cars bearing the initials "DB". In 1950, the company announced the DB2
Aston Martin DB2
The Aston Martin DB2 is a sports car sold by Aston Martin from May 1950 through to April 1953. It was a major advancement over the 2-Litre Sports model it replaced, with a dual overhead cam straight-6 in place of the previously-used pushrod straight-4. The car featured a 2.6 L engine, and was...
, followed by the DB2/4
Aston Martin DB2/4
The DB2/4 is a grand tourer sold by Aston Martin from 1953 through 1957. It was based on the DB2 it replaced, available as a Drophead coupe and 2+2 hatchback well ahead of the times. Other changes included a wraparound windscreen, larger bumpers, and repositioned headlights...
in 1953, the DB2/4 MkII
Aston Martin DB2/4
The DB2/4 is a grand tourer sold by Aston Martin from 1953 through 1957. It was based on the DB2 it replaced, available as a Drophead coupe and 2+2 hatchback well ahead of the times. Other changes included a wraparound windscreen, larger bumpers, and repositioned headlights...
in 1955, the DB Mark III
Aston Martin DB Mark III
The DB Mark III is a sports car sold by Aston Martin from 1957 through 1959. It was an evolution of the DB2/4 Mark II model it replaced, using an evolution of that car's W.O...
in 1957 and the Italian-styled 3.7 L DB4
Aston Martin DB4
The DB4 is a sports car sold by Aston Martin from 1958 until 1963. It was an entirely different car from the DB Mark III it replaced, though the 3.7 L engine was externally visually related to the 2.9 L unit found in that car....
in 1958. All the cars established a good racing pedigree for the firm, but the DB4 was the key to establishing the company's reputation, which was cemented by the famous DB5
Aston Martin DB5
The Aston Martin DB5 is a luxury grand tourer that was made by Aston Martin. Released in 1963, it was an evolution of the final series of DB4. The DB series was named honouring David Brown ....
in 1963. The company continued developing the "grand touring" style with the DB6
Aston Martin DB6
The Aston Martin DB6 is a grand tourer made by British car manufacturer Aston Martin. Produced from September 1965 to January 1971, the DB6 had the longest production run up to that date of any Aston Martin model...
(1965–70), and the DBS
Aston Martin DBS
The Aston Martin DBS is a GT car produced by the British manufacturer Aston Martin Lagonda Limited. Originally produced from 1967–72, it featured in the 1969 James Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service...
(1967–1972). In 1955, David Brown bought the Tickford
Tickford
Tickford is an automobile engineering and testing company with a history of coachbuilding and tuning and is famous for such products as the 140 mph Tickford Turbo Capri.-Early years:...
coachbuilding company and its site at Tickford Street in Newport Pagnell
Newport Pagnell
Newport Pagnell is a town in the Borough of Milton Keynes , England. It is separated by the M1 motorway from Milton Keynes itself, though part of the same urban area...
.
1970s—Changing ownership
Despite the cars' appreciation in value, the company was often financially troubled. In 1972, the company was sold to another company called Company Developments Ltd., backed by a BirminghamBirmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
-based consortium, and chaired by chartered accountant
Chartered Accountant
Chartered Accountants were the first accountants to form a professional body, initially established in Britain in 1854. The Edinburgh Society of Accountants , the Glasgow Institute of Accountants and Actuaries and the Aberdeen Society of Accountants were each granted a royal charter almost from...
and company director William Willson
William Willson (MBE)
William Willson was chairman of Aston Martin from 1972 - 1975. Willson bought the company in 1972, whilst it was struggling from terrible financial trouble for £100. After three months of Willson's control, Aston Martin had brought out two new models and the company was starting to find its feet...
, MBE. The company was resold, following a further bankruptcy event, by the Receiver in 1975 to North American businessmen Peter Sprague and George Minden for £1.05 million. A successful turn-around strategy led to the recruitment of 360 new employees and, by 1977, a trading profit of £750,000. The new owners pushed the company into modernising its line, producing the V8 Vantage
Aston Martin V8 Vantage (1977)
The Aston Martin V8 Vantage was hailed at its 1977 introduction as "Britain's First Supercar" for its top speed. Its engine was shared with the Lagonda, but it used high-performance camshafts, increased compression ratio, larger inlet valves and bigger carburettors mounted on new manifolds for...
in 1977, the convertible Volante
Aston Martin V8
The Aston Martin V8 is a two-door coupé automobile manufactured in the United Kingdom from 1969 to 1989.Aston Martin's customers had been clamouring for an eight-cylinder car for years, so Aston Martin designed a larger 2-door saloon for V8 applications. The engine was not ready, however, so in...
in 1978, and the one-off William Towns
William Towns
William Towns was a British car designer.Towns began his training as a designer at Rootes in 1954, where he was mainly involved in the styling of seats and door handles. Later he was also involved with the styling of their Hillman Hunter. He moved to Rover in 1963 and worked there for David...
-styled Bulldog
Aston Martin Bulldog
The Aston Martin Bulldog, styled by William Towns, was a one-off testbed vehicle produced by Aston Martin in 1979. Originally, it had been intended to be a limited run of about 25. The code name for the project was DP K9, named after a Doctor Who character. It was built in the UK, but is a...
in 1980. Towns also styled the futuristic new Lagonda
Aston Martin Lagonda
The Aston Martin Lagonda was a luxury four-door saloon built by Aston Martin of Newport Pagnell, England, between 1974 and 1990. A total of 645 were produced. The name was derived from the Lagonda marque that Aston Martin had purchased in 1947...
saloon, based on the V8 model.
In 1980 Aston-Martin had plans, which did not materialise, to buy MG
MG (car)
The MG Car Company is a former British sports car manufacturer founded in the 1920s by Cecil Kimber. Best known for its two-seat open sports cars, MG also produced saloons and coupés....
, which they would have utilised as a sister marque, probably building smaller sports cars. Ideas were plotted to design a new model and they revealed to the press their approach to an "updated" "1981" model MGB
MG MGB
The MGB is a sports car launched by MG Cars in May 1962 to replace the MGA. Introduced as a four-cylinder roadster, a coupé with 2+2 seating was added in 1965...
.
The company was badly hit by the economic contraction of the early 1980s as worldwide sales of Aston Martin shrank to three per week and chairman Alan Curtis
Alan Curtis
Alan Curtis may refer to:* Alan Curtis , American film actor* Alan Curtis , English actor and announcer* Alan Curtis , former Welsh international footballer...
together with fellow shareholders American Peter Sprague and Canadian George Minden came close to shutting down the production side of the business, to concentrate on service and restoration
Automotive Restoration
Automobile restoration is the process of repairing the degraded aspect of a car to return it to an overall "authentic" condition. To renovate a car without updating or upgrading it by keeping in line with how it would have appeared when first offered for sale...
. At this point Curtis attended the 1980 Pace sponsored Stirling Moss
Stirling Moss
Sir Stirling Craufurd Moss, OBE FIE is a former racing driver from England...
benefit day at Brands Hatch
Brands Hatch
Brands Hatch is a motor racing circuit near West Kingsdown in Kent, England. First used as a dirt track motorcycle circuit on farmland, it hosted 12 runnings of the British Grand Prix between 1964 and 1986 and currently holds many British and international racing events...
, and met fellow Farnham
Farnham
Farnham is a town in Surrey, England, within the Borough of Waverley. The town is situated some 42 miles southwest of London in the extreme west of Surrey, adjacent to the border with Hampshire...
resident Victor Gauntlett
Victor Gauntlett
Malcolm Victor Gauntlett was an English petrochemical entrepreneur and car enthusiast, best known for forming the largest independent petrol retail business in the United Kingdom, and for reviving Aston Martin.-Biography:...
.
1980s—Victor Gauntlett
Gauntlett bought a 12.5% stake in Aston Martin for £500,000 via Pace Petroleum in 1980, with Tim Hearley of CH Industrials taking a similar share. Pace and CHI took over as joint 50/50 owners at the beginning of 1981, with Gauntlett as executive chairman. Gauntlett also led the sales team, and after some development and a lot of publicity when it became the world’s fastest 4-seater production car, was able to sell with success the Aston Martin LagondaAston Martin Lagonda
The Aston Martin Lagonda was a luxury four-door saloon built by Aston Martin of Newport Pagnell, England, between 1974 and 1990. A total of 645 were produced. The name was derived from the Lagonda marque that Aston Martin had purchased in 1947...
into Persian Gulf states, particularly Oman, Kuwait and Qatar.
Understanding that it would take some time to develop new Aston Martin products, they created an engineering service subsidiary Tickford
Tickford
Tickford is an automobile engineering and testing company with a history of coachbuilding and tuning and is famous for such products as the 140 mph Tickford Turbo Capri.-Early years:...
to develop automotive products for other companies. Products included a Tickford Austin Metro, a Tickford Ford Capri
Ford Capri
Ford Capri was a name used by the Ford Motor Company for three different automobile models. The Ford Consul Capri coupé was produced by Ford of Britain between 1961 and 1964. The Ford Capri coupé was produced by Ford of Europe from 1969 to 1986...
and even Tickford train interiors, particularly on the Jaguar XJS
Jaguar XJS
The Jaguar XJ-S is a luxury grand tourer produced by the British manufacturer Jaguar from 1975 to 1996. The XJ-S replaced the E-Type in September 1975, and was based on the XJ saloon. It had been developed as the XK-F, though it was very different in character from its predecessor...
. Pace continued sponsoring racing events, and now sponsored all Aston Martin Owners Club events, taking a Tickford engined Nimrod Group C car owned by AMOC President Viscount Downe
Viscount Downe
Viscount Downe is a title that has been created twice in the Peerage of Ireland. The first creation came in 1675 for William Ducie. However, the title became extinct on his death in 1679. The second creation came in 1680 for John Dawnay. He had earlier represented Yorkshire and Pontefract in the...
, which came third in the Manufacturers Championship in both 1982 and 1983. It also finished seventh in the 1982 24 Hours of Le Mans
1982 24 Hours of Le Mans
The 1982 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 50th Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on June 19 and 20 1982. It was also the fourth round of the World Endurance Championship.-Race:For 1982, the new FIA Group C rules were in effect...
race. However, sales of production cars were now at an all time low of 30 cars produced in 1982.
As trading became tighter in the petroleum market, and Aston Martin was requiring more time and money, Gauntlett agreed to sell Hays/Pace to the Kuwait Investment Office in September 1983. As Aston Martin required greater investment, he also agreed to sell his share holding to American importer and Greek shipping tycoon Peter Livanos
Peter Livanos
Peter Livanos b 1956 is a Greek shipping tycoon. He owns the Greek shipping company Ceres Hellenic, and was involved in the restructuring of the shipping company into the group Ceres Hellenic. Peter lives with his family at Lake Geneva, Athens and London. He has an estimated fortune of $1.5 ...
, who invested via his joint venture company with Nick and John Papanicalou, ALL Inc. Gauntlett remained chairman of the AML company 55% owned by ALL, with Tickford a 50/50 venture between ALL and CHI. The uneasy relationship was ended when ALL exercised options to buy a larger share in AML; CHI's residual shares were exchanged for CHI's complete ownership of Tickford, which retained development of existing Aston Martin projects. In 1984, Titan the main shipping company of the Papanicolaou’s was in trouble, so Livanos's father George bought out the Papanicolaou's shares in ALL, while Gauntlett again became a shareholder with a 25% holding in AML. The deal valued Aston Martin/AML at £2 million, the year it built its 10,000th car.
Although as a result Aston Martin had to make 60 members of the workforce redundant, Gauntlett bought a stake in Italian styling house Zagato
Zagato
Zagato is a design consultancy and engineering services company situated just outside Milan, Italy.The company's premises occupy an area of , of which are covered....
, and resurrected its collaboration with Aston Martin. David Martin gained part ownership in 1997.
James Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
to Aston Martin. Cubby Broccoli had chosen to recast the character using actor Timothy Dalton
Timothy Dalton
Timothy Peter Dalton ) is a Welsh actor of film and television. He is known for portraying James Bond in The Living Daylights and Licence to Kill , as well as Rhett Butler in the television miniseries Scarlett , an original sequel to Gone with the Wind...
, in an attempt to re-root the Bond-brand back to a more Sean Connery
Sean Connery
Sir Thomas Sean Connery , better known as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy Award, two BAFTA Awards and three Golden Globes Sir Thomas Sean Connery (born 25 August 1930), better known as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy...
-like feel. Gauntlett supplied his personal pre-production Vantage
Aston Martin V8 Vantage (1977)
The Aston Martin V8 Vantage was hailed at its 1977 introduction as "Britain's First Supercar" for its top speed. Its engine was shared with the Lagonda, but it used high-performance camshafts, increased compression ratio, larger inlet valves and bigger carburettors mounted on new manifolds for...
for use in the filming of The Living Daylights
The Living Daylights
The Living Daylights is the fifteenth entry in the James Bond series and the first to star Timothy Dalton as the fictional MI6 agent 007. The film's title is taken from Ian Fleming's short story, "The Living Daylights"...
, and sold a Volante to Broccoli for use at his home in America. Gauntlett turned down the role of a KGB
KGB
The KGB was the commonly used acronym for the . It was the national security agency of the Soviet Union from 1954 until 1991, and was the premier internal security, intelligence, and secret police organization during that time.The State Security Agency of the Republic of Belarus currently uses the...
colonel in the film, however: "I would have loved to have done it but really could not afford the time."
Although the company was doing well, Gauntlett knew it needed extra funds to survive in the long term. In May 1987, Gauntlett and Prince Michael of Kent
Prince Michael of Kent
Prince Michael of Kent is a grandson of King George V and Queen Mary, making him a cousin of Queen Elizabeth II. He is also the first cousin once removed of Prince Phillip. Prince Michael occasionally carries out royal duties representing the Queen at some functions in Commonwealth realms outside...
were staying at the home of Contessa Maggi, the wife of the founder of the original Mille Miglia
Mille Miglia
The Mille Miglia was an open-road endurance race which took place in Italy twenty-four times from 1927 to 1957 ....
, while watching the revival event. Another house guest was Walter Hayes
Walter Hayes
Walter Hayes CBE was an English journalist, and later public relations executive for Ford.Hayes was key in developing Ford's Formula One program, by signing Jackie Stewart and funding the building of the Cosworth DFV V8 Formula One racing engine; and the creation of the Premier Automotive Group...
, vice-President of Ford of Europe. Despite problems over the previous acquisition of AC Cars
AC Cars
AC Cars Group Ltd. formerly known as Auto Carriers Ltd. is a British specialist automobile manufacturer and one of the oldest independent car marques founded in Britain...
, Hayes saw the potential of the brand and the discussion resulted in Ford taking a share holding in September 1987. In 1988, having produced some 5,000 cars in 20 years, a revived economy and successful sales of limited edition Vantage
Aston Martin Vantage
Aston Martin has used the Vantage name on a number of vehicles, normally indicating a high-performance version of another model. In one case, during 1972–1973, the Vantage was a distinct model, being a straight-6 powered version of the DBS, a car that had been launched as a straight-6 but was by...
, and 52 Volante Zagato
Aston Martin V8 Zagato
The V8 Zagato model Aston Martin was a grand tourer of the 1980s. Just 52 examples of the coupe and 37 of the convertible were built between 1986 and 1990. The coupe was first unveiled at the 1986 Geneva Motor Show and orders were quickly taken despite only showing the drawing of the car...
coupes at £86,000 each; the company finally retired the ancient V8 and introduced the Virage
Aston Martin Virage
The Virage was Aston Martin's replacement for the decades-old V8 models. Introduced at the Birmingham Motor Show in 1988, it was joined by the high-performance Vantage in 1993, and the name of the standard car was changed to V8 in 1996....
range—the first new Aston launched in 20 years.
Although Gauntlett was contractually to stay as chairman for two years, his racing interests took Aston back into sports car racing in 1989 with limited European success. However, with engine rule changes for the 1990 season and the launch of the new Aston Martin Volante
Aston Martin Volante
Volante is the name given to Aston Martin convertible models from the DB5-Based Short Chassis Volante. They include:* Short Chassis Volante* DB6 Volante* V8 Vantage Volante* V8 Volante * DB7 Volante* DB9 Volante...
model, Ford provided the limited supply of Cosworth
Cosworth
Cosworth is a high performance engineering company founded in London in 1958, specialising in engines and electronics for automobile racing , mainstream automotive and defence industries...
engines to the Jaguar cars racing team. As the "small Aston" DB7
Aston Martin DB7
The Aston Martin DB7 is a grand tourer which was produced by Aston Martin from September 1994 to December 2004. The grand tourer was available either as a coupé or a convertible. The prototype was complete by November 1992, and debuted at the Geneva Motor Show in March, 1993, the car was styled by...
would require a large engineering input, Ford agreed to take full control of Aston Martin, and Gauntlett handed over the company chairmanship to Hayes in 1991. In 1992, the Vantage version was announced, and the following year the company renewed the DB range by announcing the DB7
Aston Martin DB7
The Aston Martin DB7 is a grand tourer which was produced by Aston Martin from September 1994 to December 2004. The grand tourer was available either as a coupé or a convertible. The prototype was complete by November 1992, and debuted at the Geneva Motor Show in March, 1993, the car was styled by...
.
The Ford era
Ford placed Aston in the Premier Automotive GroupPremier Automotive Group
The Premier Automotive Group , was a group within the Ford Motor Company which was formed in 1999 to oversee the business operations of Ford's high-end automotive marques....
, substantially invested in new manufacturing and quickly ramped up production. In 1994, Ford opened a new factory at Banbury Road in Bloxham
Bloxham
Bloxham is a village and civil parish in northern Oxfordshire on the edge of the Cotswolds, southwest of Banbury.-Early settlement:Under Roman rule between the 1st and 5th centuries there were several farms and a burial site in the Bloxham area....
. In 1995, the company produced a record 700 vehicles. Until the Ford era cars had been produced by hand coachbuilding craft methods, such as the English wheel
English Wheel
The English wheel, in Britain also known as a Wheeling machine, is a metalworking tool that enables a craftsman to form compound curves from flat sheets of metal such as aluminium or steel. The process of using an English wheel is known as Wheeling...
. In 1998 the 2,000th DB7 was built, and in 2002 the 6,000th, exceeding production of all previous DB models. The DB7 range was boosted by the addition of V12 Vantage
Aston Martin DB7
The Aston Martin DB7 is a grand tourer which was produced by Aston Martin from September 1994 to December 2004. The grand tourer was available either as a coupé or a convertible. The prototype was complete by November 1992, and debuted at the Geneva Motor Show in March, 1993, the car was styled by...
models in 1999, and in 2001 the company introduced the V12-engined Aston Martin Vanquish.
At the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan in 2003, Aston Martin introduced the AMV8 Vantage
Aston Martin V8 Vantage (2005)
The Aston Martin V8 Vantage and the Aston Martin V12 Vantage are a series of hand built sports cars from the British manufacturer Aston Martin. Aston Martin has previously used the "Vantage" name on high performance variants of their existing GT models, notably on the Virage-based car of the 1990s....
concept car. Expected to have few changes before its introduction in 2005, the Vantage brought back the classic V8 engine to allow the company to compete in a larger market. 2003 also saw the opening of the Gaydon
Gaydon
Gaydon is a parish and village in Warwickshire, England, close to Leamington Spa. In the 2001 census, the parish had a population of 376.The village is at the junction of the B4100 and B4451 roads, a mile from Junction 12 of the M40 motorway, and is two miles north-east of Kineton.-Motor...
factory, the first purpose-built factory in Aston Martin's history. Also introduced in 2003 was the DB9
Aston Martin DB9
-DB9 Volante:The Aston Martin DB9 Volante is the convertible version of the DB9 coupe. It is built by hand in limited numbers and has enhanced styling. It is powered by the same 6.0 litre, DOHC 48 valve V12 as the DB9 and is completed with 470 bhp and a top speed of 186 mph...
coupé, which replaced the ten-year-old DB7
Aston Martin DB7
The Aston Martin DB7 is a grand tourer which was produced by Aston Martin from September 1994 to December 2004. The grand tourer was available either as a coupé or a convertible. The prototype was complete by November 1992, and debuted at the Geneva Motor Show in March, 1993, the car was styled by...
. A convertible
Roadster
A roadster is a two-seat open car with emphasis on sporty handling and without a fixed roof or side weather protection. Strictly speaking a roadster with wind-up windows is a convertible but as true roadsters are no longer made the distinction is now irrelevant...
version of the DB9, the DB9 Volante, was introduced at the 2004 Detroit Auto Show.
In October 2004, the company set up the dedicated 12500 square metres (14,949.9 sq yd) AMEP engine production plant within the Ford Germany
Ford Germany
-Ford Motor Co. AG:Until 27 January 1950 all Ford's European operations other than in the USSR were run from Dagenham and owned by Ford Motor Company Limited, Dearborn's 55% owned subsidiary...
Niehl, Cologne plant. With capacity to produce up to 5000 engines a year by 100 specially trained personnel, like traditional Aston Martin engine production from Newport Pagnell, assembly of each unit is entrusted to a single technician from a pool of 30, with V8 and V12 variants assembled in under 20 hours. By bringing engine production back to within the company, the promise was that Aston Martin would be able to produce small runs of higher performance variants engines. This expanded engine capacity allowed in 2006, the V8 Vantage
Aston Martin V8 Vantage (2005)
The Aston Martin V8 Vantage and the Aston Martin V12 Vantage are a series of hand built sports cars from the British manufacturer Aston Martin. Aston Martin has previously used the "Vantage" name on high performance variants of their existing GT models, notably on the Virage-based car of the 1990s....
sports car to enter production at the Gaydon factory, joining the DB9 and DB9 Volante.
In December 2003 Aston Martin announced it would return to motor racing in 2005. A new division was created, called Aston Martin Racing
Aston Martin Racing
Aston Martin Racing is an auto racing team established in 2004 as a partnership between automobile manufacturer Aston Martin and engineering group Prodrive. The partnership was initially created for the purpose of returning Aston Martin to sports car racing with the DBR9, a heavily modified...
, which became responsible, together with Prodrive
Prodrive
Prodrive is a British motorsport and automotive engineering group based in Banbury, Oxfordshire, England. It designs, constructs and races cars for companies and teams such as Subaru, Aston Martin and Ford...
, for the design, development, and management of the DBR9 program. The DBR9 competes in the GT class in sports car races
Sports car racing
Sports car racing is a form of circuit auto racing with automobiles that have two seats and enclosed wheels. They may be purpose-built or related to road-going sports cars....
, including the world-famous 24 Hours of Le Mans
24 Hours of Le Mans
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world's oldest sports car race in endurance racing, held annually since near the town of Le Mans, France. Commonly known as the Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency, race teams have to balance speed against the cars' ability to run for 24 hours without sustaining...
.
Sale by Ford
In 2006, an internal review of costs and realisable value on investment led Ford to consider divesting itself of parts of its Premier Automotive GroupPremier Automotive Group
The Premier Automotive Group , was a group within the Ford Motor Company which was formed in 1999 to oversee the business operations of Ford's high-end automotive marques....
. After suggestions of selling Jaguar Cars, Land Rover
Land Rover
Land Rover is a British car manufacturer with its headquarters in Gaydon, Warwickshire, United Kingdom which specialises in four-wheel-drive vehicles. It is owned by the Indian company Tata Motors, forming part of their Jaguar Land Rover group...
or Volvo Cars
Volvo Cars
Volvo Car Corporation, or Volvo Personvagnar AB, is a Swedish automobile manufacturer founded in 1927, in Gothenburg, Sweden. It is owned by Zhejiang Geely Holding Group. Volvo was originally formed as a subsidiary company to the ball bearing maker SKF. When Volvo AB was introduced on the Swedish...
, Ford appointed UBS AG
UBS AG
UBS AG is a Swiss global financial services company headquartered in Basel and Zürich, Switzerland, which provides investment banking, asset management, and wealth management services for private, corporate, and institutional clients worldwide, as well as retail clients in Switzerland...
to sell all or part of Aston Martin by auction and announced the fact in August 2006.
2007—A new era begins
On 12 March 2007 a consortium led by ProdriveProdrive
Prodrive is a British motorsport and automotive engineering group based in Banbury, Oxfordshire, England. It designs, constructs and races cars for companies and teams such as Subaru, Aston Martin and Ford...
chairman David Richards
David Richards (racing)
David Pender Richards CBE is the chairman of Prodrive and Aston Martin, and a former team principal of the BAR and Benetton Formula One motor racing teams. He lives with his wife, Karen, in Warwickshire and has three children....
purchased Aston Martin for £475m / US$848m. Prodrive
Prodrive
Prodrive is a British motorsport and automotive engineering group based in Banbury, Oxfordshire, England. It designs, constructs and races cars for companies and teams such as Subaru, Aston Martin and Ford...
had no financial involvement in the deal. Ford will keep a stake in the company (valued at £40m / US$70m). The consortium also consisted of John Sinders, an Aston Martin collector; and two Kuwaiti investment companies, Investment Dar and Adeem Investment Co.
Between June and August 2007, the first east-west crossing of the full new Asian HighwayAsian Highway NetworkThe Asian Highway project, also known as the Great Asian Highway, is a cooperative project among countries in Asia and Europe and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific , to improve the highway systems in Asia...
was achieved by Britons Richard Meredith and Phil Colley driving a V8 Vantage. Following the AH1AH1AH1 is the longest route of the Asian Highway Network, running 12,845 miles from Tokyo, Japan via Korea, China, Southeast Asia, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran to the border between Turkey and Bulgaria west of Istanbul.-Japan:...
and the AH5AH5AH5 is a east-west route of the Asian Highway Network, running 10,380km from Shanghai, China via Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia to the border between Turkey and Bulgaria west of Istanbul where it connects to AH1 and .- China :4,815 km* G010Shanghai 159km...
from Tokyo (the highway’s eastern terminus) to IstanbulIstanbulIstanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
at the western end, they drove a total of 12089 km (7,511.8 mi) (at about 250 kilometres per day) before joining the European motorway network for another 3259 km (2,025.1 mi) to London. The objective of the event was to demonstrate the durability of the V8 Vantage across hazardous terrain—and also to publicise the car in China. The exercise was so successful that the company had opened dealerships in Shanghai and Beijing within three months.
On 19 July 2007, the Newport Pagnell
Newport Pagnell
Newport Pagnell is a town in the Borough of Milton Keynes , England. It is separated by the M1 motorway from Milton Keynes itself, though part of the same urban area...
plant rolled out its last car, a Vanquish S. Nearly 13,000 cars had been made there since 1955. The Tickford Street factory remains in Aston Martin ownership as the restoration and service department. U.K. production is subsequently concentrated at Gaydon on the former RAF V-bomber airfield. On 4 March 2008, in announcing a partnership with Magna Steyr
Magna Steyr
Magna Steyr Fahrzeugtechnik AG & Co KG is an automobile manufacturer based in Oberwaltersdorf, Austria, with its primary manufacturing location in Graz...
to outsource manufacture of 2000+ cars annually at Graz, Austria, the company stated
The continuing growth and success of the company is based upon Gaydon as the focal point and heart of the business, with the design and engineering of all Aston Martin products continuing to be carried out there.
Aston Martin has also boosted its worldwide appeal by opening more dealers in Europe, as well as branches in China for the first time in its 93 year history in Beijing and Shanghai. This has brought their dealership programme to 120 dealers in 28 countries.
On 1 September 2008, Aston Martin announced the revival of the Lagonda
Lagonda
Lagonda is a British luxury car marque, founded as a company in 1906 in Staines, Middlesex by a former opera singer from Ohio, but of Scottish ancestry, named Wilbur Gunn . He named the company after a river near the town of his birth, Springfield, Ohio, United States...
marque. A concept will be shown in 2009, coinciding with the brand's 100th anniversary. The first production cars should come in 2012.
In December 2008, Aston Martin announced that it would cut its 1850 workforce by 600.
On September 16, 2011 Aston Martin became head sponsor of German soccer club 1860 Munich.
2009—Return to Le Mans
In January 2009, it was announced that the company was entering the 2009 Le Mans 24 Hours24 Hours of Le Mans
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world's oldest sports car race in endurance racing, held annually since near the town of Le Mans, France. Commonly known as the Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency, race teams have to balance speed against the cars' ability to run for 24 hours without sustaining...
race as a factory team in the prestigious LMP1 division. After competing throughout the 2008 season with a Lola B08/60
Lola B08/60
The Lola B08/60 is a Le Mans Prototype built by Lola Cars International. It is the first closed-cockpit sports prototype built by Lola since the 1992 T92/10...
LMP1 Coupe under the Charouz Racing banner, Aston Martin used a slightly modified Lola LMP1 design for their programme, the Lola-Aston Martin B09/60
Lola-Aston Martin B09/60
The Lola-Aston Martin B09/60, also known as the Aston Martin DBR1-2, is a Le Mans Prototype sports car built by Lola Cars International and co-developed with Prodrive for use by Aston Martin Racing. It is the first prototype to bear the Aston Martin name since the AMR1 in 1989...
. Three Lola-Aston Martins were entered in the 2009 and 2010 Le Mans 24 Hours by Aston Martin Racing. Aston Martin also competed in the complete Le Mans series with the Lola-Aston Martin LMP cars, starting the season at Barcelona in early April. The 2009 programme got off to an unfortunate start at the pre season Paul Ricard test on March 8 when Tomas Enge destroyed the 007 car in an accident. Aston Martin Racing subsequently took delivery of a new Lola to replace the written off chassis.
Results
- 2009
number 007 car, 373 laps, finished 4th overall and 4th in class
number 008 car, 342 laps, finished 13th overall and 11th in class
number 009 car, did not finish, 252 laps, finished 40th overall, and 16th in class.
The number 007 car won the Le Mans SeriesLe Mans SeriesThe Le Mans Series is a European sports car racing endurance series based around the 24 Hours of Le Mans race and run by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest . The series was originally named the Le Mans Endurance Series, but changed its name prior to the 2006 season...
overall, and the number 009 finished fourth.
- 2010
number 007 car, 365 laps, finished 6th overall and 5th in class
number 008 car, did not finish, 302 laps, finished 33rd overall, and 11th in class
number 009 car, did not finish, 368 laps, finished 30th overall and 8th in class.
- 2011
number 007 car, did not finish, 2 laps, finished 55th overall, last but one in race and in class, only beating
number 009 car, did not finish, 0 laps, finished 56th, last overall and in class.
2010 Outsourced Rapide production to Austria
The first four-door Aston Martin RapideAston Martin Rapide
The Aston Martin Rapide is a four-door, high-performance sport saloon, which British luxury marque Aston Martin introduced in early 2010. It was first presented as a concept car at the North American International Auto Show in 2006. The Rapide name is a reference to the Lagonda Rapide, a saloon car...
sports cars rolled out of the Magna Steyr
Magna Steyr
Magna Steyr Fahrzeugtechnik AG & Co KG is an automobile manufacturer based in Oberwaltersdorf, Austria, with its primary manufacturing location in Graz...
factory in Graz
Graz
The more recent population figures do not give the whole picture as only people with principal residence status are counted and people with secondary residence status are not. Most of the people with secondary residence status in Graz are students...
, Austria. The contract manufacturer provides dedicated facilities to ensure compliance with the exacting standards of Aston Martin and other marques, including Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
Ulrich Bez has publicly speculated about outsourcing all of Aston Martin’s operations with the exception of marketing.
Aston Martins in film and culture
- Author Ian FlemingIan FlemingIan Lancaster Fleming was a British author, journalist and Naval Intelligence Officer.Fleming is best known for creating the fictional British spy James Bond and for a series of twelve novels and nine short stories about the character, one of the biggest-selling series of fictional books of...
gave his James BondJames BondJames Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
hero a DB Mark IIIAston Martin DB Mark IIIThe DB Mark III is a sports car sold by Aston Martin from 1957 through 1959. It was an evolution of the DB2/4 Mark II model it replaced, using an evolution of that car's W.O...
in the seventh novel, Goldfinger. A long association between 007 and the marque began on screen with the silver DB5Aston Martin DB5The Aston Martin DB5 is a luxury grand tourer that was made by Aston Martin. Released in 1963, it was an evolution of the final series of DB4. The DB series was named honouring David Brown ....
that appears in GoldfingerGoldfinger (film)Goldfinger is the third spy film in the James Bond series and the third to star Sean Connery as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. Released in 1964, it is based on the novel of the same name by Ian Fleming. The film also stars Honor Blackman as Bond girl Pussy Galore and Gert Fröbe as the title...
(1964) and ThunderballThunderball (film)Thunderball is the fourth spy film in the James Bond series starring Sean Connery as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. It is an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Ian Fleming, which in turn was based on an original screenplay by Jack Whittingham...
(1965). This was James Bond's company car, and in GoldenEyeGoldenEyeGoldenEye is the seventeenth spy film in the James Bond series, and the first to star Pierce Brosnan as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. The film was directed by Martin Campbell and is the first film in the series not to take story elements from the works of novelist Ian Fleming...
(1995) and Tomorrow Never DiesTomorrow Never DiesTomorrow Never Dies is the eighteenth spy film in the James Bond series, and the second to star Pierce Brosnan as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. Bruce Feirstein wrote the screenplay, and it was directed by Roger Spottiswoode. It follows Bond as he tries to stop a media mogul from engineering...
(1997) appeared to have become his private car. In On Her Majesty's Secret ServiceOn Her Majesty's Secret Service (film)On Her Majesty's Secret Service is the sixth spy film in the James Bond series, based on the 1963 novel of the same name by Ian Fleming. Following the decision of Sean Connery to retire from the role after You Only Live Twice, Eon Productions selected an unknown actor and model, George Lazenby...
(1969) a metallic-green DBSAston Martin DBSThe Aston Martin DBS is a GT car produced by the British manufacturer Aston Martin Lagonda Limited. Originally produced from 1967–72, it featured in the 1969 James Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service...
appears at the beginning and end of the movie. After an interlude with Lotus, Aston Martins were again used: a charcoal-grey V8 Volante and Vantage in The Living DaylightsThe Living DaylightsThe Living Daylights is the fifteenth entry in the James Bond series and the first to star Timothy Dalton as the fictional MI6 agent 007. The film's title is taken from Ian Fleming's short story, "The Living Daylights"...
(1987). After switching to BMWBMWBayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
for several films, the Vanquish appeared in Die Another DayDie Another DayDie Another Day is the 20th spy film in the James Bond series, and the fourth and last film to star Pierce Brosnan as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond; it is also the last Bond film of the original timeline with the series being rebooted with Casino Royale...
(2002). In Casino RoyaleCasino Royale (2006 film)Casino Royale is the twenty-first film in the James Bond film series and the first to star Daniel Craig as fictional MI6 agent James Bond...
(2006), James Bond drives both the classic DB5 which becomes his personal vehicle after winning a poker game, and the new DBS which is revealed to be his new company car. - Tippi HedrenTippi HedrenNathalie Kay "Tippi" Hedren is an American actress and former fashion model with a career spanning six decades. She is primarily known for her roles in two Alfred Hitchcock films, The Birds and Marnie, and her extensive efforts in animal rescue at Shambala Preserve, an wildlife habitat which she...
's character in the 1963 Alfred HitchcockAlfred HitchcockSir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, KBE was a British film director and producer. He pioneered many techniques in the suspense and psychological thriller genres. After a successful career in British cinema in both silent films and early talkies, Hitchcock moved to Hollywood...
film The BirdsThe Birds (film)The Birds is a 1963 horror film directed by Alfred Hitchcock based on the 1952 short story "The Birds" by Daphne du Maurier. It depicts Bodega Bay, California which is, suddenly and for unexplained reasons, the subject of a series of widespread and violent bird attacks over the course of a few...
drove a silver Aston Martin DB2/4Aston Martin DB2/4The DB2/4 is a grand tourer sold by Aston Martin from 1953 through 1957. It was based on the DB2 it replaced, available as a Drophead coupe and 2+2 hatchback well ahead of the times. Other changes included a wraparound windscreen, larger bumpers, and repositioned headlights...
drophead coupe (convertible). - A silver/grey convertible DB4 was driven by Michael CaineMichael CaineSir Michael Caine, CBE is an English actor. He won Academy Awards for best supporting actor in both Hannah and Her Sisters and The Cider House Rules ....
's character in the original 1969 version of The Italian JobThe Italian JobThe Italian Job is a 1969 British caper film, written by Troy Kennedy Martin, produced by Michael Deeley and directed by Peter Collinson. Subsequent television showings and releases on video have established it as an institution in the United Kingdom....
. - A Bahama Yellow Aston Martin DBS is driven by Sir Roger Moore in the 1971 TV series The Persuaders!The Persuaders!The Persuaders! is a 1971 action/adventure series, produced by ITC Entertainment for initial broadcast on ITV and ABC. It has been called "the last major entry in the cycle of adventure series that had begun eleven years earlier with Danger Man in 1960", as well as "the most ambitious and most...
. A DBS V8 was to be used in the series, however no V8 car was ready, so a six-cylinder DBS was modified and badged to look like a DBS V8 for use in the show. - A DBS and V8 Vantage Roadster is featured in the Aston Martin MusicAston Martin Music"Aston Martin Music" is the third single from rapper Rick Ross's fourth studio album Teflon Don. The song was released as a single on October 5, 2010. It features Canadian rapper/singer Drake and singer Chrisette Michele, and is produced by J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League.A song by Drake called Paris Morton...
(2010) music video, which was produced by J.U.S.T.I.C.E. LeagueJ.U.S.T.I.C.E. LeagueJ.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, which stands for Just Undeniably Some of The Illest Composers Ever, are a Grammy winning group of producers and instrumentalists from Tampa, Florida. The group consists of members Rook, Colione, and Kenny "Barto" Bartolomei. Most recently, they have been producing for Drake,...
. The song was recorded by rapper Rick RossRick RossRick, Ricky or Richard Ross may also refer to:* Rick Ross , American rapper* Richard J. Ross, a Massachusetts State Senator* Richard Ross , an American photographer...
and featured rapper DrakeDrake (entertainer)Aubrey Drake Graham , who records under the mononym Drake, is a Canadian recording artist and actor. He originally became known for playing Jimmy Brooks on the television series Degrassi: The Next Generation....
and singer Chrisette MicheleChrisette MicheleChrisette Michele Payne , known professionally as Chrisette Michele, is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter....
. - In the movie Cars 2Cars 2Cars 2 is a 2011 American computer-animated action film produced by Pixar, and it is the sequel to the 2006 film, Cars. In the film, race car Lightning McQueen and tow truck Mater head to Japan and Europe to compete in the World Grand Prix, but Mater becomes sidetracked with international espionage...
, the character Finn McMissile is a modified anthropomorpic Aston Martin DB5. Finn is portrayed as a car version of the James Bond roles of Sean ConnerySean ConnerySir Thomas Sean Connery , better known as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy Award, two BAFTA Awards and three Golden Globes Sir Thomas Sean Connery (born 25 August 1930), better known as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy...
, who drove a DB5 in the James Bond movies. - Aston Martin vehicles have appeared in many video games like Need For Speed for players to use. Need for Speed World for example has put the Aston Martin V12 Vantage into the game back in September 14, 2011.
Pre-war cars
- 1921–1925 Aston Martin Standard Sports
- 1927–1932 Aston Martin First Series
- 1929–1932 Aston Martin International
- 1932–1932 Aston Martin International Le Mans
- 1932–1934 Aston Martin Le MansAston Martin Le MansThe Aston Martin Le Mans was a two or four seat sports car made by Aston Martin between 1932 and 1934.Aston Martin’s single-overhead-cam engine with a Bore/Stroke of 69.3 mm x 99 mm, had first been seen in the 1927 models, was highly efficient and now had an output of at 4750 rpm from...
- 1933–1934 Aston Martin 12/50 Standard
- 1934–1936 Aston Martin Mk II
- 1934–1936 Aston Martin Ulster
- 1936–1940 Aston Martin 2 litre Speed Models (23 built) The last 8 were fitted with C-type bodywork
- 1937–1939 Aston Martin 15/98
Post-war Sports and GT cars
- 1948–1950 Aston Martin 2-Litre Sports (DB1)Aston Martin 2-Litre SportsThe Aston Martin 2-Litre Sports was a sports car sold by Aston Martin from 1948 to 1950. It was the first product of the company under new owner, David Brown, and is retrospectively known as the DB1. The car debuted at the 1948 London Motor Show and was based on the "Atom" prototype. Just 15 were...
- 1950–1953 Aston Martin DB2Aston Martin DB2The Aston Martin DB2 is a sports car sold by Aston Martin from May 1950 through to April 1953. It was a major advancement over the 2-Litre Sports model it replaced, with a dual overhead cam straight-6 in place of the previously-used pushrod straight-4. The car featured a 2.6 L engine, and was...
- 1953–1957 Aston Martin DB2/4Aston Martin DB2/4The DB2/4 is a grand tourer sold by Aston Martin from 1953 through 1957. It was based on the DB2 it replaced, available as a Drophead coupe and 2+2 hatchback well ahead of the times. Other changes included a wraparound windscreen, larger bumpers, and repositioned headlights...
- 1957–1959 Aston Martin DB Mark IIIAston Martin DB Mark IIIThe DB Mark III is a sports car sold by Aston Martin from 1957 through 1959. It was an evolution of the DB2/4 Mark II model it replaced, using an evolution of that car's W.O...
- 1958–1963 Aston Martin DB4Aston Martin DB4The DB4 is a sports car sold by Aston Martin from 1958 until 1963. It was an entirely different car from the DB Mark III it replaced, though the 3.7 L engine was externally visually related to the 2.9 L unit found in that car....
- 1961–1963 Aston Martin DB4 GT ZagatoAston Martin DB4 GT ZagatoThe Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato was introduced in October 1960 at the London Motor Show. It was effectively a DB4 GT, lightened and improved by the Zagato factory in Italy, by Ercole Spada. Initially the factory had plans to produce 25 cars, but demand wasn't as strong as expected and production...
- 1963–1965 Aston Martin DB5Aston Martin DB5The Aston Martin DB5 is a luxury grand tourer that was made by Aston Martin. Released in 1963, it was an evolution of the final series of DB4. The DB series was named honouring David Brown ....
- 1965–1966 Aston Martin Short Chassis VolanteAston Martin Short Chassis VolanteThe Short Chassis Volante was the first Aston Martin to be called an Aston Martin Volante, 'Volante' meaning 'Flying' in Italian...
- 1965–1969 Aston Martin DB6Aston Martin DB6The Aston Martin DB6 is a grand tourer made by British car manufacturer Aston Martin. Produced from September 1965 to January 1971, the DB6 had the longest production run up to that date of any Aston Martin model...
- 1967–1972 Aston Martin DBSAston Martin DBSThe Aston Martin DBS is a GT car produced by the British manufacturer Aston Martin Lagonda Limited. Originally produced from 1967–72, it featured in the 1969 James Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service...
- 1969–1989 Aston Martin V8Aston Martin V8The Aston Martin V8 is a two-door coupé automobile manufactured in the United Kingdom from 1969 to 1989.Aston Martin's customers had been clamouring for an eight-cylinder car for years, so Aston Martin designed a larger 2-door saloon for V8 applications. The engine was not ready, however, so in...
- 1977–1989 Aston Martin V8 VantageAston Martin V8 Vantage (1977)The Aston Martin V8 Vantage was hailed at its 1977 introduction as "Britain's First Supercar" for its top speed. Its engine was shared with the Lagonda, but it used high-performance camshafts, increased compression ratio, larger inlet valves and bigger carburettors mounted on new manifolds for...
- 1986–1990 Aston Martin V8 ZagatoAston Martin V8 ZagatoThe V8 Zagato model Aston Martin was a grand tourer of the 1980s. Just 52 examples of the coupe and 37 of the convertible were built between 1986 and 1990. The coupe was first unveiled at the 1986 Geneva Motor Show and orders were quickly taken despite only showing the drawing of the car...
- 1989–1996 Aston Martin Virage/Virage VolanteAston Martin VirageThe Virage was Aston Martin's replacement for the decades-old V8 models. Introduced at the Birmingham Motor Show in 1988, it was joined by the high-performance Vantage in 1993, and the name of the standard car was changed to V8 in 1996....
- 1989–2000 Aston Martin VirageAston Martin VirageThe Virage was Aston Martin's replacement for the decades-old V8 models. Introduced at the Birmingham Motor Show in 1988, it was joined by the high-performance Vantage in 1993, and the name of the standard car was changed to V8 in 1996....
- 1993–2000 Aston Martin VantageAston Martin VirageThe Virage was Aston Martin's replacement for the decades-old V8 models. Introduced at the Birmingham Motor Show in 1988, it was joined by the high-performance Vantage in 1993, and the name of the standard car was changed to V8 in 1996....
- 1996–2000 Aston Martin V8 Coupe/V8 VolanteAston Martin VirageThe Virage was Aston Martin's replacement for the decades-old V8 models. Introduced at the Birmingham Motor Show in 1988, it was joined by the high-performance Vantage in 1993, and the name of the standard car was changed to V8 in 1996....
- 1993–2003 Aston Martin DB7/DB7 VantageAston Martin DB7The Aston Martin DB7 is a grand tourer which was produced by Aston Martin from September 1994 to December 2004. The grand tourer was available either as a coupé or a convertible. The prototype was complete by November 1992, and debuted at the Geneva Motor Show in March, 1993, the car was styled by...
- 2002–2003 Aston Martin DB7 ZagatoAston Martin DB7 ZagatoThe Aston Martin DB7 Vantage Zagato is a limited-edition grand tourer made by Aston Martin/Zagato. Introduced at the Paris Motor Show in October, 2002, the Zagato was immediately sold out...
- 2002–2004 Aston Martin DB AR1Aston Martin DB AR1The Aston Martin DB AR1 is a limited-edition grand tourer that was made by Aston Martin and Zagato for the United States market in 2003. The AR1 name stands for American Roadster 1...
- 2001–2007 Aston Martin V12 Vanquish/Vanquish SAston Martin V12 VanquishThe Aston Martin Vanquish was a grand tourer, designed by Ian Callum and manufactured by Aston Martin. The Vanquish was unveiled at the 2001 Geneva Motor Show and was produced from June 2001 to September 2004 with the later Vanquish S being produced from September 2004 to July 2007...
- 2004– Aston Martin DB9Aston Martin DB9-DB9 Volante:The Aston Martin DB9 Volante is the convertible version of the DB9 coupe. It is built by hand in limited numbers and has enhanced styling. It is powered by the same 6.0 litre, DOHC 48 valve V12 as the DB9 and is completed with 470 bhp and a top speed of 186 mph...
- 2005– Aston Martin V8 and V12 VantageAston Martin V8 Vantage (2005)The Aston Martin V8 Vantage and the Aston Martin V12 Vantage are a series of hand built sports cars from the British manufacturer Aston Martin. Aston Martin has previously used the "Vantage" name on high performance variants of their existing GT models, notably on the Virage-based car of the 1990s....
- 2007– Aston Martin DBS V12Aston Martin DBS V12The modern Aston Martin DBS is a high performance GT sports car from the UK manufacturer Aston Martin. Aston has used the DBS name once before on their 1967–72 grand tourer coupe...
- 2009– Aston Martin One-77Aston Martin One-77The Aston Martin One-77 is a two-door coupé built by Aston Martin.It first appeared at the 2008 Paris Motor Show, although the car remained mostly covered by a "Savile Row tailored skirt" throughout the show, before being fully revealed at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show.There was a limited run of 77...
- 2010– Aston Martin RapideAston Martin RapideThe Aston Martin Rapide is a four-door, high-performance sport saloon, which British luxury marque Aston Martin introduced in early 2010. It was first presented as a concept car at the North American International Auto Show in 2006. The Rapide name is a reference to the Lagonda Rapide, a saloon car...
- 2011– Aston Martin VirageAston Martin VirageThe Virage was Aston Martin's replacement for the decades-old V8 models. Introduced at the Birmingham Motor Show in 1988, it was joined by the high-performance Vantage in 1993, and the name of the standard car was changed to V8 in 1996....
Other
- 1944 Aston Martin AtomAston Martin AtomThe Aston Martin Atom is a prototype car, constructed in 1939. Designed by Claude Hill, the body was aluminium over a tubular steel frame, and a marked change in design from previous cars. It was originally powered by a model 15/98 engine, but subsequently upgraded after the war with a 2-litre...
(concept) - 1961–1964 Lagonda RapideLagonda RapideThe Lagonda Rapide was a 4-door GT car produced from 1961 until 1964. Based on the Aston Martin DB4, it was David Brown's attempt to revive the Lagonda marque which he had purchased in 1948. It marked a revival of the Rapide model name which had been used by Lagonda during the 1930s...
- 1976–1989 Aston Martin LagondaAston Martin LagondaThe Aston Martin Lagonda was a luxury four-door saloon built by Aston Martin of Newport Pagnell, England, between 1974 and 1990. A total of 645 were produced. The name was derived from the Lagonda marque that Aston Martin had purchased in 1947...
- 1980 Aston Martin BulldogAston Martin BulldogThe Aston Martin Bulldog, styled by William Towns, was a one-off testbed vehicle produced by Aston Martin in 1979. Originally, it had been intended to be a limited run of about 25. The code name for the project was DP K9, named after a Doctor Who character. It was built in the UK, but is a...
(concept) - 1993 Lagonda Vignale (concept)
- 2007 Aston Martin V12 Vantage RS (concept)
- 2007–2008 Aston Martin V8 Vantage N400
- 2008 Aston Martin Vanquish S
- 2009 Aston Martin Lagonda SUV (concept)
- 2010 Aston Martin V12 Vantage Carbon Black Edition
- 2010 Aston Martin DBS Carbon Black Edition
Current models
- V8 Vantage, V8 Vantage Roadster & V12 VantageAston Martin V8 Vantage (2005)The Aston Martin V8 Vantage and the Aston Martin V12 Vantage are a series of hand built sports cars from the British manufacturer Aston Martin. Aston Martin has previously used the "Vantage" name on high performance variants of their existing GT models, notably on the Virage-based car of the 1990s....
- Aston Martin DB9 & DB9 VolanteAston Martin DB9-DB9 Volante:The Aston Martin DB9 Volante is the convertible version of the DB9 coupe. It is built by hand in limited numbers and has enhanced styling. It is powered by the same 6.0 litre, DOHC 48 valve V12 as the DB9 and is completed with 470 bhp and a top speed of 186 mph...
- Aston Martin DBS V12 & DBS VolanteAston Martin DBS V12The modern Aston Martin DBS is a high performance GT sports car from the UK manufacturer Aston Martin. Aston has used the DBS name once before on their 1967–72 grand tourer coupe...
- RapideAston Martin RapideThe Aston Martin Rapide is a four-door, high-performance sport saloon, which British luxury marque Aston Martin introduced in early 2010. It was first presented as a concept car at the North American International Auto Show in 2006. The Rapide name is a reference to the Lagonda Rapide, a saloon car...
- CygnetAston Martin CygnetThe Aston Martin Cygnet is a 2+2 marketed by Aston Martin beginning with model year 2011 as a rebadged variant of the Toyota iQ. The Cygnet enables Aston Martin to comply with the European Union-imposed fleet average emissions regulations taking effect in 2012.The Aston Martin Cygnet is a 2+2...
, based on the Toyota iQ. - VirageAston Martin VirageThe Virage was Aston Martin's replacement for the decades-old V8 models. Introduced at the Birmingham Motor Show in 1988, it was joined by the high-performance Vantage in 1993, and the name of the standard car was changed to V8 in 1996....
Race cars
- See also: List of Formula One constructors, Aston Martin RacingAston Martin RacingAston Martin Racing is an auto racing team established in 2004 as a partnership between automobile manufacturer Aston Martin and engineering group Prodrive. The partnership was initially created for the purpose of returning Aston Martin to sports car racing with the DBR9, a heavily modified...
Whole race cars (post-war)
- Aston Martin DB3Aston Martin DB3The Aston Martin DB3 and later DB3S were racing cars built in the 1950s. Although they used some DB2 parts, they were quite different, being designed especially for racing...
(1950–1953) - Aston Martin DB3SAston Martin DB3SThe Aston Martin DB3S was a sports racing car built by Aston Martin as a replacement for the heavy and uncompetitive Aston Martin DB3. In total 31 cars were made, with 11 works cars and 20 cars being sold for customer use. The DB3S was introduced in 1953 and it proved somewhat more successful than...
(1953–1956) - Aston Martin DBR1Aston Martin DBR1The Aston Martin DBR1 was a sports racing car built by Aston Martin starting in 1956, intended for the World Sportscar Championship as well as non-championship sportscar races at the time...
(1956–1959) - Aston Martin DBR2Aston Martin DBR2The Aston Martin DBR2 was a sports racing car built in 1957 as a sibling to the Aston Martin DBR1, yet competing in a larger engine capacity group.-Development:...
(1957–1958) - Aston Martin DBR3Aston Martin DBR3The Aston Martin DBR3 was a sports racing car built in 1958 as an alternative to the DBR1, using a different engine and front end setup. The car was very short lived and eventually converted into a DBR1.-Design:...
(1958) - Aston Martin DBR4Aston Martin DBR4The Aston Martin DBR4/250, commonly referred to simply as the DBR4, is a Formula One racing car, designed by Ted Cutting for the sports car manufacturer Aston Martin...
(1959) - Aston Martin DBR5Aston Martin DBR5The Aston Martin DBR5 was a Formula One racing car, designed by the sports car manufacturer Aston Martin. Following the poor results of the Aston Martin DBR4 in the 1959 Formula One season the lighter and smaller DBR5 was intended to be quicker than its predecessor...
(1960) - Aston Martin DP212Aston Martin DP212The Aston Martin DP212 was a prototype sports car developed by Aston Martin for use in the 1962 24 Hours of Le Mans.The car was built on the chassis of a DB4GT, but featured longer bodywork specifically designed to handle the high speeds of Le Mans. It also featured a 4.0 litre Inline-6 cylinder...
(1962) - Aston Martin DP214Aston Martin DP214The Aston Martin DP214 was a prototype sports car developed by Aston Martin for use in grand touring-style racing, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Two DP214s were built in 1963, with one surviving today....
(1963) - Aston Martin DP215Aston Martin DP215The Aston Martin DP215 was a prototype sports car built by Aston Martin for grand touring-style racing in 1963. It was built alongside the similar DP214, both of which replaced the previous DP212...
(1963) - Aston Martin RHAM/1Aston Martin RHAM/1The Aston Martin RHAM/1 was a highly modified Aston Martin DBS V8 racing car, developed by Robin Hamilton, built with the intention of racing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. After development by Hamilton, RHAM/1 competed in the 1977 and 1979 24 Hours of Le Mans, finishing 17th overall and 3rd in the...
(1976–1979) - Aston Martin AMR1Aston Martin AMR1The Aston Martin AMR1 was a Group C formula racing car developed in 1989 for car manufacturer Aston Martin. It participated in the 1989 World Sportscar Championship season and 1989 24 Hours of Le Mans.-Design:...
(1989) - Aston Martin AMR2 (never raced)
- Aston Martin DBR9Aston Martin DBR9The Aston Martin DBR9 is a racing car built by Aston Martin Racing, debuting in 2005. The name DBR9 is derived from the original 24 Hours of Le Mans-winning DBR1 car, named for then-owner David Brown, which not only won the 24 Hour race in 1959 but also the World Sportscar title.-Development:Based...
(2005–) - Aston Martin DBRS9Aston Martin DBRS9The Aston Martin DBRS9 is a racing car built by Aston Martin Racing to be a cheaper alternative to the Aston Martin DBR9, both of which are based on the Aston Martin DB9. The DBRS9 is the only GT3 class car produced by Aston Martin and was introduced in 2005....
(2005–) - Aston Martin V8 Vantage N24 (2006–)
- Aston Martin V8 Vantage Rally GT (2006–)
- Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT2 (2008–)
- Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT4 (2008–)
- Aston Martin DBR1-2 (2009–)
- Aston Martin AMR-OneAston Martin AMR-OneThe Aston Martin AMR-One is a Le Mans Prototype sports car built by Prodrive's Aston Martin Racing arm. The car is a successor to the B09/60 which was a collaboration between Lola and Aston Martin...
(2011–)
Engine supply only
- CooperCooper Car CompanyThe Cooper Car Company was founded in 1946 by Charles Cooper and his son John Cooper. Together with John's boyhood friend, Eric Brandon, they began by building racing cars in Charles' small garage in Surbiton, Surrey, England in 1946...
-Aston Martin (1963) - Lola T70Lola T70The Lola T70 was built for sports car racing, popular in the mid to late 1960s. Developed by Lola Cars in 1965 in Great Britain, the T70 was made for endurance racing...
-Aston Martin (1967) - Aston Martin DPLMAston Martin DPLMThe Aston Martin DPLM was an sports prototype, racing car built by David Preece and Ken Heywood. Utilizing an Aston Martin V8 engine tuned by AVJ Developments, the DPLM was designed to participate in the World Sportscar Championship as well as the 1980 24 Hours of Le Mans...
(1980–1982) - Nimrod NRA/C2Nimrod NRA/C2The Nimrod NRA/C2 was the only Group C racing car ever built by Nimrod Racing Automobiles in partnership with Aston Martin. It ran initially in 1982 in the World Endurance Championship before also joining the IMSA GT Championship...
-Aston Martin (1982–1984) - Aston Martin EMKA C83/1 and C84/1 (1983–1985)
- Cheetah G604-Aston Martin
- Lola B08/60Lola B08/60The Lola B08/60 is a Le Mans Prototype built by Lola Cars International. It is the first closed-cockpit sports prototype built by Lola since the 1992 T92/10...
-Aston Martin (2008–)
Complete Formula One World Championship results
| Year | Chassis | Engine | Tyres | Driver | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Points | WCC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 1959 Formula One season The 1959 Formula One season included the 10th FIA Formula One World Championship season, which commenced on May 10, 1959, and ended on December 12 after nine races... |
Aston Martin DBR4 Aston Martin DBR4 The Aston Martin DBR4/250, commonly referred to simply as the DBR4, is a Formula One racing car, designed by Ted Cutting for the sports car manufacturer Aston Martin... |
Aston Martin L6 Straight-6 The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase... |
? | MON 1959 Monaco Grand Prix The 1959 Monaco Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at the Circuit de Monaco on May 10, 1959. It was the opening round of the 1959 Formula One season. It was the 17th Monaco Grand Prix... |
500 1959 Indianapolis 500 The 1959 Indianapolis 500 was an automobile race held at Indianapolis on Saturday, May 30, 1959. The event was part of the 1959 World Drivers' Championship.- Classification :- Notes :*Fastest Lead Lap: Johnny Thomson - 1:01.89... |
NED 1959 Dutch Grand Prix The 1959 Dutch Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Zandvoort on May 31, 1959. It was the ninth Dutch Grand Prix. The race was held over 75 laps of the four kilometre circuit for a race distance of 314 kilometres.... |
FRA 1959 French Grand Prix The 1959 French Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Reims on July 5, 1959. It was the fourth round of the 1959 Formula One season. It was the 37th French Grand Prix and the twelfth to be held at the Reims-Gueux highway circuit and the fourth to be held on the longer and faster 8.348 km... |
GBR 1959 British Grand Prix The 1959 British Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at the Aintree Circuit on 18 July 1959. It was the fifth round of the 1959 Formula One season. It was the 14th British Grand Prix and the third to be held at the Aintree Motor Racing Circuit, a circuit mapped out in the grounds of the... |
GER 1959 German Grand Prix The 1959 German Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at the Automobil-Verkehrs- und Übungs-Straße in West Berlin on August 2, 1959. It was the 21st German Grand Prix and was only the second time the race was not held at the Nürburgring. AVUS had previously held the original German Grand... |
POR 1959 Portuguese Grand Prix The 1959 Portuguese Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Monsanto on August 23, 1959. It was the eighth Portuguese Grand Prix and the second to be held for the Formula One World Drivers' Championship. It was the third time the race was held at Monsanto and the first for Formula One... |
ITA 1959 Italian Grand Prix The 1959 Italian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Monza on September 13, 1959.- Race report :This race was won on the weight of the cars, with Stirling Moss and Rob Walker gambling on running the whole race without a tyre change in the little lightweight Cooper - although they... |
USA 1959 United States Grand Prix The 1959 United States Grand Prix was a Formula One race held on December 12, 1959 at Sebring International Raceway.__FORCETOC__-Summary:Russian-born Alec Ulmann's dream of an American Grand Prix was realized in December, 1959 when 19 entries, including six American drivers, arrived in Florida for... |
0 | 5th | ||
 Roy SalvadoriRoy Salvadori Roy Francesco Salvadori is a former motor racing driver and manager from England. He participated in 50 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 12 July 1952, and achieved two podiums, scoring a total of 19 Championship points.During a varied career he also won the 24 Hours of Le... |
Ret | 6 | 6 | Ret | ||||||||||||
 Carroll ShelbyCarroll Shelby Carroll Hall Shelby is an American retired automotive designer and racing driver. He is most well known for making Mustangs for Ford Motor Company known as Mustang Cobras which he has done since 1965... |
Ret | Ret | 8 | 10 | ||||||||||||
| 1960 1960 Formula One season The 1960 Formula One season featured the eleventh FIA World Championship of Drivers, the third International Cup for F1 Manufacturers and numerous non-championship Formula One races... |
Aston Martin DBR4 Aston Martin DBR4 The Aston Martin DBR4/250, commonly referred to simply as the DBR4, is a Formula One racing car, designed by Ted Cutting for the sports car manufacturer Aston Martin... Aston Martin DBR5 Aston Martin DBR5 The Aston Martin DBR5 was a Formula One racing car, designed by the sports car manufacturer Aston Martin. Following the poor results of the Aston Martin DBR4 in the 1959 Formula One season the lighter and smaller DBR5 was intended to be quicker than its predecessor... |
Aston Martin L6 Straight-6 The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase... |
? | ARG 1960 Argentine Grand Prix The 1960 Argentine Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Buenos Aires on February 7, 1960.- Classification :* Trintignant and Moss received no points for the shared drive-Standings after the race:Drivers' Championship standings... |
MON 1960 Monaco Grand Prix The 1960 Monaco Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Monaco on May 29, 1960.- Classification :- Notes :*Pole position: Stirling Moss - 1:36.3*Fastest Lap: Bruce McLaren - 1:36.2*First win for a Lotus in a World Championship Formula One race... |
500 1960 Indianapolis 500 The 1960 Indianapolis 500 was an automobile race held at Indianapolis on Monday, May 30, 1960. The event was part of the 1960 World Drivers' Championship; the last Indianapolis 500 to be included in the Championship.- Classification :... |
NED 1960 Dutch Grand Prix The 1960 Dutch Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Zandvoort on June 6, 1960.Due to a crash by Dan Gurney, a spectator, who was in a prohibited area, was killed during this event.- Classification :- Notes :... |
BEL 1960 Belgian Grand Prix The 1960 Belgian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Spa-Francorchamps on 19 June 1960. It is remembered as one of Formula One's darkest days due to the deaths of Chris Bristow and Alan Stacey and the serious accidents of Stirling Moss and Mike Taylor.The results highlight an unusual... |
FRA 1960 French Grand Prix The 1960 French Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Reims-Gueux on July 3, 1960.- Classification :-Standings after the race:Drivers' Championship standingsConstructors' Championship standings... |
GBR 1960 British Grand Prix The 1960 British Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at the Silverstone Circuit, Northamptonshire, England, on 16 July 1960. The race was the seventh round of the 1960 Formula One season, the final Formula One season run to the 2.5 litre maximum engine displacement rules which had been in... |
POR 1960 Portuguese Grand Prix The 1960 Portuguese Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Circuito da Boavista, Oporto on August 14, 1960.- Classification :- Notes :*Pole position: John Surtees - 2:25.56*Fastest Lap: John Surtees - 2:27.53... |
ITA 1960 Italian Grand Prix The 1960 Italian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Monza on September 4, 1960. The race was won by American driver Phil Hill driving a Ferrari 246 F1.-Race Summary :... |
USA 1960 United States Grand Prix The 1960 United States Grand Prix was a Formula One race held on November 20, 1960 at Riverside International Raceway in Riverside, California.__FORCETOC__-Summary:... |
0 | 8th | |
| Roy Salvadori Roy Salvadori Roy Francesco Salvadori is a former motor racing driver and manager from England. He participated in 50 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 12 July 1952, and achieved two podiums, scoring a total of 19 Championship points.During a varied career he also won the 24 Hours of Le... |
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 Maurice TrintignantMaurice Trintignant Maurice Bienvenu Jean Paul Trintignant was a motor racing driver and vintner from France. He competed in the Formula One World Championship for fourteen years, between 1950 and 1964, one of the longest careers in the early years of F1... |
11 |
Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans finishes
| Year | Pos | Class | No | Team | Drivers | Chassis | Engine | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1931 | 5 | 1.5 | 25 | United Kingdom Aston Martin |
United Kingdom A.C. Bertelli United Kingdom Maurice Harvey |
Aston Martin 1½ International | Aston Martin 1.5L I4 | 139 |
| 1932 | 5 | 1.5 | 20 | United Kingdom Aston Martin Ltd. |
United Kingdom Sammy Newsome Sweden Henken Widengren |
Aston Martin 1½ Le Mans | Aston Martin 1.5L I4 | 174 |
| 7 | 1.5 | 21 | United Kingdom Aston Martin Ltd. |
United Kingdom A.C. Bertelli United Kingdom Pat Driscoll |
Aston Martin 1½ Le Mans | Aston Martin 1.5L I4 | 168 | |
| 1933 | 5 | 1.5 | 25 | United Kingdom Aston Martin Ltd. |
United Kingdom Pat Driscoll United Kingdom Clifton Penn-Hughes |
Aston Martin 1½ Le Mans | Aston Martin 1.5L I4 | 188 |
| 7 | 1.5 | 24 | United Kingdom Aston Martin Ltd. |
United Kingdom A.C. Bertelli United Kingdom Sammy Davis |
Aston Martin 1½ Le Mans | Aston Martin 1.5L I4 | 174 | |
| 1934 | 10 | 1.5 | 20 | United Kingdom M.R.E. Tongue |
United Kingdom Reggie Tongue United Kingdom Maurice Faulkner |
Aston Martin 1½ Le Mans | Aston Martin 1.5L I4 | 188 |
| 11 | 1.5 | 24 | United Kingdom John Cecil Noël |
United Kingdom John Cecil Noël United Kingdom Jen Wheeler |
Aston Martin 1½ Le Mans | Aston Martin 1.5L I4 | 180 | |
| 1935 | 3 | 1.5 | 29 | United Kingdom Roy Eccles |
United Kingdom Charles E.C. Martin United Kingdom Charles Brackenbury |
Aston Martin 1½ Ulster | Aston Martin 1.5L I4 | 215 |
| 8 | 1.5 | 33 | United Kingdom Maurice Faulkner |
United Kingdom Maurice Faulkner United Kingdom Tom Clarke |
Aston Martin 1½ Ulster | Aston Martin 1.5L I4 | 202 | |
| 10 | 1.5 | 32 | United Kingdom C.T. Thomas |
United Kingdom C.T. Thomas United Kingdom M. Kenyon |
Aston Martin 1½ Ulster | Aston Martin 1.5L I4 | 199 | |
| 11 | 1.5 | 31 | United Kingdom P.L. Donkin |
United Kingdom Peter Donkin United Kingdom Lord Malcolm Douglas-Hamilton Lord Malcolm Douglas-Hamilton Wing Commander Lord Malcolm Avondale Douglas-Hamilton OBE, DFC was a Scottish nobleman and politician.... |
Aston Martin 1½ Ulster | Aston Martin 1.5L I4 | 199 | |
| 12 | 1.5 | 27 | United Kingdom John Cecil Noël |
United Kingdom Jim Elwes United Kingdom Mortimer Morris-Goodall |
Aston Martin 1½ | Aston Martin 1.5L I4 | 196 | |
| 15 | 1.5 | 30 | United Kingdom R.P. Gardner |
United Kingdom R.P. Gardner United Kingdom A.C. Beloë |
Aston Martin 1½ Ulster | Aston Martin 1.5L I4 | 190 | |
| 1937 | 5 | 1.5 | 37 | United Kingdom J.M. Skeffington |
United Kingdom J.M. Skeffington United Kingdom R.C. Murton-Neale |
Aston Martin 1½ Ulster | Aston Martin 1.5L I4 | 205 |
| 11 | 2.0 | 31 | United Kingdom C.T. Thomas |
United Kingdom Mortimer Morris-Goodall United Kingdom Robert P. Hichens Robert Peverell Hichens Robert Peverell Hichens DSO & Bar, DSC & Two Bars was the most highly decorated officer of the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve , being awarded two Distinguished Service Orders, three Distinguished Service Crosses and three Mentions in Despatches... |
Aston Martin Speed Model | Aston Martin 2.0L I4 | 193 | |
| 1939 | 12 | 2.0 | 29 | United Kingdom Robert Peverell Hichens Robert Peverell Hichens Robert Peverell Hichens DSO & Bar, DSC & Two Bars was the most highly decorated officer of the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve , being awarded two Distinguished Service Orders, three Distinguished Service Crosses and three Mentions in Despatches... |
United Kingdom Robert P. Hichens United Kingdom Mortimer Morris-Goodall |
Aston Martin Speed Model | Aston Martin 2.0L I4 | 199 |
| 1949 | 7 | S 2.0 |
27 | Arthur Jones |
Arthur Jones Nick Haines |
Aston Martin 2-Litre Sports (DB1) | Aston Martin 2.0L I4 | 207 |
| 11 | S 2.0 |
29 | Robert Lawrie Robert Lawrie Robert Lawrie was a British alpine and polar equipment specialist and racing driver.Robert Lawrie was born in Burnley. He trained as a shoe and boot maker at his father's firm which he later ran. By the late 1920s he had become an accomplished climber and alpinist, and he started to design,... |
Robert Lawrie Robert W. Walke |
Aston Martin 2-Litre Sports (DB1) | Aston Martin 2.0L I4 | ? | |
| 1950 | 5 | S 3.0 |
19 | United Kingdom Aston Martin Ltd. |
United Kingdom George Abecassis George Abecassis George Edgar Abecassis DFC was an English racing driver, and co-founder of the HWM Formula One team.-Pre-1946 career:... United Kingdom Lance MacklinLance Macklin Lance Noel Macklin was a British racing driver from England. He participated in 15 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 18 May 1952.... |
Aston Martin DB2 Aston Martin DB2 The Aston Martin DB2 is a sports car sold by Aston Martin from May 1950 through to April 1953. It was a major advancement over the 2-Litre Sports model it replaced, with a dual overhead cam straight-6 in place of the previously-used pushrod straight-4. The car featured a 2.6 L engine, and was... |
Aston Martin 2.6L I6 | 249 |
| 6 | S 3.0 |
21 | United Kingdom Aston Martin Ltd. |
United Kingdom Charles Brackenbury United Kingdom Reg Parnell Reg Parnell Reginald Harold Haslam Parnell was a racing driver and team manager from England. He participated in seven Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, achieving one podium, and scoring a total of 9 championship points.-Driving career:Before World War II Parnell was a very successful racing... |
Aston Martin DB2 Aston Martin DB2 The Aston Martin DB2 is a sports car sold by Aston Martin from May 1950 through to April 1953. It was a major advancement over the 2-Litre Sports model it replaced, with a dual overhead cam straight-6 in place of the previously-used pushrod straight-4. The car featured a 2.6 L engine, and was... |
Aston Martin 2.6L I6 | 244 | |
| 1951 | 3 | S 3.0 |
26 | United Kingdom Aston Martin Ltd. |
United Kingdom Lance Macklin Lance Macklin Lance Noel Macklin was a British racing driver from England. He participated in 15 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 18 May 1952.... United Kingdom Eric ThompsonEric Thompson (racing driver) Eric Thompson is a book dealer and former insurance broker and motor racing driver from Great Britain. He participated in one Formula One World Championship Grand Prix, scoring two championship points, but found the main part of his track success in sports car categories... |
Aston Martin DB2 Aston Martin DB2 The Aston Martin DB2 is a sports car sold by Aston Martin from May 1950 through to April 1953. It was a major advancement over the 2-Litre Sports model it replaced, with a dual overhead cam straight-6 in place of the previously-used pushrod straight-4. The car featured a 2.6 L engine, and was... |
Aston Martin 2.6L I6 | 257 |
| 5 | S 3.0 |
25 | United Kingdom Aston Martin Ltd. |
United Kingdom George Abecassis George Abecassis George Edgar Abecassis DFC was an English racing driver, and co-founder of the HWM Formula One team.-Pre-1946 career:... United Kingdom Brian Shawe-Taylor |
Aston Martin DB2 Aston Martin DB2 The Aston Martin DB2 is a sports car sold by Aston Martin from May 1950 through to April 1953. It was a major advancement over the 2-Litre Sports model it replaced, with a dual overhead cam straight-6 in place of the previously-used pushrod straight-4. The car featured a 2.6 L engine, and was... |
Aston Martin 2.6L I6 | 255 | |
| 7 | S 3.0 |
24 | United Kingdom Aston Martin Ltd. |
United Kingdom Reg Parnell Reg Parnell Reginald Harold Haslam Parnell was a racing driver and team manager from England. He participated in seven Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, achieving one podium, and scoring a total of 9 championship points.-Driving career:Before World War II Parnell was a very successful racing... United Kingdom David HampshireDavid Hampshire David Alan Hampshire was a racing driver from England. He was born in Mickleover, Derby, Derbyshire and died in Newton Solney, in South Derbyshire.... |
Aston Martin DB2 Aston Martin DB2 The Aston Martin DB2 is a sports car sold by Aston Martin from May 1950 through to April 1953. It was a major advancement over the 2-Litre Sports model it replaced, with a dual overhead cam straight-6 in place of the previously-used pushrod straight-4. The car featured a 2.6 L engine, and was... |
Aston Martin 2.6L I6 | 252 | |
| 10 | S 3.0 |
28 | United Kingdom N.H. Mann |
United Kingdom Nigel Mann United Kingdom Mortimer Morris-Goodall |
Aston Martin DB2 Aston Martin DB2 The Aston Martin DB2 is a sports car sold by Aston Martin from May 1950 through to April 1953. It was a major advancement over the 2-Litre Sports model it replaced, with a dual overhead cam straight-6 in place of the previously-used pushrod straight-4. The car featured a 2.6 L engine, and was... |
Aston Martin 2.6L I6 | 236 | |
| 13 | S 3.0 |
27 | United Kingdom P.T.C. Clark |
United Kingdom Peter Clark United Kingdom James Scott-Douglas |
Aston Martin DB2 Aston Martin DB2 The Aston Martin DB2 is a sports car sold by Aston Martin from May 1950 through to April 1953. It was a major advancement over the 2-Litre Sports model it replaced, with a dual overhead cam straight-6 in place of the previously-used pushrod straight-4. The car featured a 2.6 L engine, and was... |
Aston Martin 2.6L I6 | 233 | |
| 1952 | 7 | S 3.0 |
32 | United Kingdom Peter C.T. Clark |
United Kingdom Peter Clark United Kingdom Mike Keen |
Aston Martin DB2 Aston Martin DB2 The Aston Martin DB2 is a sports car sold by Aston Martin from May 1950 through to April 1953. It was a major advancement over the 2-Litre Sports model it replaced, with a dual overhead cam straight-6 in place of the previously-used pushrod straight-4. The car featured a 2.6 L engine, and was... |
Aston Martin 2.6L I6 | 248 |
| 1955 | 2 | S 3.0 |
23 | Aston Martin Ltd. |
Peter Collins Peter Collins (racing driver) Peter John Collins was a Formula One driver from England. He participated in 35 World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 18 May 1952. He won 3 races, achieved 9 podiums, and scored a total of 47 championship points....  Paul FrèrePaul Frère Paul Frère was a racing driver and journalist from Belgium, born in Le Havre . He participated in eleven World Championship Formula One Grands Prix debuting on 22 June 1952 and achieving one podium finish with a total of eleven championship points... |
Aston Martin DB3S Aston Martin DB3S The Aston Martin DB3S was a sports racing car built by Aston Martin as a replacement for the heavy and uncompetitive Aston Martin DB3. In total 31 cars were made, with 11 works cars and 20 cars being sold for customer use. The DB3S was introduced in 1953 and it proved somewhat more successful than... |
Aston Martin 2.9L I6 | 302 |
| 1956 | 2 | S 3.0 |
8 | United Kingdom Aston Martin Ltd. |
United Kingdom Stirling Moss Stirling Moss Sir Stirling Craufurd Moss, OBE FIE is a former racing driver from England... United Kingdom Peter CollinsPeter Collins (racing driver) Peter John Collins was a Formula One driver from England. He participated in 35 World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 18 May 1952. He won 3 races, achieved 9 podiums, and scored a total of 47 championship points.... |
Aston Martin DB3S Aston Martin DB3S The Aston Martin DB3S was a sports racing car built by Aston Martin as a replacement for the heavy and uncompetitive Aston Martin DB3. In total 31 cars were made, with 11 works cars and 20 cars being sold for customer use. The DB3S was introduced in 1953 and it proved somewhat more successful than... |
Aston Martin 2.9L I6 | 299 |
| 1957 | 11 | S 3000 |
21 | United Kingdom David Brown David Brown (entrepreneur) Sir David Brown was an English entrepreneur, managing director of his family firm David Brown Limited and one time owner of shipbuilders Vosper Thornycroft and automobile manufacturer Aston Martin.... |
 Early Modern France Jean-Paul Colas Early Modern France Jean Kerguen |
Aston Martin DB3S Aston Martin DB3S The Aston Martin DB3S was a sports racing car built by Aston Martin as a replacement for the heavy and uncompetitive Aston Martin DB3. In total 31 cars were made, with 11 works cars and 20 cars being sold for customer use. The DB3S was introduced in 1953 and it proved somewhat more successful than... |
Aston Martin 3.0L I6 | 272 |
| 1958 | 2 | S 3000 |
5 | United Kingdom P & A.G. Whitehead |
United Kingdom Graham Whitehead Graham Whitehead Graham Whitehead was a British racing driver from England. He participated in one Formula One World Championship Grand Prix, on July 19, 1952. He finished 12th, scoring no championship points... United Kingdom Peter Whitehead |
Aston Martin DB3S Aston Martin DB3S The Aston Martin DB3S was a sports racing car built by Aston Martin as a replacement for the heavy and uncompetitive Aston Martin DB3. In total 31 cars were made, with 11 works cars and 20 cars being sold for customer use. The DB3S was introduced in 1953 and it proved somewhat more successful than... |
Aston Martin 3.0L I6 | 293 |
| 1959 | 1 | S 3.0 |
5 | David Brown David Brown (entrepreneur) Sir David Brown was an English entrepreneur, managing director of his family firm David Brown Limited and one time owner of shipbuilders Vosper Thornycroft and automobile manufacturer Aston Martin.... Racing Dept. |
 Carroll ShelbyCarroll Shelby Carroll Hall Shelby is an American retired automotive designer and racing driver. He is most well known for making Mustangs for Ford Motor Company known as Mustang Cobras which he has done since 1965... Roy SalvadoriRoy Salvadori Roy Francesco Salvadori is a former motor racing driver and manager from England. He participated in 50 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 12 July 1952, and achieved two podiums, scoring a total of 19 Championship points.During a varied career he also won the 24 Hours of Le... |
Aston Martin DBR1 Aston Martin DBR1 The Aston Martin DBR1 was a sports racing car built by Aston Martin starting in 1956, intended for the World Sportscar Championship as well as non-championship sportscar races at the time... /300 |
Aston Martin 3.0L I6 | 323 |
| 2 | S 3.0 |
6 | David Brown David Brown (entrepreneur) Sir David Brown was an English entrepreneur, managing director of his family firm David Brown Limited and one time owner of shipbuilders Vosper Thornycroft and automobile manufacturer Aston Martin.... Racing Dept. |
Maurice Trintignant Maurice Trintignant Maurice Bienvenu Jean Paul Trintignant was a motor racing driver and vintner from France. He competed in the Formula One World Championship for fourteen years, between 1950 and 1964, one of the longest careers in the early years of F1... Paul FrèrePaul Frère Paul Frère was a racing driver and journalist from Belgium, born in Le Havre . He participated in eleven World Championship Formula One Grands Prix debuting on 22 June 1952 and achieving one podium finish with a total of eleven championship points... |
Aston Martin DBR1 Aston Martin DBR1 The Aston Martin DBR1 was a sports racing car built by Aston Martin starting in 1956, intended for the World Sportscar Championship as well as non-championship sportscar races at the time... /300 |
Aston Martin 3.0L I6 | 322 | |
| 1960 | 3 | S 3.0 |
7 | United Kingdom Border Reivers |
United Kingdom Roy Salvadori Roy Salvadori Roy Francesco Salvadori is a former motor racing driver and manager from England. He participated in 50 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 12 July 1952, and achieved two podiums, scoring a total of 19 Championship points.During a varied career he also won the 24 Hours of Le... United Kingdom Jim ClarkJim Clark James "Jim" Clark, Jr OBE was a British Formula One racing driver from Scotland, who won two World Championships, in 1963 and 1965.... |
Aston Martin DBR1 Aston Martin DBR1 The Aston Martin DBR1 was a sports racing car built by Aston Martin starting in 1956, intended for the World Sportscar Championship as well as non-championship sportscar races at the time... /300 |
Aston Martin 3.0L I6 | 306 |
| 9 | S 3.0 |
8 | United Kingdom Major Ian B. Baillie |
United Kingdom Ian B. Baillie United Kingdom Jack Fairman Jack Fairman Jack Fairman was a British racing driver from England. He participated in 13 Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on 18 July 1953... |
Aston Martin DBR1 Aston Martin DBR1 The Aston Martin DBR1 was a sports racing car built by Aston Martin starting in 1956, intended for the World Sportscar Championship as well as non-championship sportscar races at the time... /300 |
Aston Martin 3.0L I6 | 281 | |
| 1977 | 17 | GTP | 83 | SAS Robin Hamilton |
Robin Hamilton David Preece Mike Salmon |
Aston Martin DBS V8 RHAM/1 Aston Martin RHAM/1 The Aston Martin RHAM/1 was a highly modified Aston Martin DBS V8 racing car, developed by Robin Hamilton, built with the intention of racing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. After development by Hamilton, RHAM/1 competed in the 1977 and 1979 24 Hours of Le Mans, finishing 17th overall and 3rd in the... |
Aston Martin 5.3L V8 | 260 |
| 1982 | 7 | C | 32 | United Kingdom Viscount Downe Pace Petroleum |
United Kingdom Ray Mallock United Kingdom Simon Phillips United Kingdom Mike Salmon |
Nimrod NRA/C2 Nimrod NRA/C2 The Nimrod NRA/C2 was the only Group C racing car ever built by Nimrod Racing Automobiles in partnership with Aston Martin. It ran initially in 1982 in the World Endurance Championship before also joining the IMSA GT Championship... |
Aston Martin-Tickford Tickford Tickford is an automobile engineering and testing company with a history of coachbuilding and tuning and is famous for such products as the 140 mph Tickford Turbo Capri.-Early years:... DP1229 5.3L V8 |
317 |
| 1983 | 17 | C | 41 | United Kingdom EMKA Productions Ltd. EMKA Racing EMKA Racing was a British racing team founded in 1980 by Steve O'Rourke, manager of the band Pink Floyd. The team occasionally ran under the name of EMKA Productions, the name of O'Rourke's management company. The team's name comes from O'Rourke's two daughters, Emma and Katheryne... |
United Kingdom Tiff Needell Tiff Needell Timothy "Tiff" Needell isa British racing driver and television presenter. He is best known as a former co-presenter of Top Gear and current co-presenter of Fifth Gear.-Biography:... United Kingdom Steve O'RourkeSteve O'Rourke Steve O'Rourke was born in Willesden, London, England. He was well known for being manager of the highly influential rock band Pink Floyd after the departure of Syd Barrett in 1968 until his death. He also had to weather the band's falling-out with member Roger Waters.He first managed Pink Floyd... United Kingdom Nick Faure |
EMKA EMKA Racing EMKA Racing was a British racing team founded in 1980 by Steve O'Rourke, manager of the band Pink Floyd. The team occasionally ran under the name of EMKA Productions, the name of O'Rourke's management company. The team's name comes from O'Rourke's two daughters, Emma and Katheryne... C83/1 |
Aston Martin-Tickford Tickford Tickford is an automobile engineering and testing company with a history of coachbuilding and tuning and is famous for such products as the 140 mph Tickford Turbo Capri.-Early years:... 5.3L V8 |
275 |
| 1985 | 11 | C1 | 66 | EMKA Productions, Ltd. EMKA Racing EMKA Racing was a British racing team founded in 1980 by Steve O'Rourke, manager of the band Pink Floyd. The team occasionally ran under the name of EMKA Productions, the name of O'Rourke's management company. The team's name comes from O'Rourke's two daughters, Emma and Katheryne... |
Tiff Needell Tiff Needell Timothy "Tiff" Needell isa British racing driver and television presenter. He is best known as a former co-presenter of Top Gear and current co-presenter of Fifth Gear.-Biography:... Steve O'RourkeSteve O'Rourke Steve O'Rourke was born in Willesden, London, England. He was well known for being manager of the highly influential rock band Pink Floyd after the departure of Syd Barrett in 1968 until his death. He also had to weather the band's falling-out with member Roger Waters.He first managed Pink Floyd... Nick Faure |
EMKA EMKA Racing EMKA Racing was a British racing team founded in 1980 by Steve O'Rourke, manager of the band Pink Floyd. The team occasionally ran under the name of EMKA Productions, the name of O'Rourke's management company. The team's name comes from O'Rourke's two daughters, Emma and Katheryne... C84/1 |
Aston Martin-Tickford Tickford Tickford is an automobile engineering and testing company with a history of coachbuilding and tuning and is famous for such products as the 140 mph Tickford Turbo Capri.-Early years:... 5.3L V8 |
338 |
| 1989 | 11 | C1 | 18 | United Kingdom Aston Martin United Kingdom Ecurie Ecosse Ecurie Ecosse Ecurie Ecosse was a motor racing team from Scotland. The team was founded in 1952 by Edinburgh businessman and racing driver David Murray and mechanic Wilkie Wilkinson, its most notable achievement was winning both the 1956 and 1957 24 Hours of Le Mans. The team also raced in three Formula One races... |
United Kingdom Brian Redman Brian Redman Brian Herman Thomas Redman is a British racing driver from England....  Republic of Ireland Michael Roe Greece Costas Los |
Aston Martin AMR1 Aston Martin AMR1 The Aston Martin AMR1 was a Group C formula racing car developed in 1989 for car manufacturer Aston Martin. It participated in the 1989 World Sportscar Championship season and 1989 24 Hours of Le Mans.-Design:... |
Aston Martin (Callaway Callaway Cars Incorporated Callaway Cars Inc. is an engine design company who is notable for their modification of Chevrolet cars, the Corvette sport cars in particular, especially their twin-turbo kit that became a dealer option and their record breaking Corvette Sledgehammer car.... ) RDP87 6.0L V8 |
340 |
| 2005 | 9 | GT1 | 59 | Aston Martin Racing |
 David BrabhamDavid Brabham David Brabham is an Australian racing driver and one of the most successful and experienced specialists in sports car racing. He has won three international Sports Car series and is one of four Australians to have won the Le Mans 24 Hour sports car race, winning the event in... Stéphane SarrazinStéphane Sarrazin Stéphane Sarrazin is a Peugeot factory racing driver from France. He participated in 1 Formula One Grand Prix for Minardi, debuting on April 11, 1999 at the Brazilian Grand Prix. He was a replacement for Luca Badoer, who had injured his wrist. He suffered a big spin in the race coming up to the... Darren TurnerDarren Turner Darren Turner is an English racing driver. He was McLaren Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year in 1996. He is a former test driver for the McLaren Formula One team, but has raced primarily in touring cars and sportscars since 2000. He spent 2 years in the DTM for Keke Rosberg's... |
Aston Martin DBR9 Aston Martin DBR9 The Aston Martin DBR9 is a racing car built by Aston Martin Racing, debuting in 2005. The name DBR9 is derived from the original 24 Hours of Le Mans-winning DBR1 car, named for then-owner David Brown, which not only won the 24 Hour race in 1959 but also the World Sportscar title.-Development:Based... |
Aston Martin 6.0L V12 | 333 |
| 2006 | 6 | GT1 | 007 | Aston Martin Racing |
 Tomáš EngeTomáš Enge Tomáš Enge is a motor racing driver from the Czech Republic, who has competed in many classes of motorsport, including three races in Formula One.-Career:... Darren TurnerDarren Turner Darren Turner is an English racing driver. He was McLaren Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year in 1996. He is a former test driver for the McLaren Formula One team, but has raced primarily in touring cars and sportscars since 2000. He spent 2 years in the DTM for Keke Rosberg's...  Andrea Piccini |
Aston Martin DBR9 Aston Martin DBR9 The Aston Martin DBR9 is a racing car built by Aston Martin Racing, debuting in 2005. The name DBR9 is derived from the original 24 Hours of Le Mans-winning DBR1 car, named for then-owner David Brown, which not only won the 24 Hour race in 1959 but also the World Sportscar title.-Development:Based... |
Aston Martin 6.0L V12 | 350 |
| 9 | GT1 | 62 |  Russian Age Racing Team Modena |
 Antonio García David BrabhamDavid Brabham David Brabham is an Australian racing driver and one of the most successful and experienced specialists in sports car racing. He has won three international Sports Car series and is one of four Australians to have won the Le Mans 24 Hour sports car race, winning the event in...  Nelson Piquet Jr.Nelson Angelo Piquet Nelson Ângelo Tamsma Piquet Souto Maior , also known as Nelson Piquet Junior or Nelsinho Piquet, is a Brazillian stock car racing driver and former Formula 1 driver... |
Aston Martin DBR9 Aston Martin DBR9 The Aston Martin DBR9 is a racing car built by Aston Martin Racing, debuting in 2005. The name DBR9 is derived from the original 24 Hours of Le Mans-winning DBR1 car, named for then-owner David Brown, which not only won the 24 Hour race in 1959 but also the World Sportscar title.-Development:Based... |
Aston Martin 6.0L V12 | 343 | |
| 10 | GT1 | 009 | Aston Martin Racing |
 Pedro LamyPedro Lamy José Pedro Mourão Lamy Viçoso, OIH, better known as Pedro Lamy , is a professional racing driver from Portugal. He is notable for being the first Portuguese driver to score a point in a World Championship event, in the 1995 Australian Grand Prix, for Minardi... Stéphane SarrazinStéphane Sarrazin Stéphane Sarrazin is a Peugeot factory racing driver from France. He participated in 1 Formula One Grand Prix for Minardi, debuting on April 11, 1999 at the Brazilian Grand Prix. He was a replacement for Luca Badoer, who had injured his wrist. He suffered a big spin in the race coming up to the...  Stéphane OrtelliStéphane Ortelli Stéphane Ortelli is a Monagasque motor racing driver who won the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in . He also won the GT1 Class at the 12 Hours of Sebring in 2005, driving for Aston Martin.-2008 Monza Le Mans Series crash:... |
Aston Martin DBR9 Aston Martin DBR9 The Aston Martin DBR9 is a racing car built by Aston Martin Racing, debuting in 2005. The name DBR9 is derived from the original 24 Hours of Le Mans-winning DBR1 car, named for then-owner David Brown, which not only won the 24 Hour race in 1959 but also the World Sportscar title.-Development:Based... |
Aston Martin 6.0L V12 | 342 |
External links
- Aston Martin—Official Aston Martin Site
- Aston Martin Racing—Official Company Site
- Aston Martin Owners Club- Official Aston Martin Owners Club