16 September 2013, Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire: A selection of celebrated Aston Martin sports cars from across the decades wowed the crowds at this weekend’s Goodwood Revival, courtesy of Aston Martin Works.
The luxury British firm’s Buckinghamshire-based global centre of heritage and restoration excellence once again attended the event in West Sussex with a selection of ‘golden greats’ from Aston Martin’s glittering 100-year history.
A fully restored 1951 Snowdon White DB2 – one of the earliest ‘DB’ production cars in existence being the 15th DB2 to be sold in the UK – sat alongside an ultra-rare 1953 DB3S which is undergoing a full restoration at Aston Martin Works in Newport Pagnell.
Number five of just 11 such race cars made, and at one time set to be the personal car of the then company owner Sir David Brown, DB3S/5 was entered into 13 races between 1953 and 1956 enjoying considerable success with drivers such as Sir Stirling Moss, Roy Salvadori and Tony Brooks at the wheel.
DB3S/5 is approaching final assembly following a ground-up Works’ factory restoration and illustrates the unique expertise of the company’s craftsmen and women.
Finally, Works’ showcased a stunning Rathlin Red 1988 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Saloon X Pack at the Revival, sumptuously restored and sympathetically updated to include such modern features as bi-xenon headlights, a satellite navigation system, heated seats and upgraded transmission, suspension and brakes.
Graham Darby, General Manager at Aston Martin Works, was on the stand throughout the event. He said: “The Aston Martin brand naturally featured heavily throughout the Revival this year as the company celebrates its centenary, so it was only right that Aston Martin Works put on its largest ever display to support the celebrations.
“The Goodwood Revival remains a true highlight of the British classic car and motorsport calendar, and it was a delight to see so many people admiring cars from our rich history at the unique Goodwood Motor Circuit.”
Visitors to the Aston Martin Works stand in the Revival Market were able to see the great British sports cars as well as meet Graham and other staff, including Heritage Department Manager Nigel Woodward and Heritage Reception Engineer Kevin Moore, to discuss the firm’s restoration, repair and service facilities.
Elsewhere, the Goodwood Revival meeting this year once again featured races for sports cars and single-seaters, including many Aston Martins, dating from motorsport’s golden era. Among the cars doing battle on the West Sussex track were a brace of DBR1s, numerous DB3, DB3S and DB2/4 Mk IIIs, plus the 1961 Aston Martin Project 212.
Aston Martin’s centenary was a signature theme of the 2013 Revival with the strong association between the brand and the historic racing circuit celebrated fittingly throughout the weekend.
Aside from the numerous iconic racing cars in action on the Goodwood track, in meticulously authentic 1950s-style, the Earls Court motorshow played host to a broad selection of Aston Martin models from across the years. Rare and exotic examples on display included A3, the oldest surviving Aston Martin; the Atom and Bulldog concepts; and a selection of Zagato models.
Aston Martin Works’ Managing Director Kingsley Riding-Felce said of the event: “The Goodwood Revival is always a stirring and magical occasion for classic car lovers, so it was only fitting that in the brand’s centenary year so many rare and beautiful Aston Martin sports cars were on show, and in action, at the event.”
Aston Martin Works in Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, is the historic home of Aston Martin, where 15,000 cars were hand-built before production moved to Gaydon, Warwickshire, in 2007. Now the official service and restoration division for Aston Martin it is possible to view, purchase, service and restore cars from every era of the marque’s 100 years at Aston Martin Works.
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