Aston Martin and the history around it

In 1913, Bamford and Martin founded their business, together in London. The following year, because of success at the Aston hill climb, the name was changed to Aston Martin, a mix of where they had been competing and a surname of one of the partners. The following year, 1915, the first Aston Martin was registered. World War I broke out at this point and Martin joined the Admiralty and Bamford the Royal Army Service Corps.

Then, in 1922, the first “works” competition cars turn out. On 24 May, 1922 one of the cars, known as a 'Bunny', broke ten world records at the Brooklands track during a sixteen-and-a-half-hour endurance run, averaging a speed of 76.04mph. Shortly after Bamford left but the company received funding from Count Louis Zborowski. It went bankrupt a couple of times over the next three years until it was finally re-funded and took off in 1926 with Bert Bertelli as the Technical Director. He remained in this position until 1937.

After the war, David Brown bought the business for £20,000 and in 1950 it produced the 2.6 ltr DB2 – and it won the 3.0 litre class.

The DB’s grew and grew until 1963 when James Bond drove one in Goldfinger. The company also pulled out of racing at this point to concentrate on normal production cars.

In 1972 the company started changing hands until, in the summer of ’93, Ford took over totally. In 2007 Ford sold the major stake which brought it back into British hands again.

Next year, 2012, there is a replacement for the Vanquish due.