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Celebrating 110 Years of Aston Martin: A Legacy of Luxury and Performance

Aston Martin, the British marque synonymous with luxury, elegance, and high-performance automobiles, is celebrating its 110th anniversary. For over a century, Aston Martin has captured the hearts of automotive enthusiasts and aficionados worldwide with its iconic designs, exceptional craftsmanship, and a rich motorsport heritage. Let's take a journey through the remarkable history of Aston Martin as it reaches this significant milestone.

Car for sale from The Classic Motor Hub | 1965 Aston Martin DB5 | £935,000.00

The Early Years (1913-1940s)

Aston Martin was founded in 1913 by Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford in a small workshop in London. The name "Aston" came from Lionel Martin's success racing at the Aston Hillclimb, and thus, the legend of Aston Martin was born. The company initially focused on producing high-performance sports cars for enthusiasts.

During the 1920s and 1930s, Aston Martin gained a reputation for its racing success, including competing at Le Mans and the prestigious Ulster TT. The brand's ability to combine power and elegance was evident in models like the Ulster and the Le Mans.

The David Brown Era (1947-1972)

In 1947, David Brown, a successful industrialist, purchased Aston Martin, ushering in a new era of prosperity and innovation. Under his ownership, Aston Martin introduced the DB series, which would become legendary in the world of luxury sports cars. The DB2, DB4, DB5, and DB6 are still celebrated for their style and performance.

The DB5, in particular, gained worldwide fame as James Bond's car in the 1964 film "Goldfinger." The association with 007 solidified Aston Martin's status as a symbol of British elegance and sophistication.

Car for sale from Runnymede Motor Company | 1952 Aston Martin DB2 | £250,000.00

Racing Glory and Challenges (1950s-1960s)

Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Aston Martin achieved remarkable success in motorsports. The DBR1, in particular, won the 1959 24 Hours of Le Mans, securing its place in racing history.

However, financial challenges in the late 1960s led to changes in ownership and a shift in focus towards GT cars and road vehicles.

Modern Resurgence (1990s-Present)

Aston Martin experienced a renaissance in the 1990s and 2000s under the ownership of Ford. During this period, they introduced the DB7, a model that played a pivotal role in revitalizing the brand.

In recent years, Aston Martin has continued to evolve, embracing modern technologies while preserving its timeless design philosophy. Models like the DB11, Vantage, and the DBS Superleggera have garnered acclaim for their stunning aesthetics and exhilarating performance.

Aston Martin's commitment to innovation is evident in their venture into electric vehicles with the all-electric Rapide E and their participation in Formula 1 racing as the Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team.

Car for sale from Hexagon Classics | 1970 Aston Martin DB6 Mk Vantage (ex FI) | £299,995.00

The Future of Aston Martin

As Aston Martin celebrates its 110th year, it stands at the cusp of an exciting future. The brand continues to uphold its tradition of crafting exceptional luxury sports cars while embracing the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century. Electric and hybrid offerings, along with an expansion of their SUV line with the DBX, demonstrate their commitment to sustainability and evolving consumer preferences.

Aston Martin's 110-year journey is a testament to the enduring allure of British automotive craftsmanship, racing pedigree, and timeless design. As it enters a new era, Aston Martin remains an icon of luxury and performance, embodying the spirit of innovation and excellence that has defined it for over a century. Here's to the next 110 years of Aston Martin, where the legacy of elegance and power will undoubtedly continue to captivate automotive enthusiasts worldwide.

If you are interested in exploring advertising options and discussing how we can tailor a campaign to suit your specific needs, I encourage you to get in touch.

Please feel free to contact me directly, and I will be more than happy to provide you with further information, answer any questions you may have, and guide you through the process.

Nick Aylieff | Classic Motors For Sale | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

+44(0) 2392 160 809 | www.classicmotorsforsale.com

HISTORICS AUCTION REVIEW Bicester Heritage, Saturday 23rd September

Historics brought to market a truly varied 167 strong entry for its live Autumn sale at Bicester Heritage in Oxfordshire on Saturday 23^rd September. Mirroring the massive diversity in today’s classic car market, the sale concluded with a rousing sale result totalling over £2.75 million.

Variety was indeed very much on the agenda in the evocative sale venue – a magnificent hanger at this, a former WW2 RAF Bomber Training Station.

On the one hand there was the bright red ’loud and proud’ 1959 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible from a private collector that cruised to £72,800, contrasting dramatically with the diminutive 1960 BMW Isetta 300 – 2.5 times shorter than the Cadillac - appetisingly offered for restoration and selling for a shade over £10,000.

And for those drawn to restoration, Historics also delivered by way of a 1965 Alfa Romeo 2600 Touring Spider that attracted an enormous web of bidding interest before finally settling on £67,200 - showing the allure of the resto - and a 1966 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 Roadster in need of bodywork TLC passed to a new custodian for a shade under £57,000.

If prizes were awarded for sentimentality, the sure-fire winner would have been the 1948 Morris Minor MM Lowlight Splitscreen bought to market after being thoroughly pampered whilst in single family ownership since 1965. But beyond its sublime originality, the clue to the tremendous bidding interest it attracted was the fact that it is the seventh Morris Minor to be produced and believed to be the oldest model in private hands. It settled at no less than £25,120, which is almost exactly the same price as the one millionth Morris Minor - a 1961 example – that Historics sold in March 2015.

For elegance there was no disputing the 1966 Aston Martin DB6 Vantage Mk.1 that settled on £203,616.

nor the feisty 2006 Ferrari F430 Spider (£107,520)

whilst amongst 13 imposing Rolls Royce entries - ten of which passed to new owners - a glorious 2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom VII Extended Wheelbase wafted to £93,000 joined by a 2012 Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupé cresting £100,000 with sublime ease.

There were worthy modern classic sales, including a 29,000 mile 1995 Ford Escort RS Cosworth selling for a fraction over £58,000, and staying with the performance brigade, a hugely collectible 1998 Honda Integra Type R settled at £20,000.

There were rare oddities too... so rare was the 1982 Matra Simca Bagheera that it generated a degree of head scratching. Fitted with a more contemporary engine that will only add to its allure, its three abreast seating layout was fine for Gordon Murray and the McLaren F1 and here was a much cheaper alternative. Just £6,800 was indeed value.

A couple of classic two-wheelers caused quite a stir amongst Moto Guzzi followers, particularly the beautifully-restored café racer style 1979 Moto Guzzi V1000 G5 which soared past its expected sale price to settle a shade over £10,000.

On the road/competition front, a 1971 Alpine A110 - with a great motorsport career behind it and very much ready for action – looked very much the part in its Alpine Renault works colours of yellow and black and proved popular on sale day, selling at £50,080.

Meanwhile, turning back the clock to pre-war days, a charming 1929 MG PA prepared, restored and re-created to Q-Type specification rewarded its owner with a return of some £39,000, the car promising enormous fun for its new owner, both on road and track.

As ever this Historics live, open-to-public auction was also a vote for classic community gathering as aside from a very healthy scale of international online bidders and very significant numbers following the auction digitally, the majority of sales again went to those in the auction hall and to telephone bidders.

For full sale results, see HERE

ENTRIES ARE INVITED: Historics is now inviting entries to its final sale of 2023, at Mercedes-Benz World, Brooklands on Saturday 25^th November. Enter HERE

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Celebrating 110 Years of Aston Martin: A Legacy of Luxury and Performance

HISTORICS AUCTION REVIEW Bicester Heritage, Saturday 23rd September