Aston Martin Company History
Published: 24th Mar 2011 - 0 Comments - Be the first, contribute now!
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Nine decades ago Lionel Martin produced a car which he campaigned in the famous Aston Clinton hill climb. The names Aston and Martin were combined to provide a name for the marque which ever since has been associated with automotive excellence. And James Bond. Martin was a keen participant in motorsport, and started with a 10hp Singer as the basis for his tuning experiments. At that time, Martin was a partner in the Kensington-based Singer agency of Bamford and Martin. With the assistance of the firm’s foreman Jack Addis, the 10hp Singer was tuned to provide performance levels virtually unheard of for such a car. Martin soon moved from uprating to building from scratch, and started work on a new car, powered by a 1.4-litre Coventry-Simplex engine. Initially he installed this unit in an Isotta Fraschini, and in this vehicle (known as the ‘Coal Scuttle’) he achieved success at Aston Clinton.
As a result, the name ‘Aston Martin’ stuck. When the First World War ended, Bamford departed and Lionel Martin commenced work on a new model, with help from many of those involved with the preliminary development of the pre-War car and the Coventry-Simplex engine. The new model – available in sports and touring versions – was put into production by 1923 (and continued to be built until 1925). It was powered by a 1.5-litre side-valve, four-cylinder engine. Unfortunately, by 1924 financial problems had arisen (this problem was to recur in later years), and the company was sold to engineers Renwick and Bertelli. Augustus Cesare Bertelli was to be involved in the design of all Aston Martins until 1937. Further financial difficulties saw a short-lived link-up (in 1931) with H.J. Aldington of Frazer Nash, and control of the firm by Gordon Sutherland from 1933 until after the Second World War. In pure engineering terms the cars were highly successful during the 1930s and after the War, Gordon Sutherland sold the Aston Martin concern to David Brown (a tractor manufacturer), who wanted to build a sports version of the Atom. This was to become retrospectively known as the ‘DB1’ (with the ‘DB’ designation standing for David Brown). The engine used was the two-litre overhead valve motor, which had been employed in the Atom in 1944. When Aston Martin also took over the Lagonda company in 1947, the famous W.O. Bentley designed, straight six, twincam 2.5-litre Lagonda engine became available for use in Astons, and was to power the DB2 and 2/4 models.
Until the mid-1950s, Astons and Lagondas were assembled at Feltham in Middlesex, with chassis, engines and gearboxes being delivered from the David Brown factory, near Leeds. However, production was then moved to Newport Pagnell. More recently, under the ownership of Ford, production has relocated to Gaydon in Warwickshire where it remains to this day. David Brown sold the Aston Martin firm to Company Developments Ltd in 1972, but by ‘75 financial problems brought production to a halt. In 1975 Peter Sprague and George Minden formed the new ‘Aston Martin Lagonda (1975) Ltd.’, with assistance from Alan Curtis and Denis Flather. The firm was once again in business, but in 1980 it changed hands again, being acquired by enthusiasts Victor Gauntlett (Chairman of Pace Petroleum) and Tim Hearley (Chairman of CH Industrials). Aston then returned to racing with the Nimrod. In addition, Aston Martin Tickford was established, to produce special luxury versions of cars for other motor manufacturers (including ‘Tickford’ Capris and Metros). Still in a state of flux, Automotive Investments acquired Aston Martin in 1983/4 with Ford taking control in 1987. As part of the Blue Oval’s ‘Premier’ automotive group, the Aston positively flourished but cash-strapped Ford was forced to unload the specialist 20 years later to motorsport supremo Prodrive where it continues to thrive even in these troubled times. And long may it continue!
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