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In 2003, Aston Martin introduced to the World the AMV8 concept. The Aston Martin V8 Vantage, as it became known in production is probably the most important car in the long and chequered history of the Aston Martin Marque. The firm has had many previous owners and has been to the brink of non-existence more than once, only to be resurrected from the flames. Since it was now part of Ford’s Premier Automotive Group, Aston Martin needed to perform, and perform well.

The V8 Vantage itself is as aggressive and stylish in looks as it’s big brother, the DB9 but is significantly smaller and therefore uses a smaller, but still impressive, 4.3 litre 380bhp V8, delivering 303lb foot of torque at 5000rpm, as it’s source of power. This propels the Vantage to 60mph in 4.8 seconds with a top speed of 175mph. Transmission options are a six speed manual and a sequential paddle shift clutch-less manual. The V8 Vantage uses control arm suspension all round and sits on 18 inch wheels and rubber as standard.

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Despite popular appreciation of Aston Martin cars (where the price of a car gets higher), the company often was financially troubled. In 1972 , it was bought by a Birmingham -based consortium, and then, in 1975 , by the North American businessmen Peter Sprague and George Minden. The American owners pushed the company into modernising its line, producing the V8 Vantage in 1977 , the convertible Volante in 1978 , and the one-off William Towns -styled Bulldog in 1980 . Towns also styled the futuristic new Lagonda saloon, based on the existing V8 model. The Americans sold out to CH Industrial , who themselves gave up to Automotive Investments in 1983 , and who, in turn, lasted barely a year before selling the company to Peter Livanos and Victor Gauntlett. In 1986 , the Ford Motor Company purchased 75 per cent of the company, and the ownership pass-the-parcel slowed….

Aston Martin was founded in 1914 by Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford . The two had joined together the previous year to sell cars made by Singer. Martin raced specials at the Aston Hill Hillclimb near Aston Clinton , and the pair decided to make their own vehicles. They acquired premises at Abingdon Road in Kensington and produced their first car in March 1915 . The Aston Martin name came from the combination of the Aston Hill climb and Lionel Martin who used to compete there.

After the war hiatus, the company was revitalised with funding from Count Louis Zborowski. In 1922 , Aston Martin produced cars to compete in the French Grand Prix, and set world speed and endurance records at Brooklands. Lionel Martin left the company in 1925; the following year, a number of rich investors, including Lord Charnwood took control of the company as Aston Martin Motors, and moved the firm to new premises in Feltham. The 1929 Aston Martin International was another successful racer and was followed by the Le Mans and the Ulster. In 1936 , the company, now owned by Sir Arthur Sutherland, decided to concentrate on road cars. The advent of World War II halted work, and the company languished throughout the war’s duration….