General Automotive Reviews

This book gives discribes very good how the model of industrial ecology can be used for the automobile.

Indy Cars of the 1960s presents some classic photos of a period of great change at the 500. What is unique about this book is that it includes some photos of the non successful but technically interesting cars of the period. The Smokey Yunick sidecar, the Parnelli Jones 69 4wd turbo Ford and the Granatelli Plymouth to name a few. There are also a variety of photos of the engines and chassis mechanicals of the period including the turbines. This book is heavily focussed on the rear engined entries that predominated the 60's. The high quality B&W photos have amazing clarity. While some people prefer more prose, the captions not only describe the content, but offer little snippets of interest surrounding the subject presented.
In summary, snapshots of the period that leave you feeling that you just had a walk through the paddock.

Now, how about a book on Watson's?

I strongly recommend Guy Fay's _IH Experimental and Prototype Tractors_ to any serious IH fan. Guy has clearly done his homework, and the book contains a great selection of archival photographs and interesting text about the development of IH tractors and crawlers, plus some miscellaneous engines and equipment.

Parts of the book took a long time to read, since (for me, at least) it can be hard to digest the details about the really early tractors. Titan 10-20s, Mogul 10-20s, Mogul 8-16s, International 8-16s...I don't have any experience with the real antiques like that, and so it's hard for me to keep them straight when I'm reading about them. Guy's text is well-written; there's just a lot of detail there.

The chapters about the newer stuff, like the Letter Series Farmalls, were easier--still had lots of good detail, but there I had some frame of reference. Lots of really interesting photos of the many prototypes and predecessors to the H and M--some really beautiful tractors, and some, as Guy says in one caption, "plug ugly" ones. (Plus a simply terrific full-color cover photo of an experimental Super M).

There's also some neat stuff about the patent-infringement concerns IH and Allis had, concerning the Allis B (which was first, and patented) and the Farmall A (which was second). Great reading--really added some depth and understanding to the story.

I did have one disappointment: In the chapter on post-WWII development, Guy has a section titled "The Great Transmission Chase," which begins, "The mid-1950s saw an enormous amount of IH farm tractor engineer attention going into transmissions and draft control." The following text gets into planetary gearsets, torque converters, hydrostatics, and even more unusual stuff, which is fine--but I'd hoped for some insight into the reasons for and nature of the 560's transmission problems, and maybe some details of the corporate thinking behind the decision not to adopt the 3-point hitch.

Guy's book is about experimentals and new developments, and perhaps the trouble with the 560 was that there _wasn't_ much experimentation or new development, so the book may cover the right stuff. But the 560 seems to me to have been a very significant tractor for IH, in terms of the IH/John Deere relationship, and I was hoping to read more about it.

But that quibbling aside, Guy's writing, illustration, and editing are all very good, and this book is a definite keeper.

--Dean Vinson

A 96 page book where every page is dominated by one or more pictures of restored and unrestored examples of some of IH's earlier models up to the Magnum series. A great book if you like pictures, but don't expect many details. I've had the book for about 7 years and still look through it from time to time because of the good pictures.

A nice handbook which would look good in any E type glove box. The book contains the basic specifications for servicing (Timing, Valve clearances etc), as well as the standard information you expect in a handbook. I nice addition to your car.

Jaguar MkI and MkII : The Complete Companion is about the only remaining book about the Mk I/II cars specifically. Sure, other books on Jaguar cars touch on the Mk I/II, but this book describes them in detail.

Nigel Thorley begins by detailing the evolution of Jaguar automobiles that lead to the Mk I. Then the evolution turns to the Mk II, where Mr. Thorley delivers a comparison of the two models.

Other sections describe the racing history of the Mk I/II. A very useful section on purchase and restoration of a Mk I/II is also included. More sections cover some of the lesser known variations on the Mk II, including the 240/340, and the Daimler 2.5.

The first time I saw one of these cars, I immediately looked for a book that would provide me more information. This is the only one I found. And, I have to say it would be hard to ask for a better one. This book is an excellent read and a book worthy of any car book collection.

You'd think that an introduction to the world of Jaguar had been done enough already. And, indeed, it seems that each passing addition to the collection adds less and less new material on the subject. Nevertheless, this volume has done a wonderful job as a concise collection of basic facts. The tables, in particular, are an excellent resource. As is typical, this book is written with a decidedly British slant but also provides ample information for the American enthusiast

John Deere Buggies and Wagons tells of the history of the Reliance Buggy and of the partnership of the Deere and Webber Co.'s. The drawings of buggies and the color and striping details has helped us with our carriage restoration projects. It's a good one to add to your library.

This is an excellent and a very detailed report on one of the Korean Chaebol, Hyundai.

You will understand how the Korean economy is structured and operating in South Korea and why they have the problems facing today.

Also very valuable is the part on the difference between Japanese and Korean business operation in the States. It reminds the rest of the world about what difficulities would be encountered and what issues should be pay attention to.

This book has the most comprehensive advice on towing I have ever seen. Although it is from the UK perspective as far as laws are concerned, it is still useful for US readers. Loading, vehicle dynamics, how high to mount the hitch, and how far back the trailer's axle should be are all covered. This information alone is worth the purchase cost.

Oh, and it gives good advice on driving off the pavement, too.