New book releases for February 2022. Jalopy Magazine selects the latest available books that we want to read.
Vanwall: The Story of Britain's First Formula One Champions
With the restart of motor sports after the Second World War the Italians were dominant, Alfa Romeo, Ferrari and Maserati.
But the British had their own ideas and industrialist Tony Vandervell the founder of bearing manufacturers Vandervell Products Ltd put together a team to take them on.
having a wealth of engineering talent to support the effort it was possible to achieve the goal of the first Grand Prix win at Aintree. And in 1958 Vanwall had won nine of the championship Grand Pric rounds and claimed the Constructor’s Championship.
This book was first published in 1975 and gives a unique insight into Tony Vandervell and the rise of his Formula One team. In this new edition by Porter Press is has been expanded with many documents from the factory and from the GP Library archive. Telegrams, letters and detailed captions and lots of period photographs.
Limited to only 1,000 copies this is one to order quickly.
Hardcover: 288 pages
ISBN-10: 1913089258
ISBN-13: 978-1913089252
Armstrong Siddeley Motor Cars
Armstrong Siddeley was one of the leading British car manufacturers from the 1920s to the 1960s. They built luxury cars with a reputation for high standards.
In this book David Welch details the history of the marque and their models and some of the journeys taken by owners. The early history with the relationships with Herbert Austin and Lionel de Rothschild and the later sale to the Hawker Aircraft Company.
The 100hp racing car from the 1905 Gordon Bennet Trophy is here along with the Stoneleigh light car designed to take on the Austin 7. The numerous other models and the coachwork styles that were available. Also, the innovations and inventions made by the company such as the pre-selector gearbox, or self-changing gearbox, which is used in everything from tanks and buses to racing cars.
Paperback: 23 x 16cm, 96 pages
ISBN-10: 144568599
ISBN-13: 978-1445685991
Book Reviews
Tom Hartley: The Dealmaker
Tom Hartley left school at 11 not being able to read and write, but that didn’t stop him from setting up his own business buying and selling cars. Not just a car dealer Tom often has some of the best classic cars available. Ferraris especially. He even wrote off a Ferrari Dino.
He made his first million by 17 and also went bust but came back even stronger.
Even though I used to live very close to his Overseal dealership in South Derbyshire I never met him, but I did see some of his stock arriving at the petrol station at the same time as me at the top of the M42.
It’s not a dull story, quite crazy really, but brilliant too.
Seeing as I will probably never meet him, I could just read the book.
Paperback: 240 pages
ISBN-10: 1787117200
ISBN-13: 978-1787117204
Britain’s Toy Car Wars: The War of Wheels Between Dinky, Corgi and Matchbox
Just as car manufacturers battle every year to produce the best vehicle so do toy car companies. Over a period of fifty years Dinky battles with Corgi for market dominance.
This book goes into who was behind these toys, which were made in their millions and how they kept getting the most exciting and desirable models into the shops and onto the floors of every young car enthusiast and the dramas and the disasters that eventually saw the whole thing come crashing down.
Aren’t the toy versions more fun anyway?
Hardcover: 20 x 13 cm, 240 pages
ISBN-10: 0750997133
ISBN-13: 978-0750997133
Roadcraft: the police driver's handbook
Ok, this isn’t about classic cars or motorcycles but there is relevance here.
The old Roadcraft driving handbook might be seen as old fashioned and a bit stuffy, they have been getting better of late, but it is perfect for old cars. There’s a motorcycle edition I’ll probably do at some point.
Some of the techniques translate well to all forms of transport and contrary to popular belief it’s about making progress safely. Progress means passing other vehicles, looking as far ahead as possible to avoid having to get stuck and not make progress and hanging around.
I was lucky, I was taught by a police force class 1 instructor, examiner, armed response unit driver and force test driver. I got absolutely grilled from day one on the road but it’s really good and not about going slow, just in the right conditions.
The best bit is you are taught to not crash, which really is important when aiming to preserve older vehicles.
Paperback: 21 x 15 cm, 325 pages
ISBN-10: 011708378X
ISBN-13: 978-0117083783
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