Aston Martin scores a century in 2013

Aston Martin, the iconic and quintessentially British sports car maker, is celebrating 100 years in operation this year, and MOTOR has put together a highlights gallery of its amazing century.

Like any long-standing business it’s endured financial ups and downs, but the marque’s defining characteristic has always been brutally powerful (as well as stunningly beautiful) GT’s and sports cars.

Motor racing has also been a consistent theme with varying degrees of success in Formula One and sportscar competition. The DBR1 secured the 1959 World Sportscar Championship by winning races such as the Nurburgring 1000km race and 24 hours of Le Mans.