ASTON MARTIN

 

The brand is all about classic and stylish cars that are prized by those who wish to look sophisticated on any occasion. The Aston Martin is your ticket to luxury if that is what you crave.

As you can you imagine a brand this classy has a rich history. If you have ever been curious about the history of these beautiful cars, then keep reading.

Here is a brief history of the Aston Martin.

 

 

The company began in 1913. It was founded by Robert Bamford and Lionel Martin. The first name given to the company was Bamford & Martin.

In 1914 a sporting event at the Aston Hill Climb, saw Lionel Martin doing very well and in honor of this feat the company was renamed, Aston Martin.

A year later the company registered the very first Aston Martin car. However, World War I started soon after and for seven years the Aston Martin company did not develop any cars.

In 1922 the fortune of the Aston Martin changed when two cars were entered into the French Grand Prix. Both cars completed the race.

Despite this success, the years of war had been financially hard on the company and due to constant financial problems the company briefly closed in 1925. However, fortune smiled on them again and in 1926 some investors came on board and injected some much-needed cash into the company.

The company began producing a wide range of sports cars and this helped to boost their reputation as an engineering and design giant.

With the production of sports cars, racing naturally followed and in 1928 the company entered the Le Mans twenty-four hour race. The success at the race brought great recognition to the company when one of its cars did a clean sweep of all the races in its class. Due to this success, road car production boomed in the 1930’s and over one hundred and forty cars were built by the end of 1937.

In 1939 the company produced the Atom. This car was a milestone in Aston Martin excellence. It was developed using space-frame chassis and independent suspension.

 

 

The 1940’s saw the beginning of the David Brown era. David Brown was an English industrialist who further increased the fortunes of the company. The company produced its famous DB2 model in 1947 under the supervision of Brown.

In 1951 the success at the Le Mans races continued and the company’s cars won both second and third class.

Between 1956-1958 the company developed several DBR1 racing cars. In addition, they produced the DB MK III and the DB 4.

The Aston Martin Company ended the 1950’s with a tremendous amount of racing success. The DBR1 won the World Sports Car Championship in 1959.

 

 

In 1963 the company launched the DB5 and got itself an unforgettable Hollywood connection when the car was chosen to be the car of choice for James Bond in the movie Goldfinger.

The DB5 now became associated with sophistication and glamour. Needless to say, the sales took off.

With the incredible success of the DB5 the company was flourishing. That resulted in the production of even more cars throughout the decade, the most noteworthy of which were the DB6 and DBS models.

 

 

It would have appeared to any onlooker that the company had secured its future. However, change is always inevitable and the 1970’s brought with it several of them.

The first change came in 1972 when the company switched ownership. In 1975 the company again saw another change as it went into receivership. Thankfully, a consortium of investors was able to rescue the company.

The first car produced under the new management was called, Lagonda. The Lagonda was a deviation from the traditional sports cars for which Aston Martin was famous.

The deviation was well received and the hand-made car saw several deposits from customers. This significantly boosted the company’s revenue. It seemed the company was on its way back to glory.

 

 

In 1981 the company once again saw new ownership in the form of Victor Gauntlett and Pace Petroleum. However, the changes were not yet complete because in 1983 the Livanos shipping family partnered with the company.

In 1978 Ford Motors got a 75% stake in the company. The James Bond relationship was also renewed with the movie, The Living Daylights. The movie featured James Bond driving the V8 Volante by Aston Martin.

In 1988 the company introduced the Virage. This ensured that the company went into the nineties with an impressive new sports car.

The company also returned to the track in the 1980’s. One of its cars came in sixth at the World Sports Car Championship. Aston Martin entered the nineties in good shape.

 

 

In 1993 they produced the DB7 and the Ford company took full control of the company.

Aston Martin was again at the center of pop culture in the 90’s when it was once again the luxury car of choice in two James Bond movies.

In 1998 the brand received royal acclamation when the queen presented the company with an award for export. This award was a salute to all the company had done to help lift the British economy.

In 2003 the company moved its headquarters to Gaydon, Warwickshire and began unveiling new models of its vehicles.

So far the millennium has seen the modern Aston Martin growing from strength to strength designing cars that feature unrivaled design, advanced engineering, and innovative technology.

 

 

Aston Martin cars have become legendary for their classiness and sophistication. They are the choice of royalty and the elite worldwide.

The history of the Aston Martin shows how far a company can come with determination and a passion for excellence. This is a tradition that the company has lived up to for decades.

If you would like to learn more about exotic and luxury cars like the Aston Martin, then check out our info page, we have a lot of information that you are sure to find interesting.