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The end of an era

Kenny Clarke drove the last Vanquish off the line at Aston Martin’s factory in Newport Pagnell, England, last month.
TL
By:
Tony Lewin
August 20, 2007 05:00 AM
An interesing history

1915: First Aston Martin car registered

1926: Aston Martin Motors founded after 2 bankruptcies; 3 different owners

1932: More financial problems; 2 changes of ownership

1946: Tractor entrepreneur David Brown buys the company

1954: Production moved from London to Newport Pagnell

1972: Sold to a succession of owners, approaching bankruptcy

1981: Victor Gauntlett and Pace Petroleum acquire company

1983: Gauntlett finds new backers: the Livanos shipping family

1987: Ford takes 75 percent stake

1994: Ford takes 100 percent stake; DB7 goes into production

2003: 7,000th DB7 completed; new Gaydon plant opened

2007: 80 percent stake sold to consortium led by Dave Richards; car building at Newport Pagnell ends

NEWPORT PAGNELL, England -- When Kenny Clarke drove the last Vanquish off the line at Aston Martin’s factory here on July 19 he was doing more than just marking the end of an illustrious model line.

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