Sir David Brown

The former chairman of Aston Martin Lagonda, Sir David Brown, passed away at his adopted Monaco home on September 3. He was 89 years old. Brown had wide experience of the engineering and manufacturing industries, being involved in aviation work, nautical programmes and tractor production. In the world of motoring, however, he was best known for his acquisition of Aston Martin, in 1947, to which he added Lagonda the following year.

He remained at the helm of Aston Martin Lagonda until it ran into financial trouble in the early 1970s.

During his chairmanship, one of his most notable achievements was overseeing the DBR1’s victory at Le Mans in 1959, in the hands of Roy Salvadori and Carroll Shelby.

Brown had himself been a keen racer 30 years earlier, but despite occasional successes he was to put his love for the sport second to his commitment to the then flourishing family business.

He is survived by his widow, Paula, a son and a daughter, to whom we extend our sympathies.