Aston Martin
automotive company (1914)
Aston Martin was officially founded on January 15, 1913, in London by mechanic Robert Bamford and racing driver Lionel Martin. Initially called Bamford & Martin, the company operated as a dealership and workshop for Singer automobiles. In 1914, it built a racing prototype by adapting a Coventry Simplex engine onto an Isotta Fraschini chassis.
Lionel Martin won a famous hillclimb, the London-Aston Clinton, from which the name "Aston Martin" derives.
The first original car was the two-seater "Coal Scuttle," produced in 1915, but production halted due to World War I. Financial difficulties followed, leading to bankruptcy in 1926, but the company was acquired by Bill Renwick and Augusto Bertelli, who relaunched the brand with a sporting and technical focus.
The key moment in its history came after World War II, in 1947, when entrepreneur David Brown purchased the company. The brand took the name Aston Martin Lagonda Limited after acquiring the Lagonda car manufacturer in 1947. Brown introduced the famous "DB" series (his initials), with iconic models such as the DB2 in 1950 and especially the DB5, immortalized in cinema thanks to James Bond.
In the 1950s and 1960s, Aston Martin also participated in Formula 1 and achieved sporting successes, including winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1959 with the DBR1.
Aston Martin became famous in the 1960s for its most iconic model, the DB5, associated with 007 and James Bond. This grand tourer, produced between 1963 and 1965, is renowned for its elegant design and the technological innovations incorporated into the films. The DB5 debuted in the 1964 film Goldfinger, where it was equipped with special gadgets such as hidden machine guns, ejector seats, bulletproof shields, and studded tires, designed by the brilliant Q to assist the secret agent.
After several changes of ownership, the brand has maintained its role as a symbol of British luxury and sportiness. In 2012, the Italian fund Investindustrial became a major shareholder, while in 2014, former Nissan boss Andy Palmer was appointed CEO, bringing innovative strategies and models, such as the DBX SUV.
Aston Martin continues to produce high-end sports cars, combining craftsmanship, luxury, and technological innovation.
