(from the book) The year was 1978 and I was sitting in the back booth of the Pizza Hut in Mulvane, Kansas, splitting a deep pan with my good friend, Darryl Starbird. Our friendship was close, and I had always respected his opinion on just about anything to do with the automobile, and especially the “kustom” vehicle. Not only is Darryl a champ at building kustom creations, he is also one of the top auto show producers in the U.S. For some 21 years I had been in the shadow of this high-energy, often unbelievable, man helping him build cars and produce car shows–a schooling that isn’t available in any six-month course or college anywhere. I had cruised with him on the high roads, and crashed with him on the low shoulders. Believe me, auto show producing is not for the weak or conservative. But my interest was up, boosted by a recent writeup on ‘49-’51 Mercs, and front cover spread of a chopped ‘51 Mercury, by Street Rodder magazine, which at the time was predominantly a “pre-’48” street rod magazine. Someone shared an interest I felt I might be the[…]”

New additions to the automotive market are judged primarily by efficiency or fuel consumption. Things are quite different for historical cars. Major car shows, from Pebble Beach to Villa d'Este, feature classic cars, which, although they may not achieve top marks in the wind tunnel, have a timeless elegance that makes the hearts of all afi cionados skip a beat. The photographer Ansel Adams, who was an honorary judge at Pebble Beach, once de - fined them as follows: "The type of vehicle I would like to be buried in." From the Jaguar XK 140 to the Porsche 550 Spyder, Rene Staud has shot automotive classics in set tings ranging from the subtle to the spectacular. As co-organiser and head of the Car Selection Com mittee for Schloss Bensberg Classics, Jurgen Lewandowski provides authoritative texts. The Classic Cars Book conveys a real passion for these spectacular vehicles, appealing to existing fans and those yet to fall under their spell.

The wartime Jeep continues to fascinate enthusiasts around the world, nearly eight decades after the first prototypes were built. Yet while it is true that there was only ever one Jeep, it is emphatically not the case that there was only one variety of Jeep. Not only were Jeeps built by both Willys and Ford, but the supposedly standardised design continued to evolve during production. As a result, there are multiple differences of specification - some major, some tiny - among the models. Through the painstakingly researched text, and through detailed colour photography of outstanding examples of the cars, this book attempts to identify and illustrate those differences for the benefit of enthusiasts who would like to return their Jeeps to factory-original specification and equipment in every respect

The books in the Everyday Modifications series from Crowood are designed to guide classic van and car owners through the workshop skills needed to make their vehicles easier to use and enjoy. Camper van enthusiast Rob Hawkins gives practical advice on modernizing and improving a VW Bay Window camper van. With over 700 colour photographs, the book provides step-by-step guides on how to fit a wide range of simple and more sophisicated upgrades to bring a Bay Window into the 21st century. With safety information throughout, the book covers: upgrading the interior - front bench seats, trimming panels, LED lighting, sound proofing and fitting a budget sound system; improving the ride quality - how to improve the suspension, change dampers, assess wheels and tyres and fit uprated anti-roll bars; better brakes - Bay Window brakes can be as good as a modern vehicle's, and this book shows how to do it. Also covered is information on updating the electrics, engine preservation and upgrades including removing and rebuilding an engine.

Following his outstandingly successful books Works Escorts in Detail and Works Triumphs in Detail, rally veteran and historian Graham Robson now tackles the story of Ford's emergence during the 1960s as a leader in international saloon car competition, whether in race or rally, beginning with the Mark 1 Cortina in 1962. Walter Hayes was the driving force behind this push forward. It was he who enlisted Colin Chapman to create the Lotus-Cortina, he who had bold ideas like entering the Safari Rally and the London-Sydney Marathon, he who brought in Alan Mann Racing to wipe the board in touring car racing, he who attracted top-flight drivers like Roger Clark, Jim Clark, Graham Hill and Pat Moss, and he who inspired Ford's quite dazzling success in national and international competition. The career of every works Mark I and Mark II Cortina, Lotus-Cortina, Capri and Corsair is individually recounted in this book, with contemporary action photographs and listings of events entered, results and drivers, along with accounts of performances in rallies and races. In addition there are specially commissioned colour photographs of a number of surviving works cars, which have been shot in considerable detail. For fans of the race and rally Fords of these glory days, as well as for motor sport enthusiasts, this book is pure treasure.

Written for the do-it-yourselfer, good enough for the pro. Includes everything you wish to know about your vehicles heating and air conditioning. From simple adjustments, to complete tune-ups and troubleshooting.

• Formula 1 of the 1950s and '60s: images from a legendary era of motorsport
• Driver portraits, racing action and historic Formula 1 cars from Ferrari, Porsche, Alfa Romeo and Jaguar
• Over 270 photographs from Edward Quinn's archive, some of which have never been published before
• Insights into post-war Monaco: lifestyle, glamour and celebrities
• Text in English and German

This comprehensive manual provides professional but easy-to-follow know-how on how to restore, improve and maintain your classic car's suspension, steering and wheels. This book will familiarise you with the components of your car's suspension and steering systems and their construction, it also takes a detailed look at refurbishing wheels and the choice of tyres. The relevant restoration techniques are fully explained and illustrated with detailed step-by-step photography. The book is a new title in Veloce's Enthusiast's Restoration Manual series, and is based on articles from Europe's leading classic car magazine OLDTIMER MARKT.

A small investment in this book could save you a fortune ...With the aid of this book's step-by-step expert guidance, you'll discover all you need to know about the car you want to buy. Unique points system will help you to place the car's value in relation to condition. Don't buy a TR7 or TR8 without this book's help!

The legendary 'classic' Land Rover - the mainstay of the four-wheel-drive market world-wide for over 60 years - was rebranded Defender in 1990, and has upheld Land Rover's reputation for producing rugged workhorses, with unbeatable off-road capability. This Haynes Manual provides a practical guide to modifications and upgrades for Defender owners who wish to update or improve their vehicles. Coverage includes modifications for recreational off-road use, as well as modifications intended to improve comfort and cosmetic appearance.

The automobile is the ultimate analogue machine and mankind's most ingenious, seductive and damaging invention. For over a century, cars have provided reference points for our notions of style, status and desire. In design terms, the Age of Combustion was as rich and varied as architecture's Baroque - and far more popular. And now it is coming to an end, as the internal-combustion engine is superseded by the battery and cars become wheeled computers, running on AI not oil. Together with a wide-ranging introduction, this book reproduces 60 of Stephen Bayley's popular monthly columns for Octane, the outstanding classic car magazine where, for more than 10 years, he has provided the most consistent and insightful commentary on car culture, often based on privileged access to industry insiders.

When first introduced in the 1997 Corvette, GM's LS1 engine shook the performance world.Its combination of massive power, light weight and impressive fuel economy set new precedents for performance engines--and continues to do so generation after generation.The latest version, the LS9, makes some 638 hp from just 6.2 liters, far eclipsing even the mightiest big-blocks from the muscle car era--while meeting modern standards for emissions and fuel economy.It's no wonder, then, that the LSX engines have become some of the most popular for high-performance applications.For those who want to build or modify their LS engine, this book provides the most detailed and extensive instructions ever offered.Whatever your performance goals might be, How to Build and Modify GM LS-Series Engines" shows you what modifications are needed and how to make them.Premier LS engine technician Joseph Potak addresses every question that might come up, covering topics including crankshafts and piston assemblies, cylinder heads, camshafts, valvetrain, block modifications, intake manifolds, fuel system, header selection, and setting up ring and bearing clearances for particular uses.In short, this book is the ultimate resource for building the ultimate LSX engine.

This new edition explores all aspects of the M3's history, including the race and rally successes worldwide, supported by full and detailed specifications for each generation of the model. It expands on the previous edition, to bring the story right up to the present day, with details of all models produced between 2013 and 2020, including the new M4. Developed in the 1980s, the BMW M3 was intended to be the world's most successful racing saloon car. Not only did it achieve that in its very first season of motorsport, but went on the achieve lasting commercial success as a high performance road car. Fully illustrated throughout, with a lavish array of colour photographs and magnificently detailed cutaway drawings of mechanical equipment, this comprehensive and authoritative book is a must for all BMW M3 and M4 enthusiasts.

The very first Land Rover, launched in 1948, owed its low-key existence to shoestring British ingenuity and - literally - odds and ends left over from World War II. Rover thought it could keep its factory ticking over as the company's post-war fortunes slowly revived. They also thought that farmers might appreciate it as a handy cross between a pick-up and a tractor. But it was soon obvious that the company had created, in the land Rover, a world-beating product. Giles Chapman tells the story of how Land Rovers have tamed the planet's toughest terrain with their unstoppable off-road capability. It also charts how the Land Rover legend allowed the marque to gradually expand its range with the Range Rover, Discovery, Freelander and the latest Range Rover Evoque. They're all cars as familiar in cities and suburbs as they are at home in the countryside. Land Rover has been controversial, its fortunes tied to Britain's economic ups and downs. Today it's on a roll, leading a renaissance in British design and manufacturing, yet the continued presence of the Defender helps keep the Land Rover Story absolutely pukka.

Road Life introduces you to 35 inspirational people from across the globe who've made their vans, campers and buses part of their lifestyle, and provides you with the tools to do the same. What's the appeal of a life on the road, with everything you need contained on four wheels? Tried it yourself and felt inadequate and underprepared? Or feel daunted by converting a vehicle yourself? The campers in this book can show you how to roll up in style. From expert craftsmen who've converted entire buses from scratch, to low-key explorers who've perfected the art of budget travel; solo travellers living and working on the road, to families who sold up everything for a life of touring - for these aficionados, life on the road is pure pleasure, a way to connect with nature, an antidote to modern life. And, unlike most of us, they know how to do it properly. Supported by Instagram-worthy photography, Sebastian Antonio Santabarbara interviews each contributor to bring out their unique and inspirational approach to life and travel, their most memorable experiences (and challenges) and the tips and gadgets they couldn't live without. The book also provides advice to achieve the 'road life' yourself and suggests worldwide destinations that provide a similar setting, giving you the inspiration and tools to plan your next trip. With enviable campervan setups, stories that will give you wanderlust, stunning locations and top advice from the experts - Road Life is the perfect companion and guide for any wannabe van owner.

This book tells the fascinating, and sometimes frustrating, story of the journey from the iconic Jaguar E-type to its successor, the F-type. With nearly 300 photographs, it documents the evolution of the F-type from the Pininfarina XJ Spider through Jaguar's own XJ41/42, XX and XK180. It reviews the whole range of F-type convertible and coupe models and discusses the wild Project 7 and the latest turbo-charged four-cylinder cars. The special vehicles produced for Team Sky and Bloodhound SSC are included along with a useful chapter on buying an F-type. Finally, the book considers the F-type's future in a changing automotive world.