Once these development cars have finished their life, they are usually scrapped totally. There are two main reasons for this. Firstly, to prevent any sub-standard or worn-out components being re-used on a car. And secondly, once scrapped, the car manufacturer can reclaim the VAT it has spent on the cost of the car. Many of the pictures below were taken in 2000 and 2001 of the ‘scrap yard’ at the back of the Newport Pagnell factory that is normally well off limits to the public. Most had been removed and scrapped by 2002.

In addition to the cars stored at the factory, which were subsequently destroyed, six engineering  prototypes were sold off to special customers on the understanding that they would not be put on the road. Most but not all of these cars have been converted to race car spec although non has yet seen use in competition. One car that has been completed back to road spec is the silver DB7 engineering prototype, DP004 (below) which is part of a collection at Nobel House, the Dutch Aston Martin Heritage specialist.