About the Book:

For over 30 years Aston Martins were powered by the company’s emblematic hand-built quad-cam V8 – three tumultuous decades encompassing the firm’s slide towards closure in 1974, its rescue by an American/Canadian/British consortium, and finally its surprise 1987 acquisition by Ford.

V8 enthusiast Rowan Atkinson introduces the book with a glowing foreword, in which he insists, “You will be agog at the depth of the book’s analysis and the extraordinary detail it provides of the history of the V8s.” With over 400 archive images, many previously unseen, the reader is transported behind the scenes of the most fascinating period of Aston Martin’s history. These pictures are accompanied by more than 120 stunning colour photographs of the principal models.

This exhaustively researched book by prize-winning author Russell Hayes spans over 500 pages and covers all the cars, from the first DBS V8 of 1968, the Lagonda of the 70’s to the end of the Virage series in 2000. It includes over 35 illuminating interviews with those who lived through the V8 years, from panel-beaters to former managing directors and celebrity owners. Well-known trade figures share their memories of selling V8s in period, and customers tell of the pleasures and pains of V8 ownership.

Rowan Atkinson writes, “As someone who lived through the era and bought and drove a fair number of Aston V8s, this volume stirs many warm and wonderful memories.”

About the Author:

Russell Hayes originates from Somerset, England and now lives in London. During fourteen years’ of motoring journalism in print, television and online, clients included the BBC's original Top Gear programme, Channel 4's Driven, The Times and London Evening Standard. Since 2007 he's written an eclectic mix of seven motoring history books on subjects as diverse as the story of the Earls Court Motor Show, the Volkswagen Golf, Volkswagen Beetle and Bus, and the Aston Martin V8 cars of 1969-2000. The Lotus, Volkswagen Golf and Volkswagen Beetle and Bus histories are available as German editions. Many of the books were his own concept and he loves nothing better than rooting around in photo archives for that rare image!

About the Publisher:

Palawan Press was established by Simon Draper in 1993, following his retirement as chairman of the Virgin Music Group after its sale to EMI. Reflecting his passion for the special and exotic, Simon named the publishing house after the beautiful Palawan peacock pheasant of the Philippines. Through Palawan Press, Simon set out to publish books of unsurpassed quality – in design, binding, illustration and authorship – of interest to lovers of beautiful things.

All of Palawan’s books are produced to the highest possible standards, using only the finest printers and binders in the UK, Switzerland, Germany and Italy. Production materials are always of the best quality and no detail is overlooked, from the construction of the slipcases to the colour of the ribbon markers. 

Details:

33 x 29 cm, 532 pages 
Presented in a suede-lined solander box encased in dark grey buckram with foil blocking on the front and spine and an aluminium plaque engraved with the book’s number. Includes a signed, specially commissioned print by artist Jeremy Dickinson entitled V8 Transportation.

*IF YOU LIVE IN AUSTRALIA, CANADA OR SWITZERLAND THERE IS AN ADDITIONAL £20 DUTIES CHARGE ON TOP OF POSTAGE. ONE OF OUR BOOKSELLERS WILL BE IN TOUCH AFTER PURCHASE TO TAKE PAYMENT. ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE EMAIL ENQUIRIES@HEYWOODHILL.COM

For more information, email books@heywoodhill.com.