Editing Aston Martin (section)

=== 1972–1975: William Willson ===
[[File:1986 Aston Martin V580 engine from the rear.jpg|thumb|The Tadek Marek-designed V8 engine was a mainstay of the Aston Martin lineup for decades, and was built from 1969 until 2000.]]

Aston Martin was often financially troubled. In 1972, David Brown paid off all its debts, said to be £5&nbsp;million or more, and handed it for £101 to Company Developments, a [[Birmingham]]-based investment bank consortium chaired by accountant [[William Willson (businessman)|William Willson]].<ref>{{cite journal|title=News and Comment: Aston Martin changes hands |volume=136 |journal=Autocar |issue=3960 |page=2 |date=9 March 1972}}</ref> More detail on this period may be read at [[William Willson (businessman)|Willson's biography]]. The [[1973–75 recession#United Kingdom|worldwide recession]], lack of [[working capital]] and the difficulties of developing an engine to meet [[California Smog Check Program|California's exhaust emission]] requirements – it stopped the company's US sales – again pulled Aston Martin into receivership at the end of 1974. The company had employed 460 workers when the manufacturing plant closed.<ref name=TT59502>Receiver is called in at Jensen Motors. ''The Times'', Tuesday, 16 September 1975; p. 17; issue 59502.</ref>