The Car Book

Owning a car is a ticket to independence and freedom for a large section of the population, but the prospect of owning a car for the first time can appear daunting. This extensively illustrated book, now available in paperback, provides a comprehensive guide to car ownership for drivers contemplating the purchase of their first car, and for motorists who would like to learn more about their car. The straightforward text, written in friendly, down-to-earth style, provides an essential source of information to help drivers to enjoy car ownership to the fullest.

From the Chevrolet Bel Air to the Ferrari Testarossa, this book takes you on a scenic drive through the history of classic cars, exploring their status as objects of luxury and desire. The Classic Car Book showcases the most important and iconic classic cars from every decade since the 1940s, with a foreword by award-winning writer and commentator on the industry, history, and culture of cars and motoring, Giles Chapman. Fully illustrated and packed with stunning photography, The Classic Car Book uses specially commissioned photographic tours to put you in the driver's seat of the world's most famous and celebrated cars, including stylish roadsters and luxury limousines from manufacturers such as Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari, Rover, Jaguar, and Bentley. The Classic Car Book is ideal for any car collectors and enthusiasts.

A spirited, insightful exploration of our favorite machine and it's cultural impact on society over the past one hundred and fifty years. More than any other technology, cars have transformed American popular culture. Cars have created vast wealth as well as novel dreams of freedom and mobility. They have transformed our sense of distance and made the world infinitely more available to our eyes and our imaginations. They have inspired cinema, music and literature; they have, by their need for roads, bridges, filling stations, huge factories and global supply chains, re-engineered the world. Almost everything we now need, want, imagine or aspire to assumes the existence of cars in all their limitless power and their complex systems of meanings. This book celebrates the immense drama and beauty of the car, of the genius embodied in the Ford Model T, of the glory of the brilliant-red Mercedes Benz S-Class made by workers for Nelson Mandela on his release from prison, of Kanye West's 'chopped' Maybach, of the salvation of the Volkswagen Beetle by Major Ivan Hirst, of Elvis Presley's 100 Cadillacs, of the Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost and the BMC Mini and even of that harbinger of the end—the Tesla Model S and its creator Elon Musk. As the age of the car as we know it comes to an end, Bryan Appleyard's brilliantly insightful book tells the story of the rise and fall of the incredible machine that made the modern world what it is today.

Sing along with this bedtime favorite set to the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star! A noisy little car zooms through the night sky, waking the stars and moon. Will this mischievous traveler ever quiet down for bedtime? This playful twist on a classic nursery song is a goodnight favorite that's sure to soothe even the most wide-awake little ones to a peaceful—and quiet!—bedtime. BEDTIME SING-ALONG: This familiar, soothing song with a funny twist makes for a great read-aloud or sing-along at bedtime and beyond. SETTLE INTO SLEEP: With a gentle goodnight ending that shows that even the noisiest little car is eventually ready to rest, this book will soothe reluctant sleepers at bedtime. CELEBRATED AUTHOR: Jay Fleck, the illustrator of the Tiny T. Rex series, has created another irresistible character that families are sure to fall in love with! Perfect for: • Parents and family friends • Gift-givers • Parents of infants and toddlers • Parents of children interested in cars • Fans of sing-along books • Anyone looking for a sweet and simple bedtime story

"When I see an Alfa Romeo, I lift my hat." Henry Ford Few things ignite such reverence as a classic car. With more than 250 iconic models from the 1940s to the 1980s, photographed from every angle, this title is a glorious celebration of the stars in the classic car firmament. Edited by award-winning automotive journalist Giles Chapman, Classic Car brings you the story of more than 20 great marques, including household names Bentley, Mercedes, Ferrari, Cadillac, and Aston Martin. Its lavish photography reveals every detail in close-ups of models that range from the 1940s giant two-ton Daimler DE36, which ferried royals about in style, through to sleek Ferraris from the 1980s capable of smashing the 200mph barrier. It puts you in the driving seat of such icons as the Chevrolet Corvette, the Ford Thunderbird, and the Mercedes 300SL and brings you the designers of these amazing machines and the story of their manufacturers. Whether you dream of owning one of these super-cool cars or you are a collector already, Classic Car is set to become a treasured favorite.

In an age of technically complex cookie-cutter cars, the classic car scene is flourishing, and many owners are now running classics as everyday cars. This extensively illustrated book provides the reader with all the information needed to choose, run and maintain a practical classic car, whether the owner is fanatical about preserving originality, or wishes to modernize a classic to improve reliability and practicality. It is essential reading for anyone contemplating ownership of their first classic car, and for existing owners who wish to maximize their enjoyment of the classic car scene.