Aston Martin History |
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The Automotive history of Aston Martin.
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In 1912 Bamford & Martin was formed in Callow Street, London selling cars made by Singer.
Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford founded Aston Martin one year later in 1913.
Specials were already being raced at Aston Hill by Lionel Martin and they both made a decision to make vehicles of their own.
In 1915 the first production car was created at the Henniker Place factory in Kensington but due to the First World War both Bamford & Martin served their country and production failed to start and Sopwith Aircraft Company purchased all of the machinery at the factory.
When the war ended Abingdon Road, Kensington was to be the new premises for the refounded company. The Aston-Martin badge was used on the first new car designed.
Count Louis Zborowski funded the business in 1920 at this time Robert Bamford decided to leave.
Bamford & Martin set their eyes on the French Grand Prix in 1922 and started to produce cars that would be worthy competitors. The cars produced were tested at Brooklands and set new endurance and world speed records.
Unfortunately in 1924 the company was bankrupt and Lady Charnwood stepped in to buy the company. John Benson her son was put on the board but by 1926 the factory closed down and Lionel Martin left the company.
Lady Charnwood and various wealthy investors took full control of the business later that year and they renamed the company Aston Martin Motors. The new home of the factor was to be in Feltham at the old Citroen plant with a new designer called Augusto Bertelli.
Aston Martin produced some successful race cars such as the 1929 Aston Martin International initially owned by A.C. Bertelli, the Le Mans and the Ulster.
In 1932 the company was once again in financial difficulty was to be rescued by L Prideaux Brune for the first year before Sir Arthur Sutherland took over.
Road cars was the way forward for Aston Martin in 1936 but only 700 were to be made before the start of the Second World War.
The company was bought by David Brown Limited in 1947 who also went on to buy Lagonda later that year, both businesses used the same factories.
In 1948, the DB1 Two Litre Sports was introduced and would be superseded by the DB2 in 1950
David Brown also bought the Tickford coachbuilding company in Tickford Street, Newport Pagnell in 1955
1957 saw the introduction of the DB3 and one year later the 3.7 L DB4.
The company had achieved a good name for itself in the racing world and the DB4 was so successful that the reputation of the company was raised.
1963 would see the now famous 4 litre DB5 used in the James Bond movies Goldfinger and Thunderball and quickly became one of the most desirable cars in the world.
The DB6 was introduced in 1966 followed by the DBS in 1967 and DBS V8.
The cars had increased in value considerably but the company continued to fall into financial trouble and was sold in 1972 to a Birmingham-based consortium and then later resold to Peter Sprague and George Minden in 1975.
The new owners were North Americans and intent on modernizing the production line with the new V8 Vantage being the first of the line in 1977 and in 1978 the convertible Volante. In 1980 a one of a kind William Towns-styled Bulldog was created.
The new Lagonda saloon was designed by William Towns with unique futuristic looks.
CH Industrial then bought the company and it was later sold to Automotive Investments in 1983 and resold again one year later to Peter Livanos and Victor Gauntlett.
The Ford Motor Company bought 75% of the business in 1986 and later took full control of the business.
The V8 stopped production in 1988 and was replaced with the Virage.
The Vantage was produced in 1992 and one year later the new edition to the DB family was introduced as the DB7.
Victor Gauntlett sold his shares to Ford in 1993 and now Ford would have full control over the company as part of the Ford Premier Automotive Group.
Vast sums of money was invested by Ford to speed up production, create better manufacturing machines and open the Banbury Road, Bloxham factory in 1994.
The new factory produced a record amount of cars in 1995, around 700 units.
In 1998 the factory had produced 2000 DB7 cars and 6000 cars by 2002 this had exceeding all expectations and previous production levels of all DB models.
In 1999 the V12 Vantage model was launched giving a welcomed boost to the DB7 range and by 2001 the V12 Vanquish was introduced.
In 2003 the Detroit North American International Auto Show was host to the new AMV8 Vantage concept car by Aston Martin and the purpose-built Gaydon factory was opened. The DB9 coupé replaced the DB7.
Aston Martin Racing was created in 2003 and this would mark the companies return to the motoring world, this new company and Prodrive would be responsible for the production of the DBR9.
The DB9 Volante was launched at the Detroit Auto Show in 2004.
Financial pressure was responsible for Aston Martin going up for sale at auction after suggestions of selling Jaguar Cars, Land Rover or Volvo Cars.
In March of 2007 Aston Martin was purchased for 475 Million Pounds by a consortium and a deal with Ford would seem them retain a £40m stake in the company. |
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