While preparing for its IPO on the London Stock Exchange earlier this month, Aston Martin released a share prospectus targeting potential investors. In this 321-page document, the automaker has revealed some interesting tidbits that were not publically revealed earlier. The one that caught our attention was a $26-million deal wherein someone bought the tooling and design drawings of the outgoing Vanquish grand tourer.

Who Could This Buyer Be?

Apart from a mention that referred to the DBX crossover’s engine, which is a twin-turbo, V-8 that is sourced directly from Mercedes-AMG, the document said that the transaction took place in June this year when Aston Martin received £20 million, or about $26 million from an unnamed buyer. Not just this, the deal also includes an 18-month support from Aston Martin Consulting, in which the company offers consulting services to companies looking to expand their portfolio with a touch of exclusivity. According to Automotive News, the buyer would be a European luxury tuning company; perhaps, an aftermarket specialist that also does coach-built projects and is looking to build its own cars, such as Ares Design or Mansory.

The Vanquish was launched in 2012 as Aston Martin’s flagship GT but was ultimately replaced by the DBS Superleggera earlier this year. The Vanquish came with a V-12 engine, carbon fiber bodywork, a bonded-aluminum platform, and was also offered as a Volante convertible for those that like unlimited headroom. In all likelihood, the buyer will be revealed soon.

So, Aston Martin is making money out of its R&D as well? Not a new trend, but $26 Million is a fairly large amount of cheddar. What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments section below.

Further Reading

Read our full review on the 2018 Aston Martin Vanquish S.

Read our full review on the 2015 Aston Martin Vanquish.