Diamond anniversary Astons - but only six

   • Six models for 60^th anniversary

  • Metal from pistons of relevant eras
  • Exclusive, unique colour and trim

NEWPORT PAGNELL, England - Aston Martin Works* – to celebrate its diamond jubilee in 2015 – will celebrate those 60 years here with the commissioning of six limited edition sports cars

The first was revealed on December 12 2014 at the automaker's annual customer Christmas celebration, this year also the start of 12 months of anniversary activity at the plant.

EACH SUBTLY DIFFERENT

The six ultra-special cars, each a version of the current Vanquish Super GT in either Coupe or Volante form, will be assembed in association with the luxury British brand’s Gaydon-based design team and its ultimate personalisation service - Q by Aston Martin.

GALLERY: Diamond anniversary Aston Martin

Each will be subtly different and each will be tailored to reflect one of the six decades being celebrated. "The result," Aston Martin, says, "will be a collection of rare and ultra-desirable sports cars instantly recognisable as ‘Works 60^th Anniversary’ models."

A number of elements, the automaker says, will distinguish the Anniversary cars, among them trim and paint colours, bu perhaps the most emotive part of each car will be in the fine detail: bespoke rings around the major controls in the centre console of each Vanquish.

Each will have been cast from metal from a piston from an Aston Martin engine of the relevant period, laser-etched with the Works’ Anniversary wording. The six pistons have been drawn from engines in the following Newport Pagnell-built sports cars:

1955-1965: DB 2/4 Mk II saloon
1965-1975: DB5
1975-1985: V8 Coupe
1985-1995: V8 Vantage X-pack
1995-2005: V8 Vantage supercharged
2005-2015: Original Vanquish

In each case, the relevant piston has been sourced from an engine that has been rebuilt or reworked at some point in its life.

Design direction for the Works Anniversary cars is coming from the Aston Martin Design team, led by chief creative officer Marek Reichman, while the elements of each car’s construction will be delivered by the Q by Aston Martin personalisation team at the brand’s Gaydon factory.

Aston Martin Works commercial director Paul Spire told Wheels24: “This project has been an harmonious co-operation across the whole business, developed uniquely to celebrate 60 years of Aston Martin Works at Newport Pagnell.

“I’m thrilled to be unveiling the first of these cars at our Christmas celebration and look forward to seeing the remaining models assembed and delivered to customers throughout the course of our anniversary year."

COLLECTORS' ITEMS

The process of creating the 60th Anniversary Limited Edition Vanquish models, AM said, began way in July 2014 as the works team sat down with designers from Aston Martin’s Gaydon HQ to scope plans. Working closely with Reichman and his team and Q by Aston Martin, the works staff carefully developed and refined their ideas for the ultimate 60^th anniversary collectors’ item cars.

Matthew Bennett, GM of VIP and Q by Aston Martin sales at Gaydon, said: “The colours of these six unique cars have been very carefully chosen to reflect and celebrate the progress of Aston Martin Works over those six decades.

“Celebrating the past, but also pointing to a bright and exciting future, these Vanquish models will, I’m sure, very quickly become a notable feature of the brand’s history.”  

The Works Anniversary cars will have identifying features such as yellow strakes, alloy wheel rims and the 60^th Anniversary logo etched into each car’s door sills.

Spires added: “We certainly gave ourselves some challenges. Coloured strakes such as these have never been attempted by Aston Martin and sourcing pistons from the correct engine in the correct decade was no small feat.

“However, we’re all very happy with the end result and we’ve already taken orders from collectors keen to own a piece of the brand’s history.”

PRICES? ON APPLICATION...

The cars will keep the standard technical features of the Vanquish Super GT, such as its six-litre V12 and Touchtronic III eight-speed auto gearbox. That will mean 3.6sec to 100km/h and top speed beyond 320km/h.

Prices for the six cars are available on application at Aston Martin Works.

*Aston Martin Works in Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, is the historic home of the sports-car maker and the place where 15 000 cars were hand-built from 1955-2007 when production moved to Gaydon, Warwickshire. Now an approved global heritage service and restoration facility as well as a new car dealer, it is possible there to view, purchase, service and restore cars from every era of the marque’s 101 years.