Suggestions

[Allan L]

I already bought this book I found at a reasonable price...if it's a good one I'll complete the serie.
Is there anyone who already got it?

I don't have this particular volume, but others of that series. All of them are quite well made and more or less comprehensive, but only contain plain b+w pictures. So they're more for reference than for enjoying fancy photos.

I too have no experience of the later volumes.
I bought that volume as a work of reference when I was involved with the Veteran Car Club's Dating Panel - it came highly recommended and it was quite useful but did not seem as mistake-free as I'd hoped, even to me working in a second language! I haven't got it now as I sold it to the Club!

[Paul Jaray]

Shopping again...I'd like to know if these books are worth the expense:
Is there a view of the inside? They are not expensive, but If I buy one of them, I have to buy them all...
What do you think?

Hi!

The volume of 1920s is a very good one! Lots of obscure cars are mentioned and shown here...

Perfect! I know we have the same idea of 'obscure cars'  .
Could you post some pics of the inside? I think I'll buy it eventually, but I don't need another book with all the usual cars...

I already bought this book I found at a reasonable price...if it's a good one I'll complete the serie.
Is there anyone who already got it?

I don't have this particular volume, but others of that series. All of them are quite well made and more or less comprehensive, but only contain plain b+w pictures. So they're more for reference than for enjoying fancy photos.

I too have no experience of the later volumes.
I bought that volume as a work of reference when I was involved with the Veteran Car Club's Dating Panel - it came highly recommended and it was quite useful but did not seem as mistake-free as I'd hoped, even to me working in a second language! I haven't got it now as I sold it to the Club!

Thank you Allan, yours and Allemano's opinion are what I was looking for.
These are the kind of books I'm looking for to complete my index, any suggestion is welcome, expecially for racing cars...my next (and last for a while) question is about this:
Is there anyone who have it?

[pnegyesi]

Yes, I have that Encyclopedia. I am not an expert on racing cars, so I can't tell how comprehensive it is. It talks a lot about various races, racetracks, various racing people and there a lot of racing cars, but I don't think it is really thorough

[Arunas]

Random shots...

Also note, that the author of this book is Nick Baldwin!

[Paul Jaray]

Random shots...

Also note, that the author of this book is Nick Baldwin!

Grazie mille.
I'll definetly take it...and the others too...I found them all by the same seller.

Yes, I have that Encyclopedia. I am not an expert on racing cars, so I can't tell how comprehensive it is. It talks a lot about various races, racetracks, various racing people and there a lot of racing cars, but I don't think it is really thorough

I would like to know if there are listed the makers of racing cars like are the makers listed in the 'Encyclopedia of the Automobile' and in the 'New Encyclopedia' or the coachbuilders are listed in the "Coachbuilding Encyclopedia" or is just a huge book full of nice pictures about pilots, races, racing cars without the intent to cover all the makers.

[woodinsight]

Random shots...

Also note, that the author of this book is Nick Baldwin!

Grazie mille.
I'll definetly take it...and the others too...I found them all by the same seller.

Yes, I have that Encyclopedia. I am not an expert on racing cars, so I can't tell how comprehensive it is. It talks a lot about various races, racetracks, various racing people and there a lot of racing cars, but I don't think it is really thorough

I would like to know if there are listed the makers of racing cars like are the makers listed in the 'Encyclopedia of the Automobile' and in the 'New Encyclopedia' or the coachbuilders are listed in the "Coachbuilding Encyclopedia" or is just a huge book full of nice pictures about pilots, races, racing cars without the intent to cover all the makers.

I also have Georgano's 'Encyclopedia of Motor Sport' and have used it extensively over the last 25 years.
Like many encyclopedias it is not comprehensive (that would take many volumes) but it is very good in what it does cover. It is divided into three sections - Race series/circuits/etc. - Drivers - Cars - and has a good index.
It covers all these subjects in a general way but it is useful if you use it in conjunction with other books that cover a particular subject in depth. Photos are mainly black & white with a few sections in colour.
The book is quite old now and it would be great to see a revised/updated version although I doubt that will happen now with so much information now available on-line.
Anyway I would recommend that you acquire a copy before it becomes rare and the price goes up.

[Paul Jaray]

Thank you. I'm interested in the 'Cars' part...is it (more or less) comprehensive or it just covers the usual big names? I'm looking for a reference book for race cars, like the Standard Catalogs or the Beaulieu...not complete but full of minor ones...

[woodinsight]

Thank you. I'm interested in the 'Cars' part...is it (more or less) comprehensive or it just covers the usual big names? I'm looking for a reference book for race cars, like the Standard Catalogs or the Beaulieu...not complete but full of minor ones...

I can't tell you much as the book is in another location at the moment.
There are quite a number of small makes included (not all but enough to make the book interesting) and the well-known makes are all covered of course.
I thought it was a very good effort at the time it was first published.

[faksta]

PJ, did you find it somewhere on offer already or would you be searching?

[Paul Jaray]

I found it on ebay but there are several copies around.
Since it's above my Buy-it-Now limit I'd like to know it more before buying it.
I'm looking for a source about racing cars, I know it can't be comprehensive, but at least one that covers all the known names with a decent story and more or less all the models plus all the minor ones that can be found with theyr models...
I've got other books covering obscure racers, like the American ones and some more I took after reading the reviews here (Automobilrennsport in der DDR, Premiery Nadseni, etc...).
I know I can found Lola or McLaren cars on many websites, but I'd like a book as a reference too.
I'm afraid this book is more like a photographic opera, with good shots of races, pilots, tracks but it's not organized as an encyclopedia. I found few pics of the inside onlile and they confirm my impression.
Woodinsight review is making me change my mind again...

[woodinsight]

I found it on ebay but there are several copies around.
Since it's above my Buy-it-Now limit I'd like to know it more before buying it.
I'm looking for a source about racing cars, I know it can't be comprehensive, but at least one that covers all the known names with a decent story and more or less all the models plus all the minor ones that can be found with theyr models...
I've got other books covering obscure racers, like the American ones and some more I took after reading the reviews here (Automobilrennsport in der DDR, Premiery Nadseni, etc...).
I know I can found Lola or McLaren cars on many websites, but I'd like a book as a reference too.
I'm afraid this book is more like a photographic opera, with good shots of races, pilots, tracks but it's not organized as an encyclopedia. I found few pics of the inside onlile and they confirm my impression.
Woodinsight review is making me change my mind again...

I'm moving house today but I'll try to scan some pages for you next week when I have my copy to hand again.

[faksta]

Thanks!

I was browsing through Amazon and the price is very good IMO for a big (626 pages or so?) and old (1971) book, but the major issue is to find a book in a best available condition, which is harder because there's only one picture on Amazon (with a relatively worn jacket, although stated to be 'like new').

Woodinsight, I would appreciate a little hint on what the book looks like very much, thanks! After reading PJ's message above I started thinking about this book seriously as well.

[Facel]

Hello,

What is a normal price to pay for this book?
And is it hard to find?

[75america]

You can buy them directly from the publisher:

The Legendary 2.3
By Simon Moore
Edited and designed by Malcolm S. Harris
Price Reduced!
$275 postpaid in USA and Canada
$310 postpaid other countries


The Immortal 2.9
The Revised Edition
by Simon Moore
Edited and designed by Malcolm S. Harris
ISBN No: 978-0-9820774-0-5
REGULAR EDITION (Postpaid):
       US$295 for USA and Canada
       US$340 for other countries
COLLECTOR'S EDITION (Postpaid):
       US$395 for USA and Canada
       US$440 for other countries


SPECIAL OFFER: If you order a copy of The Immortal 2.9, you may also order one copy of
The Legenday 2.3 (Simon's 3-volume book about the 8C2300 Alfa Romeos) at the discounted
price of $250 in USA and Canada, or $295 other countries.  


=> http://www.parksidepublications.com/

[Facel]

thank you for the information

[Paul Jaray]

Moved. 

[Paul Jaray]

I found it on ebay but there are several copies around.
Since it's above my Buy-it-Now limit I'd like to know it more before buying it.
I'm looking for a source about racing cars, I know it can't be comprehensive, but at least one that covers all the known names with a decent story and more or less all the models plus all the minor ones that can be found with theyr models...
I've got other books covering obscure racers, like the American ones and some more I took after reading the reviews here (Automobilrennsport in der DDR, Premiery Nadseni, etc...).
I know I can found Lola or McLaren cars on many websites, but I'd like a book as a reference too.
I'm afraid this book is more like a photographic opera, with good shots of races, pilots, tracks but it's not organized as an encyclopedia. I found few pics of the inside onlile and they confirm my impression.
Woodinsight review is making me change my mind again...

I'm moving house today but I'll try to scan some pages for you next week when I have my copy to hand again.

Going shopping again...and this one is still in my wishlist....

Is there a good book about cars from Russia? I know the titles that are around but is there anyone who got them and can confirm which one is a good one?

[cmetisse]

Hi everybody,

Trying to expand both my book collection and knowledge, I'm wondering about two subjects for which I don't have much valuable litterature :

-What does exist about the history (I mean 'encyclopaedia' stuff) of cars before the first world war ? I have the excellent "Ainsi naquit l'automobile" by Jacques Ickx and the very good "Vintage cars 1886 to 1930" by Georgano (in french translation, published by Gründ, as a first in a series of four excellent volumes), but which one am I forgetting ? Certainly a lot, but I can only read english.

-I'm still looking for a really complete study about cars engine, going from humble beginnings to today's stuff, but with a true technical view. I have one in french, but a bit disappointing. As always with technical material, it seems it's very difficult to find a good balance between easy-reading and engineer overdose. I'm curious about car's engineering, but unable to understand complicated mathematical equations... And this is what car tech is all about ! 

[als15]

Unfortunately it's in Italian, but "Marche Italiane Scomparse" (disappeared Italian brands) is a masterpiece for the Italian ones, covering a lot of very obscure pioneer carmakers.
Very hard to find, however; it was published by Turin Museum in the 70s.

[RayTheRat]

Just some suggestions that may not be an exact match (pre-WWI tech development) but might be helpful anyway:

Found on Amazon:
Bosch Automotive Handbook (Society of Automotive Engineers)
How Cars Work (Tom Newton)

Side note about Amazon:  I've found that there are many bargains available from used book sellers.  I can't afford to pay full retail price for brand new books, so this gives me a way to add to my library without mortgaging my grandchildren.    I just picked up a book on Veteran cars; the "new" price was $192, but I found a used one in "good" condition (supposedly it has wear and tear on the dust jacket...big deal) for $2 plus $3.99 shipping.  Unfortunately most used books don't qualify for "Prime" free shipping, but for $6 vs $192....well, I can live with that.   

From my library:
Brighton Belles: A Celebration of Veteran Cars (David Burgess-Wise & Lord Montagu of Beaulieu)
The Fun of Old Cars (Stubenrauch)
The History of the Automobile (Multiple contributors...originally in Italian)
A History of Sports Cars (Georgano)
Motoring (Rolt)
Veteran and Vintage Cars (Roberts)
The Bosch Book of the Motor Car (John Day)

If you can read all of those, you should become an incurable gearhead (like me.)  All you'd need is a couple of trips to the salt flats and you'll be hooked for life.  I say that because of a little known disease called "Salt Fever" to which many people fall victim; there's no cure for it, only annual treatments administered on the salt flats.  The attached photo (the side of a trailer that hauls a race car to the salt at least once a year) describes it well.

Good luck with your efforts to edify your knowledge.  Ohh...lest I forget, this site is a great resource.  As someone (I believe it was Allemano) wrote, "We've forgotten more about cars than you'll ever know."  There's a lotta truth to that.

[cmetisse]

Thanks a lot for these suggestions !

Talking bout money, it's the same for me : I'm constantly looking for discount prices on the french, brit or american amazon, priceminister or others, as I'm interested in the info more than the layout for car books.
Obviously, if I prefer mint and dirt cheap books, but if it is a bit worn out, that's not a problem for me, as long as it's complete without torn pages.

Talking about engine tech, it seems that "some unusual engines" by Setright is a good one for weirdness lovers (like me  ), if you want to know about the Trojan 2-stroke twin or others mad power units...

[als15]

I prefer mint and dirt cheap books

Hard life for publishers like us... 

[cmetisse]

Well, I realize I could have been more diplomatic ! 

I'm still ready from time to time to put some money in very upmarket books on subject I really care for. But my upper limit is around 150 €.

Sometimes much less, as my banker likes to reminds me. 

[woodinsight]

Hi cmetisse,

One book I can certainly recommend is the "The New Motoring Encyclopedia" published c.1937 by Amalgamated Press.
It was a part series in 35 parts that can be found on-line for around €50 in hardback form.

There are 842 pages, 3200 photos/illustrations and to quote their publicity blurb "everything the motorist needs to know".
It covers all marques of the time, all technical details from engines and chassis to electrics and controls, how to drive and maintain a car and a guide to sightseeing routes and places to visit by car in the UK.
It is incredibly comprehensive but bear in mind in was published in the mid 1930s so you'd have to find other sources for later developments.

Here are three sample pages from the book -

[cmetisse]

Thanks a lot, Woodinsight !

It looks absolutely fantastic. Does it covers only the "new" cars of the day, or does it goes back to the very beginning, Benz Patent Motorwagen and all ?