Aston Martin

Some marques build cars. Aston Martin has always seemed rather more interested in building aspirations wrapped in aluminium. Equal parts engineering, elegance and effortless cool, the name has become shorthand for British grand touring at its most refined, proving that it is entirely possible to travel at indecent speed while looking as though you’re merely on your way to a particularly civilised lunch.

This sumptuous volume by renowned automotive photographer Rainer W. Schlegelmilch is a visual celebration of one of the world’s most iconic manufacturers. Covering Aston Martin’s remarkable history from its earliest creations through to the modern era, it explores the company’s legendary road cars, racing machines and unforgettable designs with the kind of lavish photography that almost justifies buying a larger coffee table.

The pages are filled with spectacular imagery that captures every elegant curve, polished grille and lovingly sculpted bonnet. Whether it’s the purposeful stance of the DB series, the timeless beauty of the DB5 or the muscular confidence of Aston Martin’s later creations, Schlegelmilch’s photographs remind us why these cars have become automotive royalty. Even standing still, they somehow manage to appear as though they’re arriving somewhere important.

Alongside the stunning photography is an informative history charting Aston Martin’s often turbulent but endlessly fascinating journey. Like many great British manufacturers, the company has enjoyed moments of brilliance, flirted with financial disaster on more than one occasion, survived changes of ownership, economic upheaval and enough business dramas to fill several volumes of their own. Yet somehow, the cars have consistently emerged looking magnificent—as though none of the boardroom excitement had ever happened.

The book balances technical information with accessible commentary, making it equally rewarding for dedicated enthusiasts and casual admirers alike. You needn’t know your Lagondas from your Vantages to appreciate the artistry, craftsmanship and sheer determination that have kept Aston Martin among the most admired names in motoring for well over a century.

Published by Tandem Verlag, this is a beautifully produced volume with crisp printing, quality paper and generous illustrations throughout. It’s the sort of book that invites leisurely browsing, where intending to spend five minutes admiring a photograph somehow turns into an hour spent wondering whether selling absolutely everything you own might just about cover the deposit on an old DB6.

This copy is in As New condition, with immaculate pages, bright covers and a fresh appearance throughout. It presents beautifully and would make an excellent addition to the library of any motoring enthusiast, Aston Martin admirer or collector of high-quality automotive books.

Offered by Crappy Old Books, where the company name promises battered paperbacks rescued from forgotten attics but occasionally produces elegant volumes like this instead. We can’t provide the accompanying country house, tailored driving gloves or secret-agent lifestyle, but this book captures the timeless appeal of Aston Martin rather more economically—and unlike the cars themselves, it won’t require an eye-watering service bill simply for having spent the winter in the garage.

Keep browsing: See more Transport books Other books by Rainer W Schlegelmilch