Paradiddles, Pistons, Propellers and Portraits By Stuart Spencer

Paradiddles, Pistons, Propellers and Portraits

By Stuart Spencer

A Limited Edition of only 400 hardback books, each signed and numbered by the author

Written by a former manager of Jaguar’s famed design department, this autobiography is an entertaining account of Stuart Spencer’s life as artist, Midlands-based musician, and motor industry manager.

It tells how he grew up during WW2 in Birmingham, how he acquired a keen interest in music and art, and how he entered the Coventry motor industry via the Rootes Group, finally going on to play a key role at Jaguar in the 1980s and 90s – a period now attracting more interest than ever.

In particular, Stuart relates the story of Jaguar’s design director Geoff Lawson, the man behind such critically important new Jaguars such as the XJ6 (XJ40, X300), XJ220, XJ8 (X308), S-TYPE, X-TYPE, XK8 (X100) and F-Type concept. In doing so Stuart reveals the politics of the time and the influence Ford exerted on Jaguar, and what it was like working with such important Jaguar figures as Jim Randle, (Sir) Nick Scheele, Jim Padilla and the many talented designers and modellers in the styling department. Not to mention the parrot...

Stuart writes:-

I've been fortunate to enjoy two creative careers that sometimes intertwined.

My journey in art took me from a lettering artist’s drawing board to being the design studio manager for Jaguar Cars and Aston Martin.

In motor sport I had the amazing experience of sitting alongside Tony Pond on the Esgair Dafydd rally stage, and Henri Toivonen at the Bagshot military testing ground.

As a drummer I worked with brilliant musicians in venues ranging from intimidating, dark rooms sometimes thinking "what am I doing here?", to stunningly beautiful, elegant ballrooms.

This is the story of a life shaped by design and music.

Hardback, A4 landscape format

160 pages, 400 + illustrations including many rare Jaguar prototypes.

A limited edition of 400 only, each signed and numbered by the author.

Price £49.00 inc. P&P UK

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Available on eBay from paulskilleterbooks or search using the title.

Enquiries: jagworld1@aol.com, 01425 612669