Customer Reviews

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

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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.