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.