Transportation

DRIVEN is John Aston’s hugely entertaining motoring autobiography.
This ambitious and far-ranging book begins with his early days as a teenage car enthusiast and race marshal in the late Sixties before covering the wide range of subjects close to his heart. These include the best and worst of Formula One, the icon that is Ferrari, the writer’s NASCAR adventure, and the delights of long road trips in his beloved Caterham Seven. But that’s not all, as you can read about why the NSU Ro80 was a prophet without honour, as well as what the writer thinks about the changing face of motoring journalism. Yes, one J Clarkson is mentioned ... And there’s more still, as a major part of the book is a first-hand account of a year in British motorsport.
The writer’s love of the lesser known categories of motorsport illuminates the text, as does his insight into the places, people and machinery making up the sport’s diversity. He describes the mood music of events ranging from a round of the British Touring Car Championship to historic race meetings for Cortinas and Minis, before venturing further from the mainstream with drag racing at Santa Pod, speed hillclimbs, autograss and rallying. Oh - he also doubled the average age at a Time Attack meeting. Don’t expect objective reporting, as he holds strong opinions, but they are leavened by a tongue firmly lodged in his cheek. Any reader, enthusiast or not, is guaranteed to enjoy reading about these adventures as much as the writer enjoyed having them.

The complete story of the front-wheel-drive Saab 96 made the brand into a rally icon in the 1960s. Superstar driving from Erik Carlsson, his wife Pat Moss-Carlsson and – later – from Stig Blomqvist, all brought real publicity and admiration for a car that always lacked the sheer straight-line performance of its rivals.
Saabs like this, however, never wanted for strength, or for amazing handling and traction, and they succeeded in events as diverse as the Monte Carlo, Britain's RAC rally, special stage events in every Scandinavian country, and the rough-and-tough Spa-Sofia-Liege Marathon.
The big change came in 1967, when the 96 became the V4, looking almost the same as before, but with a new and more powerful four-stroke Ford-Germany V4 engine. Works cars continued to be competitive in carefully chosen events for many years, and it was only the arrival of much more specialised rivals that made them outdated. Saab, though, was not finished with rallying, as the V4's successors, the much larger and more powerful 99 and 99 Turbo types, proved.
More than any other car of its era, the 96 and V4 models proved that front-wheel-drive allied to true superstar driving could produce victory where no-one expected it.

Available again after a long absence!
The Lea-Francis company was founded in 1895, in Coventry in the UK, under the aegis of R.H. Lea. It originally built cycles and motorcycles, but, by the 1920s, was established as a manufacturer of high quality sporting cars. From the 1930s to the 1960s, Lea-Francis specialised in medium-sized cars, built with great care and the best quality components. Successful in motorsports, "Leaf" was an innovative company, but a lack of regard for good business principles led to fluctuating fortunes throughout the company's long life.
In The Lea-Francis Story, Barrie Price draws on his lifelong association with Lea-Francis cars to tell the complete and fascinating story of the company.

Buying a classic car is an expensive business and mistakes can prove costly financially and in time, effort and stress. Wouldn’t it be great if you could take an expert with you? With the aid of this book’s step-by-step guidance from a marque specialist, you can! You’ll discover all you need to know about the car you want to buy. The unique points system will help you to place the car's value in relation to condition, whilst extensive photographs illustrate the problems to look out for. This is an important investment - don’t buy a Spider without this book’s help.
Keith Booker has been an Alfa Romeo Owners Club member for 23 years, serving a stint as director. He is also the author of Alfa Romeo Giulia GT Coupés: The Essential Buyer’s Guide. He regularly contributes to motoring publications worldwide.

Stop!
Don’t buy a Porsche 986 Boxster series without buying this book first!
Packed with good advice from running costs, paperwork, vital statistics, valuation and the Porsche community, right through to whether your Porsche will fit in your garage and indeed, with your lifestyle. This is the complete guide to choosing, assessing and buying the Porsche 986 Boxster of your dreams.

Stop!
Don’t buy a Porsche 987 Boxster or Cayman series without buying this book first!
Packed with good advice from running costs, paperwork, vital statistics, valuation and the Porsche community, right through to whether your Porsche will fit in your garage and indeed, with your lifestyle. This is the complete guide to choosing, assessing and buying the Porsche 987 Boxster or Cayman of your dreams.

Virtually from the moment of its launch in April, 1964, the Ford Mustang has been a favorite among road racers. From the Tour de France, to production sports car racing, the SCCA Trans-Am series, regional and national A/Sedan competitions, and international and domestic sedan championships in Great Britain, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, the Mustang has enjoyed a following like few other models.
This book is a photographic celebration of road racing Mustangs throughout the world. It focuses on production-based cars, rather than the heavily modified tube-frame silhouette machines that began appearing in the late 1970s. Included are images of big-budget factory-supported cars competing in the Trans-Am series, right through to low-buck independents, and cars competing throughout the world.
Using only period images, including countless photos that have never before been published, this is a true photographic history, depicting the global popularity of the Ford Mustang as a road racing car.

New in Paperback!
Tatra – The Legacy of Hans Ledwinka is the story of the Tatra company, which originated in the Central European country of Czechoslovakia. It is a tale of great innovation and avant-garde design in automobile engineering. It is also the story of one man – Hans Ledwinka – and his visionary concepts which have become highly influential, although often undervalued, contributions to the development of car technology.
Until now, Hans Ledwinka's talent has hardly been recognised; in retrospect, he can be judged equal to car designers such as Benz, Daimler and Porsche, whose endeavours have been fully recorded many times over. With his revolutionary Tatra cars Ledwinka consistently pushed back the frontiers of automobile construction, and it’s certain that without his inspiration, the Volkswagen in its air-cooled rear-engined form would perhaps never have been conceived. This book suggests that Ledwinka played a greater part in this development than has previously been appreciated.
The authors have covered the full history of the Tatra company, which is one of the oldest factories in continuous automobile manufacture, dating back to the 19th century. By doing this, they have placed both Ledwinka and the Czechoslovak Tatra company in their rightful place in the history of car design, and provided a fully comprehensive assessment of the influence of Tatra car designs and their inspired creator.
The text of this larger format 2nd edition has been fully revised and updated since the 1990 edition. This new edition also contains many additional illustrations. The book also has a new foreword, written by Norman Foster, the British architect, and proud owner of a Tatra T87, who pays tribute to the aesthetic qualities of this design classic and captures the fascination of both designers and motor historians with the development of Tatra.

An in-depth look at the development history of Mazda’s rotary power plant, and the model timelines of the vehicles these engines powered. You will discover how one small Japanese automaker remained independent and became famous by using a unique and pioneering engine.
This book examines the commercial ups and downs in North America, using rotaries to become a high performance icon and V8 alternative, and charting the racetrack achievements of Mazda rotary racers around the world, including in home-country Japan.
The story also reveals the pollution control and fuel economy challenges facing Mazda as they strove to keep rotary engines in production to satisfy high performance fans globally.

In May 1935, 22-year-old Max Reisch and 19-year-old Helmuth Hahmann set out in a small motor car to find a land route from India to China. Their journey across Asia took them from Haifa to Tokyo.
In this lively account, the author regales us with one story after another, struck with wonder or struggling against disaster in countries which deeply concern us today: Iraq with its oilfields, ancient Iran in the throes of modernisation, proud Afghanistan, and British India with its stunning variety of civilisation.
Before the building of the Burma Road, driving from India to southern China meant sinking over the axles in mud on forest tracks and crossing torrents on rickety ferryboats. It also meant encounters with strange and fascinating peoples and places. With war already on the horizon, Reisch and Hahmann completed their round-the-world trip via Japan and the United States, arriving back in Vienna in December 1936.
Originally written by Max Reisch in German, this brand new English translation by Alison Falls captures all the excitement of the journey, and features fascinating historical photos of the journey from the Reisch archives.

In 1984 Peugeot launched the 205 1.6 GTI, which not only changed Peugeot's image forever, but also set a new benchmark for ‘hot hatches' eight years after the legendary Golf GTI had raised the bar.
Weak points, rust traps, and potential mechanical defects are all laid bare by an expert for the would be buyer. Clear 205-specific photos illustrate problem areas and good points too, as well as model variations. The author also embraces customized and mechanically modified cars.
A unique points scoring system lets you evaluate your potential purchase like and expert and also to determine which price category it should fall into.
With both mileage and particularly condition having a marked affect on potential prices, the author gives sound advice on what is worth restoring and what, however tempting, is likely to cost a new owner an unrecoverable fortune.

Now in paperback! Researched and written in Japan with the full co-operation of the factory, here in definitive detail is the story of the Honda S2000 – a series of open two-seaters that built on the success of the NSX, helping the company justify its on-track exploits with a proper line of sporting machinery.
Successful immediately, the S2000 models defended Honda’s honour on the tracks, but it was in the showrooms where the S2000 excelled. After a major face-lift, it was eventually killed off in 2009, but is as popular today as it ever was as a modern classic for enthusiasts.

This book tells you why and how.This book brings together a collection of popular articles previously published by the author in assorted car magazines. Based on in-depth research carried out at Manchester University, the articles investigate how classic engines respond to modern petrol/gasoline, and the results are presented in a way that any enthusiast can understand.

One chapter ranks some brands and grades of modern petrol/gasoline, helping you choose the best type for your vehicle, while other chapters present the findings that debunk some of the myths about petrol/gasoline and engines. Real data is provided to help you tune your classic vehicle, ensuring that it runs as it should, allowing you to experience the pleasure of driving your classic car instead of worrying about it breaking down.

The appendix gives a down-to-earth description of how to rebuild and tune SU and similar carburettors.

Paul Ireland’s years of experience and no-nonsense scientific approach will help you get the best from your classic car.

Now in Paperback! The Viper stunned Americans by showing that Dodge, whose cars were all front-wheel drive (and mostly powered by four-cylinder engines), could make a raw, brutal, V10-powered car that could run with the best. Team Viper went a step further at Le Mans, proving that an American car could handle turns, too; so well that it won its class, repeatedly, at a fraction of the cost of the cars it beat. This book covers the transition from a concept to a rough and brutal rocket to a world-class supercar, and includes every generation. The story also tells of the rough times when the entire Viper business could have been sold to the highest bidder, and considers alternative paths the 2013-17 Viper might have taken.
This is not just a gushing tribute to the Dodge Viper, the author provides an objective view of the full story, using business, historical, and enthusiast perspectives. The book looks at the business case for each generation, the development stories and their outcomes, and describes some of the issues owners may have to watch out for, particularly in the early models.

Now in paperback!
A dedicated publication that explains the history of the world’s most versatile station wagon, a global workhorse and comfortable family vehicle. Sweden’s answer to Germany’s people’s car arrived some 20 years earlier, and quickly paved the way for safe and dependable vehicles. This book chronicles the evolution of the Volvo estate car, with every model featured. Whether you are a Volvo lover or just have a general interest in cars, this book offers an informative and interesting look into a car that has had very little media coverage, despite its vast global sales success and the affection with which it is held by so many. This new edition has been updated with details of the latest models in 2019.

MG was a home-grown concept that became an international success, bringing the small market town of Abingdon onto the global map. MG - Made in Abingdon recounts the inside story of the famous factory, recognising that the most important aspect of MG’s success was its team – the tea-boys and girls, the shop floor workers, the engineers and racers, the apprentices and management. From memories of the production line to recollections of racing incidents, the untold story of MG from the men and women who worked in the Abingdon factory is revealed for the first time in a book that is both nostalgic and historically important.

“This is social history at its best.” (Classic Car)
“The real treasure is without a doubt the stories ... a valuable piece of social history.” (Classic and Sports Car)
“Opens a window on aspects of MG life that rarely get an airing in public.” (MG Enthusiast)

20 years ago, the Mazda MX-5 Roadster was born – the result of five years' research and development by two project teams split across Japan and the USA. When launched, it was the sports car the world was waiting for.
Over the past 20 years, the MX-5 has evolved and changed, but has managed to stay true to the original philosophy of ‘horse and rider as one,' a car to truly engage with the driver and provide the ultimate top-down driving experience with its perfect 50/50 weight distribution and neutral handling – it is easy to control, nimble and light, and inexpensive to buy, own and maintain. The MX-5 is a true testament to itself as the ‘world's best-selling sports car,' and with the earlier MkI and MkII available for modest prices, it is the perfect choice as a fun and enjoyable daily driver, a weekend track car, or a project base for a kit car. This book will help you get the MX-5 of your dreams.

This book releases one of the best-kept secrets of the sports car world – the BMW Z3, the latest generation of the traditional small sports car, with the advantages of being based on a tried and tested model range produced by a manufacturer of high quality cars with enviable service and spares support.
Designed in Bavaria, styled in California, and built in South Carolina, the Z3 caused generations of motoring writers to dismiss it as a toy sports car, fit only for ‘Estate agents, hairdressers and footballers wives,’ but is it really so bad?
As the Z3 becomes a modern classic, potential buyers have little information to help them sort out the best cars from the others, most Z3 books being a combination of history and data. This guide shows what to expect and what to look for, written against a background of prolonged ownership and Z3 knowledge.
Containing a wealth of Z3 information, practical inspection and driving evaluation hints, this book will help potential buyers through the process of finding the car they want, whether it is to be a summer runner or a car to keep and cherish.

Condensing several decades of hands-on Mini experience into a restoration manual that works with and enhances existing repair manuals, Iain Ayre encourages the reader to evaluate realistically their own potential, equip a garage as a restoration shop, and buy exactly the right sort of nasty old Mini.
Showing two major semi-professional body restorations, on older and newer classic Minis, this manual explains how a full-scale rust rescue job can be successfully tackled, before looking at the aspects of restoration not usually covered in repair manuals, such as rewiring, and rebuilding and retrimming seats.
Once your Mini is on its way to full restoration, you’ll be shown the art of improving Minis, an art learned during the writing of hundreds of articles on modified Minis … and in racing and crashing them.
Iain Ayre is a long-time Mini enthusiast, who has built and modified his own Mini-derived cars, and who has written many articles for MiniWorld and Mini Magazine.

This Essential Buyers Guide gives prospective buyers key information about the Porsche 924, allowing them to make informed decisions about the pros and cons of buying one.
The Porsche 924 models were built from 1976 to 1988, and grew from relatively modest performance 2+2 coupes to fire breathing turbo rally and racing cars achieving success in many forms of motorsport. The models have many excellent points; however, as with any car that is 30 years old, there are also some negatives to be considered. This balance is discussed, along with the reality of living with a 924, what to look for in any potential purchases.
Don’t buy a Porsche 924 without this book!

Your ticket to a world of fun, excitement, exploration and satisfaction: the world of the iconic BMW E30 3 series!
Starting with a quick model history, this book introduces the key features of the E30, and contains a detailed set of model guides to explain the differences and features unique to each, and an assessment of how useful and effective these are. The book’s ‘How to’ sections help you identify E30 problem areas, while a wealth of useful data and comparison charts help you choose which model is right for you.
Details of parts costs, the relative difficulty or ease of the tasks needed to keep these classic cars in good order, specifications and a list of useful contacts in the BMW community – from clubs to specialists dealers – are just a few more features of this jam-packed book.
Written by a qualified engineer, and a racer with many years of practical BMW experience, the clear text and straightforward approach, supported by detailed photographs, means that this book is just like having a real marque expert at your side!

Having this book in your pocket is just like having a real marque expert by your side. Benefit from Adrian Streather’s years of 911 experience, 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!
Packed with good advice – from running costs, through paperwork, vital statistics, valuation and the 911 (997) community, to whether a 911 (997) will suit you and your lifestyle – this is the complete guide to choosing, assessing and buying the Porsche of your dreams.

In American ½-ton Pickup Trucks of the 1960s, Norm Mort picks up the story of the continuing popularity of the pickup truck in America. Although the ½-ton American pickup truck was still purchased as a basic utility vehicle during the ’60s, more and more, consumers were looking for stylish, comfortable, good handling, and high performing trucks.
The important role played in American life by the lightweight, high-production pickup truck is often overshadowed by their innate ruggedness, reliability and utilitarian nature. Yet, as the quickly-changing decade evolved, so did the pickup truck, and the manufacturers’ interpretation of them. Continuing its trend from the 1950s, a trend towards greater style, comfort and optional equipment, the pickup truck would less and less assume the lines and styling of its flashy, sibling car versions, and instead evolve an identity all of its own.
With vintage photographs and advertising material from the author’s collection as well as new original photographs by his son, Andrew Mort, this book is a visual treat for the pickup truck enthusiast.

While old MkI Golfs have by now largely rusted away, the availability of MkII models at giveaway prices is plentiful ... that is until three magic letters – GTI – appear on the car’s front grille and hatch. Find a good example of the MKI with the aid of this guide and you are in clover!
The Buyer’s Guide carefully charts all the models that an enthusiast just has to own, from the iconic late model MkI with its pocket rocket 1.8-litre engine and 5-speed box, through to the exclusive, extremely powerful and much sought after limited edition Rallye Golf.
With both mileage and particularly condition having a marked affect on potential prices, the authors give sound advice on what is worth restoring and what, however tempting, is likely to cost a new owner an un-recoupable fortune.
Weak points, rust traps, and potential mechanical defects are laid out for the reader, with clear Golf-specific guidelines offered on the practicalities of rectifying such problems. The authors also embrace both the customized and mechanically modified examples of the MkI and MkII GTI, with each aspect of Golf ownership meticulously captured on camera.

The Chevrolet Corvette C6 features stunning looks, effortless V8 performance and soundtrack, sharp handling, rugged reliability, with surprising practicality. If you’re looking to buy one of these classic cars, this handy little book will steer you in the right direction.

There were more than 200,000 C6 cars produced in their nine-year production run; which one will best suit you and your budget? Are there any model years to avoid, and how do you know what to look for? If you follow the advice in this essential buyer’s guide and find the right example, the sixth generation Corvette can be surprisingly cost-effective to buy, run and maintain.

Colour photos throughout this guide help to show you common problem areas; save yourself days of trawling the internet and social media, this pocket-sized, printed book distils first-hand experience and knowledge from specialists and owners.

Marque expert David Smitheram covers every model, from the most attainable 2005 LS2 coupes and convertibles, to the wide-bodied Grand Sport and Z06, through to the late-model ZR1 supercar and a multitude of special editions.

The author maintains and modifies his own C6, nicknamed ‘Clive The Corvette’. Steadily approaching 250,000 miles, his 2007 C6 Coupe sees almost daily use, has won track championships and enjoyed long-distance road trips across the USA, Europe and Africa.

A comprehensive pictorial history of all MG cars that were produced from 1930 up to those in production in 2006 when the Rover group collapsed. This is the 'go-to' reference book if you want to compare your Magnettes, MGAs, Midgets or Maestros!

Providing a nostalgic trip down memory lane for any post-war car enthusiast, the text is generously illustrated with original line drawings, and black & white plus colour period photos. All models are covered including sports derivatives, limited editions, vans, estates and coupes, with a section on motorsport achievements and TV and movie appearances. Contemporary factory advertising slogans are featured throughout. Complementing the historical content, technical specifications, ongoing production changes and build figures are also included for completeness.

Trevor Alder has been driving classic cars for many years and has written and compiled several publications researched from his massive self-indexed magazine archive, including several other titles in Veloce's highly successful A Pictorial History series. A bookshelf-must for anyone interested in a slice of Britain's sporting motoring heritage.

Canada’s automotive "Dr. Phil" says there’s never been a better time to buy a new car or truck.

For deals on wheels, 2013 will be a "perfect storm." There’s never been a better time to buy a new car or truck, thanks to a stronger Canadian dollar, a worldwide recession driving prices downward, and a more competitive Japanese auto industry that’s still reeling from a series of natural disasters.

In addition to lower prices and more choices, 2013 car buyers will see more generous cash rebates, low financing rates, bargain leases, and free auto maintenance programs.

• Buy, sell, or hold?
• Which cars and trucks are "wallet-friendly" and can easily last 15 years?
• Which vehicles offer the most features to best accommodate senior drivers?
• Do ethanol and hybrid fuel-saving claims have more in common with Harry Potter than the Society of Automotive Engineers?
• Is GM’s 2013 Volt electric car destined to become an electric Edsel?

These questions and more are answered in this informative guide.

As Toyota skids into an ocean of problems and uncertainty continues in the U.S. automotive industry, Lemon-Aid Used Cars and Trucks 20112012 shows buyers how to pick the cheapest and most reliable vehicles from the past 30 years. Lemon-Aid guides are unlike any other car and truck books on the market. Phil Edmonston, Canada’s automotive Dr. Phil for 40 years, pulls no punches.

Like five books in one, Lemon-Aid Used Cars and Trucks is an expos of car scams and gas consumption lies; a do-it-yourself service manual; an independent guide that covers beaters, lemons, and collectibles; an archive of secret service bulletins granting free repairs; and a legal primer that even lawyers cant beat! Phil delivers the goods on free fixes for Chrysler, Ford, and GM engine, transmission, brake, and paint defects; lets you know about Corvette and Mustang tops that fly off; gives the lowdown on Honda, Hyundai, and Toyota engines and transmissions; and provides the latest information on computer module glitches.

In this hilarious collection of old car stories, Canada’s very own "Old Car Detective" Bill Sherk presents 80 of his favourite stories from all 10 provinces, spanning the years from 1925 to 1965. In this book you will meet the man in New Brunswick who chopped the top off his 1927 Whippet sedan in honour of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II; the young fellow from Kingston, Ontario, who thought his 1937 Ford coach looked better with all four fenders taken off; the owner of a 1947 Hudson that burned so much oil he had to wear a snorkel mask while driving it; the father who borrowed his son’s hot-rodded ’53 Monarch (built only in Canada!) and got pulled over by the police for street racing; and the grandmother who moved from England to Canada and drove her Morris Minor on the wrong side of the road.

Behind every old car there’s a story waiting to be told, all the way from your grandparents’ Model T Ford to the Mustang you drove in high school. All the stories and photographs in this book are in chronological order from 1925 to 1965, giving you a 40-year journey through Canada’s rich automotive heritage and brought to life by the people who owned and drove the cars of yesteryear – and some still do!

PART ONE (1925 to 1942) takes you from the middle of the Roaring Twenties to February 1942, when the Second World War brought automobile production to a halt for three long years.

PART TWO (1946 to 1965) takes you through the Baby Boom years when cars driven by Canadians went through many exciting changes in styling and engineering.

If you have ever owned (or still own) a car that was built between 1925 and 1965, turn to the last page in this book to see how you can send in your story for Bill Sherk’s next book.