Nothing is new under the sun and classic cars books come and go. But here, instead of a heavy, large, glossy book of classic car images and details destined to stay on a shelf, is something new. This book is designed to be read as a companion, a book that can go in the car or on a ‘plane, and which can be read in full, or dipped into anywhere for a classic car fix. Old stories and new details are presented and cover all eras of our cars.
Gathered here is a compilation of the author’s published and unpublished adventures and opinions about the design and the driving of some of the greatest cars in motoring history. From ‘vintagent’ to ‘modern classic’, pristine to oily-rag, up hill, down dale and across continents, award-winning motoring author, designer and serial classic car owner, Lance Cole, charts the great classic car enthusiasm in a series of engaging essays about cars, car design and the men that made the motor industry.
From tales of Malcolm Sayer to Bedelia, and of BMW, Jaguar, Bugatti and Porsche, to tales of old Saabs and rusty Citroens, classic car life is here. Erik Carlsson, Jacques Gerin, Giovanni Michelotti and Innes Ireland are just a few of the names that can be found in these pages. From design to driving, here is a book that is a classic car adventure.
The postwar Morris Minor, designed by Alec Issigonis, was one of the most popular British Cars. 2018 marks 70 years since the first Minors rolled off the production lines at Cowley in Oxfordshire. In this celebratory publication Ray Newell looks in detail at the development of the wide range of models produced during a production run that spanned twenty two years in the UK. Using mainly contemporary materials covering four decades, he transports the reader back to an era when the pace of life was much slower and the marketing of the vehicles was considerably different to the slick advertising of today. The worldwide appeal of this trend-setting vehicle is examined in the context of the ‘export or die’ mentality that dominated postwar Britain, as are the innovative production methods used to ensure that ‘Morris Motors Ltd’ lived up to its ‘quality first’ reputation. Variations from standard specifications are considered with reference to mechanical uprating, different body styles and the use of modern accessories to enhance further the comfort and styling of what was dubbed ‘The World’s Supreme Small Car’. Issigonis sketches of the prototype cars, sales brochures, promotional materials, and rare and unusual photographs make this a fascinating book. The continuing appeal of the car voted Britain’s most popular classic in 2016 is examined, as are the factors which continue to attract a new generation of 21st century owners.
19416
On September 30, 1955, 24-year-old James Dean became immortal. While his young life ended in a car crash, James Dean passed into the realm of American folklore, where his memory remains today.
What exactly happened on that fateful day 60 years ago? What events led to the tragic accident that cost Dean his life? What became of the people and vehicles involved in that unguarded moment at Cholame? Is there any truth to the idea of a “curse” associated with Dean and his Porsche Spyder? And what do the major landmarks of the last few months of Dean’s life look like today?
Foremost James Dean researcher and expert Lee Raskin answers these questions and more in James Dean: On the Road to Salinas. He paints a vivid picture of Dean’s life during that last summer, as he began to race his Porsche Speedster, filmed his third leading role in the movie Giant, and acquired the infamous 550 Spyder that he dubbed, “Little Bastard.” Raskin provides a detailed timeline of the rising movie star’s last 12 hours, while debunking numerous “factoids” that continue to circulate prominently in accounts of Dean’s life and fatal crash.
James Dean: On the Road to Salinas is the definitive account of the last months of James Dean’s life. It is a must-read for any James Dean fan, Porschephile, or enthusiast of American popular culture of the 20th century.
This over sized coffee table style book celebrates the 30th anniversary of the famous design house, Italdesign from 1968-1998.
The Giugiaro led firm is known for the Maserati Bora, Lotus Esprit, BMW M1,DeLorean DMC-12,Lamborghini Gallardo,Maserati MC12,and a host of concepts and production cars for Alfa Romeo, Bugatti, Maserati and others.
Superb color photography.
English and Italian text. Size: 239 Pages.
Stories and observation’s from America’s best motorcycle journalist.Peter Egan‘s writing invites you to pull up a chair, pour a little scotch, and relax while he shares with you his tales from the road, his motorcycling philosophy, and his keen observations about the two-wheeled life. His columns and feature articles are among Cycle World‘s most anticipated each month. Egan’s legions of fans know they will always leave his articles with a fresh perspective. Leanings 3 offers a fresh collection of Egan’s motorcycle musings delivered in his signature wise but amusing style. For added perspective, each feature article is preceded by fresh commentary from the author. This is an unforgettable collection of the works of a master writer whose simple adventures of life remind us all why we love to ride.
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.
The definitive illustrated history of the exotic sports cars and supercars of McLaren Automotive.
When the McLaren Formula 1 team set up McLaren Cars and launched the revolutionary, iconic F1 road car in 1992, it turned the supercar world upside down. McLaren wouldn’t make another road car itself until it formed McLaren Automotive in 2010. It was set up with the vision not just to rival the established companies in the sports and supercar marketplace, but to disrupt and to constantly innovate in its pursuit of performance.
Readers will learn the following:
• Upstart company McLaren Automotive applied Formula 1 engineering expertise, innovation, and radical thinking to create cars that quickly became benchmarks for performance, ride, and handling against long-established supercar manufacturers such as Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Porsche.
• Unparalleled insight from the designers, engineers, aerodynamicists, and test drivers who create McLaren Automotive’s cars, with modern, independent insight from test drives by automotive journalists and the author
• Detailed technical insight, background stories, and data to the creation, development, and manufacture of all of McLaren Automotive’s sensational cars, with the text supported by comprehensive data tables and illustrated by images from a team of world-renowned automotive photographers
This book contains incredible insight and detail from access to McLaren’s press archives, as well as interviews with countless key people within the company. The first and only book dedicated entirely to McLaren’s incredible road cars, this is the complete history of a fascinating automotive brand that’s challenged the establishment.
Guide to the collections and museums of transport in Italy
The “Strada dei Musei” is a project of the Historic Automobile Club of Italy.
In this volume eight years of research has created a comprehensive directory describing and documenting over 250 collections and museums dedicated to cars, motorcycles, trucks, agricultural vehicles, planes, trains, boats, bicycles and carriages. The objective of the work is to offer an overview of the numerous resources present in the country, the result of passion, dedication, and research. Some collections are more known, others less known but all make a significant contribution to the history of the twentieth century. For every location, the book provides addresses, phone numbers, web contacts, thus helping the visitor to discover the rich history preserved for all in Italy.
Hardcover 370 Pages
Text English and Italian
Ride along with author Tom Cotter and photographer Michael Alan Ross as they pilot their Ford Bronco/Airstream Basecamp combination 8,881 miles along the lower 48’s back roads and byways.
Tom Cotter has spent decades ferreting out lost “barn find” collector cars. The process has made him an ardent road tripper, logging thousands of miles every year on America’s back roads. Previous journeys have traced Route 66 in his 1939 Ford Woody wagon and followed the Lincoln highway coast to coast behind the wheel of a 1926 Model T.
Cotter’s journeys led him to wonder: What could be the most epic American road trip? The answer: Key West, Florida, to Deadhorse, Alaska, its thousands of miles recounted in America’s Greatest Road Trip. Cotter and Ross drove across the country, through British Columbia and the Yukon, and finally through Alaska to the literal end of the road. Ross documented their road time in thousands of photographs.
Along the way, the pair met fellow road trippers, adventurers, small-town Americans, world travelers, and rolled through an ever-changing geography from the Gulf of Mexico to the Mississippi Delta to the Great Plains and Mountain states through the Northwest Passage and finally several hundred miles of Alaska’s challenging ALCAN Highway.
Cotter’s observations of Two-Lane America are complemented by Ross’s beautiful photography capturing both the sweep and the detail of life off the beaten path.
Join them on their once-in-a-lifetime journey—you’ll be glad you came along for the ride.
174 pages with 145 illustrations, diagrams and charts, size 6-5/8 x 10-1/4 inches. This is a publication for those Ferrari enthusiasts that are tired of oversized and often overpriced coffee table books filled with page after page of photos of red Ferrari’s and not much else.
This book contains all the technical data and statistics for the majority of the 1948 to 1958 Ferrari road and race cars. It was compiled by a knowledgeable author who lived in Modena at the time that these cars were being constructed, who was personally acquainted with Enzo Ferrari and had access to the factory documents during that time period. It includes the author’s road test experiences, technical specifications, tune up, adjustments, maintenance and repair information, detailed technical drawings, exploded views, wiring diagrams and lubrication charts. This book is a ‘must have’ for any Ferrari enthusiast or lucky owner of one of these early cars and should be in the library of any true Ferraristi. Originally published by Floyd Clymer in 1960 under the similar title of ‘The Ferrari Owner’s Handbook’, its description left much to be desired. For example, of the 174 pages there are 90 pages that are much closer to a repair and maintenance manual. Consequently, it’s more of a technical manual than a handbook.
There are seven sections that cover both the road and race cars constructed by Ferrari from 1948 to 1958.
- Section 1 – The authors driving experiences of the Type 166, Type 342 and 340 America and Type 375 America.
- Section 2 – Specifications for 41 road and race cars constructed by Ferrari from 1948 to 1958.
- Section 3 – Repair, Maintenance and tune up information.
- Section 5 – Valve Timing and Carburetor data.
- Section 6 – Acceleration times.
- Section 7 – Detailed component drawings, exploded views, Wiring Diagrams, Lube charts etc.
A sports car for race tracks and everyday life: This holds true since the 1984 triumph of legendary four-by-four 911 at the Paris-Dakar rally, the world’s toughest long-distance race. The now re-issued off-road Porsche manages the balancing act of road/sports car and cross-country vehicle better than any other 911 before. In eight chapters the richly illustrated car book depicts the development of the first genuine off-road 911. From the historic genes at the Porsche development center in Weissach to the extensive test drives of the sports car on various continents – a piece of living automobile history.
- Ideal gift for car lovers: High-quality illustrated book on the Porsche 911 Dakar
- Exclusive photos by Porsche photographer Christoph Bauer
- For off-road and motorsport fans: Glimpses behind the scene of vehicle development
- History of the Porsche 911 Dakar: From the first idea to the test drives
- Official Porsche book from the Christophorus edition
Impressive pictures document the development of this special 911 model, limited to 2,500 cars. Christoph Bauer, long-standing Porsche photographer, took the brilliant photos for this volume. Bauer followed the whole process of development – all the time close to the designers. Thus he was able to take spectacular Porsche photos, just for this illustrated car book. Pure Porsche design!
Do You Dream of Riding a Motorcycle?
The Craft and Art of Motorcycling will help make your dream a reality—from your first ride to the road ahead.
Hollywood’s go-to riding guru, Steve Krugman, has trained thousands of riders including high-profile actors, musicians, and athletes. The Craft and Art of Motorcycling is based on his years of experience developing unique, effective, and proven riding methods.
In clear, relaxed language, Krugman offers complete understanding of the bike itself and riding fundamentals (the Craft), with concepts, strategies, and insights that lead to mastery on the road (the Art).
Key topics include:
- Motorcycle controls and operation
- Fundamental skills—starting, stopping, shifting, and turning
- Real-world cornering technique
- Low-speed control and emergency maneuvers
- Street- and road-riding strategies
- Managing riding conditions and the elements
- Selecting gear and buying your first bike
The Craft and Art of Motorcycling is an accessible and comprehensive introduction to motorcycle and scooter riding—simply explained and beautifully illustrated throughout—and provides an essential foundation for any rider, whether an aspiring novice, rusty returnee, or weathered road-veteran.
More and more people are hitting the road to the middle of nowhere. Along less-traveled paths they are heading up mountains and down dunes in converted mobile homes, campers, trucks, or vans. They are enjoying the drive and the view through mud-splattered windshields as much as the stops and evening campfires amid stunning terrain. Although many of us love living in cities, we have a growing longing to escape into nature. The outdoor scene is booming and many people are heading off to discover it with their own converted vehicles. This way, they can determine their own routes, itineraries, and pace, as well as how many challenges they’d like to meet along the way. After a day on the go, these multifunctional vehicles also serve as kitchens, campgrounds, and sleeping quarters that offer a great deal more improvised fun than a standard, perfectly equipped RV. Conventional luxuries are eschewed for the sake of greater freedom, tranquility, and adventure. Off the Road captures the special mood of such trips by solo travelers, couples, or families who are seeking an alternative to a more standard vacation or want to live their lives differently ―at least for a while. On the one hand, the book shows how familiar models, such as VW buses, Land Rovers, jeeps, and Toyotas are being rediscovered and repurposed for these exploits. On the other, it presents automotive dreams turned into customized, homey vehicles that offer tailgate breakfasts or roof beds to better admire the stars and that can, in an emergency, cross a river or drag a fallen tree from the road. Whether exploring the desert, showing children the world, or navigating polar landscapes, the journeys collected in Off the Road are as unique as the people who take them. From radical escapists to fans of nature looking for their next trip, the book celebrates the joy of being on the go on four wheels.
This wonderfully illustrated, up-to-date guide to the natural, cultural, and historical gems hidden just off the legendary Route 66 outlines 30 trips for curious travelers.
Route 66 is arguably the
world’s most famous highway (more than 60% of Route 66 adventurers are from overseas!)—its motels, diners, and roadside attractions comprising a time capsule of America’s love affair with the automobile. While many of the road’s
iconic attractions have disappeared with time (along with large stretches of the road itself), others are as enduring as ever.
In this completely revised and updated version of The Backroads of Route 66, author and Route 66 expert Jim Hinckley is your guide from the lowlands of the American Plains to the high plateaus of New Mexico and Arizona, from the Great Lakes to the mighty Pacific Ocean, and through major metropolises and remote country towns.
But rather than take the road oft traveled and the sites most photographed, Hinckley encourages you to branch off the Mother Road and discover the hidden gems beyond today’s familiar motels and tourist traps—quaint frontier communities that date to westward expansion; the legacy of native cultures; and the awe-inspiring natural wonders that have graced these lands since time immemorial. There to be explored within a few hours’ drive from the path of Route 66, discover:
- Outdoor attractions
- Museums
- Historic sites
- And much more
The thirty trips in The Backroads of Route 66 offer new travel opportunities for you and the thousands of road-trippers who follow this legendary route, looking for something more.
There’s really nothing quite like the freedom of the open road. And there’s nowhere on the planet more thrilling to traverse by car than the United States, a country that in many ways is the birthplace of the modern road trip. As more and more travelers are looking to reduce their reliance on flying, The Great American Road Trip is about seeing the world on wheels, not wings. This book is about both the iconic routes and the roads less traveled, crossing barren deserts, otherworldly canyons, snowy mountains, and dramatic prairies – all without crossing a border. From the bourbon trail in the south to retracing the underground railroad, each route in this book has a story to tell.
Stuffed with never-before-seen photography, stories, and race results, Bronco Racing: Ford’s Legendary 4×4 in Off-Road Competition is the most definitive publication ever on this marque’s racing success!
In 1965, legendary builder and off-road aficionado Bill Stroppe was one of the first to test the new Bronco in off-road conditions. In March 1966, Stroppe introduced his racing Bronco to the press at the Bronco Roundup, where racing ace Ray Harvick pounded the Santa Ana river bottom with his tuned machine to win Top Eliminator at the Four-Wheel-Drive Grand Prix at Riverside, and the rest is history.
Ford’s Bronco dominated the off-road racing scene and captured coveted titles in the Mint 400, Baja 500 and dirt racing’s crowning achievement: the Mexican 1000/Baja 1000. As the first-generation Bronco gave way to the second-generation machine (1978), racing Broncos continued to devour the competition until Ford pulled the plug on the rig in 1996.
Complementing the legendary Broncos featured here, you will also hear the tales of their wranglers, including Parnelli Jones, Rod Hall, Larry Minor, Shelby Hall, James Garner, Don Barlow, James Duff, Bill Rush, and the aforementioned Ray Harvick and Bill Stroppe. The infamous mounts covered include Big Oly/Crazy Colt, Pony, Big Hoss, Crazy Horse, Stove, and Colt.
Diligently penned by Bronco racing historian John Elkin, this book is the most comprehensive collection of historical accuracy ever authored on this subject. Pull your belts tight and wipe your goggles clean one last time with Bronco Racing: Ford’s Legendary 4×4 in Off-Road Competition!
This is the fascinating inside story of the design and build of what would become the world’s favourite lightweight sports car. Candid text, written by the engineers and designers themselves, guides the reader through every stage of the vehicle’s development, from original concept through to the production model that took the world by storm.
