Aston Martin Lagonda
of Hanworth Air Park, Feltham
1947 David Brown and Sons bought the Aston Martin company under the leadership of managing director Sir David Brown - its "post-war saviour".
1948 David Brown and Sons acquired Lagonda because Brown wanted the Lagonda's 2.3 litre engine, which had been designed by W. O. Bentley, for the Aston Martin chassis; the two companies shared resources and workshops as Aston Martin Lagonda
1950 Announced the DB2
1955 David Brown and Sons bought Tickford, known for its coach building, and its site at Tickford Street in Newport Pagnell.
1957 Browns soon moved Aston Martin production onto the Tickford site. The Tickford name disappeared between the late 1950s and 1981.
1957 Announced the racing DB3
1958 Production of Lagondas ceased
1958 Announced the Italian-styled 3.7 L DB4. All the cars established a good racing pedigree for the firm, but the DB4 was the key to establishing the company's reputation
1961 The Lagonda marque was briefly revived
1963 Announced the DB5
1963 Motor Show exhibitor. Showed DB5 and Lagonda Rapide.[1]
1964 The remaining departments were moved to Newport Pagnell
1965 Announced the "grand touring" style with the DB6 (1965–70), the DBS, and the DBS V8 (1967–72).
1965 The Lagonda was again discontinued
1972 The Aston Martin-Lagonda car companies were sold to Company Developments Ltd
1974 The business was still making losses and was put into liquidation at the end of the year[2]
1975 A consortium led by American Peter Sprague with Alan Curtis rescued the company and set about putting it on a profitable footing[3] [4]
1981 Acquired by C. H. Industrials and Pace Petroleum[5]
1983 US distributor Automotive Investments acquired a majority interest in the company[6]
1987 Ford bought a 75 percent stake in the company, and bought the rest later.
1989 The last car with the Lagonda name was made for some years[7]
Later Ford moved DB7 production to Bloxham and then to Gaydon for the DB9 and DBS.
2006 Ford sold the company to a private consortium with Kuwaiti backing.[8]
2008 Aston Martin's Gaydon factory was working at full capacity. Plans announced to produce a new concept Lagonda
List of Models
- Two Litre Sports (DB1) 1948-50
- DB2 1950-53
- DB3
- DB4 1958-63
- DB5 1963-65
- DB6
- DB6 and Volante 1965-70
- DB-6 1967-73
- DBS V8 1969-72
- V8 1972-89
- Vantage 1977-89
- Lagonda 1974-76
- Lagonda 1976-90
See Also
Sources of Information
- Biography of Sir David Brown, ODNB