Secret Fords: The hidden world of never-seen prototypes, one-offs and cancelled cars (Volume Two)

Secret Fords: The hidden world of never-seen prototypes, one-offs and cancelled cars (Volume Two)

TWO-BOOK COLLECTOR’S EDITION

The two-book Collector’s Edition of Secret Fords Volume Two follows the same format as the best-selling Collector’s Edition version of Volume One. More inside stories, written in the author’s first-hand words add a personal touch to the Scrapbook. Both books follow the same timeline so that they can be read together or separately. Each copy of Secret Fords Volume Two is personally signed and numbered by the author and the two books supplied in a boxed slipcase with specially-comissioned cover art. The Scrapbook also features a unique cover featuring the mysterious 2000s Scorpio, cancelled CE99 Escort plus alternatives to the Fiesta and Escort.

Two-book boxed set, author-signed and numbered copy of Secret Fords Volume Two, plus supplemental Scrapbook, Boxed slipcase with unique cover art. Two free posters worth £25 folded inside.

Extra Scrapbook content includes Ghia’s rework of an RS2000 into an off-roader, a mysterious large Ford beyond the Scorpio, step-by-step build of a one-off RS2000-based prototype.

Secret Fords: The hidden world of never-seen prototypes, one-offs and cancelled cars (Volume One)

Secret Fords: The hidden world of never-seen prototypes, one-offs and cancelled cars (Volume One)

RS ICONS COLLECTOR’S EDITION

EVERYONE LOVES A SECRET – THIS BOOK IS FULL OF THEM.

In the 1970s and ’80s Ford Design was a hotbed of talent. As its gifted designers thought ever-more out of the box they pushed forward the boundaries of mainstream car design.

This amazing two-book Collector’s Edition is the fascinating – yet never previously told – story of how the world’s best design team created not just some of the era’s most fondly remembered cars but hundreds of others that have never been seen before.

It pulls the covers off an astounding, scarcely believable array of one-offs, prototypes, and cancelled cars that were kept secret. They are revealed in previously private photographs and extraordinarily rare design sketches.

Ford gave the author – a former Ford product designer – first-time access to its most confidential archives and more than 50 former Ford designers and engineers opened up their long-concealed files.

Everyone loves a secret: these previously hidden cars have waited decades to tell you theirs.

-Over 100 never-seen cars revealed

-Design stories of the most iconic ’70s and ’80s Fords

-Forewords by Ford’s former chief designer and engineer

-Insiders’ stories of the ultimate unicorn: Escort RS1700T

-Beautiful design sketches – published for the first time

-Head-spinning prototypes and one-offs ­

Two-book Collector’s Edition includes the following:

  • Signed and numbered by the author
  • Additional Scrapbook containing over 200 additional images and never-told stories
  • Beautiful, boxed slipcase for both books with unique artwork
  • Two free “Secret Fords” posters worth £9.50 each
  • Limited to 600 sets
Moonshots: 50 Years of NASA Space Exploration Seen through Hasselblad Cameras

Moonshots: 50 Years of NASA Space Exploration Seen through Hasselblad Cameras

Available in paperback to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, Moonshots presents stunning photos of space and Earth from NASA’s archives—taken by Gemini, Apollo, Space Shuttle, and ISS astronauts using high resolution Hasselblad cameras.

In December 1968, the crew of Apollo 8 captured images depicting Earth hanging like a lonely fruit in the vast darkness of space. The social and spiritual shock of that photograph—and those which followed—never fully diminished, even as Apollo missions followed at an incredible pace, including the first lunar landing on July 20, 1969.

Moonshots is the definitive photographic chronicle of NASA space exploration, featuring more than 200 remarkable large-format photographs from that eventful era. Though a number of these images have been reproduced in books and magazines over the years, one attribute of this incredible collection has seldom been exploited: the sheer size and resolution of the photography. Aerospace author Piers Bizony scoured NASA’s archives of Hasselblad film frames to assemble the space fan’s ultimate must-have book.

This resulting volume extracts a stunning selection of photographs captured by astronauts using Hasselblad equipment, many of them seldom previously published. The Apollo voyages form the centerpiece of this amazing collection, but equally fabulous images from precursor Gemini missions are also featured, along with later photographs chronicling Space Shuttle missions and even the construction of the International Space Station.

Porsche Unseen

Porsche Unseen

  • Porsche design studies from 2005 to 2019, previously kept under wraps and published here for the first time
  • An incomparable journey of discovery through the world of Porsche design!

When car companies present studies and prototypes, they allow a glimpse behind the scenes, a vision of what may come in the future. Apart from what is shown during official events and at fairs, there is an overwhelming number of drafts and models that remain hidden from the public for various reasons. This book achieves the impossible: a look at Porsche cars the public never laid eyes on – Porsche Unseen. Stefan Bogner was exclusively allowed to take pictures in the Porsche Design sanctum. The Porsche DNA is recognizable in any of the models shown, but the design is so new and unexpected that it suggests the existence of a parallel universe. A 1-litre Porsche? A coupé-like four seater with 911-looks? Single-seated roadsters with 1950’s flair? Stefan Bogner took photos of all of them – either as models or ready to drive. Jan Baedeker talked with Michael Mauer, Head of Design, and took down the enlightening background information. Join our extraordinary expedition of discovery through the world of Porsche Design! Text in English and German.

SuperFinds: A truly unique selection of previously unseen photographs of important historic cars as found in the 1960s and 1970s

SuperFinds: A truly unique selection of previously unseen photographs of important historic cars as found in the 1960s and 1970s

This book is unique. It is a compendium of wonderful automotive treasure, as discovered. With the passage of time all cars became worthless and unloved, no matter how eminent. Racing cars inevitably became uncompetitive and redundant. Many vehicles passed into scrapyards, the motoring equivalent of a cemetery, or simply rotted away.

Today, of course, we value, covet and preserve the work of great designers, engineers and coachbuilders, and their creations give enormous pleasure to many, whether it be in ownership, driving, competing or simply as historic objects to be admired when on display. All will have a story – sometimes sad, sometimes heroic.

Many of the more esoteric car companies produced machines that were not only engineering masterpieces but also great works of art. Italian Corrado Cupellini was a pioneer in the developing old car movement in the 1960s and ’70s. He had a mission: to explore, discover and rescue motor cars of merit before it was too late.

He roved the world following his passion and this extraordinary book is a photographic record of his astounding journey of discovery.

Unseen McQueen: Barry Feinstein

Unseen McQueen: Barry Feinstein

Stunning photography of the King of Cool. These images of Steve McQueen taken by photography legend Barry Feinstein—at the race track, on the set of Bullitt, relaxing with friends—have all remained completely unseen until now and are reproduced for the first time in magnificent quality in this volume.

Feinstein was a close personal friend of Steve McQueen and the two shared a similar laid-back approach to life, an innate cool and a passion for fast cars and motorcycles. Feinstein’s pictures of McQueen, taken between 1960-68, are reproduced for the first time in magnificent quality in this volume. Feinstein’s friendship with McQueen infused his photos with an intimacy rarely experienced in shots of the star. Magnificent photography. Not to be missed.

MOTOR SHOW CONCEPTS AND RARITIES

MOTOR SHOW CONCEPTS AND RARITIES

For over 80 years, visitors to International Auto Shows have stood in awe and watched in wonder as these fantasies in steel and glass fibre were unveiled.

Covering the period from the 1950s through to the 1990s, this book takes you on a historic journey using original Motor Show Photographs, the majority of which are previously unseen.

Featuring stunning oneoffs and rarities from legendary design houses such as Bertone and Ghia as well as manufacturers as diverse as Porsche, Ferrari and Saab.

In Motor Show Concepts & Rarities you will find around 120 cars on display!

Corvette Americana-A Cultural Time Tunnel

Corvette Americana-A Cultural Time Tunnel

Allen Schery is perhaps the first Anthropologist to have designed a Car Museum. Prior to his design we generally only see rows of cars with small signs. Allen’s unique idea was to place each car in a set featuring a giant 15 x 30-foot photo mural that utilized a curved dioramic wall to give a 3-D effect incorporating a symbol of American Culture as a backdrop. Allen then took several trips around America logging in some 20,000 miles of trips procuring pictures of Mt. Rushmore, Niagara Falls, The Golden Gate Bridge, the Alamo, and other well-known American Landmarks. Each set featured real earth scenes and stage lighting. The Corvette was used as a time-coordinated symbol of American Culture to anchor the exhibit. He then theorized that as the original owner of each car placed the key in the ignition he was surrounded by the culture of a bygone year of Americana. He sought to recreate the sights. sounds and memories of that bygone culture by using the music, television, and movie snippets of that year along with slides of news events and time-coordinated artifacts. The Museum won many awards as well as being chosen as one of the ten best museums in New York State. Each room became a time capsule to that year with the entire museum a giant time tunnel.

Alfa Romeo Alfasud: The Complete Story

Alfa Romeo Alfasud: The Complete Story

Launched in 1971, the Alfasud was an all-new departure for Alfa Romeo, both in its design and its execution. Originally it was developed with the dual intentions of launching the company into large-volume production and providing a more affordable model than their highly regarded sports cars. However, its story was far from straightforward. Although respected for its technically brilliant design and universally praised for its ride and handling, the model never quite reached its full sales potential and its reputation was marred by problems that could not have been foreseen. With over 240 photographs, this book includes: ·A brief history of Alfa Romeo to the end of the 1960s ·The development of the Alfasud’s design and the political reasons for building a new factory ·The car’s reception from both the press and owners ·The evolution of the model from initial prototypes, to the improvements to build quality and performance, including the Giardinetta and Sprint variations; ·Alfasuds in competition ·A discussion of the political and labour problems, as well as the early quality-control issues, and ·Specification tables, performance data, chassis numbers, engine codes and colour charts.

100 Years of Bentley – reissue

100 Years of Bentley – reissue

Produced in conjunction with the Bentley Drivers Club and the W.O. Bentley Memorial Foundation,100 Years of Bentley is a lavish celebration of one of the most recognised and revered car brands in history, from its earliest models right up to the modern day cars.

A six-times winner in the gruelling Le Mans 24-hour race, Bentley is also the brand behind iconic cars such as the 41/2-Litre ‘Blower’, the R-type Continental, and modern classics such as the Continental GT and Mulsanne.

Featuring more than 200 pictures, many from the club’s archives and some never seen in print before, this beautiful book details the whole history of Bentley. From W.O. Bentley’s early days as a railway engineer along with his first attempts at modifying French DFP cars, to the company’s early racing exploits, including its victories in the early Le Mans races.

Covering the Bentley brand’s revival in the 1980s and renewed impetus when it was acquired by the Volkswagen group, the story is brought up to date with the awesome new Bentleys built for the 21st century and the new era of electrification just around the corner.

A Life In Porsche 911

A Life In Porsche 911

For twenty years I have been an automotive journalist. Like many car fans, I have always adored Porsche, for its history, its singularity, its evolution. Having previously described my love for the Range Rover, another unique vehicle, it seemed unimaginable to me not to celebrate the sixty years of the 911.

I have been able to do so by drawing on my own archive of more than five hundred adverts and catalogues, and by exploring the archives of the Porsche Museum, which collaborated closely in this this book. The commercial success of the 911 owes not a little to Porsche’s communication, which has proved simple, effective, and sometimes a bit provocative. Judge for yourself, the brand’s advertisements and catalogues are often little gems.

Text in English and French

A Life In Range Rover

A Life In Range Rover

Fifty five incredible years, five superb generations and so many incredible advertisements essential catalogs and stories that have marked its history. Discover the history of the Range Rover like you’ve never read it before! Welcome to ‘A Life in Range Rover’, the first book to tell the Range Rover adventure through its advertisements, catalogs and never tell stories I like Range Rovers, I’ve had several and I still have an L322 and a Classic. They are the only vehicles that I bought, then regretted having sold and therefore bought back, “ j’aime Range Rover”. I like the very quirky and so British humor that remains attached to all Range advertising campaigns. Finally, it is so rare and so pleasant, as a consumer, that advert speak to you as an intelligent person, able to appreciate a message delivered on several levels of understanding! This is unfortunately very unusual on the part of car manufacturers. As often, this book is the realization of a to make the book that I would have liked to find in bookstores. There aren’t many books on the Range Rover and the ones that do exist are recycling pictures seen everywhere and press photos. This is why I tried to find a maximum of unpublished and, as much as possible, international advertisements, essential catalogs of its history and of course stories of Range Rover. François Bouet has been an automotive journalist for 18 years, He was assisted by a Solihull fan, Martine Rénier (Auto Hebdo journalist, Paris Match, four participations in the Dakar including one with Range, 12th at the 24 hours of Le Mans) for the validation of the French part. It is another owner of Range, Roger Ellis, Franco-English, professional translator and automotive expert, to whom we owe the synthesis of the English version.

 

Text in English and French

1 of 1 Muscle Cars: Stories of Detroit’s Rarest Iron

1 of 1 Muscle Cars: Stories of Detroit’s Rarest Iron

Learn about the rarest muscle cars ever produced with this new book.

In the world of muscle cars, many were produced and sold in large enough quantities that they would be considered special but not particularly rare at the time of production. The Boss 429 and Plymouth Superbird were produced for racing homologation reasons, and since they were very expensive to produce, the manufacturers ensured that they would be rare. However, there is rare, and then there is rare.

Prototypes and special factory builds, factory production cars, and super car tuners and builders are all covered in this new book by muscle-car historian Wes Eisenschenk. Some are single examples, some are very close to being the last remaining example, and all are extremely rare. Some have no surviving example known to exist. Featured cars include a Boss 429 Cougar, a 1971 Pontiac Ventura II Sprint 455, a 1965 Chevelle 300 COPO car with the L78 option, and a 1970 FK5 Deep Burnt Orange Metallic Superbird. Dealer promotional specials include a 1968 AMC AMX Von Piranha, a 1970 Dick Harrell LS6 454 Camaro, and a 1973 Nickey Chevrolet 427 Nova.

These are cars that you will read about but likely never see. For a fun ride through muscle-car history and great stories of the rarest muscle cars ever produced, add this book to your automotive library today.

Morgan – The English Enigma: The Vintage and Classic Years

Morgan – The English Enigma: The Vintage and Classic Years

This books tells the amazing story of the Morgan Motor Company, from the primitive, but very successful cyclecars of Edwardian times, through to the iconic British sports cars of the Classic period in the 1960s. Morgan defied conventions, survived economic hardships, resisted take-over bids and carried on in its inimitable way, hand-crafting ‘proper’ cars out of the historic row of workshops in the spa town of Malvern. Morgan – An English Enigma takes an in-depth look at the Morgan Motor Company during the Vintage and Classic periods, benefitting from access to previously unseen documents and drawings, and featuring 500 images, over half of which have never before been published. This fascinating story will appeal to those with an interest in motoring history, the motor sport enthusiast and anyone who appreciates fine British sports cars.

Road Rocket (Retro Reads)

Road Rocket (Retro Reads)

Can a teenager afford a car? Even a cheap old one?

Woody Ahern thought he could. He had a job after school, he had saved a little money, and, as he pleaded with his father, the main reason he and the other members of his car club wanted a car was so that they could work on it.

Woody would get his car—for forty dollars. He named it Sidekick, and from the moment the thirteen-year-old wreck became his very own, Woody lavished on it all his love and devotion. He was sure that when it was done it would be the most beautiful car imaginable. He could even see himself driving Sandra to the spring dance . . . but it would take a lot of work before Sidekick was safe to drive. And before that work was complete Woody would come to learn a great deal—not only about cars, but also about human relationships and his own goals in life.

Road Rocket captures the heart and soul of 1950s hot rod culture. The lean, mean story follows Ahern’s hard-driving path to rodding redemption, riffs on some meaningful messages, and unleashes a fast and furious read. Dig in and learn what millions of readers already know; the world’s most popular hot rod novel is a hopped-up high-horsepower thrill ride.

Maserati 450S: A Bazooka from Modena

Maserati 450S: A Bazooka from Modena

“When she didn’t break, she won”. The Maserati 450S, also called Tipo 54 in the factory codification, was the fastest and most powerful of the Maserati built to face the arch-rival Ferrari in the World Sports Car Championship of the 1957 season which constituted the apotheosis of the golden age of motor racing. Fitted with the powerful Maserati 4.5 Liter V8 engine and dressed in an elegant bodywork by Fantuzzi, it was the “lethal weapon” that was to allow Maserati to win the 1957 Sportscar World Championship.

Nicknamed “Bazooka”, the 450S became also the most tragic race car that Maserati ever build: it won in Sebring and Sweden, totally failed at the Mille Miglia, at the Nürburgring and in Le Mans culminating in a grotesque and disastrous race in Venezuela, leaving all laurels to Ferrari. Then it became obsolete in Europe due to a change of the FIA regulations for 1958.

Emigrated to the USA, the Maserati 450S started its other race career with owners such as Tony Parravano, Jim Kimberly, John Edgar, Temple Buell, Ebb Rose and Frank Harrison. The 450S then won many races in the USA at the hands of the best US drivers like Carroll Shelby, Jim Hall, Masten Gregory, Dan Gurney, Lloyd Ruby and Bill Krause, and so became a very important part of the US race history in the 1950s.

This book retraces the saga of the ten Maserati 450S “Bazookas” built and their eventful lives, chassis by chassis, illustrated with an exceptional iconography of period photos, most of which have never been published before.

  • The most powerful sports racing car of the 1950s
  • Includes the history of all 10 cars
  • It was the most tragic racing car from Maserati, representing the glory and the disaster of the World Championship.
  • Driven by greats such as Juan Manuel Fangio, Stirling Moss, Jean Behra, Carrol Shelby, Bill Krause, and Masten Gregory.
  • Over 200 period photographs, most of them never seen before