Aston Martin, Heritage Centre. Aston Martin Works in Newport Pagnell(UK) - the only dealership in the world to sell both current and classic models.
PRESS INFO:
ASTON MARTIN WORKS
Nowhere in the world is the heritage of Aston Martin deeper or more richly layered than in Newport Pagnell, the home of the marque for more than 50 years and where more than 15,000 cars were hand-built until production moved to Gaydon in 2007.
The legend lives on in Newport Pagnell through Aston Martin Works -- renowned worldwide as the official service and heritage division of Aston Martin -- which continues to meet the needs of owners of every model from Aston Martin's illustrious past and present, with expertise spanning every model from the DB2 to the One-77.
This year Aston Martin Works opened a state-of-the-art showroom at the historic home of the company -- the only dealership in the world to sell both current and classic models.
Significant investment in Aston Martin Works has permitted redevelopment of the whole 3.6-acre Tickford Street site, the public face of which -- the sparkling new ten-car showroom for new and pre-owned Aston Martins -- was revealed in May. Behind this there is a world-class workshop facility offering the latest diagnostic and servicing equipment designed to offer the most efficient maintenance, repairs and renovations.
Work continues in Tickford Street to improve the historic buildings, providing better working space for the craftsmen and technicians of the Aston Martin Works Heritage Centre, where detailed restorations are performed on every model from the DB2 onwards.
Aston Martin production was moved to Newport Pagnell in 1957 but the town was already familiar with the marque, as the Tickford coachbuilding company made the bodies for the DB2/4 model. David Brown, then owner of Aston Martin, acquired Tickford in 1955 and two years later consolidated production there and made Newport Pagnell the headquarters of Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd.
The entire DB (David Brown) series of cars was made in Newport Pagnell, starting with the 1958 DB4, which was developed into the DB5 -- becoming world-famous through the James Bond films -- and progressed to DB6 and the DBS.
The factory went through difficult times after David Brown sold the business in 1972. Production reduced to a trickle: one car a week. But the company revived under Victor Gauntlett from 1981. New V8 models were introduced, production gradually gathered pace and, when Ford took a controlling interest in 1987, plans were laid for a new model to be produced in greater volume using more modern techniques.
DB7 production moved to Bloxham, but Aston Martin V8s continued to be built at Newport Pagnell. They were to be replaced by a completely new flagship model, the V12 Vanquish, which required new processes in the old factory, and went on to sell more than any previous model from Newport Pagnell. Vanquish production ended in 2007 and the main factory site, on the north side of Tickford Street, was sold.
The need for a retail car sales operation at Newport Pagnell was identified in 2007. Aston Martin had not operated its own dealership since the early 1990s, when it had a London showroom in Cheval Place, Knightsbridge.
In the interim, Aston Martin had changed almost beyond recognition, with a new and wider range of cars produced in higher volumes than ever before in an ultra-modern factory at Gaydon, Warwickshire. Its renowned service and restoration division, Works Service, remained in Tickford Street, Newport Pagnell.
The Aston Martin Works Heritage Centre
The Heritage Centre is dedicated to keeping historic Aston Martin vehicles on the road. It is staffed by a knowledgeable group of professionals who combine unparalleled customer service with genuine enthusiasm. Its services extend from renovation and repair to complete bare-metal restoration for all post-war models before the current generation.
Some of those who apply their skill and craftsmanship to this work will have been involved in the original car build, but all the Heritage specialists have benefited from the handed-down knowledge of those who made Aston Martin models in Newport Pagnell.
The massive redevelopment of the Tickford Street site is ongoing and will continue to progress for several months more. One of the most exciting pieces of the jigsaw will involve the historically interesting Olympia building, which will be transformed early next year into the new Heritage showroom, a space large enough to showcase up to a dozen examples of the Aston Martin breed at a time.
"The new Heritage showroom will have a very different feel to the rest of Aston Martin Works," says general sales manager Paul Spires. "It will have a traditional look and feel, and there will be memorabilia, lots of motorsport elements, maybe a hint of 007... It will be a memorable place to visit and an exciting place to work."
PRESS INFO:
ASTON MARTIN WORKS
Nowhere in the world is the heritage of Aston Martin deeper or more richly layered than in Newport Pagnell, the home of the marque for more than 50 years and where more than 15,000 cars were hand-built until production moved to Gaydon in 2007.
The legend lives on in Newport Pagnell through Aston Martin Works -- renowned worldwide as the official service and heritage division of Aston Martin -- which continues to meet the needs of owners of every model from Aston Martin's illustrious past and present, with expertise spanning every model from the DB2 to the One-77.
This year Aston Martin Works opened a state-of-the-art showroom at the historic home of the company -- the only dealership in the world to sell both current and classic models.
Significant investment in Aston Martin Works has permitted redevelopment of the whole 3.6-acre Tickford Street site, the public face of which -- the sparkling new ten-car showroom for new and pre-owned Aston Martins -- was revealed in May. Behind this there is a world-class workshop facility offering the latest diagnostic and servicing equipment designed to offer the most efficient maintenance, repairs and renovations.
Work continues in Tickford Street to improve the historic buildings, providing better working space for the craftsmen and technicians of the Aston Martin Works Heritage Centre, where detailed restorations are performed on every model from the DB2 onwards.
Aston Martin production was moved to Newport Pagnell in 1957 but the town was already familiar with the marque, as the Tickford coachbuilding company made the bodies for the DB2/4 model. David Brown, then owner of Aston Martin, acquired Tickford in 1955 and two years later consolidated production there and made Newport Pagnell the headquarters of Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd.
The entire DB (David Brown) series of cars was made in Newport Pagnell, starting with the 1958 DB4, which was developed into the DB5 -- becoming world-famous through the James Bond films -- and progressed to DB6 and the DBS.
The factory went through difficult times after David Brown sold the business in 1972. Production reduced to a trickle: one car a week. But the company revived under Victor Gauntlett from 1981. New V8 models were introduced, production gradually gathered pace and, when Ford took a controlling interest in 1987, plans were laid for a new model to be produced in greater volume using more modern techniques.
DB7 production moved to Bloxham, but Aston Martin V8s continued to be built at Newport Pagnell. They were to be replaced by a completely new flagship model, the V12 Vanquish, which required new processes in the old factory, and went on to sell more than any previous model from Newport Pagnell. Vanquish production ended in 2007 and the main factory site, on the north side of Tickford Street, was sold.
The need for a retail car sales operation at Newport Pagnell was identified in 2007. Aston Martin had not operated its own dealership since the early 1990s, when it had a London showroom in Cheval Place, Knightsbridge.
In the interim, Aston Martin had changed almost beyond recognition, with a new and wider range of cars produced in higher volumes than ever before in an ultra-modern factory at Gaydon, Warwickshire. Its renowned service and restoration division, Works Service, remained in Tickford Street, Newport Pagnell.
The Aston Martin Works Heritage Centre
The Heritage Centre is dedicated to keeping historic Aston Martin vehicles on the road. It is staffed by a knowledgeable group of professionals who combine unparalleled customer service with genuine enthusiasm. Its services extend from renovation and repair to complete bare-metal restoration for all post-war models before the current generation.
Some of those who apply their skill and craftsmanship to this work will have been involved in the original car build, but all the Heritage specialists have benefited from the handed-down knowledge of those who made Aston Martin models in Newport Pagnell.
The massive redevelopment of the Tickford Street site is ongoing and will continue to progress for several months more. One of the most exciting pieces of the jigsaw will involve the historically interesting Olympia building, which will be transformed early next year into the new Heritage showroom, a space large enough to showcase up to a dozen examples of the Aston Martin breed at a time.
"The new Heritage showroom will have a very different feel to the rest of Aston Martin Works," says general sales manager Paul Spires. "It will have a traditional look and feel, and there will be memorabilia, lots of motorsport elements, maybe a hint of 007... It will be a memorable place to visit and an exciting place to work."
Comments
Next Media
Related Media
More from this user