New book releases for March 2022. Jalopy Magazine selects the latest available books that we want to read.
16,000 Miles to Mexico City: The 1970 London to Mexico World Cup Rally
The London to Mexico rally was quite the event back in 1970. 16,000 miles over 25 days covering some very rough terrain over mountainous passes 16,000 feet high.
The rally also had speed sections of 500 miles over rocky tracks with over 100 competitors fighting it out to win or even finish. Outright speed wasn’t the only objective, reliability and having something that could cope with the terrain. Dune buggies were mixed with camper vans, Rolls-Royces, Mercedes Benz of course and an Austin Maxi with a crew of three women who made it as far as Argentina, many didn’t.
I met Bron Burrel with Puff the Magic Wagon at the Practical Classics Restoration Show in 2019, just ahead of the planned repeat of the rally 50 years after they completed it. Sadly, this wasn’t to happen.
This sort of event doesn’t happen any more, the Paris Dakar still takes place and is a properly tough event, but this sort of continent crossing competition isn’t what it was. Back then there was no GPS, no cell phones, just maps.
If it’s never going to be repeated like it was in 1970 at least you can read about it.
Paperback: 25 x 18 cm, 277 pages
ISBN-10: 1476669678
ISBN-13: 978-1476669670
Audi quattro
This new hardback book about the Audi quattro contains everything from the 1980 launch to the World Rally Championship and Pikes Peak.
With 400 pages this is a big hardback book has many illustrations and chronologically takes you from the prototype, through the original UR quattro to the final 20V model. Technical data and production figures and many images from the Audi factory archive never seen before.
Hardcover: 400 pages
ISBN-10: 3667122624
ISBN-13: 978-3667122629
Order now for the July release, before they sell out.
Book Reviews
Lamborghini: At the Cutting Edge of Design
Lamborghini have been at the cutting edge of design since the launch of the Miura, the world’s first V12 mid-engined road car. They have been known for engines, but really have only made four different ones. The original V12 evolved over time until the Audi related V10 appeared. best not mention the V8 that nearly sent them bankrupt.
They have always been held as objects of desire, the Countach winning the war of the bedroom wall poster in the 1980s. The shapes of the cars preceding and following have always been ground-breaking, the wedge shape being a mainstay for years replacing something totally different, Lamborghini have been right on the cutting edge of design.
This is quite an expensive book, click to find out how much. It could be worth it.
Hardcover: 30 x 22 cm, 784 pages
ISBN-10: 1854433172
ISBN-13: 978-1854433176
The Modern Caravan: Stories of Love, Beauty, and Adventure on the Open Road
I quite like caravans. Not to tow, seems to be too much trouble, but as objects themselves and places to stay, they really appeal.
Inside this book you’ll find 25 stories of solo travellers, couples and families who left a fixed home to life on the road. From the couple exploring Australia in a vintage camper filled with plants to a young couple designing a modern trailer. Of course, there is an Airstream with a couple living in it showing how to achieve a comfortable lifestyle with a compromised environment.
Hardcover: 24 x 19 cm, 224 pages
ISBN-10: 1452183279
ISBN-13: 978-1452183275
The Car: The Rise and Fall of the Machine That Made the Modern World
The car is one of the most celebrated inventions of recent times. Giving not trust transportation to the masses but creating a culture around it too. But have the good times ended?
The Car explores all the good things that have come from them, the style and appeal through to what could be the end.
The fall and rise of the motor car is likely to be a sad but fascinating read for enthusiasts. It could also serve as useful information to help plan for the post automotive apocalypse.
Hardcover: : 24 x 16 cm, 320 pages
ISBN-10: 1474615392
ISBN-13: 978-1474615396
