The Spirit of BMW: 50 Reasons Why We Love Them

The Spirit of BMW: 50 Reasons Why We Love Them

Fifty glorious vintage photographs of classic BMW models teamed with lively text that explains why people love them.

Known as “the ultimate driving machine,” BMW is one of the world’s most prestigious car brands. Renowned for their smooth handling, precision engineering, and sleek looks, BMWs pair driving comfort with powerful engines. Originally formed during the World War I, the company reached new heights of popularity in the 1960s and is still going strong today.

This captivating book outlines all the most iconic BMW models, from their first car, the Dixi of 1927, to today’s high-performance models, including the beautiful 1955 507 roadster, the instantly recognizable 2002 from the 1960s, and the iconic E30 M3, first manufactured in the mid-1980s. Each evocative vintage photograph is accompanied by an insightful explanation.

The ideal gift for every car enthusiast, whether they’re a BMW owner or aspiring to be, this beautifully illustrated book perfectly conveys the joys of this classic brand.

Motocourse 2022-23: The World’s Leading Grand Prix & Superbike Annual

Motocourse 2022-23: The World’s Leading Grand Prix & Superbike Annual

MOTOCOURSE 2022-23

47th YEAR OF PUBLICATION

For lovers of two-wheeled motorsport, Motocourse stands alone as the leading yearbook covering the sport.

Since its launch 1976 it has evolved through the decades into the most authoritative chronicle on the FIM motorcycling world and key national championships.

The 20-race MotoGP championship produced a fascinating mix of races which saw no fewer than five different riders take victories in the first eleven rounds, before the season climaxed in Valencia in November.

Leading the way was the young Frenchman Fabio Quartararo, who on his Yamaha, fought to keep a phalanx of Ducati riders at bay, led by “Pecco” Bagnaia, Jack Miller, Enea Bastinini and Jorge Martin.

Fascinating sub-stories abounded, with the multiple champion Marc Marquez having his season curtailed by recurring injuries and the abrupt decision of Suzuki to pull out of MotoGP competition at the end of the 2022 season, which left the rider market in disarray.

Aside from the premier class, Moto 2 and Moto3 are given ample coverage, where a three-rider tussle between Celestino Vietti, Augusto Fernandez and Ai Ogura were the front runners battling for the top prize. In Moto3 Aspar’s GASGAS team mates Sergio Garcia and Izan Guerara desputed proceedings as the season progressed.

Editor Michael Scott and Neil Morrison supply full reports on each Grand Prix, and Matt Birt brings us his usual run down on the comings and goings of each of the 11 squads in the Team-By-Team review, which has full personnel and technical specifications, the bikes being illustrated beautifully by Adrian Dean’s meticulously crafted drawings.

Full coverage is given of the 12-round World Superbike Series in which Kawasaki’s defending champion Jonathan Rea faced a stern challenge from Yamaha’s Toprak Razgatlioglu and Ducati’s Alvaro Bautista. All the races and the seasons bikes and riders are put under the microscope by Superbike top writer Gordon Ritchie who also covers the supporting World Supersport class.

Peter McLaren provides full race results and lap charts from every round of both MotoGP and World Superbikes as well as complete points tables from all the major championships.

The well of talent that eventually will become the cream of racing almost inevitably springs from the amazingly well-conceived Red Bull Rookies series, in which youngsters vie for supremacy on identical machines. The vastly experienced Peter Clifford charts the ups and downs of their close-fought battles.

After the continuing pandemic, the Isle of Man TT returned for the first time since 2019, and the well-funded and increasingly popular British BSB Superbike series continues to grow in prestige, with an ever-deepening field of talent competing across eight different classes throughout a weekend packed with action.

Motocourse also covers the racing in the USA, via the Moto America Superbike series which saw Yamaha’s Jake Gagne competing head-to-head with the experienced Ducati star Danilo Petrucci.

For 47 years, Motocourse has been the bible of motorcycle racing, written and illustrated by the world’s leading practitioners. The superlative reproduction of its brilliant photographs brings the drama and spectacle of a thrilling racing year to vibrant life.

Motocourse is the essential collectible, and the mainstay of every road racing fans bookshelf.

 

 

Out of This World: Historic Milestones in NASA’s Human Space Flight

Out of This World: Historic Milestones in NASA’s Human Space Flight

  • A stunning coffee table book of historically significant NASA photos
  • Amazing photographs complemented by quotes and stories from noted personalities at NASA
  • A chronological journey through NASA’s history, from Apollo to the James Webb Telescope
  • Awe-inspiring, inspirational and motivational, a perfect gift and a must for your library
  • Quotes from astronauts Commander James Lovell and John Glenn, as well as John F Kennedy, Ralph Waldo Emerson and many more

“The history of space exploration is best presented in this book of NASA photographs, whose images are universally inspirational.” – Commander James Lovell, Apollo 13

NASA has worked at the forefront of space exploration and research since 1958. Their devotion to furthering our understanding of what lies beyond our atmosphere has seen 12 humans walk on the surface of the moon, helped form the International Space Station, and placed numerous rovers on Mars. Voyager 1, launched by NASA on 5 September 1977, is the furthest manmade object from earth, having left our solar system entirely – and the agency’s plans for the future are equally inspiring.

This book celebrates NASA throughout the years, from its inception to its 60th anniversary in 2018, and beyond. A visual tour-de-force, the book collects high resolution NASA photos of historic significance; from rarely seen photos and the words of President John F. Kennedy commanding the space race, to the many triumphs and tragedies of the Apollo Missions, moon landings, the International Space Station, space shuttles, journeys to Mars and explorations of our galaxy’s outer reaches. These breathtaking images are complemented by heartfelt words of hopes and imagination for the future, encouraging readers to admire their world from a different perspective. NASA: the Greatest Milestones is a stunning 300 page book.

BMW M Love

BMW M Love

  • 50 years of BMW history in superb photos and gripping texts
  • All the highlights of the company’s history, iconic BMW M models and Art Cars
  • BMW owners and their treasures: stories from 50 years
  • Lavishly designed illustrated book, officially supported by the BMW M GmbH
  • Ideal gift for car lovers and BMW fans

In 1972 the story of BMW M GmbH started with an exclamation mark. Back then, the BMW 3.0 CSL already embodied all the virtues the Bavarian sports department still stands for today: consistent lightweight design, masterful performance and a striking appearance. With this principle the uncompromising saloons BMW M3 and M5 pioneered a whole type of car classification and the models of the M performance group brought a motorsport feeling to the road. On the 50th anniversary of the sports car icons, BMW M Love tells the whole story of the sporty BMW models – and is officially supported by the M GmbH. Apart from sporty saloons the M GmbH always knew how to catch public attention with spectacular racing successes, prototypes and activities. World-famous artists such as Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein and Jeff Koons used Art Cars as their canvas. With numerous stories from 50 years this book presents the full history of the BMW sports cars with the telling ‘M’. Discover the greatest model icons anew, experience the most impressive sporting successes once more and join famous M owners in their love for cars!

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
The Complete Book of Ford Mustang: Every Model Since 1964-1/2

The Complete Book of Ford Mustang: Every Model Since 1964-1/2

REVISED & UPDATED 2021 EDTION

This lavishly illustrated, officially licensed reference work walks you through Mustang’s nearly 60 years of continuous production—a rich and varied history nearly unmatched in the automotive world.

Ford’s Mustang is America’s most iconic pony car. According to many, it is the only vehicle that really actually deserves the title “pony car.” From the first six-cylinder Mustang of 1964-1/2 through fire-breathing, world-beating Boss and Shelby versions of the 1960s and early ’70s, to today’s Mustang Mach 1 and Shelby GT500, The Complete Book of Ford Mustang offers an in-depth look at the prototypes and experimental models, the anniversary and pace cars, and the specialty packages for street and competition driving that have made the Mustang an automotive legend for nearly 60 years.

Created in cooperation with Ford and providing extensive details, specifications, and photographic coverage, this book is the ultimate resource on America’s best-loved pony car. Any muscle-car enthusiast, motorsports fan, or car collector will want this book in their collection.

The Complete Book of Jaguar: Every Model Since 1935

The Complete Book of Jaguar: Every Model Since 1935

In 1935, when a small company in Coventry, England, launched a sporting saloon (i.e., sedan) called the Jaguar SS, it set in motion an inexorable process that would lead to Britain’s most beloved line of high-performance automobiles. The Complete Book of Jaguar covers the SS and all of the Jaguar’s subsequent production models, from the original SS Jaguar to today’s F-Type sports cars, F-Pace SUV, X-Type sedans, as well as concept cars.

As with other books in the Complete Book Series, author Nigel Thorley organizes the content chronologically with entries for each year. Narratives for each discuss the cars and technology, while spec tables highlight key technical and performance specifications.

Originally begun by a couple of motorcycle enthusiasts—William Lyons and William Walmsley—as a firm called the Swallow Sidecar Company, Jaguar would become one of the world’s most celebrated automakers. In England’s bleak postwar years, Jaguar became a shining star—first with its XK120, followed by the XK140 and XK150. Sporting sedans like the Mark 2 and Mark X set the bar for luxury four-door transport in the ’50s and ’60s. Then Jaguar stunned the world with the achingly beautiful E-Type in 1961, a genuine 150 mph super sports car.

Along the way, the company competed on road courses around the world, going head to head with greats like Ferrari and Aston Martin. Though Jaguar lost its way periodically in the modern era, it has bounded back stronger than ever in the twenty-first century with a strong lineup, including the new F-Type sports car and F-Pace SUV.

The Complete Book of Jaguar is the essential guide to this important chapter in the history of sports and luxury automobiles.

Mini Scrapbook: 60 years of a British icon

Mini Scrapbook: 60 years of a British icon

Launched in 1959, the Mini helped to change automotive design, with its unique combination of aesthetics, space efficiency, engineering approach, and handling. Alec Issigonis’s masterpiece was an instant hit – not just with the buying public, but with celebrities and racers alike, from Sir Stirling Moss to ‘The Fab Four’. The Mini became a much-loved staple of the British car industry – a position that it has arguably enjoyed for 60 years and continues today.

In this latest addition to the Scrapbook series from Porter Press International, the story of this unique little car is broken up into accessible nuggets and aided by a collection of archive and contemporary photography, to illustrate just what makes the Mini so special in this, its 60th year.

Author Martin Port set the scene with a look at why this charismatic little car is so loved around the world. He reveals how the concept became a reality and covers each main incarnation of the classic Mini, from 1959 to 2000. From celebrity owners to appearances on the silver screen, competition wins and all sorts of weird and wonderful Mini variants – this is the ultimate visual guide to an icon of British design.

Volkswagen Beetle: A Celebration of the World’s Most Popular Car

Volkswagen Beetle: A Celebration of the World’s Most Popular Car

The VW Beetle is simply the best-known and most-loved car in the history of the motor car. Amazingly, some of the earliest Beetles, now seven decades old, are still on the road, while more recent examples, particularly the classics from the late 1950s and ’60s are many an enthusiast’s pride and joy. Created through the ingenuity of Ferdinand Porsche, brought to the brink of series production by Hitler’s Nazis and rescued from oblivion by the British after the war, the Beetle soon developed into a phenomenon under the guardianship of Heinz Nordhoff, the VW boss for two decades. Overwhelmingly successful in over 150 countries across the world, most notably in the USA; when the car finally fell from grace in Europe after Nordhoff’s death, it was destined to enjoy a revitalized and lengthy swansong in South America. The legendary Beetle’s intriguing story is unraveled in this fascinating and handsome book.

Beetle Love

Beetle Love

  • A tribute to the Volkswagen Beetle, the most-loved car in the world
  • Glorious photographs throughout

Beetle Love endures. It’s global and conquers every generation. And this love is classless. Never mind if used as a taxi on a daily basis, as a company car owned by a craft brewery in Ecuador, as a show piece in Great Britain or as a family heirloom in Indonesia: Beetle Love introduces them all. Convertibles and limousines, from red to rusty, from purple to polished. And it’s always the story that their owners lost their hearts to the Beetle. And rightly so! Hardly any other car arouses more emotions around the world.

All covered in this book, more than 20 stories, 208 pages, a wonderful and unique picture and story book.

Text in English and German.

Ultimate Speed: The Fast Life and Extreme Cars of Racing Legend Craig Breedlove

Ultimate Speed: The Fast Life and Extreme Cars of Racing Legend Craig Breedlove

The exciting, true story of an ordinary guy building extraordinary machines in his garage and racing them in the most dangerous game in the world.

An L.A. hot-rodder with a high school education, a family to support, and almost no money, Craig Breedlove set out in the late 1950s to do something big: harness the thrust of a jet in a car. With a growing obsession that would cost him his marriage, he started building in his dad’s garage. The car’s name was Spirit of America. Through perseverance and endless hard work, Craig completed Spirit and broke the land speed record on the Bonneville Salt Flats, setting a new mark of 407 mph in 1963. He went on to be the first person to drive 500 and 600 mph, breaking the land speed record five times. In the early 1970s he turned to rockets and set an acceleration record at Bonneville that stands to this day. He built a jet car in the 1990s, Spirit of AmericaSonic Arrow, to go head to head against Britain’s ThrustSSC to be the first to Mach 1. Craig’s subsequent crash at 675 mph remains the fastest in history. Even today, at the age of eighty, he is going strong with plans for yet another Spirit of America racer. The ultimate goal: 1,000 mph.

Ultimate Speed is the authorized biography of Craig Breedlove, with a foreword by Craig himself. A candid revelation of one of motorsports’ most interesting figures, the book is based primarily on countless hours of interviews with Craig and dozens of people connected to his life.

The MG T-Series: The Sports Cars the World Loved First

The MG T-Series: The Sports Cars the World Loved First

Although not the first sports cars produced by Morris Garages (MG), the MG T-Series set themselves apart, with an impressive radiator flanked by sweeping fenders and sparkling performance. The cars featured an ash-wood body covered in steel, bolted to the chassis and had leaf-spring suspension. In this readable and informative book, the author follows the development of the various MG T-Series models, including the prewar Midgets and the MG TC, TD and TF.The book covers the technical developments such as the introduction of synchromesh gearing and hydraulic brakes as well as new engines. Due to the post-war popularity of the cars in the United States after American GIs shipped examples back from Britain, modifications were made for US editions. Soon celebrities such as Clark Gable were driving them.The author also describes the competing interests within the BMC group as other sports cars such as the Triumph TR2 and Austin Healey 100 were also developed. As this book shows, however, whatever the competition, the MG T-Series were always a class apart.

THE HARRIET QUIMBY SCRAPBOOK

THE HARRIET QUIMBY SCRAPBOOK

This first complete biography of Harriet Quimby is visually charming for all ages and a handy reference for entertainment, photography, travel, and aviation historians. With over 150 vintage newspaper clips and dozens of never before published photographs, it’s a must for every fan of early aviation.

Carrie Vanderbilt’s pictures of her best friend, Harriet Quimby, remained in storage for over 85 years. These photographs and dozens of other never-before published images are artfully presented with vintage newspaper clippings and Quimby family documents, as if Quimby had pasted them into her own scrapbook. Reprinted for the first time are Harriet Quimby’s seven silent film treatments for American Biograph.

Quimby was disarmingly unique. Ignoring criticism, and creating her own sense of style, she owned several cars, learned how to repair them, and encouraged other women to do the same. She smoked cigarettes, lived alone, and lied about her age. Cleverly calculating her professional career, she represented all that was independent and modern, yet she distanced herself from feminist causes.

Harriet Quimby’s life touched the fringes of the Civil War, the Industrial Revolution, the Ragtime Ear, and the new Age of Aviation. Moving from Michigan to California and finally to New York City during 1903, she was prepared to take it by storm. She had no alternate plan.

New York loved her. America admired her. The world was her oyster until tragedy struck. Before her death at age 37, her potential for continued fame, fortune, and contributions to U.S. history was limitless.

Scientific American eulogized that her death, ” while fitting for an athlete, should never have been the lot of such a fragile flower of sunny California.”.

This scrapbook represents more than the life of one woman. It is our cultural heritage.

GT Love: 50 Years Opel GT

GT Love: 50 Years Opel GT

  • Born in 1968 and manufactured for just five years, the Opel GT is a legend; this book is the standard work on the subject
  • Includes previously unpublished photos, design sketches, and anecdotes
  • GT designer Erhard Schnell, who celebrates his 90th birthday in 2017, has contributed some new sketches of the GT exclusively for this book
  • Celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Opel GT in 2018 – half a century of automobile history\

“When I was a young boy and saw the Opel GT, I knew: When I grow up, I must have this car. My wish came true.” So says Opel manager Karl-Thomas Neumann in his preface. Bob Lutz, the living automobile legend, an 84-year-old combat jet pilot who, as a young marketing director at Opel, played a substantial role in starting the GT series, praises the GT: “The GT has a lot in common with my Alpha Jet. It is not very comfortable, has weak air-conditioning, the boot is almost non existent. But that is irrelevant. One hour in the Jet or GT – and you feel just happy. Almost younger.”

Kapitän, Admiral, Diplomat, Manta, Monza – many Opels have illustrious names and thrilling designs. But there is just one true legend of the brand with the flash: the GT. For generations of drivers the sports coupé is an eye-catcher, milestone, cult, and dream. It is regarded as the most sensational Opel ever – it sets an example for today’s models especially the GT Concept, which premiered at the Geneva International Motor Show in March 2016.

Authors Harald Hamprecht and Jens Cooper tell gripping stories about fans of the Opel GT from all over the world, from the USA to Italy to Australia. Both GT drivers, the authors combed the corporation’s archive, searched for contemporary sources, and spent uncountable hours with experts, fans, and those who played a crucial role in the GT’s development to create this – the ultimate guide to a remarkable car.

Cuba’s Car Culture: Celebrating the Island’s Automotive Love Affair

Cuba’s Car Culture: Celebrating the Island’s Automotive Love Affair

Welcome to Cuba’s automotive time capsule, filled with classic cars.

The story of how Cuba came to be trapped in automotive time is a fascinating one. For decades, the island country had enjoyed healthy tourism trade and American outpost status, and by the 1950s it had the highest per capita automotive purchasing of any Latin American country – its middle class ensured an interesting variety of vehicles plying the roads. But when Cuba fell to communist rebels in 1959, so ended the inflow of new cars. Since then, trade embargo forced Cuba’s car enthusiasts to develop a unique and insular culture, one marked by great creativity, such as:

Keeping a car alive with no opportunity to acquire replacement parts

Customizing a car with no access to aftermarket parts

Drag racing with no drag strip

In many ways, Cuba is an automotive time warp, where the newest car is a 1959 Chevy or perhaps one of the Soviet Ladas. Cuba’s Car Culture offers an inside look at a unique car culture, populated with cars that have been cut off from the world so long that they’ve morphed into something else in the spirit of automotive survival.

Authors Tom Cotter and Bill Warner (founder of the Amelia Island Concours) take readers of Cuba’s Car Culture on a whirlwind tour of all things automotive, beginning with Cuba’s pre-Castro car and racing history and bringing us up to today’s lost collector cars, street racing, and the challenges of keeping decades-old cars on the road. The book is illustrated throughout with rare historical photos as well as contemporary photos of Cuba’s current car scene. For anyone who enjoys classic cars, from old Chevy Bel-Airs to Studebakers to Ford Fairlanes, a cruise around Cuba will make you feel like a kid in a candy store.

When Hollywood Ruled the Skies: The Aviation Film Classics of World War I

When Hollywood Ruled the Skies: The Aviation Film Classics of World War I

1927 saw the release of what was to become the first major aviation film ever released… William Wellman’s epic production of “Wings”. It was the beginning of what would become a much beloved film  genre for aviation and film buffs alike.

In this FIRST volume of “When Hollywood Ruled the Skies”, author and historian, Bruce Orriss documents the history of “Wings” and each of the WWI films that followed ending with Tony Bill’s production of “Flyboys” in 2006.

A total of 35 films are covered in detail including cast and crews, story synopsis and background details on each production. The book is illustrated profusely with hundreds of never-before-seen photographs of the actors, pilots and airplanes used in each film.

TT in Camera: A photographic celebration of the world’s greatest motorcycle road races

TT in Camera: A photographic celebration of the world’s greatest motorcycle road races

Published to coincide with the centenary of the Isle of Man TT, this glorious photographic book presents a portfolio of work from Don Morley, the hugely respected motorcycle racing photographer who fell in love with the TT on his first visit in 1953 and returned every year until 2004. Packed with evocative images, most of them in color, this book features all the post-war greats – legends such as Mike Hailwood and Joey Dunlop – as well as lesser names that have played their part in the world’s most spectacular motorcycle races. This will be a book to treasure for all TT fans.

BBC Sport World Formula 1 Reco

BBC Sport World Formula 1 Reco

The BBC Sport World Formula One Records 2013 fully revised and updated to include the conclusion of the fascinating 2011 season and the thrilling first part of 2012, is the latest in Carlton Books’ million-selling World Records series. Focusing exclusively on the world of Formula One, the biggest and most glamorous of all motor sports championships, this volume highlights the great battles for the World Drivers Championship and the Constructors Cup since they began in the 1950s. There are also hundreds of stories and statistics on the legendary drivers, teams and tracks who have helped to make Formula 1 one of the most exciting and popular sports in the world. The stories, features, lists and tables are brought to life by fantastic action photography. All fans of Formula One will love BBC Sport World Formula One Records 2013, and feel confident about winning any argument about this thrilling sport.

The Old Car Nut Book #2

The Old Car Nut Book #2

Book Two in The Old Car Nut Book series provides more stories from old car guys and gals from across America. You will read about the personal exploits of people that love the classics, muscle cars, and hot rods and the varied reasons for that enduring love. Relive their experiences, both good and bad, and read about the amazing effect that the cars have on people from all walks of life. The old cars seem to bind Americans together and provide a way to connect with others that they may never get a chance to know otherwise

Caution: Like book one, once you pick this book up, it will be difficult to put down and you will want to reread the stories over and over, sharing with the people that make your experience in the world of old cars worthwhile.

Wings of Angels: A Tribute to the Art of World War II Pinup & Aviation Vol.1

Wings of Angels: A Tribute to the Art of World War II Pinup & Aviation Vol.1

A beautifully presented, two-volume collection, uniquely chronicling the story and history of the most recognizable aircraft of World War II and the pinup girls whose images graced these legendary warbirds. Flying into combat with our boys, inspiring and providing our U.S. soldiers with sweetly seductive reminders of home, these pinups are a reminder of the All American good life GIs were fighting for. For the first time, Michael Malak has merged classic 1940s style Hollywood photographs in black and white and sepia recreations for the vintage at heart, as well as full color HDR (High Dynamic Range) photographs for the modern art lover. This book takes the viewer through the history of these magnificent warbirds and the role they played in World War II, and provides detailed, factual information about each of them courtesy of the Yanks Air Museum, home of these exquisite warbirds. Several world renowned pinup artists of today, such as Greg Hildebrandt, have contributed their time and talent to take part in this project, providing original artwork for Wings of Angels in the tradition of legendary pinup artists Gil Elvgren and Alberto Vargas.