Aston Martin and Lagonda: The V-Engined Cars (Crowood Autoclassics) [Hardcover]

David G. Styles (Author)

Book Description

Series: Crowood Autoclassics | Publication Date: January 1995

Over the years, the cars produced by Aston Martin and Lagonda have stayed abreast of technology whilst reigning supreme in terms of quality and reliability. This book concentrates on the v-engined cars, from the Lagonda V12 to the DBS V8, the Aston Martin Lagonda V8 saloon, the V8 Vantage, Volante, the Lagonda V8 and all derivatives up to and including the Virage. There are details of the development and production of the road cars, including specification tables, and the stories, facts and figures behind the competition cars and specials. It also contains tips on owning and caring for your own V8.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Crowood Pr (January 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1852238089
• ISBN-13: 978-1852238087
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,604,183 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good account of Astons' history, but could have been better., February 23, 2000

By 

Daantjie Badenhorst (Pretoria, South Africa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Aston Martin and Lagonda: The V-Engined Cars (Crowood Autoclassics) (Hardcover)

The Aston Martin name became a legend due to the fact that the DB 5 was used in the James Bond movies Goldfinger, Thunderball and, later, Goldeneye. However, not many people outside the UK and the USA know much about the models covered in this book. These include the DBS V8, the V8, the Volante, the Vantage and the Virage. Also covered are the two V8-engined Lagondas. The later model, designed by William Towns was so idiosyncratic that one either loved or hated it, and its history makes for fascinating reading.

The book starts with a history of the company, featuring a short biography of the late Sir David Brown, who later became life president of Aston Martin. The origin of the V8 engine is also given in detail. A complete account of all the V8 models to date is also given, and one wonders how many people know that a Lagonda based on the V8 models, preceded the later William Towns-designed Lagonda by about three years. A fascinating chapter is the one about the Virage-based Zagato, which, unfortunately, was only built in small numbers.

If one can level criticism at this book, the first thing is that not even a photo is published of the Bulldog, which, admittedly, was only a concept model. However, the history of these cars is incomplete without information on this model. Secondly, there are not enough colour photographs, and those that are there, are only of the DBS V8, the Volante, the Lagonda and the Nimrod racing models. One only wonders why the other models, especially the V8 and the Vantage, which were proboably the best-known, are not featured.

In the final analysis, this is a good account of the history of the V8 Aston Martins, but it would probably have been better to concentrate on the V8, Volante and Vantage models. Having said that, this is a good buy for those who are not very familiar with these cars.