Cool Car Books - recommendations?

Dauphin · 08-12-2009, 05:48 PM

I found this new book in the local library, thought I'd recommend it and see if anyone would like to recommend other books. (Can't see any thread of this topic in the search.)

Holden Vs Ford - The Cars, the Culture, the Competition

Written by Steve Bedwell
Published by Rockpool Publishing, 2009.

It covers all the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s period of rivals Holden and Ford in the showroom, concepts and motorsport, and how the political and environmental situation affected them. Pretty good stuff. You should see the XC-XD style ute concept, one ugly duckling.

Anyone like to recommend other cool books?

Auslandau · 08-12-2009, 09:09 PM

I just bought that book today! Bloody good read, informative with some good facts comparing each model ..... specs & not just a personal opinion by a jounalist.

BATHURST HARDTOP FALCONS - Stephen Stathis. Limited run of only 500 books though but 200 pages of pics and info. THere is also one that th HO by the same author.

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charlie200 · 08-12-2009, 10:05 PM

My mrs bought me that book the other week....read the first chapter and its pretty good so far.

[Tonko] · 08-12-2009, 10:11 PM

Got that one, saw it on *cough* sunrise *cough*
And there is Holdens Vs Fords by James Harding from the 80's. It made its way out of the school library 10+ years ago...

Elks · 08-12-2009, 10:14 PM

The Rodders Journal.

Best ever, available from graffitti publications.

and no I have no association with them, it just a great read.

Copie · 08-12-2009, 10:32 PM

Have read it as well, ripper of a read.

mcnews · 09-12-2009, 08:16 AM

From The Alice to The Arctic
By: Jeff Carter
It is a story of his start and career in automotive journalism and his family's journey with him through his career which started in the 1960s, and their travels, many of which in his old 911 Porsche. Great book, more about cars and his love for cars and his travels with cars rather than a "I drove this and this" type affair.

And for DVDs, any Glorious Goodwood DVD. Nothing else comes close for lovers of sports car through the ages.

Dauphin · 09-12-2009, 11:52 AM

The annual Daily Express World Car Guide from the UK is always interesting and you can get it from specialist / technical bookshops but I stopped buying it a few years ago. Was always good to see the butt-ugly US cars coming out and what the rest of the world was doing.

It usually always had errors when it came to listing Australia's vehicles (eg. using a pic of a BA Fairmont for the Falcon XT and an AU Fairlane for the BA Fairlane G220).

tranquilized · 09-12-2009, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcnews

From The Alice to The Arctic
By: Jeff Carter
It is a story of his start and career in automotive journalism and his family's journey with him through his career which started in the 1960s, and their travels, many of which in his old 911 Porsche. Great book, more about cars and his love for cars and his travels with cars rather than a "I drove this and this" type affair.

That would be one interesting book. Jeff Carter submitted several stories to Wheels magazine that were spread over multiple issues back in the 70's and 80's. He's a great writer.

Nice topic by the way, I was intending to start an identical thread once I've finished the book I'm currently reading, but you've beaten me to it.

The book is "Wheels for the World: Henry Ford, His Company, and a Century of Progress"

http://www.amazon.com/Wheels-World-C.../dp/067003181X

I'd been meaning to read some car history books for years but this is my first, and so far its been fascinating. (I'm upto the 1970's, or more than 2/3rds. Over half the book is devoted to 1903 - WW2) Its a long read, but an easy one - especially when the subject matter is so (to me) interesting.
It does cover Fords history from more a business perspective though, you wont find many details on the actual cars, so it may not interest everyone here.

GreenMachine · 09-12-2009, 02:31 PM

There's a coffee-table book called Golden Miles about 50's/60's/70's car culture in Australia... The writing's a bit naff, but the pics/presentation make it well worthwhile.

outback_ute · 11-12-2009, 11:56 AM

Tranquilized I have that book, eventually got through it & quite interesting but only if you are interested in Ford!

A very good book was The Jack Brabham Story by Jack Brabham

Dauphin · 22-01-2010, 02:59 PM

CARS

Published by www.igloo-books.com

ISBN 978-1-84817-833-5

A fantastic book covering classic and modern sports and some luxury cars. It contains a lot of trivia about the development, release and sales of the cars and has heaps of models right up to 2009. Each car gets about 2 - 4 pages of new, colour photos and text.

Brazen · 22-01-2010, 03:05 PM

Car - A drama of the American Workplace by Mary Walton.

Mary was allowed to document the development of the contraversial bug shaped 90s Ford Taurus over a few years, even had a desk in the team. Shows all the internal politics of Ford and what the engineers thought about the rising-star Camry.

No other author will ever have that level of access again to a cars development, Ford managment wanted the book cancelled after they realised what they had got themselves into.

Found it interesting, couldnt of picked a better car or time in American motoring history to follow a cars development as it was the beginning of the end for American car makers in the family car market. Really good to read it with hindsight as you know this new Taurus fails spectacularly in the segment. I kinda wish more of a 'car person' or someone a bit more passionate about cars had written it, and I have a feeling that Mary held some punches due to her loyalty to Ford and the team she worked with.

An interesting read.

outback_ute · 22-01-2010, 05:35 PM

Story of the Cannonball Run, both the real ones and the movie, by Brock Yates. The truth is stranger than fiction! (ie the movie)

http://www.amazon.com/Cannonball-Wor.../dp/0760310904

Saraco · 22-01-2010, 09:23 PM

The birth of hot rodding. Shows photos from Muroc dry lake and Bonneville salt flats in the 1940's. High quality colour photo's, a bit haunting actually, knowing that a lot of these people are long gone, but the pictures look like they were taken yesterday.

Riksta · 23-01-2010, 01:47 AM

I love the books "Lemon" and "Extra Lemon" by Tony Davis.

They're small books, but they're a great read with a few laughs.

Basically all about cars that were failures in one way or another, some for their design, and others for sales. Includes write ups on things like Edsel, Delorean, even right down to the EA Falcon!!!

turbo_man · 23-01-2010, 02:14 PM

into the red by nick mason
bloody good read and comes with a soundtrack of the the 22 of his private cars which are belted around silverstone including the ferrari 250GTO and a porsche 935 and 962 as well as various f1 cars (early to recent) as well as some quick road cars including the ferrari f40 and mclaren f1 gtr including stats on all cars, its also interesting to not how much the motoring world has changed in 110+ years

Dauphin · 27-01-2010, 12:22 PM

The Ford Taurus book sounds interesting, thanks for that.

I always wanted to get the John Delorean book but someone told me it was more about his personal life than the development of the car.

I love those Lemon books by Tony Davis, have read them several times. Richard Hammond made some similar books but I don't think his books are quite as easy to read.

Here's another recommendation:

The Australian Dictionary of Motoring
By Pedr Davis
ISBN 187-69530-0-4
Produced by Pedr David Pty Ltd in association with Bookworks Pty Ltd.

This is a thick book covering all the technology, terms, manufacturer histories and names relating to the Australian motor industry. It's huge and full of so much details and information.

Mad Maxine · 27-01-2010, 10:08 PM

One of my faves, is an older publication, called "A Boot Full of Right Arms" by legendary motoring writer Evan Green. It's the story of a crew of Aussies who wanted to enter a car into the London-Sahara-Munich World Cup Rally in the 60s or early 70's (can't remember which). Their vehicle of choice? A heavily modified Leyland P76! The title of this book refers to the many people Evan Green met who said 'I woud give my right arm to go on this trip with you". There are trials and tribulations galore, and all in all, it's a stonkingly entertaining read.

One of the parts that made me laugh was when the navigator was busting to have a whizz, but the driver wouldn't stop because they were late in reaching their next checkpoint. The navigator ended up relieving himself into a plastic bag, and only on emptying his bladder, was then horrendously dismayed to find the bag had a hole in it!

Also love this book because (gasp!) I admire the P76 for the potential it had, it's just a pity it was hurried into the marketplace to compete with Valiant and Holden's new cars of the time.

MM

foxtrot3 · 28-01-2010, 07:42 PM

Hi Evan Green does a good yarn and one of my faves is My mate Jack (I think been re released as Journeys with Gelignite Jack) that tells the story of a figure 8 crossing of OZ in a Mini and and Austin 1800 to test the then new Castrol GTX. another good read is "Phil Irving an autobiography" by of course Phil Irving. A very smart aussie who had a hand in a bit of everything from Vincent motor bikes to the Repco Brabham engine and the start of the Phillip Island GP Track. Cheers MD

fakegt · 31-01-2010, 02:04 PM

+1 for "The birth of Hot Rodding"
+1 for Brock Yates 'Cannonball" also his other book " The Hot Rod"
Just finished Tom Cotters "The Hemi in the Barn" ( More stories of Automotive Archaeology) which was great, its a follow up to "The Cobra in the Barn" which I'm yet to read, great stories of Barn find cars etc
Also some coffee table books that also are a great read, "The Art of the Hot Rod" by Ken Gross and another one which I've loaned out "Hot Rod Garages?
Not strictly a car book but one thats a road trip noval is "On the Road" by Jack Kerouac, set in the fifties.
Cheers, Dave

castellan · 31-01-2010, 04:59 PM

History of ford in Australia. by Norm Darwin.
Ford Australia 75 years.
True blue 75 years. by Bill Tucky
Ford a history of the ford motor company in Australia. by Geoff Easton.
Valiant Australia. by Tony Davis.
60 fabulous years of Holden. by Eric Norton.
60 years of Holden. by Terry Bebbington. he also did 50 and 45 years of Holden.

Dauphin · 01-03-2010, 04:32 PM

The World's Worst Cars
From Pioneering Failures to Multimillion Dollar Disasters
By Craig Cheetham
ISBN 9 781840 139587

This is a large book with 320 pages of the world's worst cars. All the usual suspects are here as well as a few surprises, all discussed in good detail.

This is like Tony Davis' two Lemons books, but on steroids!

satria · 01-03-2010, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dauphin

I found this new book in the local library, thought I'd recommend it and see if anyone would like to recommend other books. (Can't see any thread of this topic in the search.)

Holden Vs Ford - The Cars, the Culture, the Competition

Written by Steve Bedwell
Published by Rockpool Publishing, 2009.

It covers all the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s period of rivals Holden and Ford in the showroom, concepts and motorsport, and how the political and environmental situation affected them. Pretty good stuff. You should see the XC-XD style ute concept, one ugly duckling.

Anyone like to recommend other cool books?

My wife bought me this book last year, it was a suprisingly good read. When i first got it i thought it was a nice thought on her behalf but when i actually read it i learnt alot about the ford and holden history. I will treasure this book for sure.

Mr12345678x · 01-03-2010, 11:06 PM

I've read a very interesting book titled "Project VN" as you would guess it's all about the VN Commodore, features the story of how it came to be the way it was, how GMH used the Falcon as a benchmark for how much room was needed, alternate designs and gives a great insight into how a car can come together. Definately recommend it to anyone

fordOwner · 02-03-2010, 12:09 AM

Well every lunch I flick through this thick book called "100 Years of Motor Racing"
Published in the 1990's I think, but it has pictures that go right back to the first motor race and the first racing track to the developement of the racing car and drivers right up to " the modern day"
Man the crashes were horrific back in the day and the tracks were HUGE. Some were not paved or concrete they were made from wooden floor boards!
The pictures of Daytona are amazing, it used to be half on the beach and half on the road. Then they built a massive oval shaped track which was still sand.
Could go on but yeh its not a bad read!

Dauphin · 01-12-2010, 04:29 PM

Found a couple of good books recently:

ONE:

Spotlight on Ford Falcon XD-XE-XF
The Guide for Owners, Buyers and Enthusiasts
By Tony Davis
Published through Marque Publishing Company.

A very interesting read with in-depth development articles, media articles from the time and concept images. I am hoping there is one for the E series and AU.

TWO:

Cars Visual Encyclopedia
More than 1,800 color photographs
Published through Amber Books.

It is a large book and has mostly very high-quality colour side and front view profile photos of over 1,800 cars from all parts of the world. A lot of surprises, including the Olds Vista Cruiser under the muscle car section and the Phase III GT HO got a listing. Each car has some text and technical specs.

wrongwaynorris · 01-12-2010, 04:41 PM

The Unfair Advantage , Mark Donohues biography , brilliant read .

TZENU · 01-12-2010, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elks

The Rodders Journal.

Best ever, available from graffitti publications.

and no I have no association with them, it just a great read.

.... The best!!!

RedHotGT · 01-12-2010, 04:50 PM

I'll take a look when I get home...

I have a book called "Lemons - Failures from the Automotive Industry"
which is fantastic, and makes you realise how far we've come with technology!

(One of the cars was manufactured in Adelaide by a whitegoods manufacturer. They made a two-door wagon style car - but with cost cuts - forgot to make a rear door (ie like a panel van)... so you needed to fold down the front seats to gain access to the rear... oh wait a sec - they had to cut more costs - which meant that the front seats didn't fold down, rendering the entire rear of the car/wagon useless)...

The above is from memory - i'll find the book tonight and post the author/publisher...
It will make your sides hurt when you read it... great xmas stocking filler!!!!