Aston Martin is one of Britain's most iconic brands, known for their beautiful designs that many car enthusiasts consider to be true works of art. They have a history of producing cars for motorsports, as well as for people who want a car that shows off their power, status, and wealth.

Although they are well known across the globe as Britain's answer to the likes of Porsche and Ferrari, there still are some facts that people may not know. Let's take a look at some of them now.

10 They Are Widely Associated With James Bond

Sports cars are often used in films of all genres in some of the most exciting scenes on screen, these are the cars of choice for high-speed car chases in the movies. However, few are as instantly associated with one particular movie franchise as Aston Martin.

It is a well-known fact that James Bond drives an Aston, making its debut in the Bond franchise in 1964's "Goldfinger" when Bond's Aston Martin DB5 was packed full of gadgets by Q. Since then Aston Martin's have been a mainstay in the series and is often one of the first things you think of when the films are mentioned.

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9 They Failed At Formula One

Most car brands try to participate in motorsports events if they can as they see it as an opportunity for them to showcase the speed and power of their vehicles. Aston Martin was no different and had a desire to become well-known and successful on the motor racing circuit.

They made their Formula One debut in 1959 and had high hopes of achieving great success at this event. However, things didn't go as planned. They failed to make their mark since their cars were simply not good enough. Over 60 years later, Aston is having another go at F1 with Sebastian Vettel at the helm, maybe they will have more success this time?

8 Aston Martin Was Bought In 1947 By David Brown

Aston Martin was bought by Sir David Brown for £20,500 in 1947, apparently after driving one of them. Originally a tractor manufacturer, he is responsible for the famous DB models that were produced by Aston Martin, and they took their name from his initials.

His 25-year ownership of the company would soon turn out to be one of the best and most profitable periods in Aston Martin’s history.

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7 Count Louis Zebrowski Passed Away While Racing For Aston Martin

One of the lowest points in Aston's history was the tragic death of Count Louis Zebrowski. Aston Martin wanted to make their mark in motorsports during the 1920s. They had been able to continue producing cars and entering them into motor racing events due to the financial backing of Count Louis Zebrowski.

In 1924, at the Italian Grand Prix, tragedy struck. Count Louis Zebrowski was racing one of the Aston Martins in the event when he was tragically killed in a racing accident. This would have serious financial implications for Aston Martin. Following the accident, they went bankrupt. Lady Dorothea Charnwood then bought the business and put her son, John Benson, on the board.

6 Most Modern Aston Martins Can Reach 200 Mph

via cars4race.com

Aston Martin sports cars are well-known for their speed, and it is one of the appealing features that attract many people to buy these sports cars. Most of the modern Aston Martins can achieve speeds in excess of 200 mph.

In fact, the speedometers in these cars go up to 220 mph. There is one model, however, which is the exception to the rule. The V8 Vantage model lags behind a little bit as it can only reach a speed of 190 mph.

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5 The First Aston Martin Was Named After A 1900s Household Item

The first Aston Martin car was built in 1915 and nicknamed the Coal Scuttle, after a common household item used in the early 1900s. A coal scuttle was a metal container that carried small amounts of coal to power up ovens and heaters.

4 Aston Martin Got Its Name From A Place & A Person

A lot of car companies take their names from their founders, such as Ford, Chrysler, Chevrolet, and Toyota. Aston Martin is different, but only slightly. The company’s original founders were Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford and although the company was first known as Martin and Bamford, the first cars they produced took the name Aston Martin since Martin made them and tested them on Aston Hill.

3 Ford Acquired Aston Martin In The Late 1980s

Throughout the history of Aston Martin, this car manufacturer has changed ownership on many occasions. While this has sometimes led the company into further financial trouble, things were different when Ford Motor Company bought Aston Martin in the late 1980s as things changed for the better.

Despite several changes of ownership in the 1970s, things hadn’t improved, and they were in constant need of additional funds. This resulted in them only producing a limited number of luxury models. All this changed when they were taken over by the Ford Motor Company. Sales increased dramatically after the takeover and this turned their financial situation around. In 2007 Ford sold Aston Martin for a reported $925 million to a consortium of investors.

2 Many Celebrities Own Aston Martins

As Aston Martins are luxury vehicles with high price tags, it is not surprising that they are so desirable to celebrities. For many famous and wealthy people, the Aston Martin is the ultimate dream car as it represents their wealth, fame, and status.

via Aston Martin

Some of the top names in the entertainment industry are the proud owners of an Aston Martin. Some of the celebrities who have purchased an Aston Martin include David Beckham, Halle Berry, Eddie Murphy, Ben Affleck, Elle MacPherson, and Steven Spielberg.

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1 Aston Martin Create Their Cars By Hand

Most car manufacturers across the world have progressed to using automated production lines as a way of mass-producing their cars. Aston Martin differ from other car manufacturers in this respect as they have avoided using technology as much as possible. They pride themselves on creating their cars by hand to achieve the level of quality that their customers expect.

Small hangars are used for the assembly process, and they have stayed with tradition by not installing automated assembly lines. Each component of the car is made and then assembled by hand, even the stitching on the interior of the cars. This personal touch gives a sense of quality and luxury to the vehicle and makes it worthwhile to pay the high price tag to become an owner.

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