Aston Martin Past and Present: A Look Back at British Luxury

Aston Martin builds exceptional cars, there is no doubt about this. The British luxury automaker has endured for decades and no doubt will be around for many more years to come. The brand represents world-leading design, extraordinary engineering, and stellar craftsmanship. They continually invest in the best people and the latest in technology to ensure that their vehicles are always ahead of the rest. Here is a look at Aston Martin cars past and present.

The First Aston Martin Vehicles: 1913 to 1933

 

 

The Coal Scuttle was the first of the Aston Martin cars. It made its debut in 1913. The name came from its resemblance to a common household item. This two-seater had a sporty body. This was followed by a production of 60 Bamford and Martin vehicles from 1914-1925. The Series 1 was introduced in 1927 when 129 of this model were produced. Production increased with the introduction of the Series 2 in 1932. These sporty two-seaters captured the hearts of many.

The Roaring 30s and 40s: 1934-1949

 

 

The Series 3 was introduced in 1934, at the same time as the 2-Litre. Both these vehicles maintained the general look and style of the earlier cars. It was the prototype called “Atom” introduced in 1939 that brought a huge change in appearance. This prototype was the base of the next model.

 

 

The 2-Litre Sports was introduced in 1948. It made its debut at the London Motor Show. The new vehicle had a tube-frame chassis and a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. The design was developed by Claude Hill.

The 1950s

 

 

Four new Aston Martin cars were introduced in the 1950s. The DB2 was produced in 1950 with a production number of 410 built. It was replaced in 1953 by the DB2/4, of which 761 were made. This grand tourer was available as a 2+2 hatchback.

 

 

The DB Mark III was produced from 1957 to 1959. They produced 552 of this model. A major change with this vehicle was the front grill. This style would become the one used on all future sports vehicles from the brand.

 

 

The DB4 was produced almost at the same time as the Mark III. It was shown at the London Motor Show in 1958 along with the DB Mark III. The DB4 was the first production car that was able to reach the 100 mph mark in 21 seconds. This car sold very well, with 1185 produced and sold, and put Aston Martin in the lead of other high-performance sports car manufacturers.

The 1960s

 

 

Four new lines came to light in the sixties: DB4GT Zagato, DB5, DB6, and DBS. This was the first convertible for the brand to be called a “Volante,” which derives from the Italian word for “flying.” This fashionable car was extremely popular with the wealthy. Famous owners include His Royal Highness Prince Charles, Paul McCartney, and Mick Jagger.

The 1970s and 80s

 

 

The look of the Aston Martin changed considerably during these two decades. The vehicles produced in this era are the AMV8, Lagonda, V8 Vantage, and the V8 Virage. The “Oscar India” AMV8 came out in 1978. The changes included a burr walnut trim, a revised boot lid, and rear wings that create a sculpted spoiler.

The 1990s

 

 

The V8 Vantage, V8 Coupe, and V8 Volante all emerged in the nineties. One other new development, the DB7, was also added to the Aston Martin line. Styling for the V8 Coupe was similar to the Vantage, minus the bonnet vents and with narrower wheels. This car was more elegant than sporty in design.

The New Century of Aston Martin Cars

 

 

Aston Martin has not slowed down at all in the new century. Eleven new designs have been created in the past 19 years. They include the V12 Vanquish, DBS Volante, One-77, Virage, V12 Zagato, Cygnet, and the centenary concept car called CC100. The V12 Zagato, released in 2011, was a look to the future with a nod to the past. The design release marked the 50th anniversary of the iconic DB4 GT Zagato. The car had a limited production run that ended in 2012.

So, which of these Aston Martin cars is your favorite? The luxury sports maker has no plans of slowing down, as evidenced by the recent debut of the DBS Superleggera. We look forward to seeing what they come up with next. For more luxury cars, see our article about the best super luxury cars.