Offenhauser The Legendary Racing Engine and the Men Who Built It

Offenhauser The Legendary Racing Engine and the Men Who Built It

Domination. No other word so accurately describes the Offenhauser engine’s six-decade reign over American auto racing. On small urban tracks, state fair dirt circuits, and Indy’s brick oval, “Offy” was synonymous with “winner circle.”

At the height of its power in the 1950s, entire Indy grids were composed of Offenhauser-powered roadsters. Neither the rear-engined revolution of the mid-1960s nor the entry of major players like Ford would knock Offy from its throne. When the “little four with the big punch” finally ceased being competitive in the early 1980s, it was a victim of the rule book more than any engineering shortcoming.

Offenhauser: The Legendary Racing Engine and the Men Who Built It traces the glorious history of the most renowned American racing engine of all time. Author Gordon Eliot White has thoroughly researched this story from the early days of Harry Miller, through Fred Offenhauser, to the final days under Meyer & Drake ownership. More than 250 historical black-and-white photographs and a special color section accompany White’s fascinating narrative. With over 18,000 copies sold, this book tells the definitive story of the designers, machinists, and drivers who created the Offenhauser legend. Essential reading for the racing historian and fan, White’s book captures the human, technical, and political aspects of Offenhauser’s unforgettable story.

The Complete Book of Dodge and Plymouth Muscle Cars: Every Model from 1960 to Today

The Complete Book of Dodge and Plymouth Muscle Cars: Every Model from 1960 to Today

Take a roaring ride through every year of Chrysler performance-car history led by stunning photography, lively commentary, and detailed specification tables for every model.

Expanded and updated, The Complete Book of Dodge and Plymouth Muscle Cars details all of the classic Mopar muscle cars from 1960 to today in one handsomely designed volume. Explore every aspect of the:

  • Early 1960s factory lightweights
  • Boulevard brawlers like the Road Runner, GTX, and Super Bee
  • Super collector cars like Hemi-powered ’Cudas, Challengers, and Superbirds
  • 21st century Charger and Challenger

Over the course of nearly 75 years, Chrysler’s (now Stellantis) Dodge and Plymouth brands have offered some of the most memorable and exciting muscle cars ever loosed on the motoring public. Arguably, it all began with the 1951 release of the vaunted V-8 Hemi engine. This legendary beast passed through a handful of displacements until finally morphing into the all-conquering 426. Chrysler’s V-8 prowess shone in early 1960s factory-lightweight drag cars then moved to muscle-era classics like the Charger, Roadrunner, GTX, Super Bee, and Superbird.

But it wasn’t just about Hemis; Chrysler offered a variety of V-8 engines including 340, 383, and 440 displacements fitted to other top-flight cars like the Barracuda, Challenger, ’Cuda, and Duster. No other Detroit automaker offered a wider variety of performance cars in the 1960 and early ’70s.

Emissions requirements and ever-increasing insurance tabs put the squeeze on performance cars beginning in the mid-1970s, and Mopar performance declined for decades. But it returned with a vengeance in the 21st century, first in the guise of a new Charger (4-door!) and then the beloved retro-design Challenger. Both of these iconic models were put to rest in 2023, but not before unleashing the wild 807-horsepower Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye and the outrageous 1,025-horsepower Dodge Challenger SRT Demon. Power to the people, indeed!

The Complete Book of Dodge and Plymouth Muscle Cars is a must-have reference for all Mopar muscle fans.

McLaren Formula 1 Car by Car: Every Race Car Since 1966

McLaren Formula 1 Car by Car: Every Race Car Since 1966

Explore 60 thrilling years of McLaren Formula 1 race cars in this handsome volume, complete with detailed specs, stunning photography, a foreword by twice World Champion Mika Häkkinen,and the full competition record for every car.

McLaren has been a top Formula 1 competitor and innovator since it fielded founder and driver Bruce McLaren’s first car, the M2B, in 1966. Just two years later, Bruce scored the team’s first grand prix win. Tragically, he was killed in 1970 while testing his Can-Am car at Goodwood.

Despite the heavy loss of its founder, McLaren carried on, scoring its first of twelve championships in 1974 with Emerson Fitipaldi. McLaren’s roster of F1 Champions includes such greats as James Hunt, Niki Lauda, Ayrton Senna, and modern master Lewis Hamilton.

Equally legendary are the cars themselves, including the:

  • 1960s M7A
  • 1970s M23
  • 1980s MP4/2
  • 1990s MP4/5
  • 2000s MP4-23
  • Today’s MCL 60

As the second longest-running team in F1 (surpassed only by Ferrari), McLaren holds twelve Drivers Championships and eight Constructor’s titles.

McLaren Formula 1 Car by Car chronicles every McLaren Formula 1 car in chronological order, featuring an overview of each car’s significant features and evolution, its technical specifications, and its competition record accompanied by historic and contemporary images.

Featuring a Foreword from two-time F1 World Champion Mika Häkkinen, McLaren Formula 1 Car by Car details the amazing race cars and drivers that have cemented McLaren’s reputation as one of the most dominant manufacturers in F1 history making this book a must-have for every McLaren and F1 fan.

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!

Ford Bronco: The Original SUV

Ford Bronco: The Original SUV

From the first drawings in the early 1960s to today’s uber-popular new Bronco, get the full story of Ford’s legendary SUV in this stunningly illustrated volume.

When Ford introduced the Bronco for the 1966 model year, its intent was to get a slice of the off-road and outdoor enthusiast utility market then owned by the popular Jeep CJ and International Harvester Scout. What Ford couldn’t know at the time was that it was creating a legend—a rugged, square-shouldered vehicle that would exist in its original form through 1977 and in various guises for a further 20 years, wrapping up its first life in 1996.

Since the Bronco’s retirement, the SUV/crossover sector has become the dominant segment of the automotive market. Nearly all manufacturers—even exotics like Lamborghini and Bentley—offer SUVs in their line-ups. In fact, Ford has largely discontinued passenger vehicles (except the Mustang) in favor of trucks and SUVs. Simultaneously, the collector market has turned its eye to vintage SUVs and trucks, the former growing significantly over the past 5 years. Classic Broncos have doubled in value over that period, regularly selling at prices ranging from $40K to $100K.

The story picks up in 2017 when Ford announced plans to revive one of its most hallowed nameplates: Bronco. Brilliantly styled to pick up the beloved, boxy cues of the original, customers began dropping deposits as soon as the order books opened. Ford still struggles to meet demand with speculators flipping new Broncos on the secondary market for thousands over invoice.

Beautifully produced and expertly written, Ford Bronco is a must-have book for all Bronco and SUV enthusiasts.

Masters of the Air: America’s Bomber Boys Who Fought the Air War Against Nazi Germany

Masters of the Air: America’s Bomber Boys Who Fought the Air War Against Nazi Germany

The inspiration for the major Apple TV+ series, streaming now!

The riveting history of the American Eighth Air Force in World War II and the young men who flew the bombers that helped beat the Nazis and liberate Europe, brilliantly told by historian and World War II expert Donald L. Miller. The Masters of the Air streaming series stars Austin Butler and Callum Turner, and is produced by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, the legendary duo behind Band of Brothers and The Pacific.

Masters of the Air is the deeply personal story of the American bomber boys in World War II who brought the war to Hitler’s doorstep. With the narrative power of fiction, Donald Miller takes you on a harrowing ride through the fire-filled skies over Berlin, Hanover, and Dresden and describes the terrible cost of bombing for the German people. Masters of the Air is the deeply personal story of the American bomber boys in World War II who brought the war to Hitler’s doorstep. With the narrative power of fiction, Donald Miller takes you on a harrowing ride through the fire-filled skies over Berlin, Hanover, and Dresden and describes the terrible cost of bombing for the German people.

Fighting at 25,000 feet in thin, freezing air that no warriors had ever encountered before, bomber crews battled new kinds of assaults on body and mind. Air combat was deadly but intermittent: periods of inactivity and anxiety were followed by short bursts of fire and fear. Unlike infantrymen, bomber boys slept on clean sheets, drank beer in local pubs, and danced to the swing music of Glenn Miller’s Air Force band, which toured US air bases in England. But they had a much greater chance of dying than ground soldiers.

The bomber crews were an elite group of warriors who were a microcosm of America—white America, anyway. The actor Jimmy Stewart was a bomber boy, and so was the “King of Hollywood,” Clark Gable. And the air war was filmed by Oscar-winning director William Wyler and covered by reporters like Andy Rooney and Walter Cronkite, all of whom flew combat missions with the men. The Anglo-American bombing campaign against Nazi Germany was the longest military campaign of World War II, a war within a war. Until Allied soldiers crossed into Germany in the final months of the war, it was the only battle fought inside the German homeland.

Masters of the Air is “a stunning achievement” (David McCullough), “a fresh new account” (Walter Boyne, former director of the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum) of life in wartime England and in the German prison camps, where tens of thousands of airmen spent part of the war. It ends with a vivid description of the grisly hunger marches captured airmen were forced to make near the end of the war through the country their bombs destroyed.

Drawn from recent interviews, oral histories, and American, British, German, and other archives, Masters of the Air is an authoritative, deeply moving account that “accurately and comprehensively” (Lt. Gen. Bernard E. Trainor, USMC (Ret.) and coauthor of Cobra II) tells of the world’s first and only bomber war.

The MG Century: 100 Years―Safety Fast!

The MG Century: 100 Years―Safety Fast!

Celebrate and explore 100 years of MG cars with this impressive volume featuring expert commentary, historical images, period ads, and contemporary photography.

For many car enthusiasts, MG is synonymous with “sports car.” It is often credited with igniting a passion for European cars in postwar America at a time when roads were otherwise filled with the lumbering output of Detroit. In MG’s native England, the company’s cars filled roles from family transport to competition driving.

MG, as we think of it today, began in the 1920s, but its roots go back even further with a young William Morris. Initially working in the booming bicycle trade, he eventually branched into motorcycle and car repair with the fledgling Morris Garage (hence, MG) in 1907. By the mid 1920s, the successful Morris Garages was in a position to begin manufacture of its own cars under the MG name.

MG grew significantly in the years before World War II, building and racing its classic Midgets and Magnettes. World War II provided challenging times for the company as it did for the UK and much of the world. In the postwar period, a focus on sales outside England, and particularly in the United States, both defined MG’s product line and ensured its success. Legendary cars followed, including MG TC, TD, and TF followed by thoroughly modern MGA, MGB, MGB GT, and Midget. Magnettes and the 1100 offered options for those wanting sedans and more practical cars.

MG ownership moved through a number of UK companies in the postwar period as well as ownership by BMW and today’s SAIC, a Chinese-based company through which it operates as MG Motor. Highlights along the way included the MGB GT V8, MG Metro Group B rally car, and MGF. Based on its latest state-of-the-art EV platform, MG will soon launch an all-new roadster coming full circle over its century in business.

Authored by marque expert David Knowles, The MG Century: 100 Years of Safety Fast! is a fitting celebration of one of the automotive world’s oldest and most beloved brands—and a must-have for every car enthusiast.

Montlhéry by Henri Vachon 1950-1957

Montlhéry by Henri Vachon 1950-1957

Discover Farina, Moss, Behra, Trintignant, Schell, Hamilton, Gendebien, Thirion, Brabham… at the wheel of Jaguar, Ferrari, Lotus, Maserati, Porsche, Gordini, Aston Martin, Talbot-Lago, etc.

The world’s greatest sporting brands were present on the legendary Linas-Montlhéry circuit in the landmark events of the 1950s: the Paris Grand Prix, the Paris 1000km, the Paris 12 Hours and 24 Hours, the Bol d’Or, the Tour Auto… not forgetting Jaguar’s world speed records in 1952.

Immerse yourself in the unique history of the great Parisian circuit, with its many configurations and unique architecture miraculously preserved by UTAC.

This bilingual French-English book is aimed at enthusiasts of motor racing history, those nostalgic for the greatest circuit Paris and the Île-de-France region have ever known, lovers of the 1950s and fans of silver photography at the crossroads of art and sport.

When Honda Went Dirt Track Racing

When Honda Went Dirt Track Racing

Get the complete history of Honda’s involvement in dirt track racing, during the ‘80s and ‘90s. The premium hardcover book with dust jacket cover will be limited to 1,000 printed copies. Includes over 500 pages of compelling interviews and first-hand accounts of when Honda entered dirt track racing, leading to their development of the legendary Honda RS750D dirt tracker and fueling the Honda versus Harley rivalry, an iconic chapter in dirt track racing history. The story is told largely in the form of 60 plus interviews with some (unfortunately not all) of the participants, A large selection of photographs accompanies the narrative along with copies of period journalism.

“We’re excited to release this exclusive new book! It’s been years in the making, and a lot of research with many of the racers and individuals who were around during the era. You will not find a more complete story of Honda’s history in Dirt Track Racing. Thanks to all my colleagues and contributors who helped tell this story,” said Chris Carter, owner of Motion Pro, Inc.

Gerald Foster added, “I would like to thank everyone involved with this book, from the bottom of my heart. I’m truly grateful for the personal time and effort each contributor made. This has been a herculean task over a number of years and I hope you and motorcycle fans all around the globe will enjoy it.”

Driven by Dreams 75 Years of Porsche Sports Cars

Driven by Dreams 75 Years of Porsche Sports Cars

  • Celebrating the 75th anniversary of Porsche
  • This deluxe edition gives readers valuable information and tells entertaining stories from more than seven decades of Porsche

Looking back at more than 75 years of making sports cars: Ferdinand “Ferry” Porsche could hardly foresee this kind of success, when he sent his first car into the streets on 8th June 1948: the 356 “No. 1” Roadster. On occasion of the anniversary this deluxe edition provides valuable information and tells entertaining stories from more than seven decades of Porsche. Moreover readers will hear from those who worked hard to make the success come true.

Classic, special model or sports car: this illustrated book takes fans through the Porsche history and, while leafing through, allows readers to look at the changes the famous carmaker went through.

  • From the first Porsche to the Taycan: Automobile milestones from 75 years of Porsche history
  • Ferdinand Porsche, family & fans: Backgrounds and facts of the people behind the brand
  • From Formula 1 to Porsche Cup: Porsche sports cars in the spotlight!
  • With breathtaking photos from Porsche photographer Stefan Bogner
  • Formidable Porsche book: A fine high-quality gift for fans and Porsche enthusiasts

Whether 356, 911 or Boxster: Driving Porsche is not just moving from A to B. The Zuffenhausen sports cars embody a unique awareness of life: of freedom, passion and individuality. Legendary models were historic milestones in automobile history.

Numerous photographs, curated by Munich photographer and designer Stefan Bogner, depict the steps of the company’s history from the 1950s until today, perfectly staging classic cars and rare models. The extravagant design and fine cover make the book a high-quality gift for every Porsche fan. Get excited about 75 years of sports cars “made in Germany”!

Road to the Red Zone vol. 2

Road to the Red Zone vol. 2

The success of the volume 1 allowed us to discover all important Honda places in the world. We had the opportunity to visit race teams, production plants and we made interviews with legendary people such as Shigeru Uehara or Hirotoshi Honda himself. We gathered exclusive information about this fascinating brand.

This second book ends our work about the Honda sports history. For every F1, NSX, S2000,  WTCR or FK8 enthusiast, this book is a must have.

Alfa Romeo: An Illustrated History, 1910–2020

Alfa Romeo: An Illustrated History, 1910–2020

A complete history of 110 years of Alfa Romeo, the cars, the people, the racing, and the heritage.
For more than 110 years, Alfa Romeo has set the standard for elegant, sophisticated, and racy Italian automobiles. The first Alfa Romeo, the Tipo 24HP, rolled off the line in 1910 and paved the way for such classic and well-known models as the Tipo 33 Stradale, Guilia, Giulietta, Alfasud, Alfetta, and Stelvio—Alfa Romeo’s first SUV. And this comprehensive book covers them all and much more.

Automotive writer and Alfa Romeo buff Christian Schön celebrates the 110th anniversary of Alfa Romeo by taking a deep dive into the people, places, races, and especially the cars that are part of Alfa Romeo’s rich history and heritage. The book includes

• a thorough timeline of all the important events and milestones in Alfa Romeo’s 110-year history, 1910–2020;
• special sections on Alfa Romeo’s auto designs, engines, technology, concept cars, factories, and advertising, as well as the Alfa Romeo Museum in Milan and the key personnel responsible for Alfa Romeo’s rise to the top;
• an in-depth look at Alfa Romeo’s racing history, including five world championship titles, a dozen European championships, 11 victories in the legendary Mille Miglia endurance race, and a victory in the German Touring Car Championship (DTM); and
• exciting “behind the scenes” stories and more than 350 color and black-and-white images.

Anyone with a passion for Alfa Romeo—or automotive history, design, and racing in general—will find excitement in these pages. The book is a must-have for any automotive library.

Ayrton Senna

Ayrton Senna

Senna, the legend, the only one! Mentioning his name gives me goose bumps… But then, when Bernard Asset told me he wanted to do the 4th book of his collection about him, I had my doubts… Another book about the legendary Brazilian driver? What hasn’t been done about Senna? I only accepted the challenge because Bernard unveiled some unique pictures, never been seen anywhere. And what about the testimonies? All the people that knew him well had special anecdotes to tell.

So I think we made a very, very special book, and you’ll discover it when you’ll read it. As ever, the book is a limited and numbered edition.

  • Unique contact sheet signed by Bernard Asset.
Ayrton Senna

Michael Schumacher

When the legendary photographer Bernard Asset asked us to edit his photo-album about Michael Schumacher, we accepted with great enthusiasm.

But it wasn’t just because of the prestige of the ‘Red Baron’, or the exceptional quality of Bernard’s photographs; we were interested because of the approach.

The concept of the book allows the reader to discover Michael Schumacher from a new angle. More intimate, more personal. In addition, we had the chance to interview engineers, team principals, and drivers he met along the way; and it gives this album a genuine human touch. In order to enhance the exceptional material, we strove for a very high quality finish; selective varnishes, metallic numbered pictures, red cloth cover and tailor-made protective slip case… we have achieved the best tribute we could to the driver, and to the photographs.

Finally, there is a wonderful introduction written by Jean Todt.

Each volume is printed in a limited and numbered run of 1000 copies.

 

Bentley Speed 8 – Limited Edition

Bentley Speed 8 – Limited Edition

Bentley Speed 8 – Limited Edition

Motorsport Book of the Year Award 2023 (Royal Automobile Club)

Limited to 550 numbered copies

Exactly 20 years ago, Bentley won the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the sixth time. Just three years earlier, the project was born from within the brand. The later Bentley Motorsport Director Brian Gush secured the internal support of the corporate siblings VW and Audi and rolled out the Speed 8 project. There, where Bentley had established its motorsport heritage between 1924 and 1930, the aim was to revive the brand and make a clear statement. Already in the first year 2001 a small sensation was achieved with a podium finish, in 2003 the legendary double victory followed after intensive development and test work.

In this comprehensive book, former team members, engineers and drivers have their say and quite a few of them contributed their photos. Starting with wind tunnel tests, the construction of the eleven chassis, test drives and races, author Andrew Cotton covers the entire development and racing history of Bentley’s Le Mans winner of the modern era. In the course of his research he had access to all e-mails, documents and drawings of the team and he interviewed all important contemporary witnesses who were involved in the project. This standard work on perhaps one of the most beautifully designed sports cars of the modern era is rounded off with the chassis history of every Bentley Speed 8 built.

Hardcover in slipcase
Text in English
Hollywood’s Lost Backlot: 40 Acres of Glamour and Mystery

Hollywood’s Lost Backlot: 40 Acres of Glamour and Mystery

Hollywood is a transitory place. Stars and studios rise and fall. Genres and careers wax and wane. Movies and movie moguls and movie makers and movie palaces are acclaimed and patronized and loved and beloved, and then forgotten. And yet…
And yet one place in Southern California, built in the 1920s by (allegedly murdered) producer Thomas Ince, acquired by Cecil B. DeMille, now occupied by Amazon.com, has been the home for hundreds of the most iconic and legendary films and television shows in the world for a remarkable and star-studded fifty years. This bizarre, magical place was the location for Tara in Gone with The Wind, the home of King Kong and Superman, of Tarzan and Batman, of the Green Hornet, of Elliot Ness, of Barney Fife, of Tarzan, of Rebecca, of Citizen Kane, of Hogan’s Heroes and Gomer Pyle, of Lassie, of A Star is Born and Star Trek, and at least twice, of Jesus Christ. For decades, every conceivable star in Hollywood, from Clark Gable to Warren Beatty, worked and loved and gave indelible performances on the site.
And yet, today, it is completely forgotten.
Pretty much anyone alive today, from college professors to longshoremen, have probably heard of Paramount and of MGM, of Warner Bros. and of Universal, and of Disney and Fox and Columbia, but the place where many of these studio’s beloved classics were minted is today as mysterious and unknowable as the sphinx.
Hollywood’s Lost Backlot: 40 Acres of Glamour and Mystery will, for the first time ever, unwind the colorful and convoluted threads that make for the tale of one of the most influential and photographed places in the world. A place which most have visited, at least on screen, and which has contributed significantly and unexpectedly to the world’s popular culture, and yet which few people today, paradoxically, have ever heard of.

Ferrari: From Inside and Outside

Ferrari: From Inside and Outside

  • Ferrari Formula 1 through the lenses of two legendary photographers
  • Featuring hundreds of stunning photographs, many rarely seen
  • Contributions from iconic figures including Piero Ferrari, Luca di Montezemolo, Stefano Domenicali, Jean Todt and legendary designer Mauro Forghieri
  • A must-have book for the Ferrari fan

Ferrari is the beating heart of the global sporting phenomenon that is Formula 1. Its founder, Enzo Ferrari, was born on the racetrack as a competition driver before he became a creator of mythical road cars. No other team can inspire the passion or match the stories of triumph and tragedy. Rainer Schlegelmilch and Ercole Colombo are two of Formula 1’s most legendary photographers. They covered the sport from the 1960s onwards, with amazing access inside the Scuderia. Here, for the first time, they come together to pay tribute to Formula 1’s most iconic team. Ferrari: From Inside and Outside features contributions from iconic figures including Piero Ferrari, Luca di Montezemolo, Stefano Domenicali, Jean Todt and legendary designer Mauro Forghieri. The book is edited by internationally celebrated Formula 1 commentator and Michael Schumacher’s biographer, James Allen.