A story 110 years’ long
Welcome to 110 years of Aston Martin. A history draped in obsession. A lifetime committed to the details within the details. Over a century of pursuing perfection and finding intensity. At every turn.
Two icons form one legend
15 January 1913. Robert Bamford and Lionel Martin set up shop in premises previously belonging to Hesse & Savory. Severely underwhelmed by the cars they sell and service, they clench their jaws, hoist their sleeves and decide to make their own.
A car is born
Enter ‘Coal Scuttle’. Our first car. A prototype built using a redesigned Coventry Simplex engine. Utilising a functional body, and fitted to a chassis of their own design. World War One then puts the brakes on its ambition. It has to wait until 1919 to make its racing bow, winning gold at the London to Edinburgh time trial.
Roaring into the 20s
Accelerating into a new decade and larger home in the building of the Express Dairy Company. Abingdon Road is the birthplace of TT1 and TT2. These two racing cars grace a handful of European Grand Prix Circuits, in 1922 through 1923, before being retired.
Broken in at Brooklands
With 110 years on the clock. Brooklands is engraved on our early numbers. Our wheels rolled their first race here in the 1920s. Spinning all the way to record-breaking heights.
Razing records
Our next built is the Razor Blade. Assembled by an aircraft manufacturer, tearing through the universe with its scythingly narrow body, it sets records, summits hill climbs and blades a trail to the first ever chassis we sell to the public. The 1916.
Homemade. World bound.
1.5 litres, 4 cylinders, with a side-valve configuration, the occasional variation, and four wheel brakes that set our production cars apart. All engines are built in house. A remarkably heavyweight feat for a firm still so light in numbers.
The name’s Martin, Aston Martin
Ten years and 60 cars after our first, we sell to new owners. Now driving under a name that might one day make our fame. Aston Martin.
Back to track
New moniker, same focus, with the foot down on full throttle. We reaffirm our commitment to build high-quality sports cars and engrave our legacy on the track. The next bloodline of racing breed ‘team cars’ debuts with the LM1 in 1928.
British made but International
Early creations, with their 4-cylinder, 1.5L engines are christened ‘Tourer’ or ‘Sports’. 1929 is a turning point. We replace them with the ‘International’ model, armed with two or four-seater bodies and dry sump engine lubrication.
Breaching 100mph
The highlight of the 3rd Series cars came in 1934 with the Ulster. Designed from the shape of a Works racing car, with a modified engine to produce 85bhp. Unholstering a top speed that tops 100mph.
Engine expansion
From 1936, three series of 1.5L engines give way to their two-litre successors. Minutely made to mimic the factory team racing cars.
From aeroplanes to Atom
With clouds of war darkening over Europe, we quietly turn to manufacturing aircraft parts for nearby Vickers-Armstrong. Experiments in the background lead to the ‘Atom’ concept. Undeterred and miraculously unbombed in the Blitz, it propels our next wave our cars in peacetime.
Wartime work
By late 1946, Aston Martin is up for sale. At its peak, in the war, the company had around 130 employees and had benefitted from the wartime contract work. Without building even one car.
A new name to the legacy
The war is gone and as the nation returns to normal life, the search for new owners accelerates. When David Brown, a wealthy industrialist, is looking for a new investment opportunity, he sees an advert for a high-end motor business. It is Aston Martin, and the first lines of a new chapter are written.
The heart of an Aston
After purchasing Aston Martin in February. In September, David Brown buys another local car company, Lagonda, and with it a new six-cylinder engine. This becomes the beating heart of the DB2 model in 1949. A racing prototype ready to fly.
The initials that changed it all
After success at the 1948 Spa 24-hour race with our two litre, four-cylinder engine, inspiration strikes. We take to the London Motor Show with a more refined model, boasting a convertible body named the ‘Two Litre Sports’, but that moniker won’t last long. This eternally elegant car becomes known as the DB1. The start of a beautiful series.
Earning our racing stripes
We’re in a highly ambitious period. We aim for the stars with new model development and an intensive racing program, cementing the success we'll see throughout the 1950s. This is the start of a decade where we meet many chequered flags. Racing at Le Mans and many of the best circuits around the world.
Styled now and forever
It’s here, the roadmap for all future Aston Martin road cars is born. The DB2 is carved with beauty, bearing a powerful engine, and lined with luxurious interiors. It’s these traits which are developed into the DB4.
The finest winning margins
1953 bears a successful racing season. The beautiful DB3S model wins all but one of its races, paving the way to develop more powerful and faster cars like the DBR1. Coming first soon becomes second nature.
Defining beauty
Style set in stone. The road cars in the 1950s will define all future Aston Martin road cars. Seething with beautiful styling, powerful engines and luxurious interiors. The love-at-first-sight DB2 is developed into the DB2/4 models. Carved with their groundbreaking hatchback coupe bodies or alternative convertible and fixed head coupe alternatives.
From coaches to cruising
New grounds to breed new ideas. David Brown purchases Tickford of Newport Pagnell in 1954, an established independent ‘coach builder’, previously a supplier to Aston Martin. A fortress to build the final DB2/4 and MKIII derivatives, not forgetting the sleek, new DB4.
Bonjour to victory
Voila. In 1959 the DBR1 takes the top two places in the famous Le Mans 24hours, just weeks after the debut of the DBR4 single seat car in Formula One. Aston Martin are back on track.
The beginning of an icon
The DB4 GT forms the basis of a British icon. Cut with lightweight body panels, a shorter chassis and a more powerful engine. The concept is developed even further to add in ultralight weight coachwork. Becoming the elusive DB4 GT Zagato.
Bonded to Bond
With the evolving desire for luxury and power, the charismatic 4.0 litre DB5 was born. An icon forever immortalised in the Bond movies, Goldfinger and Thunderball.
A crowning achievement
The race to the throne. During 1966, HM Queen Elizabeth II decides to pay a visit to Newport Pagnell. Crowning the start of a very long association with the British Royal family.
Matching the US muscle
In the US, they are tearing up the sports car rule book with faster and more luxuriously equipped muscle cars. We develop our own luxury coupe, the new DBS. Cut with an ultra-modern look and a bodyshell which will hold a crushingly powerful new 5.3 litre V8 engine by 1970. Designed in house, made to be adored everywhere.
The future King Charles III becomes the proud owner of a Seychelles blue DB6 Volante, commencing a lifelong passion for Aston Martin. The car has since been converted to run on by-products of the wine and cheese industries.
Fuelling the future
After a successful period, David Brown leaves. A new era rings in big changes, starting with a facelift for the DBS models and a fuel injection system.
A 170mph arrival
With a top speed of 170mph the arrival of the V8 Vantage bursts onto the scene, cementing Aston Martin as the first and only British supercar maker.
Italian evolution
Roaring into the 80s, we unveil the Vantage Zagato, another joint project with the Milan coachbuilder. This V8 powered Vantage Zagato inherits a shortened chassis and a more powerful engine. 50 of these cars are built, followed by 37 Volante versions. A delicacy only experienced by few.
The age of the Virage
Speeding out of the recession, we release our all-new Virage in 1988. It is evolved from the previous V8 version, with a modern look, and the coupe is later joined by a Volante version, and then a twin-supercharged Vantage flag ship model. The range was updated in the late 90s, with the V8 Coupe and the longer wheelbase Volante.
Enter the DB7
Built in Bloxham, the DB7 comes roaring. Featuring an easier to build pressed steel body, with bolt on composite panels.
Enter the mighty V12
As the end of the 90s draws near, the now legendary V12 engine, in its original 420bhp form pushed the DB7 even further.
Vantage point
We unveil a new car in 2001, the V12 Vanquish. Using aluminium and carbon fibre along with traditional craftsmanship to construct its body and chassis. The first in a new evolution of cars that will set hearts racing and Aston Martin on a path to success.
Modern Art
Stealing glances from the soon-to-launch DB9, we tease the public with a new concept car. The AMV8 Concept. A modern marvel, two-seater sports car.
Made in Gaydon
After 50 years, we change gear and move to our global headquarters in Gaydon. Our first purpose-built facility. A cutting edge, needle-eyed precise, state-of-the-art manufacturing centre.
A blueprint for beauty
Here comes the DB9. Pirouetting in lightweight aluminium. A logic-defying model that heralds the body and chassis engineering that will be used as a basis for all our road cars.
Our best seller is born
Drawing its design pedigree from the 2003 AMV8 concept. The new V8 Vantage is an instant success with the media and the public. It will go on to become our best seller.
Dancing with power
The decade ends with the sweetest addition. The new V12 Vantage. A model finely carved with the sleekest body and the largest engine. All 510bhp of it.
A four-door supercar
A surprise in the shape of a four-door coupe. The Rapide is the first Aston Martin to have four doors since the 1930s. The world's most elegant four-door that will forever be a cult modern classic.
Hyper real
The limited edition One77 enters production. A hyper car blurring heart-purring design and technology. It’s a real showcase and will pave the way for more hyper cars in the future.
Vanquish and conquer
The new Vanquish floats across tarmac. It features exterior panels cut from carbon fibre and a beautifully trimmed interior. We then upgrade it to the S version, beating with even more power.
An anniversary of obsession
We’ve been racing at over 100mph for 100 years. We celebrate with events and limited-edition models. A concept car, CC100, is our offering and it hints at a beautiful future design language.
Born with a racing soul. And body.
The Vulcan followed. An extreme track only car, with a body and chassis forged from carbon fibre. This beast of a car will pave the way for more heart-stopping models that will follow in the next decade.
Immaculate combination
The birth of the most uncompromising Vantage to date. GT12 special edition. Famously few with only 100 made. Each one brimming with years of learnings from sports car competition.
Moulded for the racetrack
The Vantage GT8 is born. Blessed with an aerodynamic body, carved from carbon fibre. A super-sharp chassis tuned for track-slicing agility and a retuned 4.7-litre V8. A spine-tingling driving experience.
The undisputed grand tourer
The DB11. Born from over a decade of automotive heritage. The iconic grille, amplified. The clamshell hood, a masterstroke of artistry. With V8 and V12 twin-turbo engines, delivering 503bhp and 630bhp.
The best in bespoke luxury
The fifth car from a five-decade partnership. The Vanquish Zagato blends slick design with crushing power. For a knuckle-whitening result of 0-60mph in 3.5 seconds. Born out of racing but dreamed in elegance.
Brake the mould
The next Zagato fusion arrives. The Shooting Brake is a strict two-seater, cutting concrete as a practical GT. Each inch sculpted to perfection. A fitting complement to the Coupe, Volante and Speedster.
Welcome to Wales
Behold the opening of the gates of St Athan. A new purpose-built facility in South Wales. This site will be the home of the all new, all conquering, DBX ultra luxury performance SUV.
Aston Martin soul. SUV body.
The world-beating DBX firmly cements its place in our future. It has developed into a range of its own, with a Straight Six variant for export markets and most recently, the achingly powerful DBX 707.
DBS meets Zagato
A roaring entrance into the 20s. The decade disappeared with a special DBS to celebrate the Centenary of Zagato. DBS GT Zagato. A bespoke model rattling with 760bhp.
The then Prince of Wales, Prince Charles, officially opens Aston Martin’s St Athan facility which produces the first Welsh built production car for more than 50 years.
One with Formula 1™
We make our return to Formula 1™ as a full works team. And take our rightful place in the pit lane. At the peak of the pinnacle of the epitome of the sport.
Mastery of driving
Impossible artistry. We reveal our first V8, mid-engine, hybrid supercar. Fusing a full carbon fibre structure with sophisticated design materials. Bearing the name Valhalla. A new supercar driving experience.
Bond’s silver anniversary
Icons of past and present. No Time To Die, the 25th James Bond film sees him return to service with four Aston Martin classics. The V8 Saloon, DB5, Valhalla and DBS. Stirring to the last mph.
Impossible. Driven.
The Valkyrie. As close as possible to being a Formula One ® car without being restricted to the track. Space-age technology, handcrafted beauty and gravity-defyingly fast. Limitless luxury.
The no rules model
The Valkyrie is born from a Le Mans Concept. Bleeding as much performance from a road-legal Valkyrie as possible. Space bound with a race-optimised chassis, aerodynamics and powertrain technology.
An SUV like no other
The world's most powerful luxury SUV. With blistering performance, supreme dynamics, unmistakable style and absolute luxury, it's a car that dominates in every sense, re-writing what an SUV is capable of.
Never leave quietly
Like all great thrillers, the closing scene is always the most dramatic. The V12 Vantage, not a limited edition, a final edition. The parting shot of an engineering hero, unique in its potency.
Speedster. Re-imagined.
We build the celebration of a bloodline. The DBR22 is unveiled, brimming with a V12 engine, in a two-seater coach-built design. A true homage to open-cockpit sports racers, the DBR1 and DB3S.
The world’s first super tourer
DB12. Redefining and reinventing what it means to be a tourer. An icon risen from 73 years of category defining marvels. Cutting through continents, bruising benchmarks and taming tradition.
110 years. 110 Aston Martins. One very special lap.
A celebration of Aston Martin’s past, present and future.
A parade without parallel. 110 Aston Martins. One for every year of our rich history.
110 years. 110 cars. Driving as one, for one lap. At the FORMULA 1 ARAMCO BRITISH GRAND PRIX 2023.
A parade without parallel. 110 Aston Martins. One for every year of our rich history.
110 years. 110 cars. Driving as one, for one lap. At the FORMULA 1 ARAMCO BRITISH GRAND PRIX 2023.
Our story from the desert
Partnering with FORMULA 1 HEINEKEN SILVER LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX, we became the first ultra-luxury car manufacturer to appear on the world's largest spherical structure.
The road ahead
Exquisite British luxury. A fusion of addictive design and technological innovation that creates cars born of a dream but made to drive. For the next 110 years and beyond.