{"title":"Books by Russell Hayes","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"9780760393741","title":"The Complete Book of Volkswagen GTI","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eTake a visually thrilling joy ride through the complete history and influence of one of the most enduring and pleasurable consumer-focused sports cars of all time.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eVW has sold over 2.5 million Golf GTIs across eight generations since its debut in 1975 as a 1976 model, and the car remains popular with both seasoned and newer collectors, including Gen X and Millennial enthusiasts. Celebrating 50 years of continuous production, \u003ci\u003eThe Complete Book of Volkswagen GTI \u003c\/i\u003eis the ultimate resource for the sportier side of VW enthusiasts and racing fans. This comprehensive book features:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA look back at the GTI’s rich racing history, including World Rally, Touring Car, and other categories\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDetails on other performance models like the Scirocco, Corrado, Golf R32, Jetta GLI, and more\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLavishly illustrated pages \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Complete Book of Volkswagen GTI\u003c\/i\u003e will delight and inspire any classic racing fan and VW enthusiast in your life.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56294803308917,"sku":"9780760393741","price":38.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780760393741_40231932-452f-4fd2-97e7-18f916dc3a49.jpg?v=1786016388"},{"product_id":"9781910505601","title":"Aston Martin","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAston Martin is the Great British survivor among car manufacturers.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCreated as Bamford \u0026amp; Martin in 1913, Aston Martin’s subsequent century-long existence has seen the company go bust seven times, win the Le Mans 24 Hours and become indispensable transport for a certain movie spy. This comprehensive and timely two-volume study by \u003cb\u003eRussell Hayes\u003c\/b\u003e covers Aston Martin’s adventure from the very beginning, setting the cars in context with the changing automotive world and rivals, and adding insights from contemporary road tests and first-hand accounts from recent company personalities. Fourteen chapters make sense of every Aston Martin for both the cognoscenti and the uninitiated, supported by a lavish array of photographs.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBeginnings, 1913–26: Robert Bamford and Lionel Martin started producing small sporting cars that showed prowess in racing.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Bertelli and Sutherland eras, 1926–39: Under the leadership of Augustus ‘Bert’ Bertelli and then investor Gordon Sutherland, Aston Martins became rakish road cars bred through racing endeavor, notably at Le Mans.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe early David Brown cars, 1948–59: A glorious period unfolded under tractor magnate David Brown, with the fine DB2 family of road cars and a serious racing programme that culminated in victory at Le Mans in 1959, plus Lagondas.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe new six-cylinder cars, 1958–69: The superb DB4 was followed by the DB5, which shot the company’s image into orbit thanks to James Bond in Goldfinger, then DB6 and DBS completed the line.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA family tree of V8s, 1969–2000: Despite numerous ups and downs, Aston Martin’s big hand-built V8 engine powered an enduring family of super-exclusive cars with evocative names like Vantage, Volante and Zagato, plus the ‘wedge’ Lagonda.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eInto the big time with Ford, 1987–2007: The all-new and very successful DB7 began a revival, leading to a new V12 engine, the mighty Vanquish and then the ‘VH’ cars including the DB9, V8 Vantage, Rapide and many specials.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA successful return to racing with the DBR9 and the Vantage GTE is given a dedicated chapter.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe rollercoaster continues, 2007 to date: From purchase by a consortium led by Prodrive boss David Richards to Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll’s present-day stewardship, Aston Martin’s activities have been enormously varied, even embracing an SUV (the luxury DBX) and a Formula 1 programme.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFull specifications are included and appendices cover the James Bond Astons and ‘continuation’ cars.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis major book, a labor of love for its author, is the last word on Aston Martin and is presented to the highest standards as two volumes in a cloth-bound slipcase.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56420189307253,"sku":"9781910505601","price":195.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781910505601_e1fbbc1d-408e-4582-a471-c879d0046941.jpg?v=1786029280"},{"product_id":"audi-s-and-rs","title":"Audi S and RS","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCelebrate 50 years of speed, innovation, and precision engineering in this stunningly illustrated collector’s tribute to Audi’s high-performance icons—S and RS.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eFrom the legendary Quattro rally cars of the 1980s to the modern RS e-tron GT, \u003ci\u003eAudi S and RS\u003c\/i\u003e charts the complete evolution of Audi’s most coveted performance line. Authored by Russell Hayes, this lavish history showcases \u003cb\u003emore than 200 photographs\u003c\/b\u003e spanning concept sketches, race victories, and today’s precision-built super sedans and Avants. Discover how RennSport (“racing sport”) became synonymous with understated power and design discipline—and how Audi translated its World Rally Championship dominance into street-legal innovation.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTake a visually thrilling ride through:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eQuattro’s Rally Heritage\u003c\/b\u003e—The 1980 debut that changed motorsport forever, with victories by Hannu Mikkola, Walter Röhrl, Michèle Mouton, and Stig Blomqvist.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eThe Birth of RS\u003c\/b\u003e—The rare 1994 RS 2 Avant, co-developed with Porsche, establishing Audi’s performance DNA.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eS and RS Icons\u003c\/b\u003e—From S4 and RS 6 Avant to the R8 and RS e-tron GT, every generation combining German engineering precision with daily-driver practicality.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eDesign and Technology\u003c\/b\u003e—Audi’s aluminum spaceframes, quattro all-wheel drive, turbocharging, and electrification—all explored through insider analysis and high-impact photography.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eFull Technical Specifications\u003c\/b\u003e—complete tech specs for every generation of S and RS.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAudi S and RS\u003c\/i\u003e is the definitive visual and historical record of Audi’s pursuit of performance excellence. Whether you’re a collector, designer, or lifelong enthusiast, this beautifully produced hardcover delivers the craftsmanship, authority, and aesthetic detail that have helped define Audi for decades.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57504986300789,"sku":"9781577157656","price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781577157656.jpg?v=1786953907"}],"url":"https:\/\/backstory.london\/collections\/author-russell-hayes.oembed","provider":"Backstory","version":"1.0","type":"link"}