Aston Martin Lagonda

Robert Bamford and Lionel Martin established the company in 1913 as a dealer for other manufacturers before launching their own production line. The firm gained significant stature under David Brown's ownership starting in 1947, becoming synonymous with British engineering excellence during the mid-20th century. A defining moment for the brand occurred when the DB5 model appeared in the James Bond film Goldfinger, creating an enduring association between the marque and espionage fiction that persists to this day.

Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings PLC currently trades on the London Stock Exchange under the ticker LON:AML within the FTSE 250 Index. The organization has navigated seven distinct periods of bankruptcy or near-bankruptcy throughout its history while maintaining operations across 53 countries with over 160 dealerships. Manufacturing takes place primarily at a 55-acre facility in Gaydon, Warwickshire, which occupies a former airfield, alongside a converted military hangar in St Athan, Wales, dedicated to producing the DBX SUV.

The Lagonda name serves as a sub-brand for the company's four-door saloons, most notably the futuristic wedge-shaped sedan designed by William Towns that was produced from 1974 to 1990. Critics later included this vehicle on lists of the ugliest cars ever made, yet it has since developed a devoted following among collectors. Recent additions to the lineup include the ultra-exclusive Lagonda Taraf, a hand-built luxury sedan limited to 120 units that sold for nearly $500,000 per unit. [edit]