In January of 2013 the classic British auto manufacturer, Aston Martin, will be 100 years old, with the 15th of the month marking the exact date on which it was founded by a pair of entrepreneurs who could not have guessed at its significance or longevity.

In its early years, the company was actually known as Bamford & Martin, but the Aston moniker was adopted after one of its founders was successful at a race event behind the wheel of one of his company's cars.

Although Aston Martin has endured an entire century of fluctuating markets and changing fortunes, it has never been a particularly prolific producer of sports cars until the last decade or so.

Models like the Aston Martin Vantage and the famous DB series have helped to keep its name alive, but for nine decades, it produced a total of just 15,000 vehicles.

This means that classic examples of its work are very rare and desirable, while the modern models command premium prices and are chosen by the rich and famous, who know a thing or two about autos.

A number of events held across the globe over the coming year will celebrate the Aston Martin heritage and look forward to another 100 years of its operation.