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The History of Aston Martin Lagonda Limited
By: Nicholas Wong
Aston Martin is a company that produces fast, powerful, and exclusive automobiles. These automobiles are beautiful to look at and just as wonderful to drive. Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford founded the company in 1914, in a small West London workshop. Their first car was also built in 1914. One of the most famous eras at Aston Martin was started by the acquisition of the company by David Brown after the second World War. He paid 20,000 Pounds, or about $32,460 in 1947. His initials, DB, have been part of some model names at Aston Martin. Today, the modern DB7 coupe and Volante (convertible) and DB7 Vantage couple and Volante bear his initials. Since then, Aston Martin has seen 26 individual companies as owners/investors. Ford Motor Company currently own Aston Martin. Ford bought the company in 1987. Thanks to the backing of Ford, the DB7 model is the best selling model in Aston Martin's 85 year history.
In those 85 years, Aston Martin has produced a little over 14,000 cars, of which three quarters are still in use.
Lionel Martin
Robert Bamford
To own an Aston Martin is to be a member of an elite club. Every car is painstakingly hand built. The connolly leather is hand crafted and hand stitched. Owners can customize their automobiles to their personal tastes. As a result, very few cars are identical. Nearly anything can be done for a customer if money is no object. The least expensive model is priced around $130,000, which does not include tax, title, registration, or delivery charges. Aston Martins are not for the faint of wallet or purse.
The most likely Aston Martin you can identify is a DB5, the one used in the James Bond film, Goldfinger. The DB5 featured in the movie was made by the factory, including all of the gadgets. Aston Martins are the automobiles of the rich and famous, nobility, and super spy James Bond.
James Bond's Aston Martin DB5