Aston Martin was founded in 1913 by Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford in London. Its name combines Martin’s surname with Aston Hill, a hill-climb course in Buckinghamshire where Martin raced. After decades of financial ups and downs, industrialist David Brown bought the company in 1947, and his initials gave us the famous DB models — including the DB5, which became James Bond’s car in Goldfinger (1964). Today Aston Martin builds sports cars and the DBX SUV at Gaydon and St Athan.

Timeline

Year Event
1913 Founded by Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford
1947 Bought by David Brown
1959 Le Mans victory with the DBR1
1964 DB5 stars in Goldfinger
1976 Lagonda wedge sedan
1987 Ford takes a stake, later full ownership
2003 Gaydon factory opens
2020 DBX SUV; Lawrence Stroll-led investment

Early years

Aston Martin built small numbers of sporting cars between the wars and went through several owners. Its cars were admired, but the business rarely made money.

The David Brown era

Tractor and gear manufacturer David Brown bought Aston Martin and Lagonda in the late 1940s. The DB2, DB4, DB5 and DB6 made Aston Martin one of the world’s great grand touring brands. In 1959, the DBR1 won Le Mans, driven by Carroll Shelby and Roy Salvadori.

James Bond

The DB5, fitted with gadgets in Goldfinger, made Aston Martin forever associated with 007. Read James Bond’s cars.

Ford and beyond

Ford invested in Aston Martin from 1987, built the modern Gaydon factory and launched the DB7 and DB9. After Ford sold it in 2007, Aston Martin changed hands again, listed on the stock market in 2018, and received new investment led by Lawrence Stroll in 2020. Read the Aston Martin DBX and the Lagonda.