Aston Martin (automotive brand)

Aston Martin logo

Aston Martin Lagonda is a British luxury and sports car manufacturer with its headquarters in Gaydon, Warwickshire, England founded by Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford in 1913. From 1994 to 2007, Aston Martin was part of Ford Motor Company, becoming part of the Premier Automotive Group in 2000. On March 12, 2007, it was bought for 479 million pounds by a joint venture, headed by David Richards, John Singers, an American investment banker;  and two Kuwaiti investment companies, Investment Dar and Adeem Investment. Ford retained $77 million (or 12.1%) of the stake, valuing the company at $925 million. In December 2012, the Italian private equity fund Investindustrial signed an agreement to buy 37´5% of Aston Martin, and invest 150 million pounds as a capital increase.

After the WWI, the company was refounded in Abingdon Road, Kensington and a new car was designed under the name Aston-Martin. In 1920 Bamford left the company, which was revitalized with the financing of Count Louis Zborowski . In 1922, Bamford & Martin produced cars to compete in the French Grand Prix , which managed to set world records for speed and endurance at Brooklands . Three official cars were built with 16-valve twin cam engines for competition and to achieve marks: chassis number 1914, later developed as the Green Pea, chassis number 1915, the Razor Blade(razor) achieved the marks and chassis number 1916, later developed as the Halford Special . Approximately 55 cars were built for sale in two configurations, long chassis and short chassis. The company declared bankruptcy in 1924 and was bought by Lady Charnwood, who put her son John Benson in charge. The company went bankrupt again in 1925 and the factory closed in 1926, with the departure of Lionel Martin.

Later that year, Bill Renwick, Augusto (Bert) Bertelli and investors including Mrs. Charnwood took control of the company. The name was changed to Aston Martin Motors and they moved to the former Whitehead Aircraft Limited factory in Feltham . Renwick & Bertelli had been partners for some years and had developed a four-cylinder camshaft engine using Renwick's patented combustion chamber design, which they had tested on an Enfield Allday chassis. The only automobile "Renwick & Bertelli" made, was known as the "box mechanic" and still survives. The couple had planned to sell their engines to car manufacturers, but after hearing that Aston Martin was no longer in production, they realized that they could use their fame to start production of a completely new car. Between 1926 and 1937 Bertelli was both technical director and designer of all the new Aston Martins, they were known as "Bertelli cars". Among them, the one and a half liter "type T", "international", "Le Mans", "MKII" and its racing derivative, the "Ulster", and the 2 liter 15/98 and its racing derivative, the "Model Speed". Most were open two-seater sports cars bodied by Bert Bertelli's brother Enrico (Harry) , and a small number of long-frame four-seaters also produced convertibles and rancheras. Bertelli was a competent driver willing to drive his cars, one of the few owner/manufacturer/drivers. The cars of the "LM" team were very successful in national and international races including Le Mans and the Mille Miglia. The financial problems reappeared in 1932. The company was rescued for a year by L. Prideaux Brune before selling it to Sir Arthur Sutherland. In 1936, Aston Martin decided to concentrate on road cars, they produced only 700, until they were stopped by the Second World War . During the war they produced aircraft components.

In 1947, the tractor manufacturer David Brown Limited bought the company under managing director Sir David Brown its "post-war savior". The company also acquired Lagonda that year for its 2.6 liter WO Bentley engine design . Both companies shared resources and workshops, resulting in the birth of the classic "DB" series of cars. In 1950, the company announced the DB2 , followed by the DB2/4 in 1953, the DB2/4 MkII in 1955, the DB Mark III in 1957 and the Italian style 3.7 L DB4 in 1958. While these models helped Aston Martin establish a strong racing pedigree, the DB4 stood out and gave rise to the famous DB5 in 1963. The company stayed true to its emerging " Grand Touring " style with the DB6 (1965-1970), and DBS ( 1967-1972).

Source