The star of some of the most beloved films of Hollywood's golden age--including Bullitt, The Great Escape, and The Magnificent Seven--Steve McQueen's unflappably roguish persona earned him the nickname "The King of Cool" . Steve McQueen in His Own Words lets us hear directly from this iconoclastic actor through a wide array of sources.
The story of Bugatti's reincarnation in the late 1980s. When in 1987, Romano Artioli and his high-profile associates--Ferruccio Lamborghini, Paolo Stanzani and Jean-Marc Borel--decided to reincarnate Bugatti, one of the most famous automotive marques of all time, they were not the first to go down this path. Attempts at relaunching famous brands, such as Duesenberg, Invicta, Mercer and Stutz, had been made by moneyed adventurers, yet all the projects, almost without fail, had ended in sorrow. In what way could Bugatti be any different? In Ferruccio Lamborghini, Paolo Stanzani and design legend Marcello Gandini, they had three of the most prominent names in the Italian supercar firmament, and the factory at Campogalliano was one of the most modern, stylish, and theoretically efficient in the realms of automotive manufacturing edifices. The inauguration itself was an event of great splendour, with the who's who of the European automobile industry present, suggesting a bright future for the marque. Five years later, Romano Artioli's dream was over. Bankruptcy was declared, the factory was closed, leaving the last hundred workers jobless, and the beautiful campus reduced to a ghost building. Not even a decade had passed between the first germs of an idea in 1986, and the end in 1995, yet there are enough ingredients for an exciting action-filled television series: discord, rivalry, pride, power, money, prestige, stars, crises and a dramatic end. What happened? Why did it happen? Bugatti: The Italian Decade answers all that and more.
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.
A definitive history of the cars from the Wedge Era with personal quotes and experiences of some of the leading designers. When the 1968 Paris Motor Show opened, a surreal wedge-shaped sculpture of steel, glass, and layers of scaly metal astounded showgoers with its daring shape and extraordinary form. The Alfa Romeo Carabo was an exercise in lateral thinking at just about every level. With headlamps covered by retractable slats and doors that opened, for the first time ever, with a scissor action, the Carabo rewrote the rules of automobile design, kickstarting a landslide of extreme wedge forms--a trend that remained in vogue for the best part of the next two decades. A bold departure from traditional automotive design, captivating the imagination with futuristic aesthetics and aerodynamic efficiency, the wedge style represented a paradigm shift in automotive aesthetics, emphasizing sharp lines, low profiles, and angular contours. The wedge shape, characterized by a sharply tapered front end that widens towards the rear, was not merely a stylistic choice but a reflection of advancements in aerodynamics and engineering. By minimizing drag and improving stability at high speeds, these cars demonstrated a commitment to performance and efficiency. Iconic examples like the Alfa Romeo Carabo, Ferrari Modulo, Lancia Stratos Zero, and Maserati Boomerang, as well as series production cars such as the De Tomaso Pantera, Lamborghini Countach, and the Lotus Esprit epitomized the wedge design ethos, captivating enthusiasts and shaping perceptions of automotive style for generations to come. Their striking silhouettes became synonymous with speed, power, and innovation.
An overview of Porsche history from 1875 to 2023. Porsche Decades is an introduction to Porsche history written and designed for new Porsche owners, new Porsche club members, or those new to learning about the brand. Each chapter touches on the major events and projects important to Porsche's history from 1875 to the present. The main topics are meant to spark further interest and provide a jumping-off point for further exploration of this fascinating automotive and engineering history. Plentiful sidebars add general knowledge and more than three hundred images from the Porsche AG Corporate Archive enrich the narrative for new and experienced Porsche enthusiasts alike.
The compelling story behind America's first postwar sports car. The first book to examine the landmark effort that created one of the most successful racing sports cars of the 1950s and the incredible transatlantic partnership between Nash Motors and automobile designers Donald Healey and Battista Pinin Farina that spurred its construction. This entertaining read examines the men and machines behind the marque before, during, and after their time in the spotlight. A long-awaited exploration of one of the most influential vehicles built in the postwar era, this fascinating story will educate and enthrall from the first page to the last. Born from a chance encounter on the high seas, the union between Healey and Nash Motors produced the first true American sports car in the postwar era. Farina's later involvement brought some Italian flair to the Anglo-American hybrid, making it one of the first domestic models to boast European styling themes. Notwithstanding their small production volume, Nash-Healeys inspired other manufacturers to follow suit with sporting models that appeared in starring roles on film and television screens throughout the 1950s. The glamorous new generation of sports cars that followed appealed to enthusiasts worldwide and continues to thrill today. With extensive endnotes and appendices and featuring more than one thousand images--most never-before-published--Nash-Healey allows an unprecedented understanding of the historical importance of these special vehicles.
This book retraces the saga of the ten Maserati 450S "Bazookas." The Maserati 450S, also called Tipo 54 in the factory codification, was the fastest and most powerful of the Maseratis built to face the archrival Ferrari in the World Sports Car Championship of the 1957 season, which constituted the apotheosis of the golden age of motor racing. Fitted with the powerful Maserati 4.5 liter V8 engine and dressed in an elegant bodywork by Fantuzzi, it was the "lethal weapon" that was to allow Maserati to win the 1957 Sportscar World Championship. Nicknamed "Bazooka," the 450S became also the most tragic race car that Maserati ever built: it won in Sebring and Sweden, but it totally failed at the Mille Miglia, at the Nürburgring, and in Le Mans, culminating in a grotesque and disastrous race in Venezuela, leaving all laurels to Ferrari. It then became obsolete in Europe due to a change in the FIA regulations in 1958. In the United States, the Maserati 450S started its other race career with owners such as Tony Parravano, Jim Kimberly, John Edgar, Temple Buell, Ebb Rose, and Frank Harrison. The 450S won many races in the United States at the hands of the best US drivers like Carroll Shelby, Jim Hall, Masten Gregory, Dan Gurney, Lloyd Ruby, and Bill Krause, and so became a very important part of the US race history in the 1950s. This book includes an exceptional iconography of period photos, most of which have never been published before.
Paying homage to the artistic genius of Joseph Figoni and the beautiful bodies he designed and built for Delahaye. This book shows the evolution of Joseph Figoni's creative process, illustrated through his pen and pencil drawings and designs. He also used clay models and true-scale wire mock-ups mounted on the chassis, but only his drawings and a small wooden model survived. Today, modern photographs, many by renowned automotive photographer Michael Furman, allow us to appreciate the unique features of these decades-old cars, now restored to their original splendor. In addition, the notebooks, vintage photographs, and historical documents in the Figoni archive help tell the full story of many cars. This book includes over fifty Delahayes in detail, each with striking Figoni coachwork, and many drawings, several never published before. Claude Figoni, Joseph's son, provides a vivid account of his father's humble beginnings, his growth as a craftsman and artist, his difficulties during World War II, and his eventual recognition as France's premier coachbuilder. Figoni on Delahaye also includes Richard Adatto's personal recollections of his encounters with car owners and admirers, of finding cars long believed lost, and of meeting restorers and historians whose passion for Figoni-designed cars equals his own.
Within the covers of this book unfolds a journey of discovery of the most unusual, exciting and best preserved automobiles in India. The 101 vehicles documented encapsulate the essense of the history of automobiles in the country and the impact on contemporary culture. This book brings you the most authentic examples of India's automotive past, as well as a carefully considered section of historic vehicles that stood out either as interesting, fascinating or simply beguiling.
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.
The definitive history of one of Porsche's most beloved and competitive racing champions. Forty Six tells the unlikely underdog story of the car that scored Porsche's first racing victories and helped establish their commercial success: the 356/2 063. Beginning at the company's post-World War II nadir, Bill Wagenblatt illuminates how Porsche rose from the ashes to overcome multiple trials and near-disasters to compete with this vehicle at Le Mans, the Liege-Rome-Liege Rally, and Montlhéry, where they set new racing records in the 1950s. Wagenblatt follows the tale into the twenty-first century, making clear how the 356/2 063 helped set Porsche Motorsport on its way to becoming the juggernaut that we know today. Including a wealth of archival photos and documents that have never been before published, along with a unique look at the car's US history, Forty Six is the definitive history of one of Porsche's most beloved and competitive racing champions.
A handsomely illustrated biography of a classic automotive designer. This comprehensive and entertaining biography of famous classic car designer Raymond H. Dietrich--known as "the automotive architect of the classic era"--is an accurate record of his life and times based upon records and interviews unavailable to others. Featuring more than four hundred photographs and documents, many never previously published, this well-researched societal history traces the eight decades of the designer's life, revealing little-known aspects of his career and his triumphs over tragedy. Historians and automobile enthusiasts alike will appreciate how this handsomely illustrated book skillfully transports the reader from one era to another in the life of an extraordinary man who left such an impressive legacy of classic car design. It has already been described as a "tour de force," "amazing and indispensable," and "captivating" by the likes of SAH Director-Editor Ruben Verdes and Editor-Director, Classic Cars Seen, Michelle AH Cousineau.
The book that fans of the renegade racing series Can-Am have been waiting for. Can-Am: the words are still magic to a generation of road racing fans to whom the Canadian-American Challenge Cup series represents the pinnacle of the sport they love. Taking over from the USRRC (United States Road Racing Championship) in 1966 as the feature sports car circuit in North America, this competition combined the world's best drivers and the world's best racing teams with the lawless spirit of the Can-Am series. Anything went, as long as it had two seats and enclosed wheels. This glorious free-for-all attitude set the stage for years of ground- and pulse-pounding cars powered by daredevil drivers with increasingly bigger engines, in front of some of motorsport's most passionate crowds. Illustrated with numerous never-before-published photos of the cars and people who made Can-Am great, One Last Turn is the book that fans of this renegade racing series have been waiting for.
A vivid collection of some of the most imaginative vehicle designs of the past. A companion book to Patrick Kelley's previous book Imagine!, which featured vivid illustrations of a wide range of concept cars from the 1930s onwards, Imagine Too! showcases a new crop of images and artists, along with some familiar favorites. The three hundred incredible designs in this book have been untouched and unseen since they were first drawn and provide a singular look into the imagined futures of the past, complete with visions of flying cars and other marvels. The vast majority of the drawings spotlighted in Imagine Too! are concepts that never made it off the drawing board to the factory floor or showroom, but their imaginative designs can inspire us still today.
A rich resource for investigating the history of a short-lived but influential British carmaker. The Allard Motor Company archives are a particularly rich resource for those investigating the history and influence on the British motor industry of this short-lived but significant carmaker. The production records included in this comprehensive book cover the years of operation 1946-1958 and sit alongside many previously unseen official photographs, documents, and correspondence. Supported by an easy-to-use reference spreadsheet, Allard owners are invited to open to the pages where their car is featured, and casual observers can also learn about the indelible impact this small British car manufacturer made on motoring history. Author Gavin Allard--the grandson of Sydney Allard, who led the company into post-war Britain and beyond--details the people that built the cars, the dealerships that sold them, and the drivers who took them to the roads.
Details how a rare and influential car was miraculously discovered and recovered. Alfa Romeo SVZ Coda Tronca presents an unforgettable story of an abandoned yet influential vehicle's rediscovery and restoration. Hidden away in a barn for the better part of five decades, a single Alfa Romeo SVZ Coda Tronca--a rare and highly significant car in the company's design development--was found in a nearly perfect state of preservation. Drawing on art and archaeological techniques and taking painstaking care to save as much as possible of the original body, prominent Italian collector Corrado Lopresto decided to clean only half the car, leaving the other half frozen in time. In the uncleaned half, Lopresto preserved everything (including the dust) under a thin layer of transparent lacquer. The cleaned part has not been fully restored either but has been saved by retouching in such a way that the original aspects are not affected. This book captures the rediscovery of this historic vehicle and the way it has been preserved--a fascinating tale of art meeting automobile.
The authorized biography of a polymath racecar engineer. This biography of Bill Sadler tells the story of an innovator who set the racing world astir with his boldly inventive cars. His original creations--including the Formula Libre and the Sadler Mark V--brought him racing victories at tracks such as Watkins Glen and the Brighton Speed Trials throughout the 1950s and early '60s. Sadler's career took him from his first shop in Hamilton, Ontario, to the notorious Nevada government facility known as Area 51, where he worked on prototype aircraft and other classified projects during his decades-long hiatus from the racing world. Written with the full cooperation of Bill Sadler before he passed away in early 2022, Fast, Faster, Fastest contains never-before-seen photographs and rarely-heard stories from a brilliant engineering mind.
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.
With the announcement of the Baillon Collection's uncovering in January 2015 and their consignment to the Artcurial auction at Rétromobile in February, it was decided that a small Addendum to the main three-volume work, Jacques Saoutchik, Maître Carrossier was warranted, since the find included three important Saoutchik-bodied cars. This small book includes: - A description with souvenir images of the three Saoutchik-bodied cars in the Baillon Collection. - Further account of Gijsbert-Paul Berk's time with Jacques and Pierre Saoutchik. - The remarkable discovery by Christoph Grohe of what must be the world's oldest chassis fitted with a Saoutchik body. - Information on a Saoutchik Cadillac parade convertible used by His Majesty King Hussein of Jordan. - Further background on the man who presented himself as Sir John Gaul. - More Saoutchik cars and drawings that have been uncovered. - Corrections and errata.
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.
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.
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.
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