Aston Martin celebrates centenary with limited editions

ASTON MARTIN has celebrated the start of its second century as a car-maker by issuing limited-run Centenary Edition versions of its flagship Vanquish supercar, DB9 grand tourer, Rapide limousine and V8 Vantage sports car.

Exclusivity and appeal to collectors are assured as Centenary Edition versions of each model are limited to 100 units to commemorate each year of the British luxury sportscar specialist’s history.

Now available to order world-wide, the Centenary Editions are sold on a price-on-application basis.

The first Centenary Edition to be revealed is the range-topping Vanquish, finished with a special graduated paint effect said to add 18 hours to Aston Martin’s already painstaking 50-hour painting process.

Created with inspiration from Aston Martin CEO Ulrich Bez, the graduated paint finish is applied using ‘tinters’ to create a dark inner colour before the mixture is applied by hand using a mini-jet spray gun.

Aston Martin design director Marek Reichman and his team considered the contours of each model to determine which colours and shades to use, where the paint changes from dark to light and where to best locate graduated effect.

Providing badge-thief bait are solid silver Aston Martin wing emblems front and rear while the interior is lined with Deep Black soft leather previously exclusive to the $2.7 million One-77 hypercar.

The upholstery has silver contrast stitching, which is also used to embroider the Aston Martin logo on to the head restraints.

Like the bonnet and boot badges, the Centenary Edition’s sill plates are made from solid silver, and are individually numbered as proof of provenance.

Buyers of the Centenary Edition are also bestowed with a gift package containing two glass car keys with leather pouches matching the interior, a set of solid silver Aston Martin cuff-links, a solid silver pen and, mysteriously, a set of Bang & Olufsen headphones.

The gift presentation box also contains a silver polishing cloth to prevent tarnish on those badges, sill plates and, of course, the cuff-links and pen.

Astom Martin kicked off its centenary celebrations at Henniker Mews in the posh London suburb of Chelsea where the company was founded on January 15 1913.

The oldest remaining Aston Martin, an A3 prototype from 1921, was displayed alongside the latest Vanquish and a commemorative plaque from the Aston Martin Heritage Trust was placed at the Mews.

A series of follow-up events are ensuing, one of the more dramatic being a spectacular birthday party in Dubai at which a Vanquish was helicoptered on to the roof of the famed Burj Arab luxury hotel.

Other events will include open days at Aston’s Gaydon headquarters, a timeline display of the 100 most iconic Aston Martins, concours events, a drive day taking in iconic James Bond locations around the UK and various race track-based celebrations.