With a record breaking 702 Aston Martin’s, the 31 August 2024 Aston Martin Heritage Festival was the best yet. Celebrating 90 years of the Ulster and MKII together with 30 years of the DB7 (where 198 including some very special editions and one-offs appeared), the 2000 + visitors witnessed the Aston Martin Heritage Trust aim to share the heritage and passion of Aston Martin, via the cars, the people and the stories.
With this year’s innovation of a professional stage and huge diamond screen, such stories could be seen and heard throughout the British Motor Museum arena with several prominent personnel from AML’s past.
In the first of a series of interviewee recording extracts from the Festival, we were delighted to introduce Dr Ulrich Bez on the stage. He was Chairman and CEO at Aston Martin Lagonda from 2000 to 2014. During that period, a new factory opened in 2003 at Gaydon, which is still the AML HQ, also incorporating its first dedicated Design Studio. With a production run in excess of 50,000 cars, lifted from the introduction of the DB9 and V8 Vantage. Dr Bez also took the DB7 Vantage to the end-of-life phase via the GT/GTA variants and DB7 Zagato and right up to the end of the model ceasing production in 2004.
With expert motoring historian and professional presenter, Wayne Scott as main host, we hear what he thought of Aston Martin while he was at Porsche, his early days at Bloxham, dealing with strikes, relationship with Ford, the Cygnet, AML becoming independent, motor-racing and much more. Plus his views on electric cars and hydrogen powered vehicles.
An enthralling conversation on stage, that was booked for 30 minutes but extended to 45 minutes as it was so fascinating hearing his recollections and opinions. If you were there and want a reminder, or missed the Festival, this podcast relives that conversation.
Main Host: Wayne Scott
Guest: Dr Ulrich Bez
Producer: Garry Taylor
