Skip to content
It's Friday 13th - Use Code : LUCKY13 for 13% off orders over £20.00
It's Friday 13th - Use Code : LUCKY13 for 13% off orders over £20.00
Free UK Delivery £60+

Next day dispatch. See rates.

Any questions?

Phone: 020 3887 7802

Join Collectors Club

For Exclusive Savings

Free First Delivery

Sign Up To Newsletter Today

Auto Review AR105 Vehicles of the AA By Ian Barnard

Product Code: AR105
3 reviews |
£6.45
In 1997 we published 'Vehicles of the RAC' in the Auto Review series, with the intention of following it up with a similar publication devoted to vehicles of the AA. It took 17 years for us to persuade Ian Barnard to take on the enormous task, but no-one is better qualified to describe the vehicles used by the Automobile Association, as can clearly be seen when you read his biography: Ian Barnard was educated at Chiswick County Grammar School, then he qualified as a toolmaker, working on turbochargers for VC10 aero engines. He moved to a smaller engineering firm, but he found the work dull, and the tolerances too broad. He started as an AA Patrol in September 1970 in West London, driving an Austin 8cwt van. After just over six years, in 1977 he was made Sergeant, helping to run Patrol teams in North London. Ian was then given the job of running the 15 Patrols that covered the M1 from the North Circular Road up to J14 at Newport Pagnall. In 1983 he was promoted to Inspector with responsibility for two Sergeants and 38 Patrols covering central, south and south-west London. In 1989 Ian came out of uniform and moved into management as Head of Training for the south eastern counties, responsible for training around 800 Patrols, and for two operations centres in Maidstone and Thatcham. Two years later Ian moved to the Road Services Team in the headquarters at Basingstoke, managing a wide range of projects and developments. Not all projects went into service, but his job was to test good ideas and cost them against benefits. A new business had been started within the AA at Halesowen in the West Midlands, which Ian helped to get up and running. The new business began to pick up rapidly, and he was offered the job of head of its admin unit, which necessitated moving the family up to Worcester. After five good years the business was sold, as it was not considered sufficiently profitable to retain, whilst the AA was preparing itself to be sold, for the first time in its history. In 1999 Centrica bought the AA and Ian took the opportunity to move back into managing a team of Patrols. He spent seven happy years with the Worcester Patrols, and a year with the Gloucester Patrols. Then Centrica decided to sell the AA, which was bought by two private equity companies, CVC and Permira. As they had done in previous acquisitions, the first thing they did was to slim down the existing management team. In 2005 Ian accepted a very reasonable offer of redundancy, leaving the AA after 35 years service. But, as is so often the way of things, Ian became bored with sitting at home, so in 2007 he re-applied for a position as an AA Recovery Patrol. Seven years later in 2014, when this book was published, Ian was still driving a Renault Midlum 12-tonne slide-bed truck for the AA. Ian always had a deep interest in the Automobile Association and its history.

Placing an Order

Orders can be placed online, by phone or by post. The UK Postal address for orders is: Oxford Diecast, PO Box 62, Swansea, SA1 4YA. As well as accepting sterling cheques we accept Euro cheques (over 50 euros) and US$ cheques (over 50 dollars).

Delivery Timelines

For all UK/EU/USA and ROW orders we aim to despatch the same day.
Please allow 3-5 working days from despatch for delivery to the UK.
Please allow 5-7 working days from despatch for delivery to EU.
Please allow 7-14 working days from despatch for delivery to USA and ROW.
Allow 28 days before claiming.

Delivery Cost Overview

Delivery Delivery Rate Membership Rate
UK, under £20.00 Delivery Rate: £2.95 Membership Rate: £2.95
UK, £20.00 and over Delivery Rate: £4.95 Membership Rate: £2.95
EU, under £20.00 Delivery Rate: £5.95 Membership Rate: £4.95
EU, £20.00 - £60.00 Delivery Rate: £6.95 Membership Rate: £4.95
EU, £60.00 and over Delivery Rate: £11.95 Membership Rate: £4.95
USA, under £20.00 Delivery Rate: £6.95 Membership Rate: £5.95
USA, £20.00 - £60.00 Delivery Rate: £7.95 Membership Rate: £5.95
USA, £60.00 and over Delivery Rate: £12.95 Membership Rate: £5.95
Rest of the world, under £20.00 Delivery Rate: £7.95 Membership Rate: £6.95
Rest of the world, £20.00 - £60.00 Delivery Rate: £8.95 Membership Rate: £6.95
Rest of the world, £60.00 and over Delivery Rate: £13.95 Membership Rate: £6.95

UK Memberships

Associate Membership - UK

£14.00 - renews annually
  • FREE digital Issue of "The Globe" Club Magazine Per Year. *Opt In for Paper Copy.
  • Regular Updates of all NEW releases.
  • Postage to UK Addresses £2.95 on all orders.

Platinum Membership - UK

£20.00 - renews annually
  • FREE digital Issue of "The Globe" Club Magazine Per Year. *Opt In for Paper Copy.
  • Regular Updates of all NEW releases.
  • Postage to UK Addresses - £2.95 on all orders.
  • FREE Christmas Vehicle Each Year.
  • FREE Copy of the Oxford Review - issued each year between June and August. This contains a review of the previous year's releases.
  • Special Purchasing on qualifying Oxford Vehicles, Buy 4 for 3 - Lowest Price Model is FREE.

All Other memberships

Platinum Membership - Europe

£25.00 - renews annually
  • FREE digital Issue of "The Globe" Club Magazine Per Year. *Opt In for Paper Copy.
  • Regular Updates of all NEW releases.
  • Postage to European Addresses - £5.95 on orders £0 - £60, £8.95 on orders £60+.
  • FREE Christmas Vehicle Each Year.
  • FREE Copy of the Oxford Review - issued each year between June and August. This contains a review of the previous year's releases.
  • Special Purchasing on qualifying Oxford Vehicles, Buy 4 for 3 - Lowest Price Model is FREE.

    Platinum Membership - US

    £28.00 - renews annually
    • FREE digital Issue of "The Globe" Club Magazine Per Year. *Opt In for Paper Copy.
    • Regular Updates of all NEW releases.
    • Postage to US Addresses - £12.95 on orders £0 - £60, £18.95 on orders £60+.
    • FREE Christmas Vehicle Each Year.
    • FREE Copy of the Oxford Review - issued each year between June and August. This contains a review of the previous year's releases.
    • Special Purchasing on qualifying Oxford Vehicles, Buy 4 for 3 - Lowest Price Model is FREE.

    Platinum Membership - Rest of World

    £30.00 - renews annually
    • FREE digital Issue of "The Globe" Club Magazine Per Year. *Opt In for Paper Copy.
    • Regular Updates of all NEW releases.
    • Postage to rest of world - £14.95 on orders £0 - £60, £20.95 on orders £60+.
    • FREE Christmas Vehicle Each Year.
    • FREE Copy of the Oxford Review - issued each year between June and August. This contains a review of the previous year's releases.
    • Special Purchasing on qualifying Oxford Vehicles, Buy 4 for 3 - Lowest Price Model is FREE.
    Customer Reviews
    4.7 Based on 3 Reviews
    5 ★
    67% 
    2
    4 ★
    33% 
    1
    3 ★
    0% 
    0
    2 ★
    0% 
    0
    1 ★
    0% 
    0
    Write a Review Ask a Question

    Thank you for submitting a review!

    Your input is very much appreciated. Share it with your friends so they can enjoy it too!

    Filter Reviews:
    DR
    24/09/2024
    DAVID R.
    United Kingdom United Kingdom
    I recommend this product

    AA and RAC REVIEW BOOKS

    Plenty of pictures, especially of their emergency vehicles that I didn't even know existed. However, not a lot of information in very thin booklets, and I feel they are overpriced for what they are.

    SS
    02/08/2024
    Stephen S.
    United States United States
    I recommend this product

    Excellent book!

    I loved the RAC book, definitely had ta get the AA! Definitely not a disappointment! Love it! Great price and fast shipping! Thanks!

    SG
    17/07/2024
    Simon G.
    United Kingdom United Kingdom

    A vehicle of delight, double A rating

    Very well presented and well written with plenty of photographs, just a bit short.