The CC100 features extremely modern styling, but has been strongly influenced by the DBR1 race car. It has no doors as such although it does have a panel that lifts to assist with entry and exit. There is also no roof and an entirely exposed cabin. During development, the CC100 was known internally as the DBR100 which would appear to be a very suitable name indeed, one wonders why it wasn’t used on the completed car itself.

The CC100 shares the AM11 type engine with the other Gen4 cars although the specific power output of the CC100 was not disclosed. What has been shared is the performance with a claimed limited top speed of 180mph and 0-60 mph dash in under 4 seconds. A little research has shown that the car was actually based on the new V12 Vantage S together with the new Prodrive developed  7-speed Sportshift III gearbox.

As well as the Nürburgring demonstration, the first CC100 was displayed at Gaydon during Centenary Week and took it’s place as the last car on the Centenary Timeline at Kensington Palace in July 2013. Four weeks later, CC100 was shown on the Concept Lawn during the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegence in Monterey in California.

Whilst the first car with yellow accents was built to celebrate the firm’s centenary, the second commemorates the legendary win by the DBR1 in the 1959 Nürburgring 1000km with Stirling Moss at the wheel. This second car was completed for an enthusiast owner before the end of 2013. The second car was also painted in Alloro Green but has blue accents and a black interior. This second car was hidden from view for a while but eventually was shown to the public during 2017. The photographs below were taken at the opening of the new AML facility at St Athan in South Wales.

This has been the most ambitious project yet created by ‘Q by Aston Martin’ although more unique cars will no doubt follow in due course.

Mansory have  tuned the 5.2-litre V12 engine to a claimed 700 horsepower and 850 Nm of torque thanks to new engine mapping, a sports air filter and a stainless steel sports exhaust system.

To my eyes the Cyrus looks taller than the original car but as it’s on 35mm lower springs and ultra low profile tyres, maybe it’s just the size of the front grille that gives that effect.

Although I couldn’t look at the interior at the show, Mansory craftsman gave the featured car Silver leather upholstery with green Alcantara trimming and stitching. The interior has a huge range of carbon fibre trim pieces, new illuminated door entry sill plates, and a flat bottomed, redesigned sports steering wheel.

The Mansory Cyrus DB11 is currently available as a complete conversion although it’s also possible just to buy the individual accessories and fit them yourself.

If you like the DB11 Cyrus, have a look at the Startech 160 which was displayed on an adjacent stand at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show. 

The car was a 2 seater with a sporting body which it is believed carried the chassis number A1. The engine was a 1389cc 4 cylinder side value and was built for Bamford and Martin by the Coventry Simplex company.

Sadly it was last registered for the road in 1928 and has not been seen since. It is thus presumed that the car has been lost forever.

This Photograph has been kindly provided by the Aston Martin Heritage Trust

The design team and design engineers worked for six months to create the new addition to the Vision Gran Turismo stable of race cars. Clearly pushing the boundaries of what an Aston Martin could be, DP-100 not only looks beautiful but also boasts a high degree of engineering integrity. It is suggested that the car is powered by a mid-engind twin-turbo V12, with up to 800 bhp, endowing it with blistering performance; this also suggests a potential future engine for road car use.

As with the 2013 CC100 Speedster Concept, many of the design cues visible in DP-100, such as the light blade rear lamps, could also feed through into future sports cars that Aston Martin will launch in the future so the importance of this project should not be underestimated.

Although only existing in the virtual world and as a finished full sized rolling model, the DP-100 would, if real, be only the second Aston Martin to be shown with this configuration, the other example being the Bulldog, built in 1980. 

Images below are copyright Aston Martin & Gran Turismo

A3 is now owned by the Aston Martin Heritage Trust (AMHT) and has from 2006 undergone a full rebuild back to 1921 specification by Ecurie Bertelli. This has included the black paint which lead to it having a pet name that would not be considered suitable in this day and age. All of the Works Cars of Bamford and Martin had pet names, something started by Lionel Martin’s wife, Kate. This tradition continues to this day as many owners still give their Aston Martins a pet name.

A3 is not a particularly, powerful car with only a 1.5 litre 11 hp four cylinder side valve engine but in 1923 was able to lap Brooklands at 84.5 mph.

Pictures of unrestored A3 were taken at the joint headquarters of the AMOC/AMHT in Oxfordshire (alongside the Trusts Ulster) and also whilst A3 was on display within the showroom at Aston Martin Works Service for the 2005 Bonhams/AML auction.

By 2006 and the AMHT have had some work done on A3 which gives a better impression how the car will look when finished. The bonnet was polished aluminium and the coachwork has been painted black.

One photograph below was taken at the 2006 Classic British Welcome at a village called Saint Saturnin just North of Le Mans town. It’s a free event held each year just before the the 24 hour race with displays of classics (2006 was Astons year) food, a bar, entertainment. Highly recommended to gently introduce you to the race weekend of the year.

As a way to partly fund the restoration, the AMHT sold a model A3, as to what it would look like once compleated.

And the final pictures show A3 as it is in 2013 on the occasion of the Aston Martin Centenary as the first car on the 100 car timeline

The Shadow Edition was available in six standard colours (Onyx Black, Stratus White, Divine Red, Sabiro Blue, Xenon Grey, and Magnetic Silver) and as an option, the roof and cantrails could be specified in gloss black instead of being body coloured.

Avaiable in both Coupe and Volante coachwork, the Shadow Edition was limited to 300 examples.

The engine fitted to Razor Blade was a spare 16 valve 1.5 litre twin cam as used in the 1922 French GP cars producing around 55 bhp. The specially made chassis was somewhat unusual as it was inswept at the rear and a narrow 3ft. track so this ‘crab looking’ car was notoriously difficult to handle. The smooth and sleek aluminium coachwork was made by the De Havilland aircraft company as B&M were an engineering company not able to make car bodies.

It was the intention of Lionel Martin to make Razor Blade the first light car to exceed 100 mph in an hour but unfortunately, an AC piped Razor Blade to the post. This did not deter Martin and the car became a successful Brooklands racer. In the hands of Major Frank Halford, a De Havilland engineer, Razor Blade achieved victory in it’s first race in August 1923 at the BARC Meeting, lapping at over 98 mph. Later in the year, Razor Blade achieved records in both the standing start mile (74.12 mph driven by Kensington-Moir) and kilometer (66.54 mph driven by Frank Halford).

There is reason to believe that the BRDC badge, that was designed by S.C.H. “Sammy” Davis, features the image of Razor Blade. S.C.H. Davis was in time, one of the Bentley Boys, motorsport editor of ‘The Autocar’, works AM driver and also a little later designed the Aston Martin wings badge.

Quite appropriate that this car which has so much Brooklands history is now on permanent display at the Brooklands Museum in the Jackson shed and although it lives in a museum, Razor Blade is still occasionally used in Vintage Motorsport. Many of the photographs on this page were taken in the run up to the Aston Martin Centenary Celebrations when the car was parked up in Perks Field with the exclusive London street of Kensington Palace Gardens in the background. Although built as race car and not displaying registration plates in my photographs, Razor Blade is actually British road registered and carries the plate XO9958.

Led by Aston Martin Chief Creative Officer, Marek Reichman, the design team worked closely with the film’s director, Sam Mendes, to create the ultimate car for the world’s most famous spy. Celebrating the great British brand’s half century with Bond, which started with the iconic DB5, the DB10 gave an accurate glimpse to the future design direction for the next generation of Aston Martins.

Dr Andy Palmer, CEO of Aston Martin, said: “In the same year that we celebrate our 50-year relationship with 007, it seems doubly fitting that today we unveiled this wonderful new sports car created especially for James Bond. To be partnering once again with EON Productions is great news for this company and for everyone around the world that loves to see Bond at the wheel of an Aston Martin. I’m incredibly proud of everyone in the team at Gaydon who have brought this special project from concept to reality.”

Production was strictly limited to 10 of the bespoke sports cars, 8 for use in the film and two fully engineered cars for promotional purposes.  As you might expect for Bond film, quite a few of the 8 ended up sadly smashed or modified beyond recognition.

Non-driving mock-up

This example is nothing more than a rolling shell and was seen at the 2016 Aston Martin Owners Club Concours and in the factory in 2017. Another example is on public exhibition at the Bond in Motion Exhibition, Covent Garden, London.

Stunt 3, a partial car

Below are photos of a very interesting DB10, the partial car is identified as ‘Stunt 3’. It is currently on display at ‘Bond in Motion‘, an exhibition of many 007 vehicles in Covent Garden, London.

Fully Engineered Vehicle (Film Stunt Car)

This DB10 is a fully driving stunt vehicle and was photographed at the 2016 Aston Martin Festival at Burleigh House in Lincolnshire.

Fully Engineered Vehicle (Promotional Show Car)

There were two remaining cars not actually used in the film but retained for promotional work. This example and the final car sold by Christies at a special auction for £2.4 million in February 2016. The car was photographed before the auction in the window of Harrods in Kensington, January 2016.

No technical details were initially given for the DB10 but it is strongly believed that the car is based on the 4.7 litre V8 Vantage with unique carbon-fibre coachwork. Interestingly, the styling of there DB10 showcased the look of the new AM6 Vantage, launched late in 2017.

Spectre was released on 6 November 2015 and has become one of the most successful films of the Bond franchise so far.

The film is reported to have destroyed £25m worth of cars during shooting although it is believed that all ten DB10 cars survived.