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Inside the Aston Martin Heritage Trust, the company's secret museum

The Aston Martin Heritage Trust Museum has been in existence since 2002. It houses the official archives of the Aston Martin Lagonda Company, as well as those of the Aston Martin Owners Club, at the behest of which the Museum was founded back in 1998. It also houses a rotating collection of distinctive and historically significant Aston Martin vehicles, cherry picked from a century of the automaker's exquisite existence. Unfortunately for those besotted with the brand, as I am, the AHMT is located on the periphery of the exurbs of nowhere, in a restored 14th century barn on a dirt road, blocks off the river in the wee Midlands village of Drayton St. Leonard. An address is not published. The only indication that you might be in the right place is an almost intentionally innocuous government tourism placard, placed somewhat near the turnoff. "We used to maybe get a hundred visitors a year before they put up the sign," says AMHT Curator Donna Bannister, an American of equally mysterious provenance. "Now we get almost a hundred per month." Lucky are the souls who find the AMHT (my cabby wasn't among them; I had to walk a bit), because it houses, in its cramped Middle Aged quarters, some real treasures. Greeting me when I entered was a bare-metal-nosed 1921 A3, the oldest existing Aston Martin in the world, which was bought at auction in 2000 and restored to driving condition via the generous underwriting of Sheik Nasser of Kuwait, who is apparently a huge AM collector. "It won Kop Hill in 1923," Bannister says. "We recently took it back there, and to the Windsor Concours d'Elegance. Of course the Royals are big fans of the Aston brand." There's also a 1934 Ulster BLB 684, the only remaining one in a 2+2 configuration. This car is a driver as well. "Club members can hire it out," Bannister says. "Though because it's quite difficult to drive – it has the clutch in the center, and the gas and brake on either side – only a few do." There is a passel of more recent notables, like the 2000 V12 Vanquish cutaway, an auto show maquette meant to demonstrate the fruits of Ford's huge investment in the brand at the start of this century. There's a pre-production, gloss white 2013 Vanquish Volante, which was used for photos and promotion as well, but never registered due to some inconsistencies in the paint. There are display engines from the DB4GT, the Lagonda V8, and the twin-supercharged Vantage (swoon!).

Aston Martin's extremely British DBS Superleggera special edition: DBS 59

Aston Martin just released a new special-edition model called the DBS 59. The name pays respect to Aston Martin's 1-2 finish in the 1959 24 Hours of Le Mans with its DBR1 race cars. This car is based off the 715-horsepower DBS Superleggera, the fastest vehicle in Aston's current lineup. All the changes for the special edition car are visual, but they make for one hell of a stunner. Every DBS 59 will be painted in British racing green and use a plethora of gloss carbon fiber on the exterior. You'll see the carbon on the roof, roof strakes, rear valance, spoiler and hood louvers. To complement the carbon fiber, Aston used bronze accents in some spots like the front grille, badging, brake calipers and wheels. It all comes off as very British, and we're loving the classy looks of it. The interior is actually tri-toned. There are brown and black leather seats, but British racing green trim is found in some areas as an accent. Fabric designed to harken back to the same stuff used on the DBR1 was commissioned for the DBS 59's seat backs and door inserts. You get one of the cooler accessories packages with the car: The rear compartment holds special DBS 59 crash helmets. Period-correct blue race overalls, racing gloves modeled after those worn in the 1959 race, a bespoke two-piece luggage set and a car cover specific to your model number all come with the car. Speaking of model numbers, Aston Martin plans to make 24 of these — you know, because there are 24 hours in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Each car will have a small white painted number next to the side strakes to signify which one you got. All the mechanicals are the exact same as the normal DBS Superleggera. That's totally fine — the Superleggera goes 211 mph. Aston Martin doesn't provide a price, but you can order one now. Our guess is, if you have to ask, you can't afford it. Related video: Featured Gallery Aston Martin DBS 59 Image Credit: Aston Martin Aston Martin Coupe Luxury Performance supercar aston martin dbs superleggera

Aston Martin considering three new model lines

With a new captain at the helm and flush with development cash, Aston Martin is undertaking an ambitious revitalization. The company provided some new details on that plan at the Shanghai Motor Show this week. Called the Second Century plan, the steps outlined by the company's new chief executive Andy Palmer include replacing every model in Aston's lineup by the end of this decade – now less than five years away. That's a pretty aggressive plan, but one that critics would say is sorely needed for a company with a model line as antiquated as Gaydon's. But that's not the end of the story. In addition to replacing its current models, Aston's revitalization plan also calls for adding "up to three new model lines" to its range. Now we already knew that the British automaker is working on bringing the DBX crossover concept to production, as well as a Lagonda sedan more widely available than the strictly limited Taraf. But just what that third model line would be, we don't know at this point. We could be looking at a new sports car, an additional Lagonda model (perhaps a larger crossover) or something else entirely. One thing's for sure, though: Aston isn't about to reskin one of its current models and call it a day as it has been (to considerable effect, mind you) for much of its recent history. It has a new platform under development, a new deal with Mercedes to provide engines and other technologies, and an influx of R&D funds provided principally by its new stakeholder Investindustrial. All of that adds up to a breath of fresh air being blown into the century-old automaker the likes of which it hasn't seen since Ford rescued it from obscurity in the 1990s and gave most of the building blocks it's still using today. ASTON MARTIN LAGONDA LOOKS AHEAD IN CHINA - Asia show debuts for DBX Concept and Lagonda Taraf - Comprehensive product renewal and expansion ahead - Aston Martin underlines commitment to the Chinese market 20 April 2015, Shanghai: Luxury British car brand Aston Martin Lagonda is confidently looking to the future at the 16th Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition, with CEO Dr Andy Palmer leading the company into an exciting new era reaching far into the next decade. For the first time in China the innovative DBX Concept and exclusive Lagonda Taraf were unveiled, spearheading Aston Martin's display at the show.