Motor

Updated history and encyclopedia of fire engines from all over the world, with an A-Z of fire engine manufacturers.

Everyone's favourite motorcycles of the 1970s in this lavishly illustrated little book

A new album of Porsche images that capture the essence of Porsche design language through the lens of a photographer with a training in car design and a passion for Porsches.

The story of the Lotus marque encompasses ongoing technical innovation on road and track, from the Mark 1 in 1948 to the World’s most powerful electric hypercar – the Evija – in 2021. Founded in 1952 from Colin Chapman’s hobby, Lotus flourished by producing aerodynamically brilliant lightweight sports-racing cars, progressing into Formula 1 in 1958. Jim Clark and Team Lotus won the 1963 and 1965 F1 World Championships for Drivers and Constructors, as well as the Indianapolis 500. Jochen Rindt won the 1970 World Championship posthumously for Gold Leaf Team Lotus, and in 1972, Emerson Fittipaldi was F1 World Champion driving the JPS Type 72, with the Team winning the Constructors’ prize in 1972 and 1973. Mario Andretti won the F1 World Championship for JPS Team Lotus in 1978 but, surprisingly, this proved to be their last of seven F1 World Championship wins.   On the road, the Elite showcased the brand from 1957. Next, the Elan was a fine-handling fibreglass-bodied sports car, while the Seven provided exhilarating motoring for DIY enthusiasts. The 1963 Lotus Cortina was a fast road car and a success on track. The Elan Plus 2 was built alongside the Elan two-seater and Europa, and in 1974 the road car range went upmarket, powered by Lotus’s own engines, with the Elite Mk 2 and Éclat, and the mid-engined Esprit produced between 1976 and 2004.  Tragedy struck with the sudden death of Colin Chapman in December 1982, aged 54. General Motors acquired Group Lotus in 1986, selling up to Romano Artioli’s Bugatti in 1993, enabling the ground-breaking Elise to launch in 1996. Ownership of Group Lotus passed to Malaysian car maker Proton, and in 2000, the Series 2 Elise and the Exige were released, maturing gradually over the next twenty years. The Toyota V6-powered Evora was announced in 2006. In 2017, Group Lotus was acquired by the global automotive company Geely, ushering in a fresh, financially secure era. Launched in 2020, the 2,000bhp all-electric Evija became the new Lotus flagship. Lotus blossoms anew. 

Valentino Rossi's announcement of retirement brings down the curtain on an incredible career in the MotoGP motorcycle world championships. With his nine titles, including seven in the premier class, he is widely regarded as the greatest motorcycle racer of all time.

Bringing the world of Titanic and her sisters back to life as never before through the captivating original artwork of talented artists

This book looks fondly at the numerous Land Rover Series III models that were produced successful against an uncertain backdrop.

The early Hinckley Triumphs produced from 1991 to 2004 – Trophy, Daytona, Trident, Trident Sprint, Tiger, Speed Triple, Adventurer, Thunderbird – were designed and manufactured using a modular concept. This assists in the sharing of components across the range of bikes, which was useful with the restricted availability of spare parts. With over 725 colour photographs, First Generation Hinckley Troumph (T300) Motorcycles provides helpful guidance on keeping your bike on the road, including a discussion of the models produced and their modular design; identifying common problems and how to address them. There is a comprehensive guide to maintenance, including the tools required and details of restoration, modification and upgrades, from changing the exhaust to fabricating swing arms. Also included is a useful list of suppliers for both new and reconditioned parts, as well as specialist service providers.

A compilation of over 200 breathtaking aerial images taken over the past decade by "Curves" magazine photographer Stephen Bogner, capturing stunning mountain passes, hairpin turns, switchbacks, and scenic roads around the world. Text in English and German.

The inspirational story of Tom Hartley 'The Dealmaker.' Tom's candid autobiography tells of a boy who left school at 11, selling his first car at 12, and his extraordinary journey to become a supercar dealer and multi-millionaire. The story is expertly transcribed by Ken Gibson, award winning ex-motoring editor of The Sun newspaper.

Photographer Stefan Bogner went in search of the top roads in Southern Germany: Fantastic views, endless curvy roads and gastronomic highlights make a very special guidebook! Text in English and German.

The ultimate motor cycle sport yearbook covering MotoGP, World Superbikes, AMA Superbikes, British Superbikes,World Supersport and more.

Named after Elisa, the granddaughter of Lotus's owner at the time, Romano Artioli of Bugatti fame, the Lotus Elise was launched at the Frankfurt Show in 1995. In the subsequent twenty-five years it has not only established itself as the embodiment of what Lotus stands for, it retains a unique place in the international sports car market. The Elise story is one of steady evolution. The original car, conceptually a true Lotus complying exactly with the mantra ‘performance through light weight’, employed traditional Lotus construction practices, based on a radically innovative extruded aluminum chassis. The Series 1 Elise opened the gates for the Series 2 (S2) model and its principal derivative sibling, the more track-focussed Exige, and the concept matured steadily, with powertrain revisions, styling facelifts and chassis modifications though the next two decades. No other manufacturer came up with a car to seriously rival the Elise, nor the Exige, in terms of handling dexterity on both road and racetrack, and it aptly characterizes the definition of a sports car.  

The autobiography of Extreme Enduro motorcycling legend Graham Jarvis

<p>The photos in this edition are black and white.<p>Boost your 2010-2015 Chevrolet Camaro’s horsepower in addition to its braking and cornering abilities by using proven modifications. <p>This book includes instruction about brakes, suspension, rear axles, intake and exhaust, cooling, fuel systems, transmissions, LS engine mods, superchargers, turbochargers, ECM tuning, aftermarket EFIs, and more.<p>The Chevrolet Camaro really needs no introduction to automotive enthusiasts. From its inception (along with the Firebird) in 1967, the Camaro established a reputation that made its name a household word. Insanely popular on the street, successful in all forms of competition, and a perennial best seller, over the past half-century the Camaro has cemented its status as an icon. <p>The Camaro went on hiatus for an 8-year period, much to the chagrin of Chevrolet, but made a triumphant return in 2010 with the 5th Gen models. Of course, the new generation of Camaros is filled with the technology you would expect, including multiple trim versions and a variety of engine packages. And of course, as capable as the new cars are, Camaro enthusiasts always want more. That's where this book comes in.<p>There is fierce competition on the street for modern muscle supremacy. With <i>Camaro 5th Gen 2010-2015: How to Build and Modify</i>, you can keep your Camaro ahead of the competition.

Based on the award-winning board game, the 100 original challenges take you on a global adventure via train-track. For puzzlers and board game enthusiasts alike.

Ask any automotive enthusiast what his or her favorite chase scene to appear in a movie is, and the majority will respond by saying "Bullitt." It has made the top five in every list covering the best automotive chase scenes in history. But the appeal isn't just about the chase scene.Shot entirely on location in picturesque San Francisco in 1968, the movie not only features the historic chase scene but also many outdoor scenes filled with cars and architecture of the period that are filmed in crisp clear color. The movie was the fifth-highest-grossing film for 1968, it was well received by critics, and Franks P. Keller won an Oscar for editing the chase scene. In Bullitt: The Cars and People Behind Steve McQueen, you will get the complete behind-the-scenes picture of how all of the action was coordinated and filmed. Included are the ideas behind the making of the movie, an interview with Director Peter Yates, production stills, and the planning for the scene. Also covered is the cast, the building of the cars used in the film, and the how and why the stunts were choreographed and filmed. To round out the story, an examination of what happened to the cars is included as well as coverage of the multiple Bullitt Edition cars released by Ford after the film, including the latest 2019 edition. While several books have been published about the "King of Cool" (Steve McQueen), never before has there been a thorough examination of this specific film and these specific cars. This edition is a welcome addition to the library of any McQueen, Mustang, or automotive film history fan.A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book benefit Boys Republic, the 501c3 non-profit educational institution in Chino Hills, California, attended by Steve McQueen, currently and actively supported by the McQueen families and estate.

Sleek, futuristic and deadly - the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon was born from the crucible of the air war over Vietnam and the need for cheaper, simpler and more maneuverable fighter aircraft with which to combat the many thousands of Soviet-bloc supplied aircraft sold around the world.

The story of a monumental battle, as Ford and Ferrari vied for racing supremacy at Le Mans during the 1960s. Following the development of Ford's GT40, Ken Miles' involvement, and Ferrari's No 1 driver, John Surtees, this fascinating book gives the full story of the fight between two giants of the automotive racing history.

STOP! Don't buy a Mercedes-Benz 280-560SL or SLC without buying this book first! Having this book in your pocket is just like having a real marque expert by your side. Benefit from Chris Bass's years of Mercedes ownership: learn how to spot a bad car quickly and how to assess a promising one like a professional.

STOP! Don't buy a Porsche 996 without buying this book first! Having this book in your pocket is just like having a real marque expert by your side. Benefit from Adrian Streather's years of Porsche ownership. Learn how to spot a bad car quickly and how to assess a promising one like a professional. Get the right car at the right price!

The XB-40 and XB-41 were secret, little-known experimental modifications of the B-17F and B-24D, respectively, into heavily-armed bomber gunships sometimes referred to as "bomber escorters". They were developed during early World War II in response to the lack of a USAAF long-range fighter aircraft able to escort and protect regular B-17 formations making the round trip from Britain deep into Germany. Using many formerly-classified documents from his large microfilm collection, William Wolf presents their previously-unpublished history. It describes in depth for the first time the politics and development and associated problems of both escorter types.Unfortunately, these "protecters" were found wanting in several ways - after the addition of guns and ammunition they became overweight and tail-heavy causing center of gravity problems and each encountered numerous delays in the development and delivery of their various armament additions and improvements, particularly the Bendix chin turret. In the end, the YB-40 participated in only 14 lackluster operational service test missions during mid-1943 before being withdrawn from service. The XB-41 Liberator never saw operational testing before also being cancelled for its poor performance.The failure of the gunship concept left a huge hole in the capabilities of the Eighth Air Force. Their failure, however, spurred the adoption of the Merlin-powered P-51 Mustang, the outstanding escort fighter that was key to Allied victory in the air war over Europe.

Here are 111 more gripping Porsche Stories that afficionados of the Stuttgart brand and sports car enthusiasts should know.