[ABOVE] The facility is set across three levels, occupying one of the former MoD hangars at St Athan. Above the ground-level final inspection booths, bodyshells go through the paint facility’s cleaning zone before entering the clinical environment. 

Applying a base coat to a DB11 Volante bodyshell. After the primer and base coat, a final clear coat is applied to achieve deep, rich body colour.

A DBX bodyshell leaves the facility to go into assembly. 

This is Aston Martin’s Painted Body Store, or Automated Stock Retrieval System. Here, bodyshells are automatically stored and retrieved as they progress through the three-stage paint shop system. 

A view of Aston Martin St Athan’s Vehicle Inspection Area. 

This story is an extract from an article featured in the AM48 issue of Aston Martin magazine, out now. If you're not already a subscriber, visit magazine.astonmartin.com/magazine-subscription so that you can read the full story.