Group B is still remembered as the most exciting era in world rallying. It may not have lasted long, but those crazy cars made an indelible impression on the minds of many motor sport enthusiasts.

Oddly enough, when reading this new book you actually discover that Group B was originally introduced to calm international rallying down, and to put an end to madcap specials such as the Lancia Stratos. As usual, the egg-heads got it wrong! In the end, Group B was scrapped after a series of well-publicised accidents that cost the lives of spectators as well as competitors. However, Reinhard Klein — whose photographs grace this book — reckons that Group B was killed off by Formula 1 organisers, who believed that Group B rallying was becoming more popular than F1. Those accidents, says Klein, were merely used as an excuse to scrap the category.

Whatever really happened, there is no doubt this new book should be welcomed by all rally enthusiasts — and even less doubt that Davenport is the right man to write up the enthralling story; he was right in the thick of the action as BL’s competitions manager, and was one of the men behind the thunderous MG Metro 6R4. Impeccable credentials.

Davenport analyses Group B’s genesis and then delivers a chapter on each of the Group B cars. All the well-known cars are here — Metro 6R4, Lancia Rally 037 and Delta S4, Peugeot 205 T16, Ford RS200, Renault 5 Turbo and, of course, the Audi quattro. Just as interesting, there are also chapters on some of the Group B cars you may have forgotten; such the Opel Ascona and Manta, Mazda RX-7, Nissan 240RS, and Escort 1700T.

Davenport knew all the people behind the scenes, so his coverage of the cars and the rallying is well detailed — and he pulls no punches, even when discussing Group B’s final, tragic season and its aftermath. Presented in English and German, this book is enhanced by many never before seen photographs from renowned rally photographer, Klein. This large format book, although rather pricey, is a must-have for serious Group B enthusiasts.

Group B: The Rise and Fall of Rallying’s Wildest Cars by John Davenport and Reinhard Klein
Review book supplied by Techbooks
Review by Allan Walton

A further addition to Haynes’ Photographic Portraits range — which also includes books on Gilles Villeneuve and Nigel Mansell — this new book covers the career of what many still consider to be the greatest ever racing driver; Jim Clark.
This beautifully produced book covers all of Clark’s racing career — from his early escapades in sports cars, through to his crowd-pleasing antics in the Lotus-Cortina and right up to his final days with Team Lotus. The photographs, as you would expect from the title, make up the core of the book, all of them sourced from LAT’s huge motor sport image library. Quentin Spurring adds in some cogent captions while the ex Australian flag marshal and current editor of F1 Racing magazine includes his own personal memories of Clark. There are even a few NZ images — such as the one taken in Christchurch, which shows Clark in the newly unveiled, Gold Leaf-liveried Lotus 49.

Jim Clark: A Photographic Portrait by Quentin Spurring/Peter Windsor and LAT
Review book supplied by Techbooks
Review by James Black

This is the latest in a series from Veloce, each covering various Bugatti models in some detail. For many enthusiasts more familiar with the lithe and successful competition versions, many of the cars in this volume will be less well known. However, Bugatti Types 28, 30, 38 and 38A, 44 and 49 — all covered within this book — were commercial successes in Bugatti terms and carried a wide range of coachwork, as well as appearing in some competitive events.

The book starts with some rather randomly ordered short chapter subjects such as development and technical appraisal of the Type 44. It is, though, essentially a photographic book, focussing on showing various types of bodywork fi tted from Fiacres (which tried to capture the elegance of horse-drawn carriages) to saloons and tourers. The photographs are all in black and white and are of mixed quality.

Although the book’s text is in English, photograph captions are in English and French, and the translations don’t always quite match.This is really one for the Bugattisti, I think, as it’s quite pricy for what is a fairly slim volume.

Bugatti: The 8 Cylinder Touring Cars, 1920-34 by Barrie Price & Jean-Louis Arbey

Review book supplied by the publisher

Review by Mark Holman

This is O’Neil’s second book on these races in the Caribbean. This time it’s a 96-page soft-cover in Veloce’s Those Were the Days series, with a potted story on each of the 13 years of race weeks. But what makes the book is the great selection of photos, and they just about all seem to be new, not repeats from the previous book.

Although the circuit and the organisation could be a bit rough and ready, at various times many top drivers drove in these races: Gurney, Moss, Ireland, Penske and Phil Hill among them. The week was renowned as much for the accompanying social life as for what took place on the circuit. In addition to the main trophy races for GTs and sports-racers, the programme on occasion included F Vee (McLaren, Amon and Rindt all competed successfully), karts, and F Junior. But there were also Ladies Races, Residents’ Races and some pretty weird and wonderful vehicles to be seen.

Most of the photos are monochrome but there are a few colour shots too. Whether it’s an incredibly youthful Ricardo Rodriguez, Jim Hall’s wrecked Chaparral, Foyt’s Hussein-Dodge, or GM’s experimental Stingray SR2, you’ll be in for some treats when you leaf through this recommended book.

Motor Racing at Nassau in the 1950s and 1960s by Terry O’Neil
Review copy supplied by the publisher
Review by Mark Holman

One of the most legendary races of all time, the Carrera Panamericana was first run to mark the opening of the Panamerican Highway, and traversed the full length of Mexico from Tuxtla to Juárez. US car manufacturers quickly picked up on the race, with Oldsmobile and Cadillac dominating the inaugural event in 1950. It didn’t take long for European car-makers to get in on the act — the pairing of Taruffi/Chinetti winning the 1951 event in their Ferrari 212 Vignale. Famously, Mercedes-Benz dominated the 1952 race with the fabulous 300SL, while Fangio scored a major victory in 1953 in his Lancia.

Alas, the final race was run in 1954 (with Ferrari winning a second time). However, the event continued to make a place in motoring history — most notably when Porsche chose to use the Carrera name as a model designation following several notable class wins.

In 1988, the Carrera Panamericana returned as a major classic event, and it has continued to be successful since then — attracting a wonderful assortment of classic US and European sports cars and saloons. Tipler’s well illustrated book covers both eras of this famous race — the early days from 1950-’54 and the more modern revival. For those interested in the mighty, motoring epics of a past age, this will be essential reading.

La Carrera Panamericana: The World’s Greatest Road Race by Johnny Tipler
Review copy supplied by the publisher
Review by James Black

This book is possibly not as interesting in the period it covers as Long’s Porsche Racing Cars — 1953-1975 (also published by Veloce) — I mean, how many photos depicting minute variations on the 911 theme can the average reader withstand?

Nevertheless, the author’s comprehensive survey of the period in question covers a huge amount of ground, and he appears to have all the bases covered.

From IMSA and World Championship for Makes (WCM), Le Mans, World Endurance Championship (WEC) to the Paris-Dakar Rally and Porsche’s re-emergence into the Formula One field in the ’80s (powering a McLaren F1), there’s a massive amount of racing information on offer.

Packed with photographs, lap charts and race results, this book throws its net far and wide — although, as with many of Veloce’s books, the overall design is a little confused and untidy. Still, this doesn’t take away much from the book, and Porschephiles will, no doubt, want this to add to their copy of Long’s previous Porsche Racing Cars volume.

Porsche Racing Cars — ¨1976-2005 by Brian Long
Review copy supplied by the publisher
Review by James Black

One of America’s best known and best-loved motor racing drivers gets a suitable tribute in the shape of a well-presented and informative book. The author is a personal friend of Rodger Ward’s son, so was granted access to the family archives — a big advantage which really allows O’Leary to get down to personal details as he describes Ward’s easy-going character and his zest for life and motor racing.

Ward, who won the Indy 500 in 1959 and 1962 — and finished in the top three in 1961 and 1964 — began his racing life on the US Midget circuit before graduating to the big Indy roadsters during the early ’50s. Although Ward was one of the last of the Offy road-¨ster hold-outs, he eventually moved over to rear-engined cars for his final appearances ¨at Indianapolis.

O’Leary traces Ward’s life from his birth in Kansas, recounts the rarely told tale of Ward’s war-time exploits as a P-38 fighter pilot, the racing days — both good and bad — his retirement years and, finally, Ward’s demise in 2004.
Well written, lots of evocative photographs — and a must for all those interested in historic oval racing.

Rodger Ward — Superstar Of ¨American Racing’s Golden Age by Mike O’Leary
Review book supplied by Techbooks
Review by Allan Walton

“The Lamborghini phenomenon can only be described by focusing on human beings, their desires, and the darker areas of the soul. To do this is to walk a dangerous tightrope between provocation and ironic self-criticism.”

If you can live with that type of pretentiously over-the-top writing style, this book is for you. Mercifully, the main thrust is all about lots of lovely images of the current Murcielago and Gallardo, so there isn’t a lot of text — good job really, as the authors don’t have much of interest to say.

A few factory photographs of older Lamborghinis and some nice black-and-white studies of some of the people who put the cars together have also been chucked into the mix but, in the end, the book is just a great big puff-up job for Lamborghini.

One chapter that could have provided a good insight into life at Lamborghini now it comes under the Audi umbrella — a lengthy interview with Dr Martin Winterkorn, chairman of the Audi board of management — is a complete waste; lots of corporate-speak but nothing of real substance.

In fact, the whole book seems to have been funded and printed purely so two blokes could go and have a play in a bunch of Lambos. I’m sure they had a great time — for everyone else it’s a waste of time

Lamborghini Today ¨— A Tempo Furioso by Stephan Grüsem & Peter Vann
Review book supplied by Techbooks
Review by James Black

The boxy but, to my eyes, handsome Fiat Mirafiori is the subject of the latest in Veloce’s Rally Giants series. And it certainly deserves that description, having won 20 world series rallies and being driven by some of the top drivers, especially Rörhl and Alen.

The book follows the usual format for this series; a 128-page soft-cover. It kicks off with the 131’s cousins, the 124 Rallye and the dramatic Lancia Stratos. But the 131 was much more like Fiat’s mainstream sellers, though it was always underpowered compared with primary rivals such as the Escort and also had a few reliability issues.

After describing the car’s development and the key figures behind the scenes and at the wheel, Robson summarises each season. He also throws in some fascinating snippets, such as putting Rörhl’s co-driver in the middle of the car’s back seat in the 1978 RAC, to try and improve traction. It wasn’t a great success and the practice was immediately banned. There was also an early 135 model, a be-winged V6 with a motor from the Fiat 130. Trying to develop the Ritmo was a bit of a blind alley, too.

By 1981 development had stopped, and the vehicle’s Group B successor was the dramatic Lancia 037. But the car developed by Abarth on the 131 family saloon had certainly made its mark, with driver and manufacturer titles.

Very well illustrated with black and white and colour photos, this is another good addition to an interesting series.

Fiat 131 Abarth by Graham Robson
Review copy supplied by the publisher
Review by Mark Holman

There are few more dramatic-looking cars than the Miura — named after a famous fighting bull — and it’s hard to believe it was launched 43 years ago. American author, Sackey, has owned five Miuras, so is writing from first-hand experience of this model.

The standard version was dramatic enough, but the book also covers the one-off roadster, the uprated SV, the super-Miuras that were modified by the works, and the amazing ZN-75 built to demonstrate the properties of zinc! When the car was new, SVs were sold to such surprising places as Haiti and Iran.

Key personalities are included, such as Dallara, Gandini, New Zealander Bob Wallace (was he really known as ‘Bobby’ as the book calls him?). Production manager Stanzani gets a chapter to himself as the man who went on to design the Miura’s successor, the Countach.

Though on occasion there are too many images of a particular car, generally this is a book where the pictures really do complement the words, with hundreds of photos of different models and technical details. There are a few pages of chassis numbers and dates, but the chapter’s called ‘Smoke and Mirrors’ to indicate that the factory procedure for recording these wasn’t the most accurate record!

With some maintenance advice, buyer’s guide info, the tantalising Jota, tracking down a Miura that had ‘disappeared’ for 30 years and a lovely story about the 1200km delivery drive for the first Miura to be sold in the USA — this is a very comprehensive story and worth a look by anyone attracted to this iconic sports car.

Lamborghini Miura Bible by Joe Sackey
Review copy supplied by the publisher
Review by Mark Holman

Young is a bit of a long distance rally specialist, having driven across the Sahara three times, taken part in the gruelling Himalaya Rally several times — in a Morris Minor and a Skoda Estelle. He has also helped to organise over 60 major events, including the inaugural Pirelli Classic Marathon in 1988.

As such, he’s perfectly placed to talk about building and preparing a low cost rally car — with the car examined being an Austin Allegro which was prepared to compete in the Mongol Rally.

Young looks at the steps necessary to build a successful car on a super tight budget, and the book is full of great tips — using a Starburst lolly to repair a split petrol tank! Although primarily aimed at the European and UK market, Young’s discussions on engines, bodywork and driving tips are equally applicable to New Zealand. And, if you’ve always fancied your chances on one of those major European marathon rallies — this is the best place to start.

How to Build a Successful Low-Cost Rally Car by Philip Young
Review copy supplied by Techbooks
Review by James Black

Since it’s first appearance, Hendry’s book — originally titled Cadillac: Standard of the World — has become an essential source for all Cadillac enthusiasts — with it’s exhaustive historical text and information this book is now recognised as the definitive history of the marque.

Hendry — one of New Zealand’s most renowned auto historians — has now come up with a fully revised and updated edition which brings his Cadillac story up to the present day. Published by Automobile Quarterly, this beautifully packaged two-volume set (which comes in a handsome slipcase) is the sixth edition of Maurice Hendry’s history of Cadillac — and now includes contributions from Jeffrey I Godshall, Tracy Powell and Dave Holls.

Like Cadillac’s founder, Henry Leland, Hendry has an obsession with precision and quality — and it shows in his painstakingly researched text. Peppered with interviews with Cadillac’s main players — right from the early days to the present — Cadillac at 100 avoids being labelled as a just another dry and dusty history book by allowing the people behind the marque to tell their own personal stories. Along with masses of production history — and even a telling discussion on Cadillac heraldry — Hendry’s book is still the bible for all Cadillac enthusiasts.

Cadillac at 100: Legacy of Leadership 1902-2006 by Maurice Hendry
Review copy supplied by Techbooks
Review by James Black

Unlike many classic cars, and largely because of its unloved status, a modified Triumph TR7 doesn’t attract the ire of enthusiasts. And, while tuning the Triumph’s four-cylinder engine isn’t forgotten, it is perhaps not surprising that a large section of this new book is devoted to dropping a Rover V8 into BL’s wedge-shaped sports car.

A good adjunct to a standard workshop manual, this book covers tuning methods and the V8 replacement via easy to follow step-by-step instructions — each step illustrated by clear photographs. It will be especially useful for those planning a V8 swap (although the author opts for the standard TR8 engine position — which places the V8 too far forward in the engine bay. Most Kiwi TR7 specialists will recommend moving the engine further back towards the firewall, something that can be achieved relatively easily). A good book for TR7 spanner-hands looking for a few home projects to improve their car’s performance, braking or handling.

How to Improve: Triumph TR7, ¨TR7-V8 & TR8 by Roger Williams
Review book supplied by the publisher
Review by Allan Walton

For someone who knows little about the Citroën marque, its models and history, the book is perfect, constructing a great picture of the build-up to the SM, what went on around it and the reasons behind its relatively short production run. It then goes on to note the cars that came afterwards that benefited from the SM experience, and concept cars Citroën has produced since which have a taste of the SM about them.

The mix of text and pictures is well balanced, and the complete press pack (in French) is, I feel, a worthwhile inclusion. While the book covers old ground I believe it is a must for a Citroën enthusiasts, and even better for the merely curious.

SM: Citroën’s Maserati ¨Engined Supercar by Brian Long and Philip Claverol
Review books supplied by ¨Techbooks
Review by Tim Nevinson

Bentley’s racing exploits in the late ’20s and early ’30s have become the stuff of legend: four Le Mans victories ¨in a row, and drivers who mostly seem to have come ¨from the social pages — Duff, Barnato, Moir, Kidston and Birkin among them. Plenty of money and a fair amount of womanising characterised many of them, accompanied by some amazing on-track antics.

This fascinating book starts with WO Bentley’s early days with aero engines, racing at Brooklands and at Le Mans. It also covers the famous Blue Train race, and corrects many of the inaccuracies that have become accepted wisdom. The eccentric Hon Dorothy Paget — who funded the building of the Blower Bentleys — is not forgotten, nor is the Hon Mrs Victor Bruce and her record-breaking exploits.

But the Le Mans events — and the parties — take up the bulk of the book, which also takes each of the key players through to the end of their lives: some of them died at an early age, though only one of them as a result of a Bentley racing crash — Clive Dunfee.

The design and layout of the book is a bit unusual and makes use of different type faces, but I think it works well. The photo selection is quite superb, and really lifts the book. Highly recommended, particularly at its very reasonable price.

The Bentley Era: The Fast and Furious Story of the Fabulous Bentley Boys by Nicholas Foulkes
Review books supplied by the publisher
Review by Mark Holman

On September 30, 1955, James Dean was heading towards Salinas to take part in only his fourth sports car race. The car he was driving was a newly acquired Porsche 550 Spyder. As Dean sped down Route 466 with friend and Porsche mechanic, Rolf Wütherich, beside him, a black and white, two-door 1950 Ford Custom Deluxe, driven by the unlikely-named Donald Turnupseed, was heading down Route 466 in the opposite direction. The two cars met at the intersection with Route 41 — the lightweight Porsche was destroyed in the ensuing accident. Wütherich survived the crash, but Dean died — the rebel without a cause ceased being an up-and-coming movie star and became a legend.

Defechereux’s book concentrates on Dean’s love of racing and fast sports cars, and the movie star persona is simply played out in the background. It’s illustrated with many rare shots of Dean racing his Porsche Speedster, and perhaps the most telling photo is one of Dean examining someone else’s 550 Spyder a few months before his demise. As well as a detailed examination of the fateful crash — including a series of accident scene photographs — there are a few snippets for car enthusiasts. For instance, instead of being inextricably linked with the 550 Spyder, Dean could very well have immortalised himself in a Lotus, into which he intended to install an Offenhauser engine — he had one on order, but when it failed to turn up, he instead purchased the Porsche.

James Dean: From Passion for Speed to Immortality By Philippe Defechereux
Review book supplied by Mark View
Review by Allan Walton

Another well presented volume in Haynes’ Classic Makes series, this new addition on Lamborghini could very well have turned out to be yet another supercar pot-boiler. However, in Pritchard’s hands it turns out to be an enthusiastic canter through the marque’s brief, but chequered history, rather than a tired stroll — and I found myself reading it from cover to cover in one sitting.

The book’s structure is straightforward — a once-over-lightly introduction tells you nothing new about Lamborghini’s history, but it manages to cover everything in reasonable detail — rather like the prologue to the first Lord of the Rings movie.

From there, Pritchard deals with each successive model — giving details of the car’s development, engineering and production history. Every production Lambo gets its own chapter — including the amazing LM, surely the ultimate off-roader — a drive report (most reprinted from British motoring magazines; with appropriate helpings of purple prose) and lots of good quality photographs.

However, some of the most interesting information is to be found the side-bars — the old argument about who actually designed the sensational Miura, the ill-fated Jota, short pieces on Lamborghini personalities such as Dallara, Bertone, Alfieri and, of course, Kiwi-born development engineer and road-tester extraordinaire, Bob Wallace. And what about a Lamborghini people-carrier?

Add lots of concept Lamborghinis — such as the Marzal, Athon and Raptor — a pinch of motor sport with the ill-fated F1 engine story, and Lamborghini’s successes in powerboat racing, and you have the recipe for a tasty Italian supercar overload.

It’s also right up to date with the inclusion of Lambo’s Audi-in-an-Italian-designer-suit; the Gallardo.

Lamborghini: Supercars from Sant’Agata by Anthony Pritchard
Review book supplied by Techbooks
Review by Allan Walton

This hefty tome (352pp) covers the complete developmental cycle of the 911 — from the initial leap from the 356 to the 901 and on to the current, water-cooled models. Leffingwell’s text concentrates mostly on the parts the designers and engineers played in the model’s long history— from Butzi Porsche’s initial penning of the classic 911 shape, to Pinky Lai’s strange, fried egg-like headlight arrangement for the fifth generation 911. As well as the road cars, the author also covers most of the 911’s motor sport derivatives, whilst Porsche tuning guru, Alois Ruf, also gets a look-in. Probably not definitive, but certainly very complete — an appendix detailing production details and specifications would have been helpful — and with enough information to please even dedicated Porschephiles.

Porsche 911: Perfection by Design by Randy Leffingwell
Review book supplied by Techbooks
Review by Allan Walton

An excellent soft-cover offering from reprint specialist Brooklands. However, this is not a series of reprints but a specially commissioned restoration and maintenance guide for the E30 cars. And, with the E30 BMWs now becoming very affordable, many of these cars are now within the scope of enthusiasts who would rather maintain their cars at home rather than through the expensive BMW service agents.

Everett identifies all the models within the E30 range, then starts with tips on selecting a sound car and how to set up a proper maintenance schedule, before embarking on a series of comprehensive chapters covering suspension, brakes, electrical, engine and interior restoration. There is even a section on engine modification. A very useful adjunct to a standard service manual, the strength of this book is in its detailed explanations — anyone who has read the phrase, ‘installation is a reverse of the removal process’ in their official service manual will instantly be able to gauge the value of the additional information contained within this book’s pages.

BMW E30 3 Series Restoration Bible by Andrew Everett
Review book supplied by Techbooks
Review by Allan Walton

This 444-page hardback is a greatly expanded revised version of the long out of print soft cover book published in 1979. It’s a very welcome arrival, though sadly John Blanden died soon after completing the manuscript.
Blanden was a well-established authority on older race cars in Australia. In some ways this is essentially a reference book, but like Graham Vercoe’s book that has a similar aim for NZ racing cars, it also ends up as a very readable account of the cars featured. Open any page and there are fascinating facts about the racing history and results, modifications, crashes, restoration, owners, etc of cars that have seen action on race tracks in Australia and elsewhere.
To take a few examples: Alfa Romeo 6C, Brabham BT2, Cooper-Corvette, Ferrari 375 Plus, Gemini MkII and III, FJs, Hudson Kleinig Special, Jolus, Lotus 16, Maserati 4CM, Nota Minx, and Tojeiro-Climax. In some cases, you almost get overloaded: there are ‘biographies’ of 13 different Austin Healey 100Ss. But in each case, John Blanden has produced an amazing amount of information: the very first entry, for an AC Cobra, even tells you what London wharf shed it left from, and the name of the ship that carried it to Australia!

As was the case in NZ, plenty of these cars were built locally, or modified considerably while in Australia. It’s all supplemented by hundreds of photos ñ they are all quite small and in black-and-white; I might have preferred fewer of the cars being raced as historics, and more at the time pics, but that’s a quibble. Where else can you see an Alta Ford in the í39 Australian GP at Lobethal, Frank Gardner’s Brabham BT23D-Alfa at Warwick Farm, the MacHealey Special hill climbing in 1957, and a sequence of photos of Lex Davison’s crash at the Longford pub in his Cooper T53!

The author admits that it’s impossible to “ensure total accuracy of information.” but this is a work that John Blanden lived with off and on for 30 years, and no-one knew more about the scene than he did; plenty of detective work must have been involved. Not all the cars have stayed in Australia; this excellent book is a great way of recalling all that history. It’s not a book to read from cover to cover in one go, but a book to dip into and get lost in the stories of these great cars, written by an expert.

Historic Racing Cars of Australia by John Blanden
Review by Mark Holman

Most classic car enthusiasts will more normally associate Doug Nye with motor sport books, rather than surveys of production vehicles. However, British Cars of the Sixties was Nye’s very first book and was originally printed in 1970. Even the most casual flick through the pages of this book betrays its age — there’s lots of closely packed text interspersed with the odd photo section. The book may lack the pizzazz of a modern offering, but it’s easy to see why Nye is, today, considered to be an important motoring historian. His survey of the marques under examination is well researched and interestingly written — remembering, of course, that many of the cars covered were, at the time, too new to be considered as classics.

However, at $95 it’s a bit pricey for a ’70s reprint — I have a copy of the original book, picked up from a second-hand book stall a few years ago for $10

British Cars of the Sixties by Doug Nye
Review copy supplied by Techbooks
Review by James Black

Gavin Farmer — who co-wrote, with Gary Bridger, the excellent book Hey, Charger! — is back in print, this time looking at another Aussie icon, the Leyland P76. Considered by many to be a bit of a lemon, today the P76 has a strong following with classic car circles in both Australia and New Zealand. Part of the P76’s attraction was its Buick/ Rover-derived V8 and, perhaps, its much vaunted ability to swallow up an oil drum in its boot. But for everyone who loved the P76, there were a dozen who hated it — some detractors even accused the P76 of being the car that killed Leyland in Australia.

However, Farmer easily blows that theory out of the water as he delves back into the Aussie history of Leyland, covers the development of the P76 — and its semi-legendary Force 7 derivative — and charts the rise and fall of the Leyland marque in Australia.

All in all, this is a book that is very easy to recommend — with informative, well researched text and a boot-load of rare photographs (many of which I’ve never seen before). It even comes with a reprint of Leyland’s contemporary booklet, Leyland P76: Comparative Information. My only gripe would be the book’s lack of an index — a minor point when you consider the amount of detailed information on offer. It’s definitely anything but average!

(* Our review copy of this book came from the author via Techbooks. The latter does not currently stock it — so it’s up to Kiwi P76 owners to band together and contact Techbooks with their orders. Healthy orders may even result in knocking down the RRP.)

Leyland P76: Anything but Average by Gavin Farmer
Review copy supplied by Techbooks
Review by Allan Walton

With the Mini celebrating it’s 50th anniversary this year, we can expect a rash of new books marking the birth of this legendary car. However, as far as New Zealand Mini enthusiasts are concerned, I doubt whether anyone else will be able to top Minis Down Under. And who better to write about the Mini in New Zealand than Donn Anderson who, as a motoring journalist, has been involved with the Mini right from the time of its local launch in February 1960; since then he’s owned no less than nine Minis! As such, he is perfectly placed to conjure up a book covering the car’s Kiwi exploits — from early production and motor sport right up to the modern, BMW Mini. Along the way, Anderson looks at many Kiwi personalities behind the Mini — including Bruce McLaren and his McLaren Mini-Cooper — and even spends time examining Ferris de Joux’s handsome Mini GT.

Minis Down Under is not a full-house historical review of the Mini (you can get that in any number of other books). Instead, it offers a real treasure trove of Mini Kiwiana — an absolute must-have for all Mini enthusiasts.

Mini Down Under: ¨50 Years of the Mini ¨in New Zealand by Donn Anderson
Review copy supplied by the publisher
Review by James Black

A prolific author, Robson delves through BMW’s archives to produce a really interesting book and, instead of dealing with the marque’s history on a car-by-car basis, instead he concentrates on BMW’s factories. It may seem like a pretty dull idea, but Robson manages to bring it off with a certain sense of style.

The early chapters are easily the most interesting part of the book — dealing with BMW’s beginnings, its early career building aero engines, motorcycles and its forays into license-built Austin 7s and Isettas. From the ’80s onwards the books loses its classic interest, although the sections on BMW’s acquisition of Rover and its flirtation with Rolls-Royce are useful additions.

However, the main core of this book is a collection of rare factory photographs — Herman Goering and Adolf Hitler touring the Milbertshofen factory; lines of BMW apprentices in their Hitler Youth uniforms; Dornier and Junkers aircraft assembly; and a whole series of photos that chart the growth of BMW’s massive industrial might. Fascinating stuff, indeed.

BMW’s Bavarian blue and white propeller logo harks back to its early 20th-century roots as an aircraft engine manufacturer. How this venerable company weathered two world wars, moved from aircraft to motorcycles and, finally, to the cars that would provide its greatest glory is the remarkable story recounted in this book. With unique access to BMW’s factories and archives, author Graham Robson gives readers an inside look at how the great German automaker works and how its methods have evolved over the decades. Visiting factories throughout Germany and in the United States, he offers readers a rare, behind the scenes, nuts-and-bolts account of how BMW produces its famed models. Illustrated with rare photographs from BMW’s own archives, this book constitutes an unprecedented tour of the history and culture of one of the world’s great automakers.

Inside the BMW Factories: Building the Ultimate Driving Machine by Graham Robson
Review copy supplied by Techbooks
Review by Allan Walton

At first glance, it may seem that a German author is an odd choice to write a history of renowned British marque, Jaguar, but Stertkamp comes with excellent credentials. As well as a noted Jaguar historian, he is also a committee member of JAG, Germany’s largest Jaguar car club.

This massive tome — over 500 pages — covers Jaguar from its modest beginnings as Swallow in 1922, moves into the car making years when the company adopted the SS name, and onwards from 1945, when the Jaguar name emerged.
Stertkamp ably covers Jaguar’s long history, providing a detailed account of all the cars — including racing models and prototypes — from the early Swallows right up to the modern XF, while an extensive appendix contains a wealth of technical detail. Although much of the information contained within Jaguar: The Complete Story will be well known to Jaguar enthusiasts, Stertkamp serves it all up very nicely — making this an easy book to recommend.

Jaguar: The Complete Story by Heiner Stertkamp
Review copy supplied by Techbooks
Review by Allan Walton

Although primarily written for a younger audience, motor racing fans shouldn’t be put off — this new book from Matheson is remarkably detailed and well illustrated throughout.

Matheson — currently an assistant editor and sports editor at the Sunday News — is probably better known to rugby enthusiasts for his books on Stacey Jones and Christian Cullen, but here he demonstrates that he also has a good grasp of motor sport.

Dixon’s racing career is covered in good detail from his early days competing in local and Australian race tracks — there are some great shots of Scott when he was a pudgy little kid — to his signing with the Indy Lights series in 1999 and, of course, concluding with his historic win at Indianapolis.

Although this is not an official biography, Matheson has talked to many of the people closest to Dixon — including his family. All of which helps the author produce a well-rounded profile of this young motor sport hero.

Scott Dixon: A Tribute to ¨the Indy 500 Legend by John Matheson
Review copy supplied by the publisher
Review by Allan Walton

Mickey Thompson was an iconic US driver whose talents and driving skills extended from drag racing, off-road racing and land speed record breaking through to racing sports cars, speed boats and, of course, competing at Indianapolis.

Thompson may have started out as a backyard garage mechanic, but he ended up running a commercial drag strip, racing his own distinctive vehicles and operating a repair shop out of his home garage — all while working nights as a pressman for the Los Angeles Times.

Thompson, along with his wife, were brutally assassinated by an aggrieved business rival in 1988 — but his legacy lives on.

Anyone interested in US auto racing will find Arneson’s book as riveting as a fictional best-seller — and the book is packed with interesting quotes and little known facts.
“He went through life like a guy escaping a bank robbery,” Jim Murray.

“Mickey was tough. At age eight he broke his arm in 32 places. Doctors suggested amputation. He broke his back four times.”

The only drawback is the book’s poor production values, which don’t really do justice to the dozens of rare photographs included — although, on the upside, the book isn’t very expensive.

Mickey Thompson: The Fast Life and Tragic Death of a Racing Legend by Erik Arneson
Review copy supplied by Techbooks
Review by Allan Walton

Time capsule cars — those that have remained untouched by the restorer’s hands — are rapidly becoming a big growth sector within the classic car movement, especially in the USA where even the famed Pebble Beach concours now has a section specifically for unrestored, original cars.

It’s Only Original Once examines this trend and features a whole host of gloriously unrestored cars — ranging from a simply amazing 1930 Oakland Roadster to untouched muscle cars of the ’70s.

Some of the cars featured are simply amazing, providing a genuine insight into how they were originally built — one car even retains the original paper carpet protectors it was issued with!

As you’d expect from a US book, most of the cars featured are from that country — although a few Europeans appear, including several MGs, an eye-poppingly original Ferrari Daytona, a Volvo and a brace of Porsches and Jaguars.
It’s Only Original Once is the perfect antidote for those who don’t care for over-restored classics.

It’s Only Original Once: ¨Unrestored Classic Cars by Richard Lentinello
Review copy supplied by Techbooks
Review by Allan Walton

Glossy and well produced, this profusely illustrated book may not add much fresh information to the Porsche legend, but it’s a good buy — although you’ll need a very large sock if you choose these as a Christmas stocking-stuffer.

Porsche: Sixty Years by Randy Leffingwell
Review book supplied by Techbooks
Review by James Black

This substantial, 320-page book tells you everything you need to know about the elegant Montreal, named after the World’s Fair venue at which it was first shown. Total production was under 4000 in the mid ’70s. Featuring a race-derived quad-cam V8 engine of 2.6 litres, the Montreal was clothed in an elegant body and was intended as a GT, rather than a competition car — though some were and are raced. The green Hehir car in New Zealand gets quite a lengthy mention. For anyone with an interest in buying a Montreal, and particularly for owners, this would be an indispensable book to have. As well as following the development of the car and its limited production run, there are sections on colour schemes, 26 pages on specialist tools, tuning, upgrades and potential weak areas, club activities, models, books and advertising — and what is in effect a workshop manual covering mechanical, electrical and bodywork maintenance. It’s a well-illustrated and nicely produced book, though it is pretty expensive. I hope there are sufficient fans of the car to reward Veloce’s decision to publish.

Alfa Romeo Montreal: The Essential Companion by Bruce Taylor
Review book supplied by the publisher
Review by Mark Holman