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Cars - Great Britain: Books - History

A book on cars? Explore here illustrated books on the history, types and construction of cars from Great Britain.

Encyclopaedia Britalicar: The Story of British Cars & Italian Design

Celebrating the rich, deep partnership between the British car industry and Italian design, this book is packed with coachbuilt cars, design classics and concept cars from the 1920s to the current day. The story starts with the early days of coachbuilt cars on separate chassis from illustrious marques like Bentley, Frazer Nash and Rolls-Royce, which were bodied by such Italian coachbuilders as Pinin Farina, Viotti and Zagato.
After World War Two came the golden era of coachbuilt cars, with Italian companies creating some of the world's most beautiful shapes of all time on chassis from the likes of Aston Martin, Austin-Healey, Bristol, Jaguar, Jowett, MG, Riley and Rover.

Then came the era when Italian carrozzerie morphed into design houses, penning shapes for mass-produced cars like the BMC 1100/1300 and Triumph Herald, and crafting what are widely recognised to be some of the world's most beautiful cars, such as the Aston Martin DB4, AC 428 and Lotus Esprit.
Finally came the era of the 'concept car', with incredible show designs based on British marques such as Jaguars by Bertone, the BMC 1800 Berlina Aerodinamica by Pininfarina and Lotus by Italdesign.
This book reveals the full stories behind the intense, diverse, sometimes surprising and always fascinating links between British cars and Italian design: the characters, the deals, the designs and above all the cars themselves.

British marques included: AC, Armstrong-Siddeley, Aston Martin, Austin, Austin-Healey, Bentley, BL/BLMC/BMC, Bristol, Daimler, DeLorean, Elva, Ferguson, Ford, Frazer Nash, Frisky, Gordon-Keeble, Healey, Hillman, Innocenti, Jaguar, Jensen, Jowett, Lea-Francis, Lola, Lotus, MG, Mini, Morris, Panther, Reliant, Riley, Rolls-Royce, Rover, Singer, Sunbeam, Standard, Triumph, TVR, Vauxhall, Vanden Plas, Wolseley

Italian coachbuilders included: Allemano, Ares, Bertone, Biemme, Boano, Boneschi, Boniolo, Breuer, Casale, Castagna, Cattelan, CECOMP, Coggiola, Drogo, F&F, Fiore, Fissore, Ford Centro Stile, Francis Lombardi, Frua, FT, Garavini, Ghia, Ghia-Aigle, I.DE.A, Indestor, Italdesign, Italsuisse, Michelotti, Monviso, Motto, Opac, OSI, Pilato, Pinin Farina/Pininfarina, Schiaretti, Sibona-Basano, Sports Cars, Stabilimenti Farina, Tjaarda, Touring, Vignale, Viotti, Zagato

Author:Chris Rees
Specs:304 pages, 25.5 x 29 x 2.7 cm / 10 x 11.4 x 1.06 in, hardback
Illustrations:numerous b&w and colour photos
Publisher:Quiller Print (GB, 2021)
ISBN:9780992665135
Encyclopaedia Britalicar: The Story of British Cars & Italian Design

Encyclopaedia Britalicar: The Story of British Cars & Italian Design

Language: English

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British Sports Cars

NEW

Britain has been responsible for some of the greatest and most varied sports cars ever built - the 'Blower' Bentleys of the 1920s, diminutive MGs of the 1930s, glamorous Jaguar E-types and Aston Martin DB5s of the 1960s, and beyond that the jaw-dropping Lotuses and McLarens of more recent times.

This book charts the rich history of the UK's most magnificent high-performance machines, from their primitive, pioneering days through today's technologically advanced modern sports cars. Taking in some of the most admired and sought after cars ever created, it aims to show how, over nearly 140 years, these exciting, and sometimes extraordinary, vehicles developed. The author explores how speeds have risen, handling has been enhanced, styles have evolved and sophistication has increased.
Illustrated with over 180 pictures, this fascinating story of the ups and downs of the world's love affair with Britain's sports cars is almost as dramatic and dynamic as the machines themselves.

Author:Richard Gunn
Specs:96 pages, 24.5 x 17 cm / 9.7 x 6.7 in, paperback
Illustrations:180+ b&w and colour photos
Publisher:Key Publishing Ltd (GB, 2023)
ISBN:9781802820393
British Sports Cars

British Sports Cars

Language: English

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England's Motoring Heritage from the Air

This book showcases England's motoring evolution through aerial photography, utilizing the Aerofilms collection, now part of English Heritage and accessible online. Beginning in 1919, the images capture a preserved Edwardian landscape, revealing compact towns and villages with minimal sprawl.

The book illustrates the significant changes over the following decades, highlighting the impact of car availability on urban expansion, suburban development, and road infrastructure. It documents the emergence of new arterial roads, the redevelopment of city centers to accommodate motor traffic, and the proliferation of amenities such as filling stations and roadhouses.

Moreover, it depicts how the car facilitated leisure travel to seaside resorts and attractions, leading to increased congestion by the late 1930s. Additionally, it explores the influence of motor factories and provisions for motorsport on the landscape.

Contents include sections on trams, bus infrastructure, motor vehicle factories, garages, suburban expansion, road development, urban rebuilding, new towns, and the transition to the motorway era.

Author:John Minnis
Specs:304 pages, 22.5 x 27.5 x 2.5 cm / 8.9 x 10.8 x 0.98 in, hardback
Illustrations:155 b&w photos
Publisher:English Heritage (GB, 2014)
ISBN:9781848020870
England's Motoring Heritage from the Air

England's Motoring Heritage from the Air

Language: English

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Taxis anglais

Comme les bus à impériale, les cabines téléphoniques rouges ou les tailleurs pastels de la Reine, le taxi anglais est une icône incontestée de la Grande-Bretagne et de sa capitale. Beaucoup d'entre nous se rappellent en avoir vu dans un film, un clip de leur groupe musical préféré ou gardé en mémoire après un voyage scolaire outre-Manche.

Ce livre raconte l'histoire de ce véhicule si attachant au travers des nombreux modèles qui se sont succédé de la fin du XIXe jusqu'à nos jours et au-delà, ses aspects techniques, sociologiques, son intérêt, son influence, etc. Illustré de nombreux documents, et accompagné d'anecdotes amusantes ou surprenantes, ce livre séduira autant l'amateur de véhicules anglais, de collection, d'autos anciennes ou atypiques que le néophyte ou simple curieux désireux d'en apprendre davantage sur les "black cabs".

Pages of the book Taxis anglais (1)

Sommaire:
1. Avant les taxis
2. Les premiers taxis automobiles en Grande-Bretagne
3. Les taxis anglais entre les deux guerres
4. Les taxis anglais après la seconde guerre mondiale
5. Le FX4 (1958-1997)
6. Les concurrents du FX4
7. Les TX (depuis 1998)
8. Le métier de cabbie
9. Autour du taxi anglais
10. Acheter un taxi anglais.

Author:Sébastien Canevet, Danny Chabaud
Specs:192 pages, 29 x 24 cm / 11.4 x 9 in, hardback
Illustrations:436 b&w and colour photos
Publisher:ETAI (F, 2020)
ISBN:9791028304058

Britische Klassiker - Best of René Staud

Auch wenn die Geschichte des Automobils nicht in Großbritannien begann, haben die Briten einen bedeutenden Anteil daran - mit bis heute verehrten Marken und Modellen.

In diesem einzigartigen Bildband setzt der renommierte Automobil-Fotograf René Staud britische Klassiker gekonnt in Szene, angefangen von Legenden wie dem Bentley Speed Six Le Mans bis hin zu Ikonen der 2000er wie dem Aston Martin Vanquish.
Abgerundet wird das Buch von wissenswerten Informationen über die abgebildeten Marken und Fahrzeuge aus der Feder von Halwart Schrader sowie einem Interview mit René Staud über seine Arbeit.

Author:René Staud, Halwart Schrader
Specs:232 pages, 26.5 x 23 cm / 10.4 x 9.1 in, hardback
Illustrations:220 b&w and colour photos
Publisher:Motorbuch Verlag (D, 2020)
ISBN:9783613043381
Britische Klassiker - Best of René Staud

Britische Klassiker - Best of René Staud

Language: German

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Last update: 2024-12-04