Glossary of Aston Martin Terms
If you’re new the the fascinating world of Aston Martins, this this glossary may help you. Words like ‘superleggera’ ‘kamm tail’ and ‘cosmetic’ often cause confusion so this section is here to demystify things a little. I have tried to include as many specialised Aston Martin related words as possible plus some others which have caused confusion to visitors in the past. Please do not hesitate to E-mail me if you would like any others words to appear.
In general, the model year for Aston Martin changes following the factory summer shutdown in August of each year. It is a time that updates are often made to the general specification of a car. Sometimes updates are applied mid year which throws up partial model years such as 2016.5MY and 2012.25MY. It’s a handy way to categorize the improvements made to the cars. The 10th character in the VIN is for the model year.
Mohair hooding material is an acrylic based material offering full 100% waterproofing thanks to advanced modern weaving technology.
MIRA was founded in 1946, previously known fully as the Motor Industry Research Association. MIRA has a Technology Park which includes the famous proving ground and test tracks at Nuneaton in Warwickshire.
A prototype project to update the DBS. Styled by William Towns and developed in the wind tunnel to reduce high speed lift. Only the new front end of the design was used on the 1972 AM V8.
A prototype 4 door Lagonda based on the DBS V8 and especially built for Sir David Brown in 1969.
Mansory are a German company, founded in 1989, specialising in the up-rating and individualisation of ‘noble’ British and other premium automobiles – particularly the Bentley Continental GT, Rolls Royce Phantom and from 2005, Aston Martins. In 2009 they also introduced the limited edition Mansory Cyrus, a carbon bodied conversion based on either a DB9 or DBS
Magna Steyr is a contract automotive manufacturer based in Graz, Austria. They were responsible for constructing the Rapide from 2009 until the second quarter of 2012 When production moved to AM headquarters a Gaydon.
UK weekly car magazine, now incorporated with Autocar.
Birmingham coachbuilders who built the bodies for the early DB2/4 and the unique DB2/4 fixed head coupe. As David Brown added, in 1955, the coach building form of Tickfords to Aston Martin and Lagonda, no more Aston Martins received Mulliner coachwork and with the loss of other work, 1960, Mulliners closed down.
Manufacturing Project – like DP. An example is the MP230, the 4 door Lagonda prototype.
