James Bond isn’t the only Englishman to take pride in his Aston Martin.
Gentlemen may not necessarily prefer blondes, but they almost always fall for an Aston Martin. Call it social conditioning, call it status seeking, but given the choice between, say, a Volvo and a classic sports car, 99% of businessmen wouldn’t give the four-door family saloon a second glance.
Property men seem particularly afflicted by a passion for sports cars. Among the fleet of Ferraris, Jaguars and Porsches, that classic symbol of English virility – the Aston Martin – has a special appeal. Gordon Edington of BAA has one, Roger Carey, lately of Slough Estates, has two (top right), the Grantchester directors own a clutch of them (bottom left), while David Lunson and Neil Mitchenall of Lunson Mitchenall use their Astons as company cars.
Grantchester chairman Paul Whight is responsible for passing the Aston bug to his fellow directors. Two years ago the addiction became official when Granchester started sponsoring the Aston Martin Owners’ Club “Post-War” race series. “It started out as a corporate entertaining and advertising idea,” explains director Chris Evans. “But now three of us race in the series as well and we have bought a company car -1961 DB4 – especially for the races.”
Evans describes the racing circuit as “very civilised and friendly . . . Although it is very competitive, people respect their cars, so there’s less chance of a pile-up.”
Roger Carey likens his affection for the make to a love affair: “I bought a 1954 DB2/4 in 1980 and it was the great love of my life until I met a 1962 model. Last year I took the new mistress and the old wife to Le Mans for the Aston Martin Owners’ Club’s 60th anniversary and we had a marvellous time.”
He denies that the affair is an expensive hobby: “I’ve been lucky. Because I bought at the right time I’ve not really experienced much depreciation.”
Neil Mitchenall agrees that Astons are not expensive to buy, but admits they are not practical city cars. His enthusiasm dates back to his time at Erdman Lewis. “When we left Erdmans to set up on our own, the car and our houses were our collateral. In fact, the car was known as ‘the firm’s DB6 collateral’,” he explains.
At the time, Aston prices were rising every year so he was able to swop his car for a newer model. “One year I lent David my old car while he looked around for a new Jaguar. He’s still got it – it’s got 150,000 miles on the clock, but they go forever.”
Mitchenall is reluctant to disclose the secret allure of Astons to property men: “Maybe it’s because we are all a bit extrovert,” he suggests.
