Touring were coachbuilders from Milan in Italy. They were responsible for the design of the body for the DB4 using their patented Superleggera technique.

The Touchtronic II is the name given my Aston Martin for the 6HP26 six speed automatic transmission by there German manufacturer ZF Friedrichshafen. It has been used in the DB9, DBS, earlier examples of the 310 Vanquish and the Rapide. It uses switch by wire technology where the conventional gear leaver is replaced by PRND buttons on the dashboard. Also uses magnesium alloy paddles behind the steering wheel for instant manual F-1 style gear changes.

An optional transmission for the DB7 Vantage (2000MY and on) with three operating modes enabling the driver the choice of standard automatic, sport automatic and a sequential manual mode – ‘Touchtronic’. Touchtronic can be activated by either the gear lever (forward for upshift, back for downshift) or by using steering wheel mounted ‘+’ and ‘-‘ buttons.

Three speed automatic gearbox – made by the US car maker, Chrysler and commonly fitted to the AM V8, AM Lagonda and also the early versions on the Virage.

Tickfords were a coachbuilding firm that was based in Newport Pagnell, formally known as Salmons. Tickford built the bodies for the DB 2/4 Mark II and Mark III after David Brown bought the company in 1954. Subsequently, AML moved to the Tickford Works, Newport Pagnell during the late 1950’s. An engineering company, Aston Martin Tickford was then formed in 1981, based in nearby Milton Keynes and was responsible for the Tickford Lagonda, engines for the Nimrod racing car and both the Tickford Capri and Metro. Tickford finally split from AML in 1984.  Nowadays, Tickfords are most well known for high performance Fords for the Australian market although this operation is now called Performance Vehicles following sale to Ford. Tickford had been owned by Prodrive but is no longer following a management buy-out in December 2006 becoming Tickford Test Technology – who were then acquired by Intertek Automotive Testing, Validation & Certification.

The former AML factory in Newport Pagnell still straddles ‘Tickford Street’, and is close to Tickford Bridge and the site of the former Tickford Abbey.

A paddle gear shift mechanism, developed by Prodrive and linked to a manual gearbox on the 2007MY V8 Vantage. First shown in late 2006 as an option for cars built from the second quarter of 2007. More recently developed into the improved Sportshift II as fitted to the V8 Vantage and V8 Vantage S from 2012 and Sportshift III in the V12 Vantage S.

A process using heat and pressure to form the body panels for the V12 Vanquish and many VH architecture cars (V8 Vantage, DB9 & Rapide).

The doors of the DB9 and other VH architecture cars open upwards at an angle of 12 degrees. These allow improved access to the cabin and may also assist with self closing.

You may notice that as you tour this site, certain models are sub divided into several series (DB4, AM V8 in particular). These are not official factory designations but were derived by the AMOC to make life easier in identifying various improvements to the cars.

The mock-Tudor former offices of Aston Martin situated on the ‘sunny side’ of Tickford Street in Newport Pagnell. This building was not destroyed when most of the rest of the factory was knocked down in 2007/8.