The Story of Porsche is a compact and beautifully designed review of the iconic car manufacturer. From the alluring curves to the powerful engineering, Porsche has been synonymous with both luxury and race car manufacturing for more than 90 years. In The Story of Porsche, every component of the legendary brand's success is studied and celebrated, from turbulent beginnings to its ascent to the summit of car design and construction. Blending heritage with innovation and brand identity with creativity, Porsche has produced some of the most beloved models of sport and luxury car alike. From the timeless designs of the 911 and Carrera, to the dynamism of the 917, the fabled marque has instilled class and faultless engineering into each and every one of its creations. With 19 victories at Le Mans, Porsche has also proved itself to be as successful on the racetrack as it is on the streets; revered, respected and treasured in equal measure. These victories on both the podium and in the marketplace are rendered here in stunning detail through insightful text and exceptional photography. This is a story packed with blind corners and steep climbs, in a package that will sit perfectly on any Porsche fan's bookshelf.

The BMW X5 evolved out of studies carried out to create a new class of vehicle along the lines of the Range Rover that would combine BMW's renowned handling, executive-class fittings and style that would be equally at home on the motorway, commuting or off-road. When released in 1999 the BMW X5 set a completely new benchmark, one far higher than anybody had foreseen and which few have matched today, many years later.

The essential guide for anyone considering buying a DeLorean, the iconic 1980s car that was featured in the Back to the Future films. Packed with good advice on everything you need to know when purchasing a secondhand DeLorean, from running costs, paperwork, vital statistics and valuation, to information on the DeLorean community, this is the complete guide to choosing, assessing and buying the DeLorean of your dreams.

The Lotus Elan was Lotus's definitive roadster. It replaced the elegant but expensive Lotus Elite and was the first car to employ the innovative Lotus steel backbone chassis. The original Elan was produced as a two-seat, open-top sportscar and hardtop coupe from 1962 - 1973. The range was extended by the addition of the 2+2-seater Plus 2 from 1967 to 1974. Lotus introduced an all-new front wheel drive Elan in 1989, the M100, which was produced until 1995.

The story of Jensen favouring American V8 power began during the 1930s, with the building of their first prototype car. Although this pre-war period was short-lived, this would be the start of what was to eventually become one of the company's main trademarks - the V8 engine. This new book examines the C-V8, Interceptor and FF models as well as Jensen's use of Chrysler, Ford and General Motors engines. The history, design, development and production of these cars is covered and the book is illustrated with 300 colour photographs.

This, the third book in the series on Aston Martin, records the gradual development of the DBS. This title chronicles the various upheavals that occurred in the company between the years 1972, when Sir David Brown sold the company, its near certain death in 1974, and its revival by the Sprague-Minden-Curtis-Flather consortium. This group took the company to new realms with the mighty 400b.h.p. V8 Vantage, the Towns Lagonda V8 and paved the way to the Gauntlet-Livanos era. Stringent emission laws in the USA excluded the V8 until 1978, but the optimistic suggestions of numbers to be built never manifested itself, despite a ready market in the Arab states.

Jaguar - A Pictorial History includes information covering Jaguar's early history from 1922 and lists all model ranges and models thereafter, right up to the 2000s. With model-by-model descriptions and detailed technical information, this will be a great resource for all Jaguar and automotive enthusiasts. This book contains hundreds of photographs, obtained by the author during his years involved in the Jaguar Drivers Club and Jaguar Enthusiasts Club as well as those provided by the Jaguar Heritage archives. This Pictorial History includes: - Detailed model-by-model comparisons, including changes in model production - Extensively illustrated with colour and black & white photographs - Body and interior styling identification and differences, along with colour schemes - Detailed technical information and specifications - Standard and optional equipment details - Dashboard instrument layout drawings and photographs - Production figures as a total or individual model where available

For Aston Martin the period 1981 to 1993 was a time of transition progressing from the DB body to the new Virage plus the takeover of the Company by Ford in the early 1990s. The fourth book in this series deals with the Gauntlet and Livanos period. These two rekindled the link with Zagato, who brought to life the V8 Zagato. The Lagonda V8 continued to keep their heads above water and they also gave support to a number of private racing teams. On the production front 1988 saw the brand new Virage, powered by a new 5.3 litre V8 and at the same time on the racing side there was the V8 AMR1 series of Group "C" racers. Money, however, was a problem, so when Ford made an offer Gauntlet and Martin wisely accepted. With Ford behind them, the V8 cars continued to increase in luxury and power and the AMR1 entered its first season of international racing. 1993 saw the establishment of Aston Martin based at the TWR works at Bloxham, near Banbury and it was from here that, in a year's time, an exciting new model would emerge.

Based on real-life experience and written by expert authors, the books in the Maintenance and Upgrades Manual series from Crowood will help owners develop the workshop skills needed for the maintenance and repair of their cars, and give guidance on possibilities for improvements and upgrades to performance. With step-by-step instructions and safety information throughout, this book is a valuable technical resource for owners of Series II, IIA and III Land Rovers.

Our fifth book on Aston Martin starts with the introduction in 1994 of the DB7. Many people saw it as a sexed up Jaguar, not a true Aston - also it had a pressed steel body instead of a hand-built aluminium one, and "they plan to make lots of them, cannot be an Aston," and so on. However, it was successful and 7,049 were made which was a fantastic achievement considering that since 1920 only some 12,000 cars of all types had been made. The new V12 DB9, made in the companys first purpose-built, up-to-date factory at Gaydon, restored the hand-built image but with added up-to-date engineering features.

Haynes offers the best coverage for cars, trucks, vans, SUVs and motorcycles on the market today. Each manual contains easy to follow step-by-step instructions linked to hundreds of photographs and illustrations. Included in every manual: troubleshooting section to help identify specific problems; tips that give valuable short cuts to make the job easier and eliminate the need for special tools; notes, cautions and warnings for the home mechanic; color spark plug diagnosis and an easy to use index.
This repair & service manual covers all Jeep Cherokee, Wagoneer, and Comanche, from 1984 thru 2001.
Note: This manual does not include Grand Wagoneer or diesel engine information.

Long considered the definitive book on DKW (Dampf-Kraft-Wagen), this classic book is now available in a complete English language edition. Featuring over 640 color and black and white images, this book covers all of the automobiles and motorcycles manufactured by the legendary DKW from its founding in the early twentieth century to its closing in the 1960s. Described in detail are the technical developments of the famed two-stroke engine, thanks to which DKW earned its excellent worldwide reputation. Prior to World War II, DKW was the world s largest producer of motorcycles with great success in both the racing and civilian markets. Clearly presented is the complex company history, including its 1932 merger with Audi, Horch and Wanderer to form the Auto union, and later takeover by Daimler-Benz then Volkswagen. Many of the superb quality images come from factory archives and include manufacturing views, as well as line schemes and plans. Original German edition publisher Frank Ronicke, who knew the author Siegfried Rauch (1906-1997) personally and was able to inherit his archive, has revised and supplemented the original text for this new edition and added a series of color photos to this classic of DKW literature."

Jeep is one of the most recognized brands in the world. It grew out of a utilitarian multi-purpose vehicle that was a favorite of Allied soldiers in WW2. In the austere times of the early post-war period the foundations of its cult status were laid down. Through several corporate mergers the Jeep continued to be an international sales success. At first it was a rather crude machine but as time and success came, gradually more features were added and it was modernized mechanically without detracting from its universal all-round appeal. Performance with the Jeep was judged on totally different criteria than normal - how fast it accelerated or how fast it could go was never important to its owners, it was more about how it could traverse virtually impassable terrain, climb mountains, cross rivers or deserts without mishap. It was not long before the Jeep became the standard by which other off-road vehicles were judged. Despite ever-increasing competition from around the world the Jeep is still the most recognized name in the business.

Jaguar founder Sir William Lyons had a terrific hit on his hands when he launched the 'compact' 2.4 Litre sports saloon in 1956. Motorists loved it, and those wanting more thrills were soon offered the 'hot' 120mph 3.4 Litre a year later. Both were replaced in 1960 by the Mark II models, which added a 3.8 Litre, and from there the range was developed and expanded with the long-booted S-Type of 1964, the 4.2 Litre 420 of 1967, and the final 240/340 models of 1968. Alongside there were the Daimler V8 and Sovereign models. The success of this family of cars can be attributed to Lyons's faultless instinct for what buyers wanted and his unerring eye when it came to styling his cars. And of course there was the fabulous six-cylinder XK engine which powered all Jaguars from 1948 through to 1985, with the equally inspired V8 in the Daimler. All these cars have enjoyed an exalted classic status for years, and the matter of originality has become more and more important to owners and prospective owners today. Here Nigel Thorley, the unrivaled expert on the cars who has been writing about them for more than 30 years, provides all the information that can be expected from books in our acclaimed Factory-Original series. Model by model, with hundreds of specially commissioned colour photographs of outstanding examples of the cars, he gives all the details of correct original factory specifications and equipment in all departments, right down to the tool kit.

1952 was one of the most important years in Mercedes-Benz racing history; after a 13-year absence, it returned to motor sport competition with an automobile that rewrote the history of modern sports car racing. The 300 SL's debut was the culmination of a long, difficult road back to racing for Mercedes-Benz after a 13 year break. This book vividly depicts the 300 SL's performance in the five races in which it competed in 1952, and tells the story of how it became the most successful competition sports car of that year. Through dramatic photographs, and equally stirring text, one of the greatest years of sports car racing is brought to life, filled with automobiles often finished in national racing colours, prepared by great factory teams, driven by men who were national sporting idols, and raced under gruelling conditions unique to the age. From its Mille Miglia debut, through the Nurburgring, the Le Mans 24 Hours, to its greatest race, the Carrera Panamericana, the 300 SL's career from conception to retirement is presented, culminating with a detailed photographic essay illustrating restoration of the oldest 300 SL in existence.

Although the interiors of aristocratic homes have received much attention, there has been little written about how the interiors of middle-class homes evolved through the ages. In this study, James Ayres traces the development - in words and pictures - of vernacular British interiors from the 16th to the mid-19th century.

Our original 96 page book on the Westfield went out of print some time ago, but we decided against doing a simple reprint. Instead, we have searched through our archives and found considerably more material on this fascinating marque allowing us to bring the story up to date. In addition, 32 pages added are in color. Models covered are XI, SE, SEi, SEiGHT, Weasel, 330V8, ZEi, ZEi130, SPa, FW400, Fireblade, Megabusa, XTR2, XTR4 & Sport 200.

Every Haynes manual is based on a complete teardown and rebuild, contains hundreds of "hands-on" photos tied to step-by-step instructions, and is thorough enough to help anyone from a do-it-yourselfer to a professional.

This book covers the final years of Bentley and Rolls-Royce as an exclusive British automaker to the turbulent final period of splitting up and foreign ownership. Production has carried on serenely and the variations produced have, on the whole, kept to a high standard. The articles here are written by the world's most informed motoring journalists and give a remarkable insight into these glamorous cars. These are contemporary articles covering road and comparison tests, new model introductions, driver's impressions. Models covered include: Bentley Turbo R, Brooklands, Continental R, T, SC, Azure, Arnage R, T & Red Label, Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit, Silver Spur, Flying Spur, Silver Dawn, Silver Seraph, Corniche.

The last rotary-engined car built, Mazda's RX-8 provides a unique driving experience. Until you've tried one, it's hard to imagine how smooth its free-revving engine really is, or how enjoyable its handling. With comfortable space for four, it can be practical too.Like most Japanese cars, the RX-8 is generally well built, but the rotary engine can suffer from hot starting and rotor tip wear issues, which can prove expensive to put right. Extensive back-up from owner forums and independent specialists - listed in the guide - mean that these problems can be addressed, but choosing a good RX-8 requires care.This guide will help you do just that. Understand the differences between models, and learn what to look for when buying one. What are the true running costs, and does the need for a new engine mean the end to your dreams? What other issues - with the mechanicals, body or interior - should you look out for? Follow the advice of an experienced RX-8 owner and benefit from his research among owners and specialists in Europe and North America.

The 1970s and 1980s were critical years for the British motor industry. A downward spiral in industrial relations led to crippling strikes; two major oil crises made thirsty older designs virtually unsaleable; and foreign manufacturers moved in with products that were affordable, reliable and available on demand.
Yet, by and large, British family motorists carried on buying British as long as they could. The average Briton was broadly content with what the domestic motor industry produced (though he might have grumbled a bit), and it certainly produced an array of cars which entered the public consciousness as symbols of their times. Names like Marina, Maestro, Montego, Cortina, Escort, Granada, Cavalier and, above all, Mini live on in popular memory. Looking back, we remember these humble workhorses with more fondness than we might expect.
James Taylor has been a motoring writer and historian for more than 30 years, and in this book he remembers this period with a mixture of affection and amusement, tempered with an honest appraisal of how good or bad these cars really were.

The world now has more than a billion motor vehicles, and this number continues to increase as developing countries imitate developed societies in their adoption of the culture of automobility. This book explores the political ecology of motor vehicles in an era of growing social disparities and environmental crises, the latter of which are most manifest in anthropogenic climate change to which motor vehicles constitute a major contributor. A political ecological perspective recognizes that motor vehicles, perhaps more than any other machine, embody the social, structural, cultural, and environmental contradictions of the capitalist world system. In addition to highlighting many of the environmental, social, and health, environmental consequences of humanity’s increasing reliance on motor vehicles, particularly private automobiles, this book argues that ultimately we need as a species to move beyond motor vehicles as much as possible but that such an effort will have be part and parcel of creating an alternative world system based on social justice, democratic processes, environmental sustainability, and a safe climate, one termed democratic eco-socialism.

This is an exciting new series of books taken from the pages of Road & Track magazine-one of the most popular automotive magazines ever published. The "Road & Track" books will be of immense interest to the enthusiast, covering top performance cars and containing feature stories, road test narratives, and complete specifications, along with performance data. For auto enthusiasts, this series is an excellent reference for collecting, restoring, or buying the car of one's dreams. Published by CarTech/Brooklands Books.