General Automotive Reviews

Although I have the spanish version of this book purchased in my country (I was unable to buy it brand new over the net) I must say this is one of the best Porsche book in my collection. The book is huge and complicated to handle but once you put it on a table and see the wonderful pictures it has (never saw pictures that large indeed) you know Mrs. Lewis has a special gift to captivate the beauty of these cars. The text is interesting but basic and there's a lack of info about some models as noted by other reviewers. A good point is Auto Union reference.

The book is VERY large & is mostly beautiful pictures spanning the Porsche history of classics from the earliest models to the Boxster...a little disappointed that: once again, a Porsche book that focuses a little too much on the 911. No 924 anything? & very little to say about the classic 928! However, the pictures are beautiful & there is some great insight into the history of arguably the greatest sports car ever. You will pick this book up for years & reflect on the beauty.

Of the 35+ porsche related texts I own and collect this is one of my favorites. Excellent photos, quality printing and readable history on a wide variety of models.

Only book with detailed parts and specification numbers for all Bonnevilles. Great listing by year displaying differences and colors. Needs index and narrative past 1976.

Good book overall, many pictures of Trimph legends, pictures of most 650 twin-carb models for every year, very detailled specs. Only drawbacks are black-and-white photos only and no index, but things are easy to find; also, the two-page major part number appendix is a picture of a hand-drawn chart and is difficult to read in spots. You need this book if you have to tell the difference between the U.S. east coast and west coast 1964 T120C 'TT' models, for instance. (West coast had 17T gearbox sprocket and a black seat with white piping.) Or, you need this book if you like Bonnies...

This work is essential in restoring any Bonneville. It contains charts of part number changes over each year of the models life. Tim Yeatma

This book is the perfect complement to Mr. Lyon's first book on the Can Am series.

Rather than a race by race account, the book presents a quick season overview, a review of the machines of that year and then takes a focus on one or two personalities whose impact affected that year most strongly. Most of the material is new and it is fascinating. The material on Jim Hall and Peter Bryant alone make this book a must read for anyone who saw these cars race or wished that they had.

If you're only going to buy one book, buy Can Am. If you want a broader view of the series, the men and the machines, then Can Am Photo History is the book. Together, they're an awesome set.

As I spent many summers at Mid Ohio Sports Car Course watching these cars, the memories and insights into these awesome cars are irreplaceable.

First of all, I have to say that I loved Pete's first book on this subject,"Can-Am". When I heard he was doing a second book, I was a bit skeptical. Was he simply milking the topic for a few more bucks? How could he top the original? Well, he did it! With its in-depth and very enlightening interview format (there's even an interview with Denny Hulme, done shortly before his death) and its wealth of superb all-new photographs, this book is a Can-Am lovers dream! Lyons captures the look and feel of the old, "real" Can-Am as we remember it, and as those who lived it remember it. My sole complaint: Too short! Tack another 100 pages onto the next one, Pete!

Besides the hundreds of wonderful photographs, Pete Lyons has put together a delightful, insiteful, and informative collection of history, anecdotes, interviews, and technical details. Mr. Lyons has made a great contribution to the history of motorsport by commiting to print these interviews with the giants of the sport. His reporting is very up close and personal and imparts a rich human element to those heady days of thunder.

I give five stars for content, but only about three stars for publishing quality. Certainly this edition is clear enough and the photographs are of sufficient resolution to provide detailed study, but I personally would pay $100 for a premium edition printed on high quality stock with high quality inks.

Now if we could persuade Mr. Lyons to turn his keen eye towards the Grand Touring Prototype era of the late 80s-early 90s...

this book has so many types of cars from the willys jeep to the tucker to the 911 great book for everyone

So much has happened since the first Benz shuddered to life. We have become almost completely dependant on these machines and we often have an emotional connection with cars that no other mechanical invention has ever inspired. Except when we are sitting in gridlock, even I have wondered when the heck we are going to get some cars that really fly. Now, then you are talking freedom!

The 1959 Cadillac Convertible looked like it could quite possibly take off at any second. The fins were the ultimate design statement for the era. What I found fascinating is how the Mercedes A Class is almost a modern version of the BMW Isetta. The shape is strikingly similar.

Each car is displayed in all its glory and is show in various views. To the right of each double page you will find the Model, Production numbers, Body Styles, Construction, Engines, Power Output, Transmission, Suspension, Brake, Maxium Speed and A.F.C. information. And index provides an easy way for you to look up your favorite classic car.

"If we stand back and consider the Jaguar E-Type, surely the world's most beautiful car, we see a silhouette of outstandingly fine balance, proportion, and harmony of line. But more than its tremendous physical presence, it possessed an unprecedented emotional magic, radiating messages of speed, sexuality, power, and beauty. In fact, appreciating the proportions of an elderly Jag is the nearest most of us have ever been to the criticism and consumption of art." -Quentin Willson

No wonders that was my favorite car in this book!

I don't usually like these big coffee table car books, but a book from D-K is worth looking at. And D-K doesn't disappoint here as the pictures are fantastic. I am a DeSoto owner and thought that a general book like this would bypass that marque, but even a DeSoto is featured with a beautiful 1950 convertible! I also like the book because it has pictures of the hood ornaments, dashboards, interiors, and engines. It has the specs and history of the cars too!

This is a beautiful color picture book of B&O, C&O and Western Maryland diesels as they became Chessie diesels (and even several pics of them becoming CSX diesels later). Even the Appalachian scenery in the background of many pics is terrific. I added this to my Western Maryland collection as sort of an "end of the WM era" book, giving "closure" to my WM books and memorabilia.

Another excellent publication by TLC. Beautifully presented, well bound, presentation great. Text brief but informative, photos excellent. A great reference for the railroad modeller and rail buff. A good buy and an essential addition to the bookcase although it will be out more often than in the bookcase. Great for overseas railfan/modellers like me. Thoroughly RECOMMEND.

This is a wonderful reference for Chessie System Diesel fans. The presentation is top notch and quite innovative. While the text is primarily captions and tabular data, the color photographs are uniformly excellent. Each page is trimmed with the Chessie System colors creating a stiking presentation. One aspect of the layout that I did not like was the way the captions are enclosed in small text boxes inside the photos. I wish that the book designers had placed the captions outside of the photos. All in all this is an excellent book and a good reference for diesel modelers and railfans.

This book is very detailled and pleasant to read. However, I was very disappointed by the pictures the book contains: none of them is in color, which I think would have been necessary, especially for the most recent models.

As a New Zealander with an interest in police cars from all over the world this book is the best I have seen, and I already own around fifteen books devoted to police vehicles. The only thing wrong with it is the photos are in black and white, a colour version would make this book unbeatable.

Outstanding book. If someone was to purchase only one book on the subject, this should be it. I buy all by this author and others that are similar to his other (paperback) editions. Only drawback were his comments on San Francisco and the SF Fire Department (negative and not quite true). I don't know why he included them in a book of this type. Otherwise a great book and I recommend it to all. I am a retired San Francisco Police Officer.

This book is basically the same as other "color" books, like the Corvette Black Book and the Camaro White Book. I was disappointed to see a lack of production breakdown information. While not all of this information may be available, it would have been nice to know how many cars were built in each color. The Camaro White Book does have this information for certain years as well as other option breakdowns. Perhaps the next edition can include this information. Much of it is already available on the internet and having it all in one location would be nice.

Must have for any year owner.

Strictly a numbers book, however.

If you want descriptions and pictures, forget it.
But if you want prices, options and numbers for each year
this is it.

As a webmaster for an all Firebird website, I've found that this book contains much of the information I've needed to help people decipher VIN codes and option codes as well as give out some of the lesser known facts about the Pontiac F-Body. As a Firebird owner and enthusiast, I recomend this book as a "must have".

If you like Fords, Model T's or old cars, buy this book. To say it covers the subject well would be an understatement. It is an outstanding book for any collection and would also be helpful to a Model T owner for restoration purposes. I would also recommend a ride on the rail car on the front cover (dust jacket) if you are lucky enough to visit the Nevada State Rail Road Museum in Carson City when it is running. I also recommend all of Ray Miller's books, the one covering the Model T having been co-authored by the author of this book.

This is the most complete book on the subject. Mr. McCalley was the editor of The Vintage Ford, the Model T Ford Club of America magavine from 1966 to 1996

This book is the culmination of years of research and corrects known mistakes in "From Here to Obscurity", the other major research book on Ts. (in spite of "Obscurity's" mistakes, it is still a good companion book to be perused with this one!). It is a "must have" for anyone working on their T and wondering, "Just what year is this part anyway?" The writing style makes for interesting and enjoyable reading. In fact, this book is so good you'll want two copies; one for in-the-house, and one for out-in-the-shop, where it's likely to get dirty and well-worn from use! -David Dewey

While there is a lot of good info in this book, I think the author is somewhat liberal in what he considers "fact". While it's an easy read and well presented, I wouldn't take everything for complete truth.

Certainly covered all the basics of combustion engines and introduced some key formulas to remember. It's a little European car centered, but engine basics are the same. It is a little dated now, first printing was in '88, so many newer technologies and recent advancements are not touched upon at all. Still an excellent resource.

one of the great book about simple engine performace tuning, a truly handbook for amateur car engine modificator.

This book has very nice photos of the Volkswagen in its various "disguises" from all over the world. There are few US specicification cars pictured, most are UK or European models. For a general overview of the type, it is very good. For those looking for a history of the export models made for US consumption, this is not the book. Nitpicking here I know, but as an example the horn ring and steering wheel for the sedan ("bug") were redesigned for the 1964 US model. The 1966 (UK) model pictured has the old style ring and wheel.

Very nice book, but as an owner of a 1972 super beetle, I would have liked to see it in the book !!! The pictures are very good, the photograph is very good and must have taken a long time to do them. Maururu, Garey.

Is a so interesnting and beauty state of the art book. Is so interesting and well related story. I found a little thing that the author forget: 1971 and 1972 U.S. Beetle and Super Beetle Models have a larger tail light than the other Beetle markets: US tail-light assembly with back-up light and side reflector, and red turn signal. In 70's US Beetles have Enlarged US front turn signal incorporating parking light and reflector. different than the other Beetle markets.