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Aston Martin: the story behind an icon

February 16, 2018

The history of Aston Martin begins in 1913 when Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford sought to create their very own range of vehicles due to the fact that Martin was a keen racer at Aston Hills. Their first vehicle contained a four-cylinder Coventry-Simplex Engine with the chassis of a 1908 Isotta-Fraschini, and after great deliberation when choosing what to call the car, they conjured up the name ‘Aston Martin’ — a combination of Aston Hills and the surname of co-founder Lionel Martin.

The early days: 1910s-1920s

The company was set to start mass production of their first car but they were thwarted by the outbreak of the First World War, which meant that they had to then wait until the post-war period to try again to establish the company. However, Bamford left the company in 1920, leaving Lionel Martin to find funding from other sources.

By 1922 the company was beginning to prosper and even took part in the French Grand Prix, but this was to be short-lived and they suffered bankruptcy in 1924.

Later that year the company found new buyers and its official name was made ‘Aston Martin Motors’, but it was to fail a year later; in 1926, the factory was closed and founder Lionel Martin was forced to leave the business.

Despite Aston Martin’s poor fortune in its short life, new owners Bill Renwick and Augustus Bertelli refused to give up and kept working to build up the reputation of the car company.

A bumpy few decades: 1930-1960

Aston Martin continued to struggle throughout the 1930s, however, and soon ran into financial difficulties. L. Pideaux Brune took over the company when the previous owners could no longer carry the company forward, and then subsequently passed it on to Arthur Sutherland who initiated the period where they began to mass produce Aston Martin cars for the road.

But Aston Martin was to be thwarted again by war; the Second World War halted all production of Aston Martin cars which would factor into their financial struggles that were to follow.

David Brown took over in 1947 and introduced a series of cars in order to attempt to put Aston Martin back in the black. In 1950, the Aston Martin announced its DB series and by 1958 had released a range of cars that included the famous DB Mark II and DB2/4 cars as well as subsequent models.

The generation of success: 1960-1980

The 1950s had helped Aston Martin to build a solid reputation in the UK and the car company were perfectly poised to make a comeback. It was in 1963 that they introduced the DB5 luxury grand tourer, an evolution of their successful DB4 series, the type of car that would help Aston Martin cement their role in the car industry throughout the 1960s, later releasing their DBS and DB6 series vehicles.

The DB5 helped to bring mainstream international fame to Aston Martin, as it grew to be the most recognisable James Bond car, appearing in the acclaimed 1964 film Goldfinger.

The upturn in fortune for Aston Martin was not without a speed bump, however, and in 1972 it was sold to Company Developments. Following the running up of a debt close to £1 million, the company was sold once again to another company which threw into question the stability and profitability of the car manufacturer.

But this time they managed a successful turnaround and implemented a large recruitment drive to find talented employees who would help turn the company’s fortunes around. The new owners helped change the direction of Aston Martin, modernising its line of cars away from the grand tourer series towards cars in the style of the ilk of the V8 Vantage (1977) and convertible Volante (1978).

Aston Martin in the modern era: 1980-2000s

Aston Martin expanded their remit by purchasing the popular British car manufacturer MG, with plans to craft an innovative new series of cars. But this never went ahead as the company was hit hard by the economic turmoil of the 1980s.

Towards the end of the 1980s, Pace Petroleum and Victor Gauntlett acquired the company while Ford purchased three-quarters of the business. The Aston Martin Virage entered production in the 1990s before Ford took complete control of the company, gaining 100% of the shares.

This ushered in the most successful era for Aston Martin; under Ford, they produced famous models such as the DB7 Volante, the high-performance V8 Vantage, V12 Vantage, DB7 Vantage, the DB9, and many more.

Aston Martin Today

There are six different organisations that hold an interest in the company, with the days of financial turmoil long behind the company and revenue reaching almost £0.5 billion. With more than 1,000 employees worldwide and two subsidiaries, the symbolic British car company appears to have come through a rocky history to place itself in a strong position for the foreseeable future

…the multi-million pound Aston Martin sale at Bonhams

Aston Martin fans, circled the 13^th of May 2017 on their calendars, because that’s when Bonhams held their Aston Martin sale in Newport Pagnell. The sale took place in the town just outside Milton Keynes, and saw twelve classic post-war Aston Martins up for grabs, built between 1953 and 1990.

Founded in 1913, Aston Martin’s early years were hamstrung by the First World War, when all machinery had to be used for the war effort. Aston Martin’s machines were sold to the government to build war planes. Throughout the inter-war years, they started to produce cars, but were plagued by financial difficulties which hampered their progress.

In 1947, David Brown took over the company and transformed it into the luxury car powerhouse that it is today. Brown was so influential that the company’s flagship DB series – including James Bond’s classic DB5 – uses Brown’s initials to this day. All of the cars up for sale at Bonhams next month are from the Brown period and onwards.

A car for the collectors

 The standout lot in the sale is a 1968 Aston Martin DB6 Volante, the convertible version of the DB6. As the successor to the DB5, the car made famous by James Bond in Goldfinger (1964), the DB6 was a highly desirable car. On top of this, it had a limited run, with less than 2,000 ever made.

However, the convertible Volante is even rarer, as only 140 were made. Its rarity has made it a firm favourite among collectors, and that’s reflected in the estimated sale price; between £700,000 and £900,000.

If the DB6 Volante is out of your price range, there are three other DB6s up for grabs, though without the rare drop-top. They’re priced more moderately, between £270,000 and £340,000.

If it’s good enough for Bond…

Another lot that will turn heads is a 1964 Aston Martin DB5, released in the same year as the James Bond film that made it famous. Its dark blue paint job sets it apart from 007’s famous vehicle, but that’s unlikely to put any would-be buyers off. To many, this is the quintessential Aston Martin, so expect this to be a hotly contested lot when it comes up at auction. Bonhams have put the estimate at £500,000 to £600,000, but don’t be surprised if this one goes for even higher.

An Aston Martin for racing fans

While most of the cars were produced for the road, there’s one lot that was built for the track. The 1960 Aston Martin DB4 4.5-Litre Lightweight Competition Saloon was built at a time when Italian manufacturers – especially Ferrari – dominated the world of motorsport. It was built to challenge the Italian monopoly on motor racing, which it did in emphatic fashion, winning numerous races throughout the 1960s.

This isn’t a car to drive around on the streets, but if you’re looking to own your own piece of racing history, this is the lot for you. It has been valued at between £220,000 and £260,000.

In 2015 Aston Martin Revealed the Latest in Bond Inspired Vehicle – The DB10…

The announcement of the newest instalment in the James Bond series – SPECTRE – also contained another exciting revelation; a brand new car from long-time Bond collaborators Aston Martin. The Aston Martin DB10, a bespoke design built solely for the purposes of shooting the new film, will not be available to the public, with only 10 made for filming purposes.

It features a sleeker, more streamlined body than its predecessor while retaining the traditional Aston Martin ‘look.’ Not bad for a company car, as our team of London classic car Pawnbrokers always say. Industry commentators are predicting that the car is a prototype for the ‘road’ version of the DB10 which could be announced later this year – after the film’s release.

Exclusivity

The exclusive nature of this vehicle just goes to show how close and mutually beneficial the relationship between Aston Martin and Bond is. What other film franchise can boast a never-before-seen model of a car from a globally recognised luxury brand? Of course, the announcement can also be seen as a nod to the films themselves; Bond’s cars often appear normal on the surface, but thanks to modifications made by MI6, they’re one of a kind.

The quintessential Bond vehicle

The association between the two brands goes back to 1959, when Ian Fleming’s Bond drove an Aston Martin DB3 in his novel Goldfinger. The crucial moment, though, was 1964, when Sean Connery’s Bond drove an Aston Martin DB5 in the book’s film adaptation.

The DB5 is, to this day, the most iconic James Bond car having been used in no less than 6 films, including a brief cameo at the end of 2012’s Skyfall as a nod to the fans. Don’t rule out the possibility of Bond’s most famous vehicle making an appearance in SPECTRE.

Aston Martin have been snubbed in favour of other car manufacturers throughout the years, typically to generate money (the use of the BMW Z3 in GoldenEye was said to be very lucrative), but still the Aston Martin’s reputation as the quintessential Bond vehicle never seems to shift.

A mutually beneficial relationship

And it’s this relationship that makes the announcement of the DB10 prototype as an exclusive vehicle for the upcoming film make sense; it’s mutually beneficial for both the film’s producers and the car manufacturers. The two reinforce and enhance the other’s image.

Aston Martin get to have their cars associated with a suave secret agent, whose films also happen to be the third highest grossing movie franchise of all time, and Bond’s producers get to use cars by perhaps the most prestigious British car brand out there, as well as a little extra cash for production.

Let’s not forget, it’s also really exciting for the general public too. Not only are the custom DB10s an exciting bit of memorabilia for fans to aspire to getting their hands on (never say never…) but a tantalising glimpse at the way Aston Martin’s designs are going. Aston Martin’s cars tend to have a habit of becoming timeless, and right now it looks like the DB10 may just do exactly that.

…Bond’s Aston Martin sells for £2.4m at Christie’s charity auction

Snapped up at the auction price of £2.4 million, the Aston Martin DB10 designed especially for the James Bond movie ‘Spectre’ is an exclusive find. Despite the inability to drive this model on public roads, it sold for a hefty £2,434,500 during a charity auction. Luxury cars are a popular purchase, particularly when such cars exist as bespoke memorabilia.

Hosted by Christie’s, the auction presented 24 pieces of memorabilia that had been directly featured in the ‘Spectre’ film, with donations from Daniel Craig, Sam Mendes, Michael G. Wilson, Barbara Brocolli, Jesper Christensen and Sam Smith. 

With only 10 in existence, it’s no wonder this car is a hot item for collectors. Aston Martin cars have featured throughout the James Bond film era, showcasing everything from revolving number plates to hidden machine guns! 

The DB10 stands apart from the rest, however, with an exclusive carbon-fibre body, carbon-ceramic breaks, and an incredible 4.7-litre V8 engine. The interior flaunts leather and Alcantra-trimmed features, with buttons offering sport mode, various suspension levels, and the added appeal of a fingerprint reader.

The James Bond franchise evokes a classic, admirable appeal – leaving a lasting impression with each new release. From classic cars such as the Aston Martin and Rolls Royce, to the modern Mercedes-Benz or Lamborghini, the value and demand continues to rise with the release of influential films.

 New Bond Street Pawnbrokers  offer loans against the following classic cars: Aston Martin, Bugatti, Ferrari, Jaguar, Mercedes and Porsche

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