Aston Martin is a quintessentially British maker of sport-luxury cars. Its cars are well-known for their beautifully crafted exteriors and interiors, as well as signature features like the anti-clockwise tachometer and double-bent front grille. The company was founded in 1913 and is currently owned by a joint-venture outfit led by Dave Richards (founder and chairman of famous tuner Prodrive). Before that it was part of the Ford Motor Company from 1994 to 2007.
Aston Martin has had a tumultuous history, and has even come close to bankruptcy - a trait that seems to particularly affect small-volume British manufacturers. However, since being purchased by deep-pocketed Ford in 1994, its fortunes have risen and the company is now steady and ready to concentrate on doing what it does best- producing small volumes of high-quality, gorgeous sports-luxury cars. Having their cars star in several James Bond movies cannot hurt, either.
Some of Aston Martin’s most famous models are the DB5, DB7, and various iterations of the Lagonda and Vantage nameplates. In 2008 the company showcased its first four-door saloon, the Rapide, which looks like a stretched DB9.
However, their current lineup in New Zealand only consists of the DB9 (coupe and convertible), the gorgeous DBS (coupe only), and the ‘baby’ Aston Martin - the Vantage (coupe and convertible). The engine range is only two- a 4.3 litre V8 in the Vantage, and a 6.0 litre V12 available in all 3 models. The DBS is really an evolution of the DB9 rather than a completely new model.
Before purchasing a used Aston Martin be sure to get a vehicle history report from Checka. This will give you the ownership details, whether the odometer looks suspicious, if it's been reported stolen, and if there are any unpaid loans on the vehicle (security interests).
Looking at buying an Aston Martin? Check the vehicle history of any Aston Martin by entering its number plate in the field above