The opening of the Heritage Showroom at Aston Martin Works marks the successful end of a two year refurbishment. For the first time heritage cars will be sold directly from its Newport Pagnell base, allowing customers to draw on the vast knowledge of the Works team and its experience in handling sales, on-going service and of course, its world-renowned restoration division.
Together with the state-of-the-art modern car showroom, which was opened just over a year ago, the Heritage Showroom offers customers the unique experience of being able to view and compare cars from every era of Aston Martin’s 100 years at Aston Martin Works.
Fittingly, the Heritage Showroom is housed within the restored Olympia building – itself also now 100 years old – which has been central to the Aston Martin story since its move to Newport Pagnell in 1957.
Following a total refurbishment, the Olympia Building now provides the ideal environment for the display of heritage Aston Martins up to and including the DB7, and a discreet setting for customers to meet with the sales team. It also offers a comfortable ‘club-like’ space for launches, special events, seminars and conferences. In fact, one of the first events to be staged within it was a seated lunch for over 200 guests.
It is the first Heritage Showroom ever opened by Aston Martin, and has been carefully decorated in a period style, complete with displays of memorabilia from the factory heritage collection.
The building, once an aeroplane hangar, became known as Olympia due to its similarity to the Olympia building in London. It has fulfilled many functions over the years, including use as a machine shop, trim shop and as a service department. Latterly it was the panel shop and home to craftsmen restoring the bodywork of Aston Martin classics.
Kingsley Riding-Felce, Managing Director, Aston Martin Works said: “The first phase of redevelopment concluded with the opening of our new car showroom and state-of-the-art workshop facilities last spring. The project has encompassed the refurbishment of the heritage workshop, paint shop, panel shop and trim shop. The completion of the Olympia Building marks the end of the redevelopment and it provides a beautiful and fitting home for our Heritage sales department.
“Aston Martin Works can now provide its customers with an exceptional service, spanning the most modern super cars to cherished heritage models; from sales, to ongoing service, maintenance and repairs, to full restoration.”
Paul Spires, General Manager Sales added: “The Heritage Showroom reflects Aston Martin’s 100 years of history. The Olympia Building perfectly complements our ultra-modern new car showroom and we hope it will feel like a members’ club for owners and prospective owners of the marque’s heritage cars. It will also be used for a wide range of events including film shows and owners club evenings.”
Graham Darby, General Manager Operations added: “The redevelopment means Aston Martin Works has become a ‘one-stop shop’ for everything Aston Martin and we are able to offer some unique services here at Newport Pagnell. Stand-out examples within the heritage department alone include making replacement panels for restorations on the original factory bucks used when the cars were built here; the ability to manufacture parts which are no longer available for our heritage cars and an enhanced engine build shop for six cylinder and V8 heritage engines.”
Aston Martin at Newport Pagnell
Aston Martin production was moved to Newport Pagnell in 1957 but the town was already familiar with the marque, as the Tickford coachbuilding company made the bodies for the DB2/4 Mk 2 model. David Brown, then owner of Aston Martin, acquired Tickford in 1955 and two years later consolidated production there and made Newport Pagnell the headquarters of Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd.
Aston Martin models from the DB4 through to the original Vanquish were made in Newport Pagnell. Production continued there until July 2007, when all production transferred to the brand’s global headquarters in Gaydon.
Aston Martin Works historic headquarters has long been a magnet for Aston Martin enthusiasts and it has a loyal clientele comprising owners of Aston Martin models old and new. Open days, including the highly successful annual Bonhams Aston Martin auction, demonstrate the expertise and craftsmanship available and encourage a friendly, ‘family’ atmosphere for the marque’s admirers.