Aston Martin to investigate Works
Aston Martin Lagonda has launched an investigation into Aston Martin Works, following a complaint about the shortening of cars.
Andy Palmer, CEO of Aston Martin, has confirmed that he has started the examination into the practices at Aston Martin’s restoration and heritage sales division, Aston Martin Works, following an emailed letter outlining various concerns with supporting documentation from the Works division.
Aston Martin enthusiast and owner of 3D printing company, 3D Engineers, Stuart Brown, lodged the complaint. He says: ‘ The story here is with cutting and shutting, to use common parlance, of classic cars to make a more desirable model. Doing this is, in fact, devaluing cars as the DVLA is increasingly policing this area of the market well, and people are ending up with Q-plates or worse.’
One example of a possible problem, according to Brown, is Project DP 2155, a standard Aston Martin DB4 that the Works division converted to a modified DB4 GT specification in the 1990s.
Brown says: ‘ The vehicle appears to be incorrectly recorded at the DVLA and may require a Q-plate due to the chassis having been shortened by five inches, as well as other modifications.’
In a letter to Mr Brown, Aston Martin’s Peter Freedman writes: ‘ These cars have been modified at the request of the owners. AM Works ensures that these modifications are properly documented and available for future owners to see if requested. AM Works also works with the national authorities in which the vehicles are registered to ensure they comply with the relevant legislation.
‘ The one exception to this was Design Project ‘DP2155’; the modifications to this vehicle were completed over 20 years ago by Aston Martin Works and complied with all applicable legislation at that time.’
astonmartin.com