(fair warning: long post with lots of photos)

I wanted to share my AMV8 treasure that I bought off of EBAY about 5 months ago. While searching for any marketing materials for the 2006 AMV8 I came across this little jem. It's a press information kit for the Concept car that we all know and love as the V8 Vantage. I think this was 2004-2005 Kit that was given to key members of the reporting Media during an unveiling event.




As you can see it's a satin fabric hard-covered booklet that slips nicely into an enclosed carton with a metallic luster glossy finish.





As some already know Henrik Fisker was the designer behind the AMV8's beautiful lines inside and out. This book has several pages that cover his creative direction and this book includes copies his hand sketches. These are reproduced on matte watercolor paper with white ink.

 

Continued:

The book continues with fly sheet paper with graphite metallic ink on the CAD renderings for the AMV8.



The last section features photos of the actual concept vehicle that was shown in person to the press. Take a close look at how close the concept was to the finished product that we now have! Notice the difference in the bright work around the windows, The headlamps, the treatment to the rear tail lenses, and the filler cap. The wheels are horrid!






The seats are also not so great. A woven fabric inset from the caramel colored leather.

 

Continued: final part.

The photos show about half of what is in this book but you get the idea...



As you finish the book, you flip open the back cover and inside is a leather wrapped Compact Disc that contains a full set of high resolution images of the concept vehicle and other spec sheets. By now you realize the outer paper case is an exact paint match to the exterior of the car and the leather wrapped CD case matches the interior of the vehicle.



The real icing on this cake was the discovery of a hand signed autograph on one of the pages... It took me a couple months to verify it but apparently the signature is non other's that Henrik Fisker himself. This was an unexpected bonus as the seller neglected to mention it in the auction.



I thought many of you guys would appreciate the attention to detail that Aston Martin went through for this launch. It's the coolest car press kit that I have ever seen. I also thought you might like to see what the Vantage concept looked like.

Does anyone have this Kit? My understanding is that not many were produced and only key people in the press received them.

 

Wow! That is a really incredible find!

 

Really cool ! I would kill for one!

 

Very nice find! Thanks for posting all the photos.

 

No doubt, Aston Martin lost a valuable asset when Fisker departed.

 

He might be looking for a job now.

 

I have one of those too… without Fiskers signature though. Open the attached thumbnail and save it… Its from the CD that was in the promotion book.

 

Since we're sharing...

Car brochure with signatures of AM Gaydon personnel involved in the spec'ing/building of my car + approx 100 hi-rez photos of it being built provided on a DVD in an aluminum case. Good stuff to have.

 

THAT IS SICK!

 

That's awesome stuff, guys!

One of the neat things about supporting a small company like AML is that we can be fairly well involved as owners.

 

That is so cool! I was hoping that others had this piece. It's fantastic. Since Astons are best known for design and style, this kit does a first class job of showing off that process and celebrating Fisker for his involvement. Quotes about the creative brief that was given to him, and how this line flows from that line, etc. Design geeky stuff that just amazes me!

Where did you get yours and what did it cost you? I'm curious...

 

What blows my mind is how Fisker went from designing arguably the most beautiful car ever, to the lumpy mess with his name on it.

I suspect that the greater team of designers at Aston Martin managed to steer Mr Fisker toward beauty, then, left all on his own...well.

This should stand as a reminder, almost no production car was designed by a solitary designer. Early, blue sky concepts yes, but that beautiful side view sketch? That was done after several iterations, meetings, selections, discussions and refinements.

Back on topic, what a wonderful item to have as part of your Aston Martin ownership experience. So jelly.

 

Couldn't agree more! I always felt the Fisker Karma looked like a BMW/Aston Martin mash up (and not in a good way)... Makes sense considering that he designed for both companies!

Yeah, I agree that no matter who might lead the creative team at Aston, they always have that signature Aston look that only comes from the guiding hands of the executive management. For sure a team effort.