Aston Martin History
Aston Martin is an automobile manufacturer that specializes in luxury sports cars. The company was founded in 1913 and is headquartered in Gaydon, Warwickshire in the United Kingdom. When the company first began, the founders, Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford, had been racing cars at Aston Hill and decided they’d try their hand at producing their own cars. Since the first car was designed in 1915, Aston Martin has been a standard of excellence in both the luxury sports car market and in racing cars.
Though the founders of Aston Martin designed their first car in 1915, production had to be put on hold during World War I, and the company was reinvigorated in 1920. In 1922, the company was able to design and produce cars to race in the French Grand Prix and Brooklands in Surrey, England. Their cars were able to set speed and endurance records that year, and in a number of years since. In the early years of the company, fifty five cars were built, and buyers could choose from either short chassis or long chassis. Despite their success with racing, the economy got the better of the company and it went bankrupt in 1924, was bought, and went bankrupt again in 1925. Despite encountering more financial difficulties during World War II, the company was able to stay afloat afterward and continue production until today.
Today’s Aston Martin vehicles, though vastly different from the first models proposed in the 1910′s and 1920′s, set the standard for luxury sports cars. They have excelled in racing and have raised the bar for luxurious appointments, winning a devoted following in the UK and around the world. Because of their association with affluence, Aston Martins have been featured in a number of films, including James Bond movies. Their newest model, the Cygnet, is a microcar patterned on the Toyota IQ. It complies with the newest emission rules set by the European Union, and production began in 2010.
Aston Martin has been a landmark company that has set the standard for racing and luxury automobiles for almost a century. Their past success is set to continue with their commitment to environmental responsibility and they are certain to be a favourite car company of those desiring luxury sports cars for years to come.
