Matthew Vale
Lotus Europa
The Essential Buyer's Guide
Published in 2018 by Veloce
ISBN 978 1787112 87 2
​
Veloce's successful 'Essential Buyers Guide' gives the prospective buyer all the information they need to asses a protential purchase. Each book in the series conforms to a set format and provides information and guidance on the models including how to assess the mechanics and the body shell, as well as less tangible elements such as living with the car. Covering the Lotus Europa, produced between 1966 to 1975, this little book is an invaluable help to anyone wanting to purchase a Lotus Europa.
62 Pages with all colour illustrations
Lotus Elan
The Essential Buyer's Guide
Published in 2018 by Veloce
ISBN- 978 1 787112 86 5
​
In the same format and series as the Europa Essential Buyers Guide described above, this book covers the Lotus Elan and Plus 2, produced between 1962 to 1974. As with all the Veloce Buying's Guides this little book is an invaluable help to anyone wanting to purchase a Lotus Elan or Plus 2.
62 Pages with all colour illustrations
Alvis
The Complete Story
Published in 2019 by The Crowood Press
ISBN- 978 1 78500587 9
​
Alvis was formed in 1919, and was an independent manufacturer of cars, aircraft engines and armoured fighting vehicles until the mid 1960s when they were swallowed up by British Leyland. At this point they ceased to make cars and aero engines but continued to produce armoured vehicles, although after a series of takeovers the Alvis name eventually disappeared in 2004. This book covers the whole range of Alvis products, their history and development including the often confusing range of car models of the inter-war years and the innovative front wheel drive cars from that time. Alvis' wartime work is covered and their re-emergence as a manufacturer of up-market cars in the torrid post war years, along with their attempts to break into the armoured fighing vehicle and the mid sized aero engine market is covered in some detail. Owners experiences and recollections of all ages of the cars are recorded.
192 Pages with colour and black and white illustrations
Lotus Europa
Colin Chapman's Mid-Engined Masterpiece
Published in 2019 By Veloce
ISBN- 978 1 787112 84 1
​
The Lotus Europa was supposed to be a cheap sports car to sit below the Lotus Elan, but developed into a small but sophisticated mid engined Grand Tourer. Equipped with a Renault 16 engine and transmission mounted in the middle of the car, it aped the the then state of the art competition car layout but was a GT car, capable of covering suprisingly long distances at surprising high average speeds thanks to its Lotus designed suspension giving the car superlative handling. This book looks at the complete history of the car, starting with its introduction to the European market in left hand drive form only in 1966, its release onto the home market and America, and its evolution into the Lotus Twin Cam powered rocket that was produced up to 1975. Interviews with Mike Kimberly and Oliver Winterbottom give some valuable insights into the development of the Twin Cam powered version of the car. Owners experiences of Series 1, Series 2 and Twin Cam versions of the car complete the story.
160 Pages with mainly colour illustrations
​
Lotus Elan and +2 Source Book
​
Published in December 2020 By Veloce
ISBN 978-1787114593
​
This new book takes a close look at the fabulous Lotus Elan and +2. It is designed to give the owner the information they need to keep their cars in tip top condition, while also assessing the originality of their car and giving them details of modifications to improve reliability and performance. The book is rich with details of common faults and problems and how to fix them based on both the authors experiences of running and restoring several +2s, and the collective experiences of many owners of these iconic cars. It also builds on this fund of knowledge and experience to show identify and describe modifications that can improve the cars. Owners experiences of running, restoring and owning the Elan Series 1, 2, 3, 4 and Sprint and the Plus 2, Plus2S and Plus 2S 130/5 complete the story. If you own or want to own one of these iconic sports cars then this book is a must have. The book is extensively illustrated with colour and black and white photos of the cars today and as they were 'back in the day'.
192 Pages with mainly colour illustrations
Lotus Elite
Colin Chapman's First GT Car
Published in August 2021 By Veloce
ISBN 978-1787115170
​
The Lotus Elite was the first true road oriented GT car produced by Lotus. It was an innovotive design with a glass fibre monocoque body, race derived Coventry Climax engine, and suspension developed from Lotus' first single seat racer. Designed as a GT car that could go racing, it was arguably more of a racer that could be used as a GT car. It offered astonishing performance and roadholding and won its class at the Le Mans 24 hour race 6 times in a row. This book looks at the car's design, development and production, and the author used interviews with ex-Lotus men Warren King and John Frayling and access to Ron Hickman's archive to gain first hand accounts of this fascinating time in Lotus' history. The author also interviewed current owners of Elites, from prototypes though to the final Series 2 models to provide impressions of owning and driving the cars. The book is fully illustrated with both rarly seen original period photos (many supplied by Elite guru Mike Ostrov) and pictures of contemporary cars.
176 Pages with mainly colour illustrations
Aston Martin - The Complete Story
​
Published in Octoder/November 2022 by Crowood
ISBN
​
Aston Martin is a marque that holds a special place in the British motor industry. Having lasted for over 100 years, its history is tied up with the British psyche, and the marque holds a special place in the hearts of all motoring enthusiasts. From the 1920s through to the 1990s the company was racing and producing great cars but it was always teetering on the edge of financial disaster. It was only when Ford stepped in and bought the company that it got the investment it needed to bring it to where it is today, a great British comany producing a world beating range of cars. This book chronicle the story of the company from its early days in the 1920s making small sports cars and racing at Brooklands and further afield, the company's classic cars and its racing activities in the 1930s, and its glory days in the 1950s winning Le Mans. The cars produced in the David Brown era are all covered as well as the Bond cars and troubled times in the 1970s and 1980s when there was a good chance that he company would sink without trace. The resurgence of the name in 1990s through to the current range of cars ends the story for the moment! By looking at the cars, the business and the personalities behind the company, this book provides a history of the company from the early days to 2021.
Approx 200 Pages with mainly colour illustrations