The History of Aston Martin

Aston Martin is one of the most famous automakers in the world. With a heritage that dates back over a hundred years, Aston Martin is synonymous with high-thrill performance, discreet British elegance, and hand craftsmanship. This iconic marque also has ties to the James Bond film series. In fact, it was the official car of the 007 gang in the films "The Living Daylights" and "Die Another Day".

The first Aston Martin was produced in the year 1915. At that time, the company was called Bamford and Martin. They were based in Kensington, London. Their first model was a Coventry-Simplex engined coupe with a chassis nicknamed 'Coal Scuttle.' However, they went bankrupt in 1924. That's when the company changed its name to Aston Martin.

During the First World War, production halted. After the war, the company started making cars once more. Although they built only 55 vehicles, their models soon became icons of the British motoring industry. Among them were the Lagonda sedan and the V-12 Vantage.

As of today, there are five models
in the Aston Martin lineup. These include a four-door hatchback and two convertibles, all of which are manufactured in England. There are also an SUV, which is based on a separate platform from the sports cars.

While Aston Martin was initially owned by several individuals, the company eventually found new ownership in Ford Motor Company in 1991. During its time with Ford, the automaker introduced several groundbreaking models. Its most notable was the Vantage, which was hailed as the first British musclecar.

After Aston Martin was sold to Ford, it entered a period of financial difficulty. By the time David Brown purchased the company in 1947, it was in a precarious state. However, Brown paid off all of its debts in 1972. He then sold the company to an investment group led by William Willson and Company Developments.

Aston Martin

Several owners followed. George Minden and William Willson were the company's second and third owners. But by 1975, the company had already changed hands several times. In 1981, Victor Gauntlett of Pace Patroleum acquired Aston Martin. His second car, the 2.6-liter Lagonda, was the last to be built.

When Aston Martin was owned by Ford, it was part of its Premier Automotive Group. Its model range was expanded to include the V8 Virage and the Vantage. The company was then divested in 2006. Today, Aston Martin is a part of Prodrive, which designs and manufactures cars for various companies. And in 2013, it forged a partnership with Mercedes-AMG.

Today, Aston Martin is a luxury sports car manufacturer, with five different models available to consumers in 50 countries on six continents. Their most recent model, the DB11, is a high-performance sports car.

In the future, Aston Martin plans to add a hypercar, dubbed the Valkyrie. It will feature a carbon fiber body panels and an extra structural reinforcement. It is expected to debut in the early 2022 model year.