Search results for ""dalton watson fine books""

On December 17, 1922, Andre Citroen sent an expedition of Citroen half tracks or autochenilles to follow the camel tracks across the Sahara desert from Algeria to Timbuktu on the banks of the River Niger. This was the first motorized crossing of the Sahara and took twenty-one days. It permitted the establishment of a land connection between North Africa and the Sudan, at that time extremely isolated, and opened the way for the exploration of the heart of Africa. This first crossing was the culmination of the long, slow penetration of the Sahara by car and plane between 1910 and 1921. During this time, the courageous drivers and pilots of the French military squadrons based in Algeria and Tunisia explored the dunes of the Grand Erg and Tanezrouft, sometimes losing their lives, but they paved the way for this first, victorious Citroen expedition. To reconstruct the history of this Crossing of the Sands, Ariane Audouin-Dubreuil has delved into the diaries and archives of her father who was one of the pioneers of the exploration of the Sahara during those years. Along with Georges Marie Haardt, Andre Citroen's close collaborator and partner, he planned and led the expedition which succeeded in reaching Timbuktu, and then returned by a different route to Algeria. The book is rich in wonderful period photographs and vividly recounts the dangers and difficulties of exploration in those times. First published in French in 2005, the book has now been translated into English by Dalton Watson Fine Books.

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Following his portraits of the coupés of the 1950s published in 2017, Xavier de Nombel turns his cameras to the `Sixties to bring us the most beautiful Berlinettas produced during that decade, which he has tracked down all over the world. From the fiery little Osca to the revolutionary Carabo, employing stunning photography, he presents his personal vision of a period in which styling gave way to design. Around his personal favourites, Christian Descombes relates the upheavals which Italian coachbuilding went through as it evolved from craftsmanship to industrial production, leaving behind its clientele of well-off enthusiasts to offer its expertise to the major international car makers. Giorgetto Giugiaro, undoubtedly one of the leading players in this period, shares a remarkable account from inside, bringing to light the expressions of Italian automotive design since the post-war years

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Since the unveiling of the Lamborghini Miura – the world’s first V12-powered mid-engine road car – at the 1966 Geneva Motor Show, this marque from Sant’Agata Bolognese with the raging bull emblem has been one of the most famous and desirable purveyors of the supercar. Valentino Balboni, legendary former Lamborghini test driver, has been famously quoted as saying “Lamborghini is a carmaker that makes engines, the job of the designers was to design the engine cover.” Yet, in its almost six decades long history, the supercar maker has constructed just four different engines: the extraordinary Giotto Bizzarrini-designed V12 that powered Lamborghini’s flagships for the best part of five decades, a promising V8 that almost brought the company to its knees, a V10 that uses many Audi components and has been the mainstay of the marque in the last two decades, and lastly another newer V12, powering the Aventador. However, what has really distinguished Lamborghini, has been a series of models with remarkable, groundbreaking shapes, each one a veritable design revolution. Cars like the Miura, the Espada, the Urraco, the Countach and the Diablo astounded and startled automotive fans just as much by their daring shape, form and aesthetic purity, as by their second-to-none engineering and trendsetting packaging. This book celebrates the design history of Lamborghini through numerous period reports and previously unpublished images, delving into the extraordinary shapes and the intrepid personalities who made Lamborghini what it is today. .

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This book may forever change the way you look at Formula One Grand Prix racing. Who were truly the all-time ‘greats’? Which drivers have been grossly overrated? The Quality Point Rating System (QPRS) is a mathematical formula-based method that looks at drivers and their cars separately, analyzing their race results. Which drivers benefitted from clearly superior cars during their careers? Which drivers showed they could win even when behind the wheel of a lesser car? What was the level of the competition faced during the years a driver raced? All these questions and more need to be taken into account when properly assessing the role of any driver in achieving the results for which they and their team have been credited in the annals of F1 history. .

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This book about the Porsche 917, one of the most successful and iconic racing cars of all time, presents a detailed chassis-by-chassis and race-by-race history of the cars entered by the John Wyer/Gulf team. It includes the history leading to the 917 and the partnership between Porsche, Gulf and JW Automotive Engineering. These cars were instrumental in Porsche’s taking of the 1970 and 1971 World Sportscar Championship titles when they won 11 of the 17 championship races entered. The exploits of driving legends Jo Siffert, Pedro Rodriguez and teammates Brian Redman, Leo Kinnunen, Derek Bell and Jackie Oliver are listed as they raced the Gulf 917s on the fast tracks of an evocative motorsport era. Written with assistance from JWAE Chief Engineer, John Horsman, the book includes scans of his original race data sheets, along with numerous rarely-seen photographs – many from Porsche’s archive. Detailed post-Gulf histories are presented for each car.

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Lime Rock Park, the oldest continuously operated road course in America came about more by accident than design. Construction of the course began in 1955 at a time when open road racing had been banned in many states, and the use of military and civil airport runways for racing was losing favor with the paying spectators. Dubbed ‘The Road Racing Center of the East’ the park has a turbulent history bedevilled by financial crises, discord with the SCCA New England Region and expensive court cases involving the Lime Rock Protective Association. Despite the struggle to keep the circuit afloat, it prevailed against all odds. This book narrates this history of mixed fortunes during the first twenty years of the park’s existence when it was under the ownership of four different people and contains material unseen before including over 900 images.

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A design hero for all generations of automotive enthusiasts, American legend Tom Tjaarda was a designer whose name and fame is synonymous with marques such as De Tomaso, Ferrari, Fiat, Ford, Innocenti and Lancia, which include models such as Pantera , Deauville, Longchamp, 124 Spider, 365 California and the Fiesta. Brought up in America when the American Dream was beating out its rock ‘n’ roll rhythm, Tom Tjaarda came to live and work in Europe while the cultural revolution was in full swing. He ha d the privilege of a ringside seat during the most exciting times, finding himself at the heart of the most intense of automotive styling activities in the Mecca of vehicle design, Turin. Even though Tom Tjaarda may not have designed as many cars as other prolific designers, the American’s influence and importance in the history of automotive design, specifically in the second half of the 20th century, is almost unbeaten. Tjaarda, with his charming, accessible personality and good humor, remains one of the most popular design legends of all times. Tom Tjaarda: Master of Proportions is a comprehensive look at the life and times of a design giant, and features all his automotive, as well as his non - automotive, designs.

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Based on the first Maserati GT, the A6-1500, the Modena-based company offered its customers the second series, the A6G 2000, from 1951. After the more competitive version with the lightweight Zagato body, wealthy customers could choose between four design versions: the bulky design by Pininfarina, the muscular one from Allemano, the glamorous Coupès and Spyder versions by Frua and the eccentric Coupé by Vignale. All vehicles were slightly different and were among the rarest and most expensive cars of their time. The A6G 2000 was a landmark in Maserati history. This book describes for the first time the technical development of this type as well as the individual history of all cars in these four versions, chassis by chassis.

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This much-updated second edition of the Maserati 300S by Walter Bäumer, includes many corrections and additions to the original text that have been uncovered in the last ten years. Almost all the photographs are new and previously unpublished, making the book an exciting addition to any Maserati library. The first edition was published in 2008. The Maserati 300S was one of the most successful race cars of the 1950s and among the most beautiful ever built. It was the main opponent of the Ferraris in the World Sportscar Championships of 1956 and 1957. Described by Sir Stirling Moss as one of the best race cars he had ever driven and loved by every racing driver due to its balanced handling qualities, the 300S wrote motor sports history. Glory and disaster ran side by side adding mystique to the legend. Despite the often confusing and inaccurate records that make it difficult to establish the exact fate of each car, the history of each of the twenty-five cars built by Officine Maserati S.p.A. in Modena is listed chassis-by-chassis and profusely illustrated with many period photographs. A bonus volume of additional photographs of the four factory cars completes the package.

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Augie Pabst was one of the best American sports car racers in the late 1950s and early 1960s. He started driving small production cars and progressed rapidly to the best and fastest racing machines of the day. Along the way he scored many major victories and won two National Championships. He not only raced on all the major US and Canadian courses, but also on the international stage at Le Mans, Brands Hatch, and Nassau. His career was marked by two-year stints at three of the best American teams; Meister Brauser, Briggs Cunningham, and Mecom. He raced against and often beat not only the top US drivers, but many international stars as well.Pabst has a disarming boyish charm, accentuated by a wide smile and engaging personality, and is a favorite on and off the track, well-liked by all who come into contact with him: fellow drivers, team members, and fans everywhere. His story is told here and profusely illustrated with racing scenes showing many of the cars he drove - among them; Ferraris, Maseratis, Lotus, Porsches and of course the famous Scarabs.

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The Kellner Affair tells the fascinating story of some of the most influential people in the French luxury car business before, during and after World War II and how they came together and fought bravely against the Nazi occupation of Paris. They include the famous coachbuilder Jacques Kellner, the designer Georges Paulin, and Walter Sleator, the director of Rolls-Royce France, It details how they formed a resistance group and gathered intelligence, and how they were betrayed by double agents and some were executed in 1942. Volumes I and II also include an in-depth discussion of aerodynamic cars, and the famous streamlined designs of Georges Paulin. Volume III contains a large portfolio of period images of Kellner-bodied cars such as Hispano-Suiza, Renault, Rolls-Royce, Bugatti, Farman, and many more, along with period articles and a wealth of design drawings as well as facsimile reprints of Kellner brochures. The book relies heavily on newly discovered archive material as well as private documents that have never previously been published. This is one of several Dalton Watson publications that celebrate coachbuilding, from Erdmann and Rossi, many years ago to the recent Saoutchik, Talbot-Lago Grand Sport and Gaston Grummer books and the forthcoming works on Park Ward, Pourtout, and Hooper.

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This is the third and final volume in a series exploring the history of sports car racing in the Southern United States. With the exception of the Sebring 12 Hours, the meets were largely ignored by the national press, and no comprehensive research material is available for the numerous events organized between Texas and Florida, when amateur competition surged in the late 1950s. Yet, the South offers a rich road racing history, often fueled by wealthy oilmen from Texas and Oklahoma.Many of the events were hosted on airport courses and featured the top echelon of European sports cars. Late-model Ferraris, Maseratis, Jaguars, Listers, Porsches, OSCAs and Climax-engined cars such as Lotus, Cooper and Elva did battle with American V8-powered vehicles, both Corvettes and homebuilt Specials. This book offers a race-by-race account of all 1959 and 1960 Southern events, from Novice Races to the weekend-ending Features competition.The author has scoured local newspapers of the period for race reports and results and interviewed many of the drivers, mechanics and owners that were involved in the competitions. He provides an exhaustive report of the time, vividly illustrated by period photographs, many from the archives of Bob Jackson, the acclaimed press photographer.

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Spread over 250 pages are some 300 images taken by a man who was intimately involved with this world. By far the majority of these photographs have never before been published. Ludvigsen provides a knowledgeable and entertaining commentary on each, together with a year-by-year overview of the activities of Porsche during these exciting early years. The early Fifties were the dramatic formative years of Porsche, which was founded as a sports-car producer in 1948. The first-ever Porsche car scored a race victory that same year. Porsche's first effort at Le Mans in 1951 brought a class victory, and Le Mans was destined to remain a major target for Porsche's racers in the future. With the arrival of the fabled 550 Spyders in 1953 Porsche scored class victories on all continents with such drivers as Stirling Moss, Hans Herrmann and Richard von Frankenberg. As well, during these years Porsche developed and expanded its range of sports cars for the road. Included in the book are: Exciting and evocative scenes from the great sports-car races, rallies, road races and hill climbs: Monza, Berne, the Nurburgring, the Mille Miglia, Monte Carlo, Reims and others. Behind-the-scenes views of the Porsche factory and the building of these great cars. The Porsche road cars in their environment and at the great Salons of Paris, Turin and Geneva. Porsche people, including Ferry Porsche, his engineers and his drivers.

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Surely no form of contest has ever equalled the marriage of luxury and ostentation offered for many years by the great concours d'elegance. Elitist perhaps but their sheer magnificence seems just as fascinating now as it did in the first half of the 20th Century. It should be remembered that these events allowed the most celebrated artists and artisans boundless freedom of expression. Everything was put into the melting-pot to achieve one end - the realisation of a dream. The vital step for organisers of such events was to choose a venue famous for its air of leisurely hedonism, such as Longchamp, Deauville, Cannes, La Baule, Vichy, Nice or Enghien, where costly automobiles, their elegant silhouettes crafted by the great names of contemporary coachwork, could parade. To enhance the atmosphere, these exotic creations were presented by pretty ladies, mostly recruited from fashionable society, dressed in the latest fashion by the leading Parisian couturiers in an attempt to achieve the best possible symbiosis with the machines that they accompanied.

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A work of the first still photographer to be E voted into the Motion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences, who also took the last cinematic images of Steve McQueen and Bruce Lee.

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MG, the world’s most-loved make of sports car, was created in the 1920s by Cecil Kimber – invariably known as Kim. Rising above disability, with his energy, enthusiasm and vision Kimber became a leading figure in the British motor industry. Starting out putting sporty bodies on Morris chassis, within a few years he had built MG into the leading European manufacturer of sports cars, with an impressive record of competition successes. He survived industrial upheaval only to fall victim to the venomous internal politics of MG’s parent company. Sacked from his high-profile job, he was preparing to bounce back when he lost his life in a needless accident. Respected businessman, wayward husband, fallible parent, Cecil Kimber was a man of surprising contrasts. Here for the first time is the colourful story of the man behind those famous initials.

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Park Ward, The Innovative Coachbuilder is a major three-volume work on the pre-war history and cars of the great British coachbuilder. The company was the most prolific coachbuilder on Rolls-Royce and Bentley chassis, ultimately completing over 4,300 cars. Volume I and II is the story of Park Ward & Co Ltd and covers the company’s growing relationship with Rolls-Royce Ltd. A photographic record of all the Rolls-Royce models from Silver Ghost to the Wraith that carried Park Ward coachwork is included, along with chapters on the W. O. Bentley cars, and the Rolls-Royce and Bentley experimental cars with Park Ward coachwork. The Derby-built Bentleys follow, supported by chapters on the London Motor Show cars, coachwork on marques other than Rolls-Royce and Bentley, and examples of Park Ward advertising literature and catalogues. An appendix contains a series of articles written by `Bill’ Ward, the company founder’s son, entitled `The Art and Evolution of Coachbuilding’. Volume III contains extensive tables detailing each of over 3,000 pre-war Park Ward-bodied Rolls-Royce and Bentley, as well as a listing of over 1,000 Park Ward bodies on other marques. In addition and rarely seen before, there are over 700 sales order pages extracted from Park Ward’s Finishing books.

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Carroll Shelby's creation of the Cobra automobile during 1961-1962 transformed an aging British sports car into a 1965 World Manufacturers GT Championship winner for Shelby American. Today, the Cobra is still one of the most recognized automobiles in the world. This book narrates the work required to develop the first production Ford-powered AC Ace 3.6 roadsters that today are referred to as Mark I Leaf Spring Cobras. Seasoned Cobraphiles, novice enthusiasts and especially those who had the foresight to buy the cars, will enjoy the hundreds of fascinating snippets and backstories. The author has researched each of the 125 production Mark I Cobras built and conducted several hundred interviews with the people connected with each car. This endeavor uncovered unknown histories and facts, as well as hundreds of previously unpublished photographs and documents. Despite the lion's share of accolades going directly to Carroll Shelby and the staff at Shelby American for the success of the Cobra, some portion of that credit rightfully belongs to the hardworking craftsmen employed at AC Cars in the 1960s. The Cobra could not have been created without them. Virtually everything except the Mark I Cobra's Ford engine and transmission had been hand-built by old-world craftsman in England. That partnership reflects the best of the Anglo-American spirit and produced one of the most iconic automobiles ever built.

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Iran has a monarchial history spanning over 2,500 years. Almost all of Iran’s Kings have had vast unchecked powers as they built, and lost, some of the largest empires in history. These vast powers led to Iran’s Kings being referred to as “Shahan Shah” meaning literally the “King of Kings”. With the advent of the automobile, Iran’s Shahan Shah’s used their broad powers to procure some of the world’s most renown and unique automobiles for their royal garages starting with the first car to be imported to Iran, a Gardner-Serpollet 10hp to unique exotica such as the famed Maserati 5000GT “Scia de Persia” specially-ordered and owned by Iran’s last King, Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi. In his broad spanning work, Iranian automotive historian Borzou Sepasi traces the history of the royal garage of each Iranian Shah, starting with Mozaffar ad-Din Shah Qajar in 1900, who despite importing the first car, forbade drivers from going faster than carriages, all the way up to the 1979 revolution and, in a unique postscript, traces the fate of many of the cars covered in the book following the end of monarchial rule in Iran. The book also intertwines many of the historical events in Iran with the cars of the period, highlighting the special role these vehicles played. Dalton Watson is proud to present this little-known, but extremely unique, niche in automotive history to its readers.

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This book is a celebration, in its 70th Anniversary year, of the first Rolls-Royce motor car to emerge after World War II, the Silver Wraith. Excluding experimental cars, the total production of that model, spanning just over a decade, amounted to 1,883 cars, no two of which were exactly alike. These are precious reminders of a past in which bespoke, hand-built motor cars of their type were once made. All Silver Wraiths followed the pre-war practice of having custom bodies from such coachbuilders as H.J. Mulliner, Hooper and James Young. Comprehensive histories of these and other coachbuilders are included and every Silver Wraith built is listed in detail in a comprehensive table.

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The life story of James Edward (Ed) Hugus, a racing driver and car dealer, with special emphasis on his relationship with Carroll Shelby and the development of the first Shelby Cobra racing cars in the early 1960s. Hugus provided the funding to jump-start the project and in his capacity as a driver, piloted the first racing Cobra (CSX 2001) in competition, and in 1963, the first Cobra (CSX 2142) to appear at Le Mans.Hugus was a remarkable man of great integrity. He was a hero and survivor of World War II, a successful businessman and at the height of his career, he operated three auto dealerships in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. As an amateur racer, he actively competed alongside some of the world's greatest professional drivers during the 1950s and 1960s and often finished well ahead. He was a founding father of the Steel Cities Region of the Sports Car Club of America and went on to participate at Le Mans for ten consecutive years from 1956 to 1965. One of his most important accomplishments was his involvement with Carroll Shelby in creating the Cobra, for without Hugus, Shelby's dream may never have seen the light of day.This book explains Hugus' version of the beginnings of this famous car.

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When one considers The Beatles' early history, there are several names that immediately come to mind, like Ivan Vaughan, Rod Davis, Stuart Sutcliffe and Pete Best. However, the story of the evolution of The Beatles from The Quarrymen to The Fab Four is about more than just the musicians in those groups. Other people, like George Smith, Joe Ankrah, Red Carter, Zancs Logie, Ian James, Marie Maguire, Colin Manley and Arthur Pendleton are all important to the story as well. These one hundred and four friends, family and musicians get a long overdue credit for their contributions to the musical development of the greatest pop group of all time: The Beatles.

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This is the second volume in a series of three exploring the history of sports car racing in the Southern United States. With the exception of the Sebring 12 Hours, the meets were largely ignored by the national press, and no comprehensive research material is available for the numerous events organized between Texas and Florida, when amateur competition surged in the late 1950s. Yet, the South offers a rich road racing history, often fueled by wealthy oilmen from Texas and Oklahoma. Many of the events were hosted on airport courses and featured the top echelon of European sports cars. Late-model Ferraris, Maseratis, Jaguars, Listers, Porsches, OSCAs and Climax-engined cars such as Lotus, Cooper and Elva did battle with American V8-powered vehicles, both Corvettes and homebuilt Specials. This book offers a race-by-race account of all 1959 and 1960 Southern events, from Novice Races to the weekend-ending Features competition. The author has scoured local newspapers of the period for race reports and results and interviewed many of the drivers, mechanics and owners that were involved in the competitions. He provides an exhaustive report of the time, vividly illustrated by period photographs, many from the archives of Bob Jackson, the acclaimed press photographer.

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With the exception of the Sebring 12 Hours, the meets were largely ignored by the national press, and no comprehensive research material is available for the numerous events organized between Texas and Florida, when amateur competition surged in the late 1950s. Yet, the South offers a rich road racing history, often fueled by wealthy oilmen from Texas and Oklahoma. Many of the events were hosted on airport courses where late-model Ferraris, Maseratis, Jaguars, Porsches, OSCAs and Climax-engined cars such as Lotus, Cooper and Elva did battle with American V8-powered vehicles, both Corvettes and homebuilt Specials. This book, the first of a series of three, offers a race-by-race account of all 1957 and 1958 Southern events, from Novice Races to the weekend-ending Features competition. The author has scoured local newspapers of the period for race reports and results and interviewed many of the drivers, mechanics and owners that were involved in the competitions. He provides an exhaustive report of the time, vividly illustrated by period photographs, many from the archives of Bob Jackson, the acclaimed press photographer.

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Since its first world championship in 1950, Formula 1 has held racing fans enthralled around the globe. In this book, motorsport historian, photographer, and collector Peter Nygaard opens his exclusive archives for the first time to tell the stories of this race’s illustrious history. Moving decade by decade, and illustrated with more than four hundred images, Formula 1 celebrates and illuminates more than seventy years at the pinnacle of motor racing. Nygaard highlights the legendary champions—and their biggest victories, famous on-track incidents through the years, and the technological developments that have propelled this famed race to new heights during its rich history

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The promotional history of Rolls-Royce motor cars from the company’s beginnings in 1904 to the outbreak of World War II has been exhaustively researched and documented in these pages. When Charles Rolls met Henry Royce in May 1904 and drove the Royce car, he recognised his future partner for the engineering genius he was – but that was not enough to develop a successful business. Rolls-Royce needed to establish their reputation in a crowded field. Claude Johnson, the firm’s managing director, was the man responsible for crafting every aspect of the promotion of the cars and the company until his death in 1926 and he set a lasting standard for Rolls-Royce publicity. The story of the constant battle for recognition on both sides of the Atlantic and the different approaches used in each market is related, highlighting the outstanding variety and quality of Rolls-Royce’s illustrated advertising, and how the company used it to attract the most demanding customers. The many strands of promotion that Rolls-Royce used are pulled together, from publicity for success in races and trials, through advertising in important magazines and influential newspapers, to beautifully produced pamphlets and catalogues. It shows the unique Rolls-Royce style: publicising independent press reports and unsolicited testimonials on the quality of the cars, and detailed explanations of the engineering standards and the expertise that created that quality. It also goes behind the scenes, reporting on rare minutes from the Advertising Committee during the 1930s that reveal the decisions that led to some of the finest examples of the company’s promotional work. This book promises enthusiasts a feast for the eyes and hours of entertaining reading.

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In this richly illustrated book, Terry O'Neil details the origins of a remarkable racecar, the Ferrari 333 SP. This vehicle heralded the famed automaker's return to professional sports car competitions after an absence of more than twenty years. Introduced on the American racing circuit in 1994, it found instant success and continued to be a major player in numerous races in the US and Europe. Of the 126 races the 333 SP entered, it emerged victorious in nearly fifty, making it one of the most successful sport prototype cars in Ferrari's history. Containing over eight hundred images--many of them never published before--O'Neil's book is a vivid look at this inimitable automobile.

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Nash-Healey A Grand Alliance examines in exacting detail the story behind America's first postwar sports car and the unique partnership between Nash Motors and automobile designer Donald Healey, which later became an international triumvirate with the involvement of coachbuilder Pinin Farina .

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The story of early post-World War II Jaguar key fobs, forgotten for more than a half century, seemed wrapped in an impenetrable mist and was only recently exposed by a dedicated researcher and Jaguar enthusiast. Bud Marston’s book reveals the story of the origins and heritage of more than three hundred splendid motoring talismans from Jaguar’s storied past. During the period covered, Jaguar Cars Ltd produced 350,000 cars, and most of their proud owners almost certainly acquired beautifully-crafted key fobs tailored to the Jaguar marque. But fewer than a thousand of these artefacts appear to have survived, and no living individual has seen more than a fraction of them. Marston determined to assemble a collection of these old jewels and record his research and observations before their stories vanished with the passage of time. Creatively presented with colour and monochrome photographs, Vintage Jaguar Keyrings is an original work of major interest to the motoring connoisseur.

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Gathered together for the first time, here is a comprehensive record of the motoring achievements and competition history of Briggs Swift Cunningham II. He was a competitor, patron and pioneering champion of road racing in the USA, and in addition to the cars that bore his name with pride and competed against the best in the world, the Cunningham team raced many other models in the late 1950s and early 1960s in both the USA and Europe. Further, during his long life, Cunningham owned a large variety of vehicles ranging from the mundane to the spectacular. Richard Harman has spent the past seven years researching this long overdue and worthwhile tribute to the accomplishments of the great man. He was granted unprecedented access to hitherto unpublished archive material by the Cunningham family and the families of the team members and has been able to trace the history of most of the Cunningham-owned cars in great detail. This book has been awarded the 2014 Cugnot Award by the Society of Motoring Historians and was shortlisted for the RAC Book of the Year Award 2014. It was also shortlisted for the 2013 International Historic Motoring Awards Publication of the Year

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It follows the earliest struggle for liberty from slavery,when some 200,000 African American slaves and freemen fought on both sides in return for the promise of freedom. Some, but pitifully few, did achieve their freedom, though most returned to the lot that had been dealt to them by their owners and the abolition of slavery did not give them equality. The Spanish American War was followed twenty years later by the "GreatWar" - the war to endall wars, where over three hundred African American soldiers were awarded the Croix deGuerre, France's highest award for valor, yet only one was awarded the Medal of Honor by the United States - seventy-three years after his death on the battlefield. World War II brought the first-ever all-black-crewed fighter squadron, the 99th, followed by the 332nd Fighter Group, the most highly decorated group of men in their theaters of war. These men were also the catalyst of political action to bring desegregation to the Armed Forces, by means of President Harry Truman's Executive Order 9981, which preceded the Civil Rights Act by twenty years. Since President Lyndon Johnson's signing of the Civil Rights Act into law, we have seen sometimes great, but faltering, steps forward. African Americans have finally risen to the top in their chosen careers - four-star generals, astronauts and ultimatelyan African American President. This book is that story.

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This book on Jaguar E-type originality is based on research spanning almost five decades, and Drs. Haddock and Mueller include here extensive new information from an exhaustive four-year examination of the Mueller collection of over fifty E-types. As such, the book is archaeological in nature, based more on observations of cars than on factory publications or other literature. The examination of principally un-restored cars, many partly or completely disassembled and still retaining their original configuration, permitted discovery of much detailed information not reported before. The large volume of data used in the compilation of this work permitted statistical analysis of production changes that would be impossible with a smaller data-set. It significantly advances the understanding of the original configuration of these remarkable cars

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It chronicles Barbara's early history and modeling career; her years with McQueen at Trancas Beach and Santa Paula as well as behind-the-scene photos on the sets of Tom Horn and The Hunter. This popular book now expanded with additional photographs is a must have for the McQueen fan.

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This book celebrates the striking wedge cars that first appeared at the 1968 Paris Motor Show. A surreal wedge-shaped sculpture of steel, glass, and layers of scaly metal astounded show-goers with its daring shape and extraordinary form. The Alfa Romeo Carabo was an exercise in lateral thinking at just about every level.

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Andy Saunders’ ‘Automotive Alchemist’ is a roller-coaster ride through the highs and lows of this charismatic man’s life. From the early years of learning the basic skills of cutting and shaping metal then painting and airbrushing, to his mature creations, restorations and the inherent genius of his designs. Andy welcomes us into his workshop and his head: not afraid to express his emotions, as he deconstructs and then rebuilds each vehicle, he lays bare his motivations, inspirations, influences, and passions. Intertwined in the narrative is the work involved in the creation of 59 cars, described here with many detailed photographs. Twenty-seven of Andy’s creations now reside in museums and private collections across the globe but the most unusual fate is that of Flat Out, the Guinness Book of Records acclaimed Lowest Car in the World, which is now a coffee table in the foyer of a huge Californian corporation. The book is not a technical ‘how to create wild custom cars’ manual. Rather it is a celebration of Andy’s joy of creation and his design genius, though tempered by personal traumas and losses. He has, on many occasions, been referred to as the British George Barris, the American “King of Kustomizers.” Unlike many biographies, this book engages the reader with its honesty and humour.

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The world of automotive design knows the name of Paolo Martin, who is, no doubt, one of Italy’s design greats. Not only has he designed some of the most important milestone cars from the 1960s and the 1970s, such as the Fiat 130 Coupé, the Lancia Beta Montecarlo and the Ferrari Modulo, but he has also been the creative mind behind several landmark motorcycle and scooter designs for Benelli, Gilera, Moto Guzzi and Piaggio, as well as several beautiful boats, industrial products, and even a typewriter. One of Italy’s most prolific designers, Paolo Martin writes about his life, his designs, his thinking, and his design philosophy in Paolo Martin: Visions in Design.

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RS as in Rennsport: Audi’s most evocative abbreviation represents special cars, fantastic drivetrain solutions and abundant traction. Born of a partnership with Porsche, these two letters evolved into a constant in most Audi model lines. Motoring journalist Constantin Bergander and photographer Peter Besser provide an in-depth look into a fascinating series of automobiles, full of power and elegance. This meticulously researched book tells the captivating story of all RS models, introduced first in 1994, from the disruptive Audi Avant RS2, all the way to the fully electric Audi RS e-tron GT. It explains the powerplants, the various all-wheel drivetrains, and the strategies behind the cars.

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The straight eight engine, also known as the inline eight engine, was the driving force behind some of the most fascinating luxury vehicles of the first half of the twentieth century. From its introduction in the 1920s through its demise in the 1950s, the straight eight graced a number of upmarket vehicles from makers like Pontiac, Packard, and Daimler, and even appeared under the hood of the hyper-exclusive Rolls-Royce Phantom IV, of which only eighteen models were produced. Although it was eventually replaced by the V8 engine, the straight eight engine can be found in some of the most valuable and sought-after vehicles of all time. Keith Ray's The Straight Eight Engine is the first volume to be published about this extraordinary mechanism. Featuring four hundred images, the book is a lush tribute to an automotive component likely to never be equaled for smoothness and refinement.

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In the late 1980s, the storied Italian automaker Bugatti positioned itself for a massive relaunch, defying widespread concerns and pinning its hopes on the innovative EB110 sports car. The EB110, which was eventually unveiled in 1991, was the fastest street-legal car of its time and was greeted with acclaim from industry insiders and trade journalists alike. Yet, soon thereafter, things started unraveling: faster cars came onto the market, sales collapsed, and eight years after its relaunch, Bugatti was bankrupt. This book details the car maker's unexpected revival, from the meteoric rise of the EB110 to its dramatic fall, as well as the tales of intrigue and shenanigans from the many prominent automotive personalities who worked behind the scenes. Though the Bugatti name lives on, still signaling the pinnacle in luxury sports car performance, this compelling and confounding automotive fiasco remains an unforgettable chapter in its one-hundred-plus years of existence.

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Pourtout is a name often mentioned as one of the greats of French coachbuilding. It was the company behind the rakish Darl’mat Peugeots of the 1930s and the famous ‘Embiricos’ Bentley. From modest beginnings, founder Marcel Pourtout – latterly working with designer Georges Paulin – created a respected business that bodied some of the world’s finest and most interesting chassis. When bespoke coachwork became a thing of the past, Carrosserie Pourtout was one of the few companies to survive. It moved on to fresh areas of activity. Quick on its feet, it thrived in a newly dynamised post-war France, whilst remaining a family business under the direction of Marcel Pourtout’s second son Claude. Extravagant publicity vehicles, notably for the ‘Tour de France’ cycle race, replaced special-bodied Hispano-Suizas and Delahayes. Then Carrosserie Pourtout became involved with ACMAT, for whom it created a cab body that redefined the image of the company’s rugged trucks, these becoming a staple of armed forces around the world. Finally it became France’s leading converter of Peugeot light vans and a sub-contractor for the aircraft and oil-prospecting industries. Written by award-winning author Jon Pressnell, this is the first history of Carrosserie Pourtout and has been compiled with the full and generous support of the Pourtout family. Using surviving documentation from the archives held by Kévin Pourtout, it tells the complete story of this enterprising small business, from its inception in 1925 to its demise in 1994.

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In 1948 Watkins Glen staged the first official American race for sports cars since the Vanderbilt Cup races of the early years of the century. This book is about the transformation of post-World War II racing in America and how road racing became a leading sport in the US, beginning at Watkins Glen and followed by Sebring, Daytona, Laguna Seca and other circuits. These historic first five years are fundamental to road racing in America when the race was staged through the village streets and neighboring countryside until a permanent track was built in 1953. The races introduced famous international marques such as Ferrari, Jaguar, Porsche, Allard, Healey and Cunningham and encouraged a pantheon of great drivers to develop, among them, Briggs Cunningham, John Fitch, Phil Walters, Phil Hill, Jim Kimberly and Walt Hansgen. Later, from 1961 to 1980, Watkins Glen was the site of the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix Cameron Argetsinger, a lawyer and leader in upstate New York, was the man with the dream and the story of how he made it all happen against enormous odds is told in detail. It includes anecdotes and interviews contributed by many of the early participants, and has exclusive color photographs taken during years when color photography was practically unknown. In 2011, Watkins Glen celebrates the 50th anniversary of its first Formula 1 Grand Prix. Had the early Sports Car Grand Prix of 1948-52 not taken place and quickly become a huge popular success, Watkins Glen would long ago have disappeared in the annals of history. Instead, it remains to this day a challenging race track, with two nationally televised events each year, and it is the home of the world's first Motor Racing Research Library. Over 300 photographs provide vivid and fascinating illustrations of the men and machines who threaded together every part of this extraordinary story. Full race results and statistics for all entrants in the 13 races run between 1948 and 1952 are also provided in detail. A final chapter shows how many of the race cars from the early years are now highly valued and are prize-winners at concours events.

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This first comprehensive biography of Rudolf Uhlenhaut, illustrated with many previously unpublished photographs, depicts his life and technical accomplishments, including a complete compilation of his patents which puts them into a technical and historical context. An engineer and designer for Daimler-Benz, he became famous for his achievements regarding the Silver Arrows, the 300 SL with the famous gull wing doors, the legendary Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR, and the various record-breaking experimental C 111 versions.Based on numerous interviews with Uhlenhaut himself, contemporary witnesses, colleagues and family members, the book paints a vivid picture of the person behind the technical innovations and explores his character and motivation. Born in 1906 in London, the son of an English mother and a German father, Rudolf Uhlenhaut joined Daimler-Benz in 1931 after finishing his mechanical engineering studies in Munich. In 1936 he took over as head of the racing department and conducted the Silver Arrows and Rudolf Caracciola to their 1937 European championship.After World War II, he created the road versions W 198 and the smaller open-topped W 121 of the 300 SL "Gullwing," both launched at the International Motor Sports Show in New York 1954. Uhlenhaut's official company car, a 300 SLR with a top speed of 290 km/h was the Uhlenhaut Coupe - the fastest car of its day authorized for road use.

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