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History of Aston Martin Motor Cars / Automobiles |
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- 8.7.1. Aston Martin
- The company was founded in 1913 by Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford and the first car to bear the name was ready by 1915.
- After encountering financial difficulties during 1924/5 the company was sold in 1926 and renamed “Aston Martin Motors”. Seven years later, in 1933, the company changed ownership again.
- Up to the start of World War 2, in 1939, about 700 Aston Martin cars had been produced.
- In 1947 the company was purchased by David Brown Limited, who also acquired the Lagonda car company the same year.
- The DB range of cars started in 1948 with the 2-Litre Sports DB1. This was followed by the 2,580 cc DB2 (1950-53) and the racing model DB3 in 1957.
- The 240 hp (179 kW) 3,670 cc DB4 was first produced in 1958; a car with a top speed of 140 mph (224 kph).
- By 1963, when production of the DB4 ceased, 1,110 had been made (from 1962 70 were convertibles). 100 short wheelbase DB4 GT/Zagoto models were also built.
- The lightweight DB4 GT version was introduced in 1959. 75 of these cars, which had a top speed of 153 mph (240 kph), were built. Is 75 correct?
- In 1961 the company launched the DB4 Vantage model. The 266 hp (198 kW) car was fitted with three SU carburettors. 136 saloons and 32 convertibles were built.
- Between 1961 and 1963 19 DB4 GT Zagato models were produced, the bodies of which were built by Zagato in Italy.
- The 3,995 cc DB 5 model was produced from 1963 to 1965. The 282 hp (210 kW) version, which was fitted with three SU carburettors, had a top speed of 141 mph (226 kph).
- In 1964 the company produced the high performance, 314 hp (234 kW), DB5 Vantage coupe model. 65 were built.
- A total of 1,024 DB5 models were produced; 901 two-door coupes and 123 convertibles. A figure of 1,063 has also been quoted. Which is correct?
- 19 of the convertibles were left-hand drive. 12 special estate car versions were also built.
- A DB5 car was used in the 1964 James Bond film Goldfinger (Ian Fleming’s book featured a DB Mark III).
- 1,567 DB6 models were produced from 1965 to 1970.
- The 325 hp (242 kW) 3,996 cc car had a top speed of 150 mph (240 kph). It accelerated from 0-60 mph (96 kph) in 8.4 seconds.
- A Mark 2 version was launched in 1969.
- Having been sold in 1972 to a British consortium, the company was bought in 1975 by two American businessmen, who produced the V8 Vantage in 1977 and the the convertible Volante in 1978.
- Between the early 1980s and 1987 the company changed ownership three more times until the Ford Motor Company initially purchased 75% of the company (gaining full control in 1993).
- Between 1968 and 1988 approx. 5,000 Aston Martin cars were made.
- In 1993 the company announced the DB7. In 2002, when production reached 6,000, the DB7 became the top selling DB model. The DB9 coupe was introduced in 2003, followed by a convertible version the following year.
- In March 2007 the Ford Motor Company sold Aston Martin to a British consortium led by David Richards.
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