The Testarossa, one of the most “provocative” Ferraris of all time, caused a sensation from its “preview” at the Paris Lido in 1984. It boasted extreme styling, with a rear track significantly wider than the front and conspicuous air intake strakes on the flanks, while mechanically it sported a mighty V12 engine displacing almost five.
The Supercars series could hardly fail to include a title devoted to this sensational car and recounting its technical and stylistic genesis.
The book covers both the Testarossa’s “ancestors” – the 365 GTB/4 ‘Daytona’ and the 512 BB – and its “descendants” – the 512 TR and the F512 M, not to forget the Spider version commissioned by Avvocato Gianni Agnelli and the sensational Mythos, the prototype designed by Pininfarina in 1989 and based on the rolling chassis of this car. The book is completed by the road tests that featured the car in the magazine Quattroruote.
The silver S.S.1 Airline Coupe that has been winning concours throughout the country finally gets the spotlight shine on it in Crankshaft Issue #7 with 12 pages devoted to its history and restoration. Other fascination automobiles in this issue include a 1904 Knox, 1934 Nash, 1947 Rover, 1951 Chevrolet Styleline, 1954 Arnolt-Bristol, 1959 MGA Twin-Cam, 1960 Corvair Monza, 1960 Imperial sedan, 1961 Ferrari 250 GTO Prototype, a one-owner 1965 Ford R-code Galaxie, 1970 Oldsmobile station wagon, an all-original 1986 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS, and engaging stories on LeBaron Carrossiers and Selling Cars in Cuba in the 1950s.
The 8C Competizione was launched in 2008, a synthesis of the new “Alfa Romeo philosophy”, the marque’s strategy to reaffirm its uniqueness and ability to bring together emotion, engineering and aerodynamic efficiency and the exaltation of driving pleasure.
From the concept car to the version produced in just 500 examples, just a very few modifications were made by the “Centro Stile” at Arese; this supercar struck an immediate chord and relaunched the image of the marque among the world’s most important collectors. This success was to be repeated with the 8C Spider – also produced in a limited series – which the Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson defined as the world’s most beautiful car.
The Supercars series could hardly not feature a title dedicated to these two bespoke Alfas. Ample space is dedicated to the history and stylistic evolution of the two models, including an examination of the original Frau interior trim specifications.
There are also chapters devoted to the technical history of the cars and the driving impressions of those who have tested them on track.
The book comes with a foreword by Carlo Di Giusto, journalist of the Italian magazine Quattroruote (Four Wheels) and leading expert on driving and road tests of both small cars and supercars
The particularly rich illustrations have largely been drawn from the archives of the magazine Quattroruote.
Back in print after a long absence!Jeep CJ 1945 – 1986 is devoted to the story of the CJ Jeep. It has a detailed, carefully researched text, hundreds of color illustrations, and charts illustrating the specifications and options of all CJ models from the CJ-2A to the final version, the CJ-7. It provides readers with the story of the CJ’s origin as the MB Jeep of World War II, its early popularity as a utility vehicle and its evolution into a rugged 4×4 suitable for work or play.
From its launch in 1950 to its demise in 1967, the Alvis Three Litre enjoyed a deserved reputation for effortless performance, exceptional surefootedness and stability, a high degree of driver friendliness, and irreproachable quality of construction. It was considered a rather exclusive car, coming as it did from a maker whose products always had a certain individuality. In addition, there remained through successive models something reassuringly traditional about its styling in both saloon and drophead forms; while never outdated, it displayed a timeless, discreet dignity unmoved by the more frivolous vagaries of fashion. All the while, in the background but ready to serve when called upon, was the Alvis works, whose concern for its cars and their owners was exemplary.Throughout production, the Three Litre was based on the same chassis and was powered by the same engine. This was a handsome and efficient short-stroke six-cylinder, conceived in order to provide the driver with ample power over a very wide rev range. Starting with an output of 83bhp in the early TA21, this robust unit was progressively developed to supply 150bhp in its final TF21 form while retaining the turbine smoothness, reliability and lack of temperament that it had become celebrated for. It was perfectly matched to its chassis and running gear, and those who have driven a Three Litre at speed will find the dynamic qualities of the contemporary rivals from Bentley or Jaguar rather less likeable.This book opens with an exposition of the background that led to the companys introduction of the Three Litre in 1950. Then comes a detailed technical analysis of the TA21, covering all aspects of the chassis, running gear, engine and transmission. This sets the scene for the chapters which follow, on the short-lived TB21 sports tourer, the TC21 and the uprated TC21/100, the Graber-inspired TC108G, the outstandingly handsome TD21 Series I and II, the TE21 and the TF21.Each of these receives comprehensive treatment, including differences from previous models, production changes and full chassis number number listings, along with notes on famous owners and screen appearances. The author provides extensive information on the coachbuilders who supplied Three Litre bodies, including Mulliners, Tickford, Graber, Willowbrook and Park Ward, and there are chapters devoted to the Alvis-powered Healey G Series sports car, the aborted Issigonis-designed Alvis TA350, and the ownership and use of Alvis Three Litre models today.Five outstanding examples of the cars have been specially photographed for this book and are featured in some 70 colour shots. There are also more than 140 black-and-white illustrations drawn from archives as well as from Alvis sales and publicity material. Devoted exclusively to the Three Litre, this book offers an in-depth examination of these excellent cars to provide a store of information for the many owners who care passionately about them, and serve as a tribute to the men who made them.
Premium automobiles. Dynamic driving experiences. Pioneering decisions in design and technology. The BMW brand stands for all this and more. From the company’s early aircraft engines to their motorcycles and today’s sleek hybrids, it has long defined the character of its brand with its slogan, “Sheer Driving Pleasure”—a promise delivered by BMW vehicles to the world and continually created anew by developers. As the company prepares to observe its centenary in 2016, this book travels back to its very first day, reflecting on one hundred years of production at the world’s leading manufacturer of top-quality automobiles and motorcycles.
Through text and images, BMW—100 Masterpieces details the company’s history, exploring the components of the BMW brand identity, selecting one hundred significant achievements, be they innovations in vehicles or the engineering process or world-renowned series and models like the famous BMW 328, the BMW Z series, or the motorcycle BMW K1. Special sections are devoted to the company’s racing program; its world records; and movie appearances, including the James Bond franchise. The book also discusses the company’s employment reforms and groundbreaking environmental decisions. Throughout the book, nearly three hundred vintage and new photographs show the evolution of this distinguished brand and the engines, motorcycles, and automobiles it produces.
Published with the aid of the BMW Museum in Munich and edited by the museum’s curator, Andreas Braun, BMW—100 Masterpieces celebrates a century of fine engineering and great automobiles while offering an absorbing look at how one of the world’s foremost vehicle manufacturers came to be.
Of all the French car manufacturers, Citroën has the most enthusiastic following. During the half-century covered by this book, it produced the most technologically advanced cars of the time, including the Traction Avant, 2CV, DS and SM. This handy full-colour guide has individual chapters devoted to each of these models, together with the Ami, GS, CX, BX and the first models produced under Peugeot’s ownership. UK-built models and car-derived vans are included. Each chapter provides an introduction to the design and evolution of each model, as well as detailed technical information. Production numbers and dates are given, and there are details of special coachbuilt versions and limited editions. The guide is illustrated in full colour, with recent and archive photographs. Dashboard instrument layouts and gearchange patterns are also shown. Julian Parish is an experienced professional author and translator who has written on many makes of car, but his first car was a Citroën Dyane. He has lived in France for 25 years and has followed the marque at car shows and museums throughout the country.
he fascinating story of the Milanese scooter par excellence concluded with the Lambretta DL-GP series.
This book looks at all aspects of this special scooter: its history, its technical evolution, its sporting victories, with a specific chapter devoted to the British market, which more than any other took the DL to its heart and still today considers it to be the pinnacle of Innocenti’s production.
The last model produced by Innocenti had been developed at the famous Bertone design centre in Turin which, with a few but substantial modifications managed to breathe new life into the Lambretta, making it even more sporting and elegant, sophisticated and modern. With a curious black splash on the leg shield, the new model soon became a best-seller on the crowded international scooter market.
It enjoyed enormous success in Great Britain, being transformed into a cult object for the most sporting and demanding scooterists. More than fifty years after its launch, its styling is still modern and the model is still very popular with scooterists all over the world.
Everything you need to know about the Porsche 911 Type 993
A detailed guide covering the whole of its career
A book exclusively devoted to the legendary Porsche 911 Type 993, presented in 11 chapters
Hard cover – 180 pages – 368 photos and illustrations
The Detailed Guide 1971 – 1989
Everything you need to know about the 107-series Mercedes
A detailed guide covering the whole of its long career
A book exclusively devoted to the legendary 107-series Mercedes SL/SLC, presented in 10 chapters
Hard cover – 132 pages – 274 photos and illustrations
- Comprehensive and informative insight into the DB models produced by Aston Martin
- Richly illustrated with beautiful color photography and detailed illustrations
- An important reference book for all Aston Martin afficionados, translated into English for the first time
In the world of grand touring cars, Aston Martin occupies a special place. The English firm has always distinguished itself by its restraint, by the elegance of its creations, by the discretion of its style, by a reserve rarely observed in a universe that willingly abandons itself to exuberance. This book is devoted to DB models. David Brown relaunched the brand with emblematic cars, including some models that later became legendary, like the famous DB5 of James Bond. The history of Aston Martin over the past 70 years is organized around eight main designs. They are all strongly typed; directly associated with their creators, and with the nature of the successive owners of the company. Serge Bellu, a specialist in the history of the automobile, has produced a superbly illustrated book on the history of this typically British brand.
Tazio Magazine
Issue 5– Fall 2022
Tazio 5 is ready. This is our first special, 160 pages dedicated to the 50 years anniversary of BMW Motorsport. We think it’s our best one yet.
To celebrate the 50 years of M, we have devoted almost all of our pages to documenting the sporting history of the Motorsport GmbH. Starring: Jochen Neerpasch, Hans-Joachim Stuck, Toine Hezemans, Gordon Murray, Steve Soper, Eric van de Poele, Christian Danner, Jean-Michel Martin, Mario Theissen, Pierluigi Martini, Timo Glock, Hurley Haywood and Christian Geistdörfer.
The OFFICIAL 2012 Race Video 2 disc DVD
Reno 2012 – After the tragic events at Reno 2011 the future of the World’s Fastest Motorsport was unknown. Thankfully, through the tireless work of the Reno Air Race Association, the Cities of Reno and Sparks, the State of Nevada, and many others who devoted their time and efforts assured that the world’s most unique racing event would continue, at least for this year.
2012 was a year of rebuilding, not only for the Reno Air Race Association, the race teams, and the fans, but also for the video production team. This year we have two goals with the official DVD and HD Blu Ray video production. The first is that if you were here in attendance we wanted to provide you with a memory of what you experienced as well as to take you to some places that you weren’t able to get to, behind the scenes and up close and personal with the pilots, crew and performers. Secondly, if you weren’t able to attend the event in person, we wanted to provide you with something that would allow you to experience for yourself what it was like to be here with as many of the sights, sounds and smells that we could capture and contain with the capabilities of today’s video distribution technology.
This year’s video production is a tribute, a tribute to everyone that was affected and touched by the events of Friday September 16, 2011.
We kick things off with some thoughts from key individuals that give some insight in this area over the last year. We will feature an interview with each of the racing class President’s talking about the planes, the pilots, the course and how they’ve prepared for racing in 2012.
You’ll see highlights of all the medal races for each of the 6 classes and hear from each of the winners about how it was out on the course for each of them during the race. Included will be air show performances and interviews with Clay Lacy and Joe Clark flying the Lear Jet, Jim Peitz doing aerobatics in a very unassuming looking Bonanza, Kent Pietsch thrilling the crowd with his dead stick performance and landing his Interstate Cadet on the top of a specially modified truck bed as they both move down the runway.
The Patriot Jet Team excites the crowd with military precision putting their L-39’s through a great routine celebrating the red, white and blue of America. David Martin, always a crowd favorite, flies an amazing and award winning routine in his CAP 232 and shows why he has won both individual and team medals in multiple World Aerobatic Championships.
We’ll get a look at the F-22 Raptor, the U-2 as it flies by and some of the other crowd pleasing aircraft that were part of this year’s Reno 2012 air show performances, and even some that weren’t!
In addition to some other pleasant surprises you’ll find on the video we’re including a very special interview with Mr. Robert “R.A. Bob” Hoover and Mr. Clay Lacy sitting down together to talk about their first meeting, becoming great friends, and working together over the year’s.
You don’t want to miss hearing from Bob Hoover, also known as “The Pilot’s Pilot” and from Clay Lacy who, as far as we can best determine, has the greatest number of flight hours of any living human today, and he continues to increase that each time he takes to the skies today!
Run Time 6 hours
The story of this mysterious Ferrari (1963)
The Ferrari 330 America if it is unknown to the public, however, deserves to be a Ferrari in its own right. Often seen as the interim model between the 250 GTE and the 330 GT 2+2, it remains a mystery as it has a body of the 250 GTE Series III Pininfarina with a 4-liter Colombo 12-cylinder engine derived from the 400 Superamerica. Rare car because only 50 were built by Pininfarina on the initiative of Luigi Chinetti, the famous Ferrari importer located on the East Coast of the USA with his company Luigi Chinetti Motors Inc. of Manhattan, New York.
This unique book is a tribute to Luigi Chinetti, the first man who was able to convince with charisma and enthusiasm Enzo Ferrari on Christmas eve 1946 to become a real car manufacturer. Ferrari’s history with Chinetti will remain inseparable forever.
The foreword is by the great American pilot Mario Andretti.
The first part of this unique book is devoted to the life of Luigi Chinetti until 1964.
The history of Ferraris Americas, Superamericas is discussed until the arrival of the 250 GTE 2 + 2 then finally the mysterious 330 America.
A register of the 50 units manufactured in 1963 on more than 200 pages with testimonies from the famous Ferrari world.
A complete book in English by the French historian Cyrille Jaquinot which will be a reference in the libraries of Ferrari enthusiasts.
This is a reprint of Diesel’s Engine, first published in 1993. The book is a fantastic resource for serious fans of engine evolution and a great read as well. If you are interested in how the combustion engine came to be, this book and its companion, Internal Fire, are vital reading. We at Octane Press believe it to be a critical piece of automotive history and are happy to have a revised edition to offer to our readers.
C. Lyle Cummins Jr. continues his series on the internal combustion engine’s heritage in Diesel’s Engine. This engaging book is a fascinating and comprehensive history of the diesel engine, written by the son of Cummins Engine Co. founder, Clessie Cummins.
This is a companion book to Internal Fire: The Internal Combustion Engine 1673-1900 and covers in dramatic detail the entire sweep of Rudolf Diesel’s original ideas: the struggles to perfect the diesel engine, and the creation of an international industry that brought the world’s most efficient motor to market. Illustrated with black and white photos and period line drawings, this is a must-read for any serious enthusiast for engine and transportation technology.
Cummins is uniquely qualified to tell the diesel story. Raised in the family of America’s automotive diesel pioneer, his career as a mechanical engineer includes the design, development and marketing of diesel engine retarders and fuel systems for which he was granted five US patents. He has received several notable awards for his writings on I-C engine history. Cummins has devoted over two decades exhaustively researching his subject in corporate and museum archives throughout Europe and the United States to provide this definitive history of the diesel.
Accolades for Diesel’s Engine
“ … eminently readable, even by the mechanically innocent, treating his subject with humor, understanding and affection.” –Road & Track
“This new book is an enjoyable and informative . . . treatment of the subject, from its conception in the mind of Rudolf Diesel . . . until 1918. The author is eminently qualified to write on this subject.”–Waterways Journal
“[It’s] ‘user-friendly,’ and well worth the time spent for the sheer volume of information included.”– Gas Engine Magazine
“It’s a treasure trove of information . . . In short, the world will owe a big round of thanks to Lyle Cummins . . . for completing this very impressive work.”– Wheels of Time, American Truck Historical Society
This fully authenticated publication written by Gerry Hulford, is a 500 copy Limited publication. Launched in 1966 to an admiring press and public alike, the Unipower GT took the specialist car market at the time by storm. Considered by the cognoscenti as the best of the limited production sports cars of the 60’s, the car appealed to both wealthy and enthusiast alike. In its later years the cars would embark on a chequered but never to be forgotten campaign of international sports car racing across Europe, almost qualifying for the 1969 Le Mans 24 hrs. Production ceased in late 1969 after just 73 examples had been built, but with still at least 70% production existing, they remain much sought after by collectors the world over. Gerry Hulford has assembled here an historical record of the marque in 172 pages, from its early production and beyond, with an amazing collection of over 420 photographs many of which have never been seen before, illustrating the extraordinary history of these unique cars. The story and photographs take you on an intriguing journey from its inception, development and production, before following owner’s cars across the world, many of whom have lovingly cared for some immaculate examples, as well as those who have devoted considerable effort to the restoration of their cars. The racing history from early 1967 through to today, is covered in detail and chronicles the many on-track endeavours against all odds. Detail on the cars also includes, technical information on suspension setup and a guide to what to look for when buying a Unipower GT. This is the most comprehensive and fully authenticated, by both its Founder and designer, record of the Unipower GT in all its versions and has enough historical information to satisfy the most demanding specialist car owner and enthusiast alike, the supports why it is still revered as the ‘Mini-Miura” of the 60s.
The motor sport world could not have in any way predicted such a unique and unprecedented phenomenon as the Formula Junior. More than 1300 races in five Continents were contested in the relatively short period 1959-1963.
Eleven races run in 1958 under the National Italian Formula Junior and over a hundred in 1964/65 held in Scandinavia, the Americas and Asia, after the official demise are to be added together with innumerable hill climbs in which the Formula Junior cars were admitted as a class. Still today Formula Junior is one of the most, if not the most, popular categories in historic racing.
This book is devoted to the Italian contribution to the Formula Junior and it concentrates on the analysis and the description of its unusually long gestation, and as fully as possible the background information regarding the about 60 different brands of Formula Junior racing cars made in Italy and of their technical specifications and production.
This instalment in Evro’s decade-by-decade series covering all Formula 1 cars and teams is devoted to a period when some normality seemed to return after the ground-effect and turbo excesses of the 1980s, except for one terrible weekend in the spring of 1994. The tragic deaths of Roland Ratzenberger and Ayrton Senna led to immense change with new emphasis on safety, including measures to slow down the cars and improve their structural strength, and numerous changes to circuits. In many ways Formula 1 became more as we recognise it today, especially as the decade’s dominant teams, McLaren and Williams, remain familiar.
- Year-by-year treatment explores each season in fascinating depth, running through the teams — and their various cars — in order of importance.
- McLaren: success for this team bookended the decade, delivering back-to-back titles for both Ayrton Senna (1990–91 with Honda engines) and Mika Häkkinen (1998–99 with Mercedes engines).
- Williams: as with McLaren, Renault-powered Williams cars brought four World Championship driver titles, for Nigel Mansell (1992), Alain Prost (1993), Damon Hill (1996) and Jacques Villeneuve (1997).
- Benetton: mid-decade, this British-based team won two titles for a sensational new talent, Michael Schumacher, powered by Ford in 1994 and by Renault in 1995.
- Ferrari: the longest-established marque, a participant in the World Championship ever since its inception in 1950, concluded a lean decade on an upbeat — and prescient — note by becoming 1999 Constructors’ Champions, with six Grand Prix wins that year.
- Other winning marques were few and far between, just Ligier (1996), Jordan (1998–99) and Stewart (1999).
- Besides the winning cars, there is always much fascination for fans in unsuccessful and obscure efforts, such as Andrea Moda and Venturi.
This authoritative and comprehensively illustrated book, which contains 475 color photos from the incredible archives of US-owned Motorsport Images, shows every type of car that raced or attempted to qualify for a race, presenting a comprehensive survey.
If you appreciate the practicality of Four-Door Sedans and Station Wagons, the workmanship of a Full Classic, the functionality of a Business Coupe, and the performance of Sports Cars and Muscle Cars, then you’ll appreciate Crankshaft, the new collector-car magazine you’ve been waiting for.
The inaugural issue was a roaring success and this issue will sell out. Why? Because we devoted 16 pages to this gorgeous Tucker. Other American cars include a rare Chrysler, a one-owner, unrestored Chevelle, Plymouth Fury, a Malaise Era 1979 Buick and a 1930 Packard. There’s also a story about a daily-driver Volga that roams the streets of Brooklyn, a Renault, a Fiat, an M.G. and so much more!
