Aston Martin

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History

Aston Martin 2-Litre 2/4-Seater Sports 1937

Aston Martin was founded in 1913 by Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford. The two had joined forces as Bamford & Martin the previous year to sell cars made by Singer from premises in Callow Street, London where they also serviced GWK and Calthorpe vehicles. Martin raced specials at Aston Hill near Aston Clinton, and the pair decided to make their own vehicles. The first car to be named Aston Martin was created by Martin by fitting a four-cylinder Coventry-Simplex engine to the chassis of a 1908 Isotta-Fraschini. itp tire

They acquired premises at Henniker Place in Kensington and produced their first car in March 1915. Production could not start because of the outbreak of World War I, and Martin joined the Admiralty and Bamford the Royal Army Service Corps. All machinery was sold to the Sopwith Aviation Company. carlisle atv tires

Inter war years overstock warehouse

After the war the company was refounded at Abingdon Road, Kensington and a new car designed to carry the Aston-Martin name. Bamford left in 1920 and the company was revitalised with funding from Count Louis Zborowski. In 1922, Bamford & Martin produced cars to compete in the French Grand Prix, and the cars set world speed and endurance records at Brooklands. Three works Team Cars with 16 valve twin cam engines were built for racing and record breaking: chassis number 1914, later developed as the Green Pea; chassis number 1915, the Razor Blade record car; and chassis number 1916, later developed as the Halford Special. Approximately 55 cars were built for sale in two configurations, long chassis and short chassis. The company went bankrupt in 1924 and was bought by Lady Charnwood, who put her son John Benson on the board. The company failed again in 1925 and the factory closed in 1926, with Lionel Martin leaving.

Later that year, Bill Renwick, Augustus (Bert) Bertelli and a number of rich investors, including Lady Charnwood, took control of the company and renamed it Aston Martin Motors, and moved it to the former Whitehead Aircraft Limited works in Feltham. Renwick and Bertelli had been in partnership some years and had developed an overhead cam 4 cylinder engine, using Renwick's patented combustion chamber design, and had tested it in an Enfield Allday chassis. It was the only 'Renwick and Bertelli' motor car made. It was known as 'Buzzbox' and survives to this day.

They had planned to sell this engine to motor manufacturers, but having heard that the Aston Martin car was no longer in production they realised that they could capitalise on the reputation of the Aston Martin name (what we would now call the brand) to give themselves a head start in the production of a completely new car.

Between the years 1926 and 1937 Bertelli was the technical director of Aston Martin, and the designer of all subsequent Aston Martin cars during this period, these being known as the 'Bertelli cars'. They included the 1 1/2 litre 'T-type', the 'International, the 'Le Mans, the 'MKII' its racing derivative the 'Ulster, and the 2 litre 15/98 and its racing derivative the 'Speed Model'.

Mostly open two seater sports cars and mostly bodied by Bert Bertelli's brother Enrico (Harry)a small number of long chassis four seater tourers, dropheads and saloons were also produced.

Bertelli was very keen to race his cars and he was a very competent driver. One of the very few motor manufacturers to actually sit in and race the cars he designed and built, the competition no doubt 'improved the breed' and the 'LM' team cars were very successful in national and international motor racing including at Le Mans and the Mille Miglia.

Financial problems reappeared in 1932 and the company was rescued by L. Prideaux Brune who funded the company for the following year before passing the company on to Sir Arthur Sutherland. In 1936, the company decided to concentrate on road cars. Car production had always been on a small scale and until the advent of World War II halted work only about 700 had been made. During the war years aircraft components were produced.

The David Brown era

1958 Aston Martin DB Mark III

In 1947, David Brown Limited bought the company under the leadership of managing director Sir David Brownts "post-war saviour". David Brown also acquired Lagonda that year, and both companies shared resources and workshops. In 1955, David Brown bought the Tickford coachbuilding company and its site at Tickford Street in Newport Pagnell, and that was the beginning of the classic series of cars bearing the initials "DB". In 1950, the company announced the DB2, followed by the DB2/4 in 1953, the DB2/4 Mk11 in 1955, the DB Mark III in 1957 and the Italian-styled 3.7 L DB4 in 1958. All the cars established a good racing pedigree for the firm, but the DB4 was the key to establishing the company's reputation, which was cemented by the famous DB5 in 1963. The company continued developing the "grand touring" style with the DB6 (196570), the DBS.

1970s Changing ownership

Despite the cars' appreciation in value, the company was often financially troubled. In 1972, the company was sold to another company called Company Developments Ltd., backed by a Birmingham-based consortium, and chaired by chartered accountant and company director William Willson, (MBE). The company was resold, following a further bankruptcy event, by the Receiver in 1975 to North American businessmen Peter Sprague and George Minden for 1.05 Million. A successful turn-around strategy led to the recruitment of 360 new employees and, by 1977, a trading profit of 750,000. The new owners pushed the company into modernising its line, producing the V8 Vantage in 1977, the convertible Volante in 1978, and the one-off William Towns-styled Bulldog in 1980. Towns also styled the futuristic new Lagonda saloon, based on the V8 model.

In 1980 Aston-Martin had plans, which did not materialize, to buy MG, which they would have utilized as a sister marque, probably building smaller sports cars. Ideas were plotted to design a new model and they revealed to the press their approach to an 'updated' '1981' model MGB.

The company was badly hit by the economic contraction of the early 1980s as worldwide sales of Aston Martin shrank to three per week and chairman Alan Curtis together with fellow shareholders American Peter Sprague and Canadian George Minden came close to shutting down the production side of the business, to concentrate on service and restoration. At this point Curtis attended the 1980 Pace sponsored Stirling Moss benefit day at Brands Hatch, and met fellow Farnham resident Victor Gauntlett.

1980s Victor Gauntlett

Gauntlett bought a 12.5% stake in Aston Martin for 500,000 via Pace Petroleum in 1980, with Tim Hearley of CH Industrials taking a similar share. Pace and CHI took over as joint 50/50 owners at the beginning of 1981, with Gauntlett as executive chairman. Gauntlett also led the sales team, and after some development and a lot of publicity when it became the world fastest 4-seater production car, was able to sell with success the Aston Martin Lagonda into Persian Gulf states, particularly Oman, Kuwait and Qatar.

Understanding it would take some time to develop new Aston Martin products, they bought Tickford to develop automotive products for other companies. Products included a Tickford Austin Metro, a Tickford Ford Capri and even Tickford train interiors, particularly on the Jaguar XJS. Pace continued sponsoring racing events, and now sponsored all Aston Martin Owners Club events, taking a Tickford engined Nimrod Group C car owned by AMOC President Viscount Downe, which came third in the Manufacturers Championship in both 1982 and 1983. It also finished seventh in the 1982 24 Hours of Le Mans race. However, sales of production cars were now at an all time low of 30 cars produced in 1982.

As trading became tighter in the petroleum market, and Aston Martin was requiring more time and money, Gauntlett agreed to sell Hays/Pace to the Kuwait Investment Office in September 1983. As Aston Martin required greater investment, he also agreed to sell his share holding to American importer and Greek shipping tycoon Peter Livanos, who invested via his joint venture company with Nick and John Papanicalou, ALL Inc. Gauntlett remained chairman of the AML company 55% owned by ALL, with Tickford a 50/50 venture between ALL and CHI. The uneasy relationship was ended when ALL exercised options to buy a larger share in AML; CHI's residual shares were exchanged for CHI's complete ownership of Tickford, which retained development of existing Aston Martin projects. In 1984, Titan the main shipping company of the Papanicolaou was in trouble, so Livanos's father George bought out the Papanicolaou's shares in ALL, while Gauntlett again became a shareholder with a 25% holding in AML. The deal valued Aston Martin/AML at 2 million, the year it built its 10,000th car.

Although as a result Aston Martin had to make 60 members of the workforce redundant, Gauntlett bought a stake in Italian styling house Zagato, and resurrected its collaboration with Aston Martin.

Aston Martin V8 Vantage from The Living Daylights

In 1986, Gauntlett negotiated the return of fictional British secret agent James Bond to Aston Martin. Cubby Broccoli had chosen to recast the character using actor Timothy Dalton, in an attempt to re-root the Bond-brand back to a more Sean Connery-like feel. Gauntlett supplied his personal pre-production Vantage for use in the filming of "The Living Daylights," and sold a Volante to Broccoli for use at his home in America. Gauntlett turned down the role of a KGB colonel in the film, however: "I would have loved to have done it but really could not afford the time."

Although the company was doing well, Gauntlett knew it needed extra funds to survive in the long term. In May 1987, Gauntlett and Prince Michael of Kent were staying at the home of Contessa Maggi, the wife of the founder of the original Mille Miglia, while watching the revival event. Another house guest was Walter Hayes, vice-President of Ford of Europe. Despite problems over the previous acquisition of AC Cars, Hayes saw the potential of the brand and the discussion resulted in Ford taking a share holding in September 1987. In 1988, having produced some 5,000 cars in 20 years, a revived economy and successful sales of limited edition Vantage, and 52 Volante Zagato coupes at 86,000 each; the company finally retired the ancient V8 and introduced the Virage range - the first new Aston launched in 20 years.

Although Gauntlett was contractually to stay as chairman for two years, his racing interests took Aston back into sports car racing in 1989 with limited European success. However, with engine rule changes for the 1990 season and the launch of the new Aston Martin Volante model, Ford provided the limited supply of Cosworth engines to the Jaguar cars racing team. As the "small Aston" DB7 would require a large engineering input, Ford agreed to take full control of Aston Martin, and Gauntlett handed over the company chairmanship to Hayes in 1991. In 1992, the Vantage version was announced, and the following year the company renewed the DB range by announcing the DB7.

The Ford era

Ford placed Aston in the Premier Automotive Group, substantially invested in new manufacturing and quickly ramped up production. In 1994, Ford opened a new factory at Banbury Road in Bloxham. In 1995, the company produced a record 700 vehicles. Until the Ford era cars had been produced by hand coachbuilding craft methods, such as the English wheel. In 1998 the 2,000th DB7 was built, and in 2002 the 6,000th, exceeding production of all previous DB models. The DB7 range was boosted by the addition of V12 Vantage models in 1999, and in 2001 the company introduced the V12-engine Vanquish.

At the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan in 2003, Aston Martin introduced the AMV8 Vantage concept car. Expected to have few changes before its introduction in 2005, the Vantage brought back the classic V8 engine to allow the company to compete in a larger market. 2003 also saw the opening of the Gaydon factory, the first purpose-built factory in Aston Martin's history. Also introduced in 2003 was the DB9 coup, which replaced the ten-year-old DB7. A convertible version of the DB9, the DB9 Volante, was introduced at the 2004 Detroit Auto Show. In 2006, the V8 Vantage sports car entered production at the Gaydon factory, joining the DB9 and DB9 Volante.

In December 2003 Aston Martin announced it would return to motor racing in 2005. A new division was created, called Aston Martin Racing, which became responsible, together with Prodrive, for the design, development, and management of the DBR9 program. The DBR9 competes in the GT class in sports car races, including the world-famous 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Sale by Ford

In 2006, under mounting financial pressure, an internal review of costs and realisable value on investment led Ford to consider divesting itself of parts of its Premier Automotive Group. After suggestions of selling Jaguar Cars, Land Rover or Volvo Cars, Ford appointed UBS AG to sell Aston Martin by auction. At the end of August 2006, Ford announced that it would be willing to sell all or part of Aston Martin. Bill Ford said: "As part of our on going strategic review, we have determined that Aston Martin may be an attractive opportunity to raise capital and generate value".

The first round of the auction closed on 30 November 2006. One of the four survivors was Syrian-born billionaire Simon Halabi, while the Australian bid included James Packer, Australia's second richest man. The German auto newspaper Autobild reported on 2 February 2007 that the luxury goods conglomerate LVMH had bought the company for an undisclosed sum. The paper cited "anonymous, but well-placed sources" with the information. It was later reported by Autocar magazine that LVMH had denied the news as "rubbish".

2007 A new era begins

On 12 March 2007 a consortium led by Prodrive chairman David Richards purchased Aston Martin for 475m/$848m. Prodrive has no financial involvement in the deal. Ford will keep a stake in the company (valued at  40 million / $ 70 million). The consortium also consisted of John Sinders, an Aston Martin collector; and two Kuwaiti investment companies, Investment Dar and Adeem Investment Co.

Main article: Asian Highway Network#First Car Crossing

In June - August 2007, the first car crossing of the full extent (East to West) of the new Asian Highway was achieved by Britons Richard Meredith and Phil Colley driving a V8 Vantage. Following the AH1 and the AH5 from Tokyo (the Highway grid furthest point East) to Istanbul (furthest West), they drove a total of 12089km (7512 miles) before joining the European motorway network for another 3259km (2025 miles) to London.

On 19 July 2007 the last car, a Vanquish S, was produced at the Newport Pagnell plant. Nearly 13,000 cars had been made there since 1955. All production was concentrated at Gaydon, with the old premises in Tickford Street remaining in Aston Martin ownership as the restoration and service department.

Aston Martin has also boosted its worldwide appeal by opening more dealers in Europe, as well as branches in China for the first time in its 93 year history in Beijing and Shanghai. This has brought their dealership programme to 120 dealers in 28 countries.

On 1 September 2008, Aston Martin announced the revival of the Lagonda marque. A concept will be shown in 2009, coinciding with the brand's 100th anniversary. The first production cars should come in 2012.

In December 2008, Aston Martin announced that it would cut its 1850 workforce by 600.

2009 Return to Le Mans

In January 2009 it was announced that the company was entering the 2009 Le Mans 24 Hours race as a factory team in the prestigious LMP1 division. After competing throughout the 2008 season with a Lola B08/60 LMP1 Coupe under the Charouz Racing banner, Aston Martin will use a slightly modified Lola LMP1 design for their programme. Three Lola-Aston Martins have been entered in the 2009 Le Mans 24 Hours by Aston Martin but only two have been confirmed with sponsorship. Aston Martin will also compete in the complete Le Mans series with the Lola-Aston Martin LMP cars, starting at Barcelona in early April. The programme got off to an unfortunate start at the pre season Paul Ricard test on March 8 when Tomas Enge destroyed the 007 car in an accident. Aston Martin Racing have subsequently taken delivery of a new Lola to replace the written off chassis.

Aston Martins in film and culture

Tippi Hedren's character in the 1963 Alfred Hitchcock film "The Birds" drove a silver Aston Martin DB2/4 drophead coupe (convertible).

Author Ian Fleming gave his James Bond hero a DB III in the seventh novel, Goldfinger. A long association between 007 and the marque began on screen with the silver DB5 that appears in Goldfinger (1964) and Thunderball (1965). This was James Bond's company car, and in GoldenEye (1995) and Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) appeared to have become his private car. In On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) a metallic-green DBS appears at the beginning and end of the movie. After an interlude with Lotus, Aston Martins were again used: a charcoal-grey V8 Volante and Vantage in The Living Daylights (1987). After switching to BMW for several films, the Vanquish appeared in Die Another Day (2002). In Casino Royale (2006), James Bond drives both the classic DB5 which becomes his personal vehicle after winning a poker game, and the new DBS which is revealed to be his new company car in Quantum of Solace (released in cinemas on October 31 2008).

A silver/grey convertible DB4 was driven by Michael Caine's character in the original 1969 version of The Italian Job.

A Bahama Yellow Aston Martin DBS is driven by Sir Roger Moore in the 1971 TV series The Persuaders!. A DBS V8 was to be used in the series, however no V8 car was ready, so a six-cylinder DBS was modified to look like a V8 for use in the show.

Models

1967 - 1989 DBS and later V8s

2001 Aston Martin DB7 Vantage

2004 Aston Martin DB9 coup

DB AR1 roadster

Aston Martin V12 Vanquish

2003 DB7 Zagato (coup) and (roadster)

2006 Aston Martin DB9 Volante (convertible)

2007 V8 Vantage

Aston Martin's model naming can be confusing to the uninitiated. In general, high performance models use the Vantage name, while convertibles are called Volante. The current V8 and V12 Vantage series is an exception to this however, as it is a range of its own rather than a higher performance version of another car.

Pre-war cars

1921-1925 Aston Martin Standard Sports

1927-1932 Aston Martin First Series

1929-1932 Aston Martin International

1932-1932 Aston Martin International Le Mans

1932-1934 Aston Martin Le Mans

1933-1934 Aston Martin 12/50 Standard

1934-1936 Aston Martin Mk II

1934-1936 Aston Martin Ulster

1936-1940 Aston Martin 2 litre Speed Models (23 built) The last 8 were fitted with C-type bodywork

1937-1939 Aston Martin 15/98

Post-war Sports and GT cars

19481950 Aston Martin 2-Litre Sports (DB1)

19501953 Aston Martin DB2

19531957 Aston Martin DB2/4

19571959 Aston Martin DB Mark III

19581963 Aston Martin DB4

19611963 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato

19631965 Aston Martin DB5

19651966 Aston Martin Short Chassis Volante

19651969 Aston Martin DB6

19671972 Aston Martin DBS

19691989 Aston Martin V8

19771989 Aston Martin V8 Vantage

19861990 Aston Martin V8 Zagato

19892000 Aston Martin Virage

19891996 Aston Martin Virage/Virage Volante

19932000 Aston Martin Vantage

19962000 Aston Martin V8 Coupe/V8 Volante

19932003 Aston Martin DB7/DB7 Vantage

20022004 Aston Martin DB AR1

20012007 Aston Martin V12 Vanquish

20042007 Aston Martin V12 Vanquish S

2004 Aston Martin DB9

2005 Aston Martin V8 and V12 Vantage

2007 Aston Martin DBS V12

2009 Aston Martin One-77

Other

1944 Aston Martin Atom (concept)

19611964 Lagonda Rapide

19761989 Aston Martin Lagonda

1980 Aston Martin Bulldog (concept)

1993 Lagonda Vignale (concept)

2008 Aston Martin Rapide

2007 Aston Martin V12 Vantage RS (concept)

2008 Aston Martin Vanquish S

Current models

V8 Vantage, V8 Vantage Roadster & V12 Vantage

Aston Martin DB9 & DB9 Volante

Aston Martin DBS V12 & DBS Volante

Future models

Rapide - Addition to the range in 2009 - a long, 4-seater Grand Tourer

Cygnet, based on the Toyota iQ.

Race cars

Aston Martin's 1959 24 Hours of Le Mans winning DBR1.

A Group C Nimrod NRA/C2 which used Aston Martin's V8 engines in the 1980s.

Part of Aston Martin's current racing program, Charouz Racing System competes with sports prototype powered by an Aston Martin V12

See also: List of Formula One constructors, Aston Martin Racing

Whole race cars (post-war)

Aston Martin DB3 (1950-1953)

Aston Martin DB3S (1953-1956)

Aston Martin DBR1 (1956-1959)

Aston Martin DBR2 (1957-1958)

Aston Martin DBR3 (1958)

Aston Martin DBR4 (1959)

Aston Martin DBR5 (1960)

Aston Martin DP212 (1962)

Aston Martin DP214 (1963)

Aston Martin DP215 (1963)

Aston Martin RHAM/1 (1976-1979)

Aston Martin AMR1 (1989)

Aston Martin AMR2 (never raced)

Aston Martin DBR9 (2005-)

Aston Martin DBRS9 (2005-)

Aston Martin V8 Vantage N24 (2006-)

Aston Martin V8 Vantage Rally GT (2006-)

Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT2 (2008-)

Aston Martin DBR1-2 (2009-)

Engine supply only

Cooper-Aston Martin (1963)

Lola T70-Aston Martin (1967)

Nimrod NRA/C2-Aston Martin (1982-1984)

EMKA C84/1-Aston Martin (1984-1985)

Cheetah G604-Aston Martin

Lola B08/60-Aston Martin (2008-)

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key)

Year

Chassis

Engine

Tyres

Driver

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Points

WCC

1959

Aston Martin DBR4

Aston Martin L6

 ?

MON

500

NED

FRA

GBR

GER

POR

ITA

USA

0

5th

Roy Salvadori

Ret

6

6

Ret

Carroll Shelby

Ret

Ret

8

10

1960

Aston Martin DBR4

Aston Martin DBR5

Aston Martin L6

 ?

ARG

MON

500

NED

BEL

FRA

GBR

POR

ITA

USA

0

8th

Roy Salvadori

DNP

Ret

Maurice Trintignant

11

See also

Aston Martin Owners Club

Notes

^ "The Company - News". Aston Martin. 2007-03-12. http://www.astonmartin.com/thecompany/news?a=1a77ab65-8f1a-4793-b988-6fc0f2882719. Retrieved 2009-04-29. 

^ "Aston Martin - The Company - History Timeline". http://www.astonmartin.com/eng/thecompany/historytimeline. Retrieved 2008-05-07. 

^ BBC News Article

^ "Deal worth $925 million; Al DAR investment Kuwaiti company and ADEEM investment company cash for Aston Martin turnaround". ADEEM Investment Company. http://www.adeeminv.com/news4.html. Retrieved 2008-01-03. 

^ Lionel Walker Birch Martin (1878 14 October, 1945) was a Cornishman

^ "Aston Martin: Car Manufacturer: Great British Design Quest". Design Museum. http://www.designmuseum.org/design/aston-martin. 

^ "ASTON MARTIN 1914 - 2005". http://www.speedace.info/aston_martin.htm. Retrieved 2009-02-15. 

^ "News and Comment: Aston Martin changes hands". Autocar 136 (nbr 3960): 2. date 9 March 1972. 

^ a b "The Aston Miracle". Car Magazine: pages 35 - 362. date September 1978. 

^ a b c d "Obituary: Victor Gauntlett". Independent, The (London). http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20030409/ai_n12682539. Retrieved 2008-02-03. 

^ TLD - Press (Allies/MI6) - thegoldengun.co.uk

^ ClassicInside - The ClassicDriver Newsletter

^ Keeping the best of British running - smh.com.au

^ motorauthority.com

^ Pfeifer, Sylvia (2006-11-05). "Private equity groups revving up bids for Aston Martin". Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2006/11/05/cnaston05.xml. Retrieved 2009-04-29. 

^ Syrian in last four for Aston Martin - Times Online

^ Packer sets his cap at Aston Martin - Telegraph

^ 00-Heaven! Bond's Car British Again |Sky News|Home

^ Prodrive (2007-03-12). "David Richards heads consortium to buy Aston Martin". Press release. http://www.prodrive.com/p_releases.html?id=98. 

^ From Newport Pagnell to Gaydon. The Automobile. November 2007. 

^ "Aston Martin News - Aston Martin arrives in China". http://www.astonmartin.com/eng/thecompany/news?a=a7e62136-48fa-487b-8065-fe2a12e60af1. 

^ "Aston Martin News - Aston Martin CEO confirms the revival of the Lagonda Marque". http://www.astonmartin.com/thecompany/news?a=007b120b-8120-4ad9-80f9-60da21ed0c01. 

^ "England | Third of jobs go at Aston Martin". BBC News. 2008-12-01. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7759239.stm. Retrieved 2009-04-29. 

^ "What economic downturn? Aston Martin unveils new supercar". PopSci.com.au. 2009-01-30. http://www.popsci.com.au/cars/article/2009-01/what-economic-downturn-aston-martin-unveils-new-supercar. Retrieved 2009-01-30. 

^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056869/trivia

^ "Ten-Foot Aston Martin Cygnet Gets 50 MPG, Plays Sidecar to Your DBS". PopSci.com.au. 2009-07-01. http://www.popsci.com.au/cars/article/2009-06/ten-foot-car-gets-50mpg-costs-32000. Retrieved 2009-07-01. 

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Aston Martin vehicles

Aston Martin - Official Aston Martin Site

Aston Martin Racing - Official Company Site

Aston Martin Owners Club- Official Aston Martin Owners Club

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v  d  e

Aston Martin and Lagonda road car timeline, 1948resent

Type

1940s

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

8

9

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

0

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8

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1

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0

1

2

3

4

5

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7

8

9

Grand tourer

DB1

DB2

DB2/4

DB Mk III

DBS/Vantage

DB7 I6

V8 Vantage

DB4

DB5

DB6

V8

Virage/V8

DB7 Vantage

DB9

SWB

V8 Vantage

V8 Vantage

V12 Vanquish

DBS V12

Limited Run

Zagato

Zagato

Zagato

AR1

One-77

4-door

2.6-Litre

3-Litre

Rapide

Lagonda

Rapide

Owner

David Brown Limited

William Wilson

Sprague & Minden

Pace Petroleum & Gauntlett

Gauntlett & Livanos

Gauntlett, Livanos & Ford

Ford

Richards, Sinders, Dar, Adeem

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Aston Martin sportscar racers (1951resent)

Sports prototypes

19511959

DB3  DB3S  DBR1  DBR2  DBR3

1967

T70 (Lola)

19821989

NRA/C2 (Nimrod)  C83 (EMKA)  AMR1

2008ow

B08/60 (Lola)  DBR1-2 (Lola)

Grand tourers

19621964

DP212  DP214  DP215

19771979

RHAM/1

2005ow

DBR9  DBRS9  V8 Vantage N24  V8 Vantage GT2

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Formula One constructors

 

Current constructors (2010)

McLaren  Mercedes  Red Bull  Ferrari  Williams  Renault  Force India  Toro Rosso  Lotus  Hispania  Sauber  Virgin

 

Former constructors

AFM  AGS  Alfa Romeo  Alta  Amon  Andrea Moda  Apollon  Arrows  Arzani-Volpini  Aston-Butterworth  Aston Martin  ATS (Italy)  ATS (Germany)  BAR  Behra-Porsche  Bellasi  Benetton  BMW Sauber  Boro  Brabham  Brawn  BRM  BRP  Bugatti  Cisitalia  Coloni  Connaught  Connew  Cooper  Cosworth  Dallara  De Tomaso  Delahaye  Derrington-Francis  Eagle  Eifelland  Emeryson  EMW  ENB  Ensign  ERA  EuroBrun  Ferguson  FIRST  Fittipaldi  Fondmetal  Footwork  Forti  Frazer Nash  Fry  Gilby  Gordini  Greifzu  Haas/Lola  Hesketh  Hill  HWM  Honda  Jaguar  JBW  Jordan  Kauhsen  Klenk  Kojima  Kurtis Kraft  Lancia  Larrousse  LDS  LEC  Leyton House  Life  Ligier  Lola  Lotus (Team Lotus)  Lyncar  Maki  March  Martini  Maserati  Matra  McGuire  Merzario  Midland  Milano  Minardi  Modena  Onyx  OSCA  Osella  Pacific  Parnelli  Penske  Porsche  Prost  RAM  RE  Rebaque  Reynard  Rial  Scarab  Scirocco  Shadow  Shannon  Simtek  Spirit  Spyker  Stebro  Stewart  Super Aguri  Surtees  Talbot  Talbot-Lago  Tec-Mec  Tecno  Theodore  Token  Toleman  Toyota  Trojan  Tyrrell  Vanwall  Veritas  Williams (FWRC)  Wolf  Zakspeed

Although World Championship races held in 1952 and 1953 were run to Formula Two regulations, constructors who only participated during this period are included herein to maintain Championship continuity. Constructors whose only participation in the World Championship was in the Indianapolis 500 races between 1950 and 1960 are not listed.

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Selected Royal Warrant holders of the British Royal Family

By Appointment to

HM The Queen

Abels Moving Services  Angostura Limited  AkzoNobel  Atco  Autoglym  Bendicks  Bentley  Bollinger  Britvic  BT  Burberry  Cadbury  Carphone Warehouse  Carr's  Castrol  Charbonnel et Walker  Cornelia James  DHL Express  Dollond & Aitchison  Ede and Ravenscroft  Ford Motor Company  Frank Smythson  Gieves & Hawkes  H. P. Bulmer  J. Barbour and Sons  James Purdey and Sons  Jaguar Cars  John Lewis  John Lewis Reading  John Lobb  Jones Yarrell & Co.  Schweppes  Launer London Ltd  Land Rover  MG Rover  Mappin and Webb  Martini & Rossi  Mr Steeds  Nestl  Roger Pope and Partners  Roberts Radio  Ryvita  Scottish & Newcastle  Spode  Steinway & Sons  Tanqueray  Twinings  Waitrose  Weetabix  William Drake  Windsorian Coach  Worcestershire Medal Service  Vauxhall Motors

By Appointment to

HRH The Duke of Edinburgh

Dollond & Aitchison  Ede and Ravenscroft  Frank Smythson  Gieves & Hawkes  Hatchards  Holland & Holland  James Purdey and Sons  John Lobb  Land Rover  Lyle & Scott  Penhaligon's  Truefitt & Hill

By Appointment to

HRH The Prince of Wales

Aston Martin  Atco  Autoglym  Bentley  Burberry  Crabtree & Evelyn  Ede and Ravenscroft  Ford Motor Company  Frank Smythson  Gieves & Hawkes  Holland & Holland  Jaguar Cars  James Purdey and Sons  John Lobb  Land Rover  Laphroaig  Linn Products  MG Rover  Penhaligon's  Peter Jones  Ritz Hotel  Roberts Radio  Shepherd Neame  Turnbull & Asser  Twinings  Vauxhall  Weetabix  Winsor & Newton

Categories: Royal Warrant Holders | Aston Martin | Sports car manufacturers | Motor vehicle manufacturers of the United Kingdom | British brands | Formula One constructors | Formula One entrants | 24 Hours of Le Mans entrants | World Sportscar Championship entrants | British auto racing teams | British racecar constructors | Car manufacturers | Companies based in the West Midlands