Overview & Reviews

Born in England, Aston Martin makes cars that place equal emphasis on high-thrill performance and discreet British elegance. The manufacturer's lineup is small and highly specialized; you'll only find sports cars on the Aston Martin roster. Still, the brand has made an incredible name for itself, and is known worldwide as a purveyor of sleek, top-of-the-line, road-hugging machinery.

Founders Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford started Aston Martin in 1914. The two had seen some success selling Singer racing cars, but wanted to craft their own vehicles, with an emphasis on sophistication and refinement. The brand took its name from co-founder Martin and the Aston Clinton Hill Climb, where the duo's Singer cars had competed.

Originally, Aston Martin was known chiefly in racing circles. By the 1920s, the brand had made its first appearance overseas, participating in the French Grand Prix; it also participated in the Le Mans 24-hour race. The marque saw its share of financial difficulties during the '20s and '30s, undergoing numerous changes in ownership. Still, it made a name for itself with popular racing cars like the streamlined 1934 Ulster.

The postwar years saw the brand change hands once again. Aston Martin was sold to David Brown, an industrialist with a successful tractor company. After purchasing the company in 1947, he set his sights on developing new models. The first was the DB1 (named after his own initials), introduced in 1948. It was soon followed by the DB2 and DB3.

The 1950s saw Aston Martin establishing itself as a winner on the track, with the DB2 placing in its class at Le Mans. As the decade drew to a close, the brand had launched yet another model -- the DB4 -- and scored wins at the World Sports Car Championship, the Nürburgring and the RAC Tourist Trophy.

During the 1960s, Aston Martin began production on the DB5. The low-slung coupe looked glamorous enough to be in the movies, and soon it was; the DB5 was the vehicle of choice for Sean Connery's James Bond in 1964's Goldfinger. By the time the '60s came to a close, the Aston Martin family had grown to include the DB6 (which stands as the first four-seater produced by the marque) and DBS V8.

The 1970s were a rough decade for Aston Martin. The brand was sold by David Brown in 1972, and then once again was passed from owner to owner. Still, a new model, the V8 Vantage, was launched in 1977. Ten years later, Ford Motor Company purchased Aston Martin and invested millions in research and development in hopes of restoring the brand to its former glory.

By the 1990s, Ford's considerable efforts had begun to pay off. The handsome DB7 debuted mid-decade and was a hit with both critics and buyers. Aston Martin's fortunes continued to soar in the 2000s, with the launch of the successful V12 Vanquish, the DB9 and the V8 Vantage. Still, subsequent financial trouble at Ford led to the sale of Aston Martin in 2007 to a group of investors, which include a pair of Kuwaiti investment companies.

Aston's recent models include the exotic DBS (a more muscular version of the DB9), the four-door, four-seat Rapide, the Virage (which slots in between the DB9 and DBS) and a pair of ultra-low-production sports cars — the V12 Zagato (named after the design house that penned its body) and the One-77 (only 77 produced with a price of nearly $2 million each). As you'd guess by now, the current Aston Martin lineup comprises some of the world's most desirable cars.

User Reviews:

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  A Perfect Sports Car! - 2006 Aston Martin V8 Vantage
  By tdtollie - February 11 - 11:33 am

  I waited 686 days from the date I placed my deposit until delivery of my Vantage. Was it worth the wait? You bet! Ive been driving Corvettes for over 20 years and I love them...but the Vantage is so much more. Yes, the Vantage is expensive, but the style and performance are perfect. The handling on winding mountain roads is incredible. The engine sings and begs you to open the windows and turn off the great sound system. Ive been driving manual transmissions my entire life and nothing comes close to this 6-speed gearbox. If you really love to drive cars and can afford the $$$, I recommend you take the plunge and go for it. I love it! I love it! I LOVE IT!!!

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  Great - 2002 Aston Martin DB7
  By Simon Guntherd - January 11 - 2:00 am

  When i first got into this car I thought it was a bit cramped but after i took it ou tof r a test drive I forgot all about the interior and let the my feet and hands take over. Get this car if you ever get the chance

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  Superb long distance grand touring car - 2006 Aston Martin DB9
  By Richard - December 30 - 4:43 pm

  I was seeking a distinct and intensely pleasurable driving experience on my road test and wasnt disappointed. The car combines heft and agility with more performance than I need. Both the sound and smoothness of the engine are an experince to be savored and remembered. The fit and finish are exquisite (10+). The seats give great support. Most limitations relate to storage and are: small trunk space (luggage will be shipped), poor cup holder placement, a miniscule glove compartment. Poor local mile age (11.8 MPG)is also a compromise, but hwy milage is better than promised (21+). Its truly an uncommon beautiful car that makes a powerful and unique impression at any speed. Its worth the money!

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  super car - 2002 Aston Martin V12 Vanquish
  By kpd33184 - October 31 - 2:43 pm

  there is nothing more to say than just look at the car

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  Finally... - 2006 Aston Martin V8 Vantage
  By praskind - June 17 - 2:50 pm

  An amazing car! Drove Porsches for the past 7 year and this car tops any of them. Beautiful to look at-feels and sounds incredible. I bought mine without ever driving one and I could not be happier.

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  A real thrill - 2005 Aston Martin DB9
  By financesniper - January 26 - 7:26 pm

  Excellent quality and a beautiful design are the high points. The most superb exhaust notes Ive ever experienced. The ONLY draw back Ive found is a quirky automatic AC system that seems to have a little trouble keeping the cabin as cool as I select, but you can easily compensate by setting it a little bit cooler than you would normally.

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  Aston DB 7 Vantage Coupe - 2002 Aston Martin DB7
  By 008 - December 17 - 2:00 am

  Boy, I thought I got a lot of comments on my 64 Mustang Convertible. You cannot drive the Aston anywhere without getting complete strangers coming up to you to talk about the car: "I wanted all my life to see an Aston" "Oh my God, the James Bond car!" "Are you married?" It is a real pleasure to see the joy this automobile brings to people.

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  Best Of All Worlds - 2006 Aston Martin V8 Vantage
  By DEJ - December 7 - 2:46 pm

  Have owned many sports cars, most recently a 2006 Porsche 911S. The AMV8 is in a completely different league. More beautiful, more exotic, more fun to drive, more comfortable, more luxurious. More of all the reasons to buy such a car.

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  Martin ... Aston Martin - 2005 Aston Martin DB9
  By Peter Afeiche - October 10 - 6:46 am

  Defintely the most beautiful car designed by Aston Martin so far ... and one that does not disappoint in terms of handling, engine power, or finishing. Owning the Aston DB9 is a pure pleasure and it gives me a thrill to see it from the vantage point of another car driving beside it. It is a sight for sore eyes on any day, and gives the driver fantastic control and responsivness. A perfect 10 !!

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  007 Heaven - 2006 Aston Martin DB9
  By sjg - May 18 - 2:10 am

  I have owned my meteor grey DB9 for 6 months and I find it to be an excellent automobile. It is fast, corners extremely well and is a real head turner. It may not be quite as fast as some super cars, but it is more comfortable and a joy to drive on long trips. Did I mention you also get a great deal of attention?