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| Aston Martin Owners Club | |
|---|---|
| Name | Aston Martin Owners Club |
| Founder | Sir Lionel Martin |
| Founded | 1920s |
| Headquarters | Newport Pagnell |
| Type | Membership club |
| Purpose | Preservation and enjoyment of Aston Martin automobiles |
Aston Martin Owners Club
The Aston Martin Owners Club is a long-established private-membership organization dedicated to the preservation, celebration, and active use of automobiles produced by Aston Martin and related marques. The club has historical ties to Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings plc, the town of Newport Pagnell, and influential figures such as Sir Lionel Martin, and it serves owners, restorers, collectors, and motorsport enthusiasts through events, publications, and technical support. It maintains connections with automotive institutions including the British Motor Museum, National Motor Museum, and international concours organizations.
The club traces roots to post-World War I automotive enthusiasm in the United Kingdom and to early competition entries at events like the Kensington Motor Show and regional trials influenced by personalities from Bicester and Brooklands Circuit. Founders and early members were contemporaries of industrialists and racers associated with W.O. Bentley, Riley (automobile), and Lagonda (automobile), participating in fixtures such as the RAC Tourist Trophy and the Mille Miglia for pre-war and post-war Aston Martins. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s the club expanded alongside models like the DB2, DB4, DB5, and DB6, engaging with heritage organizations including Historic Racing Drivers Club and preservation bodies associated with Heritage Motor Centre. During the late 20th century the club navigated corporate changes involving David Brown (industrialist), Ford Motor Company, and later Prodrive and Ford of Europe connections as marque ownership and motorsport strategy evolved. The club’s archive and registrar efforts intersected with restoration projects at facilities near Gaydon, Mulliner (coachbuilder), and the National Motor Museum Trust.
The club operates as a member-led society with governance resembling non-profit clubs such as Royal Automobile Club and Vintage Sports-Car Club. Leadership has included chairpersons and committee members often drawn from collectors linked to auction houses like Bonhams and RM Sotheby's and specialists from restoration businesses such as Aston Workshops and coachbuilders tied to Tickford. Membership categories accommodate owners of models from SENATOR (Aston Martin) era vehicles to contemporary DB11 and Vantage (Aston Martin) cars, as well as marque historians associated with English Heritage exhibits and private museums. The club maintains vehicle registries, technical records, and authenticity verification aligning with standards from Historic Automobile Group International and interacts with heritage insurers like Hagerty Insurance and Classic Motor Show organizers. Governance documents reference practices common to Charity Commission for England and Wales registered clubs and align with data practices seen in British Car Auctions records.
Regular activities include participation in concours and shows such as Goodwood Festival of Speed, Goodwood Revival, and the Concours of Elegance, as well as social drives along routes like the A39 and to venues including Silverstone Circuit, Donington Park, Brands Hatch, and country estates such as Blenheim Palace and Chatsworth House. The club organizes technical workshops drawing experts from Cosworth, Aston Martin Works, and independent specialists who previously worked with Aston Martin Racing. Members attend rallies including the Le Jog and historic tours like the Isle of Man TT tourist itinerary by road cars and participate in charity events associated with organizations such as Royal British Legion and Motoring Trusts. Collaboration with museums yields static displays at the British Motor Museum and rotating exhibits at National Motor Museum, Beaulieu.
Branches mirror structures seen in international car clubs such as Porsche Club of America and Ferrari Owners' Club, with established regions across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and overseas chapters in United States, Germany, France, Japan, Australia, Canada, and the United Arab Emirates. Regional organizers coordinate local meets at venues including Goodwood Motor Circuit, private collections like the Louwman Museum, and dealer showrooms connected to importers such as Aston Martin Lagonda of New York. International collaboration includes exchange visits with clubs like Vintage Sports-Car Club of America and joint concours with the Antique Automobile Club of America.
The club’s interests span factory works cars, coachbuilt examples by H.J. Mulliner & Co., racing chassis campaigned in 24 Hours of Le Mans events, and road cars maintained by collectors featured in auctions at Goodwood Revival Sale. Notable models in member collections include early Ulster (Aston Martin), DB3S, Lagonda Rapide, V8 Vantage, and modern DBS Superleggera, often restored using components from suppliers such as Brembo and Spares Network houses. Collaborative restoration projects tie to specialists from Maserati restoration workshops and coachwork archives preserved in trusts like British Motor Industry Heritage Trust.
The club supports member participation in historic racing series such as the Historic Sports Car Club championships and events organized by Masters Historic Racing and Guards Trophy. Drivers and entrants include privateer teams that have campaigned in FIA World Endurance Championship precursor events and club-level sprints at Oulton Park and Snetterton Circuit. Technical briefings reference engineering legacies like those of Aston Martin Racing and partnerships with firms such as RAC (automobile association) for safety standards. The club liaises with race organizers at Spa-Francorchamps and Nürburgring for member participation overseas.
The club publishes newsletters and magazines comparable to titles from Octane (magazine) and Classic & Sports Car, featuring technical articles, event reports, and provenance studies on chassis documented alongside archives like the British Library motor transport collections. Media output includes photography collaborations with agencies such as Getty Images and video features produced for platforms similar to YouTube channels managed by automotive historians. The club’s archival catalogs and registries are cited by researchers at institutions including Victoria and Albert Museum and university automotive history departments.
Category:Car clubs Category:Automobile preservation organizations Category:British motoring organizations