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I recall when Aston Martin were in difficulties there was no help available,but they just kept going and look at them now.
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Aston Martin have been declared bankrupt numerous times since their inception, it has always been private individuals who have bought them out and continued the name. They have been a roller coaster from day one. They got by with the skill of their craftsmen and the small artisan companies who supplied them. The large suppliers wouldn't touch them with a barge pole; the few that did, did it for the prestige and the photo opportunities.
The "look where they are now" is due entirely to Ford who have backed them since 1988 and owned them outright since 1991. With Ford they have had access to the newer technologies and components that were previously not available to them; Bosch anti-lock brakes for example. They now use Ford test facilities and proving grounds and all Aston Martin employees receive the Ford payroll and benefits. If it wasn't for this support, Astons would probably be just another company who used to make nice cars.
There are 6,000 people at Rover who stand to lose their jobs, another 18,000 in the local area who supply the company are now in danger, some of these have already closed their doors this morning. The impact on the local community cannot be discounted either, the local shops, cafes, supermarkets etc.
At the turn of the 20th century Birmingham was known as The City of a Thousand Trades; if we carry on like this, the entire country will be lucky to have a thousand trades left.
RG /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/england.gif