A brief history of Aston Martin
29th March, 2021
A brand synonymous with style and class, Aston Martin has produced some of the most luxurious and sophisticated sports cars ever to grace our roads.
The company itself has had a bumpy ride over the 100 years or so it’s been in operation, which we’ll learn more about below, but nevertheless it remains one of the greatest and most iconic marques in the world.
From Beckham to Bond, tennis players to Princes, the famously British brand has admirers all over the globe. And while you don’t have to be a celebrity to own one, you will need extremely deep pockets, with even restored classics now easily reaching the £1million mark and beyond.
If you’re lucky enough to be an Aston owner yourself, you’ll know just how special they are to drive and how important it is to protect these amazing machines from theft or accident and preserve them for the future. Which is where Lancaster Insurance comes in.
We’re specialists in arranging classic car insurance for rare or hard-to-insure cars. Talk to our knowledgeable team to get just the right cover for your pride and joy.
Aston Martin – a brief timeline
Throughout its history, Aston Martin has always focused on combining beautiful hand-built designs with superior performance. Let’s take a whistle-stop tour of the story so far.
1913 - The company is founded in 1913 by Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford of Singer cars in West London. The Aston Martin name comes about by mixing Lionel’s surname and Aston – after the Aston Hill Climb – where they raced their cars in the events.
1915 – The first-ever Aston Martin is made but production ceases during the First World War. Following the war, around 55 cars are built for both the public and the track.
1926 - Lady Dorothea Charnwood buys the company and is joined by W.S. Renwick and Augustus Bertelli. The latter joins as technical director and designer, creating all the models made between 1926 and 1937 including the T Type and Le Mans.
1935 – The Aston Martin owners club is established.
1939 – Aston releases the Atom designed by Claud Hill but the onset on World War Two means sales are down and it doesn’t achieve the success that many had anticipated.
1947 – Originally a tractor manufacturer, David Brown buys Aston and welcomes Lagonda engineer W.O Bentley. David Brown’s DB initials are used to name what will go on to be some of the most admired Astons ever made including the DB5 of Goldfinger fame.
1972 – David Brown sells Aston to Company Development Ltd which sees it through harsh financial times and an economic crisis.
Mid-1970s – Aston produces the AMV8 despite a backdrop of economic woe across the motor industry. Aston also launches the Aston Martin Lagonda with its futuristic wedge design.
1977 – The first British supercar is unveiled – the Aston Martin Vantage – boasting a top speed of 170mph. The Volante only reaches 160mph.
1982 – The brand received the Royal Warrant of Appointment from the Prince of Wales.
1987 – Ford Motor Company buys Aston and restores its fortunes releasing the V8 Virage a year later.
1994 – The first Aston Martin DB7 is released, with 2,461 of this model made.
2001 – The mighty V12 Vanquish rolls off the production line, with 2,578 made.
2007 – Ford sells Aston to a consortium of investors including Prodrive chairman David Richards. Aston creates the DB9, the DBS V12, the Virage and the Zagato.
2017 – Aston Martin is floated on the London Stock Exchange as Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings PLC.
Today – The current Aston offering includes the V8 Vantage, DB11, DB11 Volante, Rapide S and the DBS Superleggera.
Aston Martin Owners Club
One of the best things about having a classic car is being able to share your passion for the marque with like-minded enthusiasts through an owner’s club.
The Aston Martin Owners Club (AMOC) is no exception. Formed in 1935, it is still the only officially recognised membership club for the marque.
Established by then-company owner Bert Bertelli and Aston owner and racer Mort Morris-Goodall, the pair asked Autocar journalist Sammy Davis to organise the first meeting on 25th May at the Grafton Hotel in London.
Their aim back then was the same as it is today – to promote the sport and pastime of motoring; to develop an interest in the marque; and to encourage interaction between the members. The AMOC was named Historic Motoring Awards Car Club of the Year in both 2012 and 2013.
Today, the 7,000-strong membership enjoys a host of social activities throughout the year, from black-tie dinners to trips to Le Mans and Silverstone Classic, as well as sprint and hill climb meets and international concours events.
Like so many classic car clubs, membership is for both owners and enthusiasts alike – you don’t have to own an Aston to indulge your passion for these wonderful cars.
At the time of writing, membership is £135 for the year with benefits such as a quarterly magazine, which is keen to showcase owners and their Astons, club news updates, an Aston Martin Heritage Trust annual journal and a register of all member cars detailing the specs and histories of the cars where known.
During the pandemic, they are also hosting virtual concours events and social meetups online to keep members active until they can all meet again. Just click on the ‘What’s happening near you’ tab on the homepage of the website to find events in your area.
The shop also has some neat gifts for the Aston lover in your life – ideal if you need Christmas or birthday present inspiration!
Here at Lancaster Insurance, we support many clubs up and down the country and offer discounts on our classic car insurance to car club members. Ask our team for details when you call for a quote.
Aston Martin fast facts
If you want to brush up on your Aston Martin trivia, these seven fast facts might help at your club’s next breakfast meet or pub quiz!
- Sir Roger Moore was the only Bond that didn’t get to drive an Aston Martin in one of the films.
- The first-ever Aston car was named after a humble coal scuttle – a common household item used in the 1900s.
- An Aston Martin DBR1 holds the record for being the most expensive British car ever sold at around £17.5million at Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in 2017.
- Most Astons can achieve a top speed of over 200mph with speedometers going up to 220 or 240mph.
- The shape of the Aston Martin logo is based on a Scarab Beetle.
- The first Toy of the Year Award was won by Corgi for its Goldfinger Aston Martin DB5 in 1965. The 50th anniversary edition, released in 2014, was a sell-out, too. Now originals in good condition can fetch between £300 and £500.
- The DB5 convertible with its fabric folding roof was a rarer car than the original, with only 123 made between 1963 and 1965.
Which Aston Martin cars did James Bond drive?
Ever since Q announced that ‘Bentley has had its day’ in the 1964 film Goldfinger, the combination of debonair British spy James Bond and Aston Martin has been a match made in heaven. Sadly, for Sir Roger Moore, he was the only Bond who never got to drive one of these amazing machines but all the other Bonds got their chance behind the wheel.
All of Bond’s Astons boasted hidden surprises for his foes – from revolving number plates to water cannons and rocket launchers, Bond’s Astons had it all. And, of course, who could forget that ejector seat?
Here’s quick list of all the Astons featured in the Bond franchise so far…
Aston Martin DB5 – Goldfinger, 1964
Aston Martin DB5 – Thunderball, 1965
Aston Martin DBS – On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, 1969
Aston Martin V8 – The Living Daylights, 1984
Aston Martin DB5 – Goldeneye, 1995
Aston Martin DB5 – Tomorrow Never Dies, 1997
Aston Martin DB5 – The World Is Not Enough, 1999
Aston Martin V12 Vanquish – Die Another Day, 2002
Aston Martin DBS V12 – Casino Royale, 2006
Aston Martin DBS V12 – Quantum of Solace, 2008
Aston Martin DB5 – Skyfall, 2012
Aston Martin DB10, DB5 – Spectre, 2015
Aston Martin DBS Superleggera, DB5, Valhalla, V8 Vantage – No Time To Die, 2021
Which was your favourite Aston from the Bond series? The older models still stand the test of time, as seen in Skyfall when Bond used his DB5 to whisk M to safety in the Scottish Highlands.
What is Q by Aston Martin?
Ever wanted your very own Q branch, just like James Bond? Well, you might not be able to get rocket launchers or ejector seats added to your new Aston, but you can get pretty much everything else.
Enter Q by Aston Martin, the brand’s bespoke personalisation service. This really is the crème de la crème of car making, with every minute detail having the ability to be customised to suit a client’s tastes. You can choose from the Q Collection that features a selection of enhancements beyond the core options range, or if you’ve got something particular in mind, you can move on to Q Commission where you actually collaborate with the Aston designers to bring your dream car to life.
From Bison leather interiors to quilted floors (yes you read that right!) this really is the height of luxury where you’re essentially creating a piece of art as well as a sports car.
One of Q Branch’s latest offerings is the Victor. Commissioned by a private client and debuted in September 2020, it’s a one-off, 836bph road legal monster that takes inspiration from the One-77, Valkyrie and Vulcan. With a 7.3-litre naturally aspirated V12 engine, it’s probably not the car you want to pootle down to the pub in on a Sunday afternoon but as a feat of engineering and world-class design, it is quite spectacular.
Aston Martin returns to Formula 1 in 2021
After more than six decades away from the grid, Aston Martin returns to Formula One in 2021 with a world champion driver, heralding a new era for the brand.
Formerly the Racing Point team, they will now be known as the Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team. The American IT brand in the name will also help Aston through its own digital transformation journey.
Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel will team up with driver Lance Stroll who made his Formula One debut in 2017 for Williams.
Lawrence Stroll, chairman of the new team (and Lance’s father) said how Aston’s return to the sport represented a landmark moment. “Everyone knows what Aston Martin stands for, but the Formula One team will allow us to take the essence of the brand to new places, building on the strong foundations laid by the previous iterations of the team,” he said.
“I’m hugely proud that we can start this new chapter with the support of Cognizant. In today’s world, as the digital revolution continues, I can’t think of a more suitable or valuable partner to work with us as we strive to make Aston Martin one of the greatest teams in the sport.”
COVID-19 may have delayed their F1 factory opening until August 2022, but we’re looking forward to seeing the Aston Martin brand back on the F1 circuit.
Preserving classics for the future
While not all of us will be lucky enough own a classic DB5, here at Lancaster Insurance we believe all classics deserve to be protected and preserved for the future – but also enjoyed.
As specialists in classic car insurance, we can provide quotes for even hard-to-insure cars, 4x4s, motorcycles and military vehicles. We can also organise for a two-year agreed valuation for just £18 per year if you’re wondering how much your classic is worth for insurance purposes.
Over 96,000 classic car owners trust Lancaster to protect their pride and joy and you should, too.
Benefits of classic car insurance policies through us can include things like static show cover, 90 days of EU cover, cover for historic rallies and more.
Call our friendly team for a classic car insurance quote today.
Policy benefits, features and discounts offered may very between insurance schemes or cover selected and are subject to underwriting criteria. Information contained within this article is accurate at the time of publishing but may be subject to change.
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