Storied Track

Though marketing today has blurred the lines between your average everyday economic car and a track-inspired performance vehicle, for the automotive enthusiast, the two are worlds apart. Sure, you’ll hear the commercials touting how the latest economic, 40-miles-per-gallon, mid-sized family sedan can make you feel like your daily driver is a road-shredding beast—but the plain fact is, it can’t.

The adrenalin and excitement that comes from driving a true track-tested sports car on everyday streets is anything but common. There’s a certain admiration that comes with being behind the wheel of an exotic sports car, because along with the performance comes a long line of history in order to attain it. And no other history is matched by Aston Martin, with over a century of automotive performance inspired history flowing through the bloodline of its vehicles.

[1915 Aston Martin Coal Scuttle]

From its beginning, Aston Martin has represented performance. Before it got its official name as we know it now, Aston Martin was once known as "Bamford & Martin Ltd.," founded in 1913 by Robert Bamford and Lionel Martin to sell Singer vehicles. On April 4, 1914 the company’s direction quickly shifted when Bamford and Martin took the standard Singer 10 vehicle and modified it to race in a hill-climbing competition up Aston Hill. There, Martin found great success, which was quickly repeated only a month later. The following year, the iconic "Aston Martin" name was born. Its first vehicle was created by Martin by fitting a four-cylinder Coventry-Simplex engine to the chassis of a 1908 Isotta-Fraschini. They produced their first car in March 1915.

Over the next few decades, Aston Martin began to develop its strong name, competing in overseas races and dominating the Le Mans 24-hour race with a clean sweep podium finish in 1933. By attaining success in the racing world, Aston Martin began to grow, slowly increasing its vehicle production line.

Though the company traded hands a few times, the brand Aston Martin continued to push forward, now surviving two world wars and the Great Depression. Soon the performance automotive maker was poised for its new breakout vehicles—the DBR1 racecar, DB Mk III and the DB4. Now ready to put another stamp on automotive history, Aston Martin found further success in the world of racing by securing the 1959 World Sportscar Championship, winning the 100 km Nürburgring and the Le Mans 24-hour races.

[Aston Martin DB5]

Though Aston Martin had a solid footing as an upper echelon sports car, none of its vehicles were more revered than the Aston Martin DB5, released in 1963. Renowned not only for its performance, but also its beauty, the DB5 is still acclaimed as one of the most beautiful sports cars in the world. In 1964, Aston Martin’s debut on the big screen began with DB5 being used as James Bond’s famous flagship car in the blockbuster hit "Goldfinger." That debut soon formed into a relationship spanning 50 years and 11 films.

As the years rolled forward, Aston Martin continued to test the boundaries of performance while integrating new luxuries into each of its vehicle lines. Passion, power, beauty and soul are four words still cut, sewn, shaped and painted into each of Aston Martins hand-made vehicles. Since the first "DB," the company has released a plethora of models, making it the most popular and featured line of Aston Martin. For exotic lovers, this line represents a gripping part of automotive history, with more than 14 individual models or derivatives having borne the marque. From the release of the DB1 in 1948 to the all-new redesigned 2013 DB9, Aston Martin has integrated styling cues interweaving and connecting each model.

[DB Zagato]

Along with the "DB," the Zagato line shares an amazing amount of history in what sits underneath its hood and between its doors. In 1961, the DB4 GT Zagato was released based on the original 1959 DB4 GT. This car was nothing short of astounding, putting out 314 horsepower from a 3.7-liter straight six-cylinder engine, numbers that even by today’s standards of street-driven sports cars are considered fantastic and competitive. Add to that fact that there were only 19 ever made and they rarely pop up at auction, and you can understand why it’s estimated to cost $5 million to get your hands on one—making it a must-have for serious automotive collectors.

[Aston Martin V12 Zagato]

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the DB4 GT Zagato, Aston Martin gathered its design team and custom craftsman to build another automotive icon. The new Aston Martin V12 Zagato is now one of the most exclusive cars ever made. It was unveiled at the 2011 Villa d’Este Concours d’Elegance. The styling and design from the original vehicle was integrated into the new modern and sleek body, giving the car a classic look with a contemporary presentation. It won the Concorso d’Eleganza Design Award for Concept Cars and Prototypes.

[Aston Martin Zagato Race Car]

But great looks can only get you so far. Could it perform under today’s race standards? Aston Martin took this question so seriously that it raced its two prototypes and won the Villa d’Este along with completing the Nurburgring 24-hour race. Now the award-winning beauty of the new Zagato was equally matched with track-proven performance; results that did not go unnoticed by Aston Martin’s fan base. Due to demand, the Zagato prototypes were produced on the factory floor in a limited run. They are now so popular and rare that finding one, especially here in the states, is next to impossible.

When you think back over the last century, so many historical achievements have been made in the automotive industry, with many carmakers contributing to the push for better quality, faster speeds, amazing handling and captivating looks. Aston Martin owners can appreciate that each time they sit in their handcrafted vehicles, more is behind the wheel than simply an engine and beautiful bodylines. They are wrapped in 100 years of automotive experience, the successes and failures of relentless track testing, unequalled accomplishments and history.

In way of celebrating the momentous accomplishment of reaching a century of automotive excellence, Aston Martin produced an exclusive performance vehicle, the CC100, a concept that reflects the performance legacy and unparalleled design of Aston Martin. Dr. Ulrich Bez, the company’s current CEO, described it best: "The CC100 is the epitome of everything that is great about Aston Martin. Fantastic heritage, exceptional design, superb engineering and an adventurous spirit."

Congratulations to Aston Martin for its continued perseverance and success. Now the only question is, what will they accomplish next?