Intro: Established in 1913 after company founder, Lionel Martin, achieved success at the Aston Clinton hillclimb course in his personally developed competition model, the specialist car company had only built around fifty cars by the mid-1920s. WS Renwick and AC Bertelli acquired the company and its overhead camshaft models soon achieved international renown. By 1947, in the post-war depression, tractor and gear manufacturer, David Brown, acquired both Lagonda and Aston Martin; the models soon featured the DB initials as part of their nomenclature. From 1955, the cars were no longer built at Feltham, Middlesex, but were relocated to the Tickford works at Newport Pagnell. Naturally, motor racing has featured heavily in the company’s history. Tadek Marek designed the famous twincam engines of the late-1950s, but the DB designation ended temporarily, when David Brown introduced the DBS, which later became the V8, and he withdrew from the firm in 1972. Various changes of ownership occurred. Ultimately Victor Gauntlett set up the deal, which led to Ford Motor Company taking the business over in 1987.
Under Ford Aston Martin flourished, but financial woes prompted the American carmaker to dispose of one of its gems. Aston Martin was sold to Dave Richards of Prodrive fame and some Kuwait investors in 2007.
In July, 2007 Aston Martin closed its historic Newport Pagnell facility which will be sold off for housing. |
