The Austin Pedal Car Story – Heritage Edition

Description

The fascinating history of Austin’s J40 and Pathfinder from 1946 to present day
By David Whyley
Limited to just 10 copies
The Heritage Edition of which there are just 10 in total is an even more special production. The books are hand-bound in the style of a traditional journal or ledger with a mix of red and tan leather, representing the most popular period J40 paint and trim colours. The book title is blocked in gold on the face and spine. Marbled end-papers and page edges add to the traditional feel. This edition will be signed by the author David Whyley, Mike Sheehan (Bargoed Factory Manager, 1952-1954), David Hook (the last manager at the factory before it closed) Ted French (winner of the 1954 J40 race at Silverstone) and Marcia Blake (Née Ash) (daughter of one of the designers).
The book sits in a double-welled hand-made solander box which is covered in cloth upon which is printed a photograph of the dashboard. The box is lined with a mix of cloth and suedel. Opening the box, one is presented with a genuine flat pressing of a J40 grille with a very special gold plated badge, mounted on a hinged leaf. Below the grille is a brass plated plaque authenticating this. Under this leaf resides a buckram-bound portfolio containing brand new prints of original documents, to include a rarely seen brochure from the opening of the factory in 1949. The portfolio being tied with appropriately-coloured ribbon.