Aston Martin is the Great British survivor among car manufacturers. Created as Bamford & Martin in 1913, Aston Martin’s subsequent century-long existence has seen the company go bust seven times, win the Le Mans 24 Hours and become indispensable transport for a certain movie spy. This comprehensive and timely two-volume study by Russell Hayes covers Aston Martin’s adventure from the very beginning, setting the cars in context with the changing automotive world and rivals, and adding insights from contemporary road tests and first-hand accounts from recent company personalities. Fourteen chapters make sense of every Aston Martin for both the cognoscenti and the uninitiated, supported by a lavish array of photographs. • Beginnings, 1913–26: Robert Bamford and Lionel Martin started producing small sporting cars that showed prowess in racing.• The Bertelli and Sutherland eras, 1926–39: Under the leadership of Augustus ‘Bert’ Bertelli and then investor Gordon Sutherland, Aston Martins beca