Aston Martin is a prestigious name known far and wide beyond the UK. Although only few have the privilege of owning it (current models go for about £120,000), the name is universally recognized, even among those who are not all too familiar with sports cars.

Established in the UK nearly a century ago in 1914, Aston Martin is named after its founder Lionel Martin as well as Aston Hill, where Martin frequently raced. The first Aston Martin vehicle was built by fitting a Coventry-Simplex engine into a 1908 Isotta-Fraschini chassis. The company was established upon the belief that cars should have their own individual character, and as such, Aston Martin cars are hand-built to provide its drivers with a unique driving experience. This tradition continues even today, despite the company changing hands several times. Driving any number of new cars is a great experience, driving an Aston Martin – you’ll be lost for words.

The car maker has seen several instances of bankruptcy and business failure, but it still has endured throughout the years. After a couple of company failures, the original founder Lionel Martin left the company, after which it was taken over by a group of investors who took ownership of the Aston Martin name, even though the original Aston Martin cars were no longer in production. In those decades it again switched ownership several times, during which it spent a few years with Ford being its parent company.

Current production models include the V8 Vantage, the DB9 Coupe, the DB9 Volante, the Rapide, and the DBS. The Aston Martin name has probably been made the most famous by its various appearances in the James Bond film series. The DB5 appeared in 1964’s Goldfinger, and most recently, the Vanquish was featured in 2002’s Die Another Day. Other films to feature Aston Martin cars were the original version of The Italian Job (1969) and The Birds, a 1963 Alfred Hitchcock film.

With its centennial celebration coming up, Aston Martin has a lot to celebrate, despite its ups and downs as a company. Although the company itself has changed hands several times throughout the years, the Aston Martin brand remains one of the most prominent names in luxury sports cars today.