A report in the latest edition of Autobild is reporting that the Aston Martin motor company has been sold by Fords to the French company of Louis Vuitton famous for its handbags. Ford requires the capital to support its operations in the U.S. and the sale was conducted through an auction (not E-Bay!).
By: Arabella-Cox - 13th February 2007 at 17:56
It’s one of the 500 Ford Puma that were built in Germany as standard 1.7s then transferred to Tickford (The old coach works?) and unbuilt. At Newport Pagnell they had all the corners taken off and replaced with new aluminium panels, new interiors, engine, and suspension etc., to emerge as the Ford Racing Puma
Actually there were slightly more than 500. Two disappeared from the compound at Tickford and were never seen again. 😮
Moggy
Nothing to do with me.
But at least they make the test drivers do a course on driving performance cars as the amount they crashed or dinked was unbelievable.
Still after all the years it is probably a good thing that ford ditched AML as they were dragging the place down who wants a £100,000+ supercar with mondeo switch gear.
curlyboy
By: Moggy C - 13th February 2007 at 07:35
It’s one of the 500 Ford Puma that were built in Germany as standard 1.7s then transferred to Tickford (The old coach works?) and unbuilt. At Newport Pagnell they had all the corners taken off and replaced with new aluminium panels, new interiors, engine, and suspension etc., to emerge as the Ford Racing Puma
Actually there were slightly more than 500. Two disappeared from the compound at Tickford and were never seen again. 😮
Moggy
By: Arabella-Cox - 12th February 2007 at 18:55
What car is it then Moggy as i live in Newport Pagnell (about 50 feet from AML) and except for the old coachworks i dont think a car has been made in Newport except for Aston Martin since the war.
curlyboy
By: Moggy C - 12th February 2007 at 08:55
Just to say my car was partly built in Newport Pagnell too.
Unfortunately (Other than when filling-up) it isn’t an Aston Martin. 🙁
Moggy
By: Arabella-Cox - 11th February 2007 at 22:10
The Aston Martin made in Newport Pagnell is the Vanquish and a new one (which now may not be made).
Oddly enough the sale includes the Newport Pagnell site but NOT the Oxford factory where the DB9 etc are built.
curlyboy
By: bentwaters81tfw - 10th February 2007 at 20:48
How about Peugeot making a ‘007’ next time…in Hungary of course.
We have a fleet of leased Renaults at work, you will be pleased to know that they are still as big a heap of **** that they have always been.
Aston Martin to the French? By the time they have covered the engine in superfluous plumbing, and put the gearbox in front of the radiator, the performance and handling will be like a 2CV.
Hang on….didn’t Bond drive one of those? 😮
By: Hurrifan - 7th February 2007 at 22:54
Given the proposed EU CO2 emission level restrictions (as from 2012) announced today, then maybe Ford saw the writing on the wall and sold the brand in anticipation that living with such a restriction might cause a few problems for European-based Supercar bands?
Can anyone imagine an Aston that has both good performance, and CO emissions of less than 120g/Km…..perhaps LV will produce the first 1200cc Aston Martin.
Somehow I can’t ever see “007” driving one though…
Paul F
Ohh i dont know ..he drove one of those hairdresser BMW Z’s a while back!!!:D
By: Creaking Door - 7th February 2007 at 22:44
The engines are made (by Ford) in Cologne, Germany.
By: Newforest - 7th February 2007 at 20:09
Really…when did they move?
The head office of Aston Martin is at Gaydon, Warwickshire.
By: Shadow1 - 7th February 2007 at 19:13
Ford made it clear a couple of days ago the sale had not been finalized with any company who had taken part in the bidding process. LVMH therefore does not appear to be the next owner of Aston Martin. According to the Ford Motor Company, the unveiling of Aston’s new owner will be made once the deall will have been completed.
By: J Boyle - 7th February 2007 at 18:12
Well I don’t think they are made there now. I can’t see the French moving them back.
Moggy
Really…when did they move?
At least, I think their service/restoration dept is still there.
James Bond fantasies aside…when I was young a neighbor had an outstanding DB4 Vantage…metallic claret with black interior.
I can still smell the leather.
By: Moggy C - 7th February 2007 at 17:39
I don’t think French ownership will make the car French…as long as they make it in Newport Pagnell.
Well I don’t think they are made there now. I can’t see the French moving them back.
Moggy
By: Paul F - 7th February 2007 at 16:59
Given the proposed EU CO2 emission level restrictions (as from 2012) announced today, then maybe Ford saw the writing on the wall and sold the brand in anticipation that living with such a restriction might cause a few problems for European-based Supercar bands?
Can anyone imagine an Aston that has both good performance, and CO emissions of less than 120g/Km…..perhaps LV will produce the first 1200cc Aston Martin.
Somehow I can’t ever see “007” driving one though…
Paul F
By: J Boyle - 7th February 2007 at 16:49
But I wonder about a stand alone car company these days ~ the millions (or is it billions?) needed for new model development is quite an ask.
Agreed. Rolls has BMW to fund their bits, Ferrari has Fiat, Bentley has VW…And for those cars, their buyers demand high tech & high performance.
Even with high retail prices, I don’t think a low production firm can go it alone anymore, the R&D is just too expensive.
The good news is just as Ford ownership didn’t mean the Aston Martin was an “American” car, I don’t think French ownership will make the car French…as long as they make it in Newport Pagnell.
If they move production to France, all bets are off.
Maybe the UK govt. could call it a cultural or heritage item…:D
By: Smith - 7th February 2007 at 02:02
And one of the best cars I ever owned was a PUG.
LVMH is very much focussed on the top end of discretionary income ~ so incorporating Aston Martin is a perfectly reasonable brand association. But I wonder about a stand alone car company these days ~ the millions (or is it billions?) needed for new model development is quite an ask.
By: J Boyle - 6th February 2007 at 22:34
Your next Aston Martin might be French!
I always thought my next Aston Martin would be 1/18th scale!
By: steve rowell - 5th February 2007 at 04:46
I once owned a Renault in my younger days…biggest lemon of a car ever produced…lets hope French manufacturing skills have improved since then
By: Hurrifan - 4th February 2007 at 23:37
A report in the latest edition of Autobild is reporting that the Aston Martin motor company has been sold by Fords to the French company of Louis Vuitton famous for its handbags. Ford requires the capital to support its operations in the U.S. and the sale was conducted through an auction (not E-Bay!).
If its anything like the 205 i had for a while it will be frightengly quick but prone to bits falling off !!!
sounds like a TVR !!!!:dev2:
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February 4, 2007 at 5:18 pm