Aston Martin: Hand Built in... the USA? Would you buy it?
Aston Martin: Hand Built in... the USA? Would you buy it?

Poll: Aston Martin: Hand Built in... the USA? Would you buy it?

Total Members Polled: 28

Yes: 18%
No: 82%
Author
Discussion

KarlFranz

Original Poster:

2,008 posts

300 months

Monday 27th April 2015
quotequote all
Read an article on GTSpirit over the weekend that Palmer is considering assembling some models of future cars in the USA. I live here and even I'm not sure I would like that. Would the engine inspection plaque say "Hand Built in the USA"? Hmm.

So would you buy an Aston if it was assembled here? Bear in mind that many cars from manufacturers such as Honda, Toyota, BMW, Mercedes and countless others are actually assembled in plants here in the US already. Would it make a difference to you?

Also, this got me thinking, back when the Rapide was assembled in Germany, what did the inspection plaque on those cars say?

petop

2,408 posts

196 months

Monday 27th April 2015
quotequote all
I thought the plaques relate to the final inspection etc which would of been done in UK?





Edited this about 4 times being a mong!

Edited by petop on Monday 27th April 19:27

KarlFranz

Original Poster:

2,008 posts

300 months

Monday 27th April 2015
quotequote all
petop said:
I thought the plaques relate to the final inspection etc which would of been done in UK?
Cars built in Germany were not inspected in the UK.

Here's what the plaque looks like (with a bit of Photoshop from yours truly) biggrin


Johnny42

183 posts

149 months

Monday 27th April 2015
quotequote all
The sill plaques say 'Hand built in England'. However this means they are assembled here, the engine is put together in Germany, the gearbox is Italian and so on. I don't think it matters where they are thrown together, they aren't put together by craftsmen anymore.

vankypanky

526 posts

215 months

Monday 27th April 2015
quotequote all
im in the UK and drive an American muscle car made in Austria from German parts built by Polish people.
i got over it

Horts

236 posts

180 months

Monday 27th April 2015
quotequote all
AML's brand is built on its British heritage which I can only think by off shoring production will demean what is sold as a quintessentially English motor car. Let's face it, Rapide build wasn't off shored for too long before Bez brought it back to Gayden.

Horts

Jockman

18,414 posts

190 months

Monday 27th April 2015
quotequote all
petop said:
I thought the plaques relate to the final inspection etc which would of been done in UK?





Edited this about 4 times being a mong!

Edited by petop on Monday 27th April 19:27
Ross, how can you edit 4x yet still use the word 'of' instead of 'have' ?????

Edit: Just noticed you are ex-army. I firmly believe that we need to use the word 'of' a lot more in our sentences yes

BravoV8V

1,858 posts

204 months

Monday 27th April 2015
quotequote all
Why on earth not? The engines are all built in Germany anyway.

Can't you be trusted to build a decent car in the US of A? tongue outwink

petop

2,408 posts

196 months

Monday 27th April 2015
quotequote all
Jockman said:
petop said:
I thought the plaques relate to the final inspection etc which would of been done in UK?





Edited this about 4 times being a mong!

Edited by petop on Monday 27th April 19:27
Ross, how can you edit 4x yet still use the word 'of' instead of 'have' ?????

Edit: Just noticed you are ex-army. I firmly believe that we need to use the word 'of' a lot more in our sentences yes
Blame it on the fact i spend all day with US military (mainly their Army) who, as we know, use their own version of "limey"!!

petop

2,408 posts

196 months

Monday 27th April 2015
quotequote all
BravoV8V said:
Why on earth not? The engines are all built in Germany anyway.

Can't you be trusted to build a decent car in the US of A? tongue outwink
Apparently not!

V8LM

5,560 posts

239 months

Monday 27th April 2015
quotequote all
KarlFranz said:
Also, this got me thinking, back when the Rapide was assembled in GermanyAustria, what did the inspection plaque on those cars say?
Some history there...

KarlFranz

Original Poster:

2,008 posts

300 months

Monday 27th April 2015
quotequote all
V8LM said:
KarlFranz said:
Also, this got me thinking, back when the Rapide was assembled in GermanyAustria, what did the inspection plaque on those cars say?
Some history there...
Good point. Still doesn't answer my question, though.

V8LM

5,560 posts

239 months

Monday 27th April 2015
quotequote all
My answer to the poll was no.

KarlFranz

Original Poster:

2,008 posts

300 months

Monday 27th April 2015
quotequote all
V8LM said:
My answer to the poll was no.
Mine too. But I was referring to the question of what the inspection plaque on early Rapides say.

Speedraser

1,712 posts

213 months

Monday 27th April 2015
quotequote all
I'm in the US, and I think it could be built extremely well. I don't care. An Aston Martin should be built (or at least "assembled") in the UK. Don't abandon heritage -- it's part of what makes Aston Martin special and different from other cars. Also, the notion of increased "synergies" with M-B is disturbing. For me, the most bothersome part of that story is the bit about sharing a platform with M-B. That, for me, is an absolute non-starter.

V8LM

5,560 posts

239 months

Monday 27th April 2015
quotequote all
KarlFranz said:
V8LM said:
My answer to the poll was no.
Mine too. But I was referring to the question of what the inspection plaque on early Rapides say.


http://www.glossworks.ca/archives/477

Would I buy an Aston Martin glued together in the USA? No. Would I buy one glued together in the UK? Other than the Vanquish I have, not sure. Probably not. Do I hold the Vanquish I have in the same regard as the Vantages or Aston Martins before? No.

For me, Aston Martin is not about the name or the location. It's not directly about how it is built either. To me, Aston Martin made cars that no one else did. How they achieved this (in a shed nailed together by Arthur, Terry, Shaun, Ray, etc) is secondary, although in hindsight intimately linked as it couldn't have happened any other way. Or happen again, unfortunately.

Jon39

14,943 posts

173 months

Monday 27th April 2015
quotequote all

KarlFranz said:
Read an article on GTSpirit over the weekend that Palmer is considering assembling some models of future cars in the USA.
I was surprised to read the above.

Dr. Palmer seems to have lots of ideas for AML, many of which involve considerable capital expenditure. The crucial time though will be after the launch of the DB9 and Vantage replacements. A strong sales increase will be needed to prove the revival plan is working.

Re. sales in China. I read today a rather worrying report about a Range Rover Evoke model being exhibited at a motor show in China. On a stand at the other end of the exhibition hall, was a look-a-like Evoke for one third of the price. It was suggested that nothing can be done about it.

Have just had a thought about USA assembly. 1. Talk of AML SUV. 2 Links now with Mercedes. 3. Think one of the M-B SUVs is built in USA. Hmmmm.





Edited by Jon39 on Monday 27th April 22:17

KarlFranz

Original Poster:

2,008 posts

300 months

Monday 27th April 2015
quotequote all
Jon39 said:
I was surprised to read the above.

Dr. Palmer seems to have lots of ideas for AML, many of which involve considerable capital expenditure. The crucial time though will be after the launch of the DB9 and Vantage replacements. A strong sales increase will be needed to prove the revival plan is working.

Re. sales in China. I read today a rather worrying report about a Range Rover Evoke model being exhibited at a motor show in China. On a stand at the other end of the exhibition hall, was a look-a-like Evoke for one third of the price. It was suggested that nothing can be done about it.

Have just had a thought about USA assembly. 1. Talk of AML SUV. 2 Links now with Mercedes. 3. Think one of the M-B SUVs is built in USA. Hmmmm.
DBX, exactly.

Here's a link from Autocrat which has more detail:
http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/industry/aston-m...