Jaguar Mks 1 and 2, S-Type and 420
Jaguar Mks 1 and 2, S-Type and 420

Author: James Taylor

Publisher: Crowood

Published: 2016-02-29

Total Pages: 356

ISBN-13: 1785001132

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

A history of all four generations of compact Jaguar, and their Daimler equivalents, tracing the gradual development of Sir William Lyons' original idea over a period between 1955 and 1969. From the powerful, luxury MK 1 and 2 cars to the 4.2-litre 420, this book covers design, development and styling; special-bodied variants; racing performance; buying and owning a compact Jaguar saloon model and, finally, specifications and production figures. This history of all four generations of compact Jaguar and their Daimler equivalents manufactured between 1955 to 1969 will be of great interest to all motoring and Jaguar enthusiasts. Topics covered include buying and owning a Jaguar saloon model; design, development and styling; the cars' competition successes and rare special-bodied models. Superbly illustrated with 208 colour photographs.

Jaguar XJ-S
Jaguar XJ-S

Author: James Taylor

Publisher: The Crowood Press

Published: 2019-05-13

Total Pages: 333

ISBN-13: 1785005847

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

James Taylor remembers very well the disappointment among his petrol-head friends when the XJ-S was announced in 1975. It was not a replacement for the legendary E-type; its colours were uninspired; and its interior was drab. All credit, then, to those people at Jaguar who truly believed in the car and, over a period of nearly 20 years, turned the ugly duckling into a swan. From the moment the XJ-S HE arrived in 1981, there seemed to be renewed hope, and from then on, the car went from strength to strength to become the much-admired grand tourer it always should have been. The book contains a timeline of the key events in the history of the XJ-S and an overview of the evolution of the XJ-S from the XJ27 prototype. Packed with details it gives UK showroom prices through the year and sales in the US by year. Of great interest to all motoring and Jaguar enthusiasts, it is superbly illustrated with 192 colour and black & white photos. James Taylor has been writing professionally about road transport since the late 1970s, his primary interest is in those models that made the British motor industry great.

The Mercedes-Benz Ponton and 190SL
The Mercedes-Benz Ponton and 190SL

Author: James Taylor

Publisher: The Crowood Press

Published: 2023-06-20

Total Pages: 415

ISBN-13: 071984228X

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The Pontons may have been Mercedes-Benz's bread-and-butter models of the 1950s, but they were vitally important in establishing the marque as a significant player around the globe. Alongside the saloons that made Mercedes famous world-wide for long-lasting and economical taxis, there were exotic two-door cabriolet and coupé derivatives, and the cars' basic structure was made available too for conversion into ambulances, pick-ups, estate cars and hearses. Not always appreciated is that the 190SL sports model was also derived from the engineering of the Ponton range. The Ponton Mercedes and the 190SL have long enjoyed a strong enthusiast following around the world. Here is their story, from their creation at a time when Mercedes was emerging from the devastation of war, though their success during the German Economic Miracle of the 1950s, to their final days in the early 1960s alongside the first of the 'Fintail' models that would eventually replace them. No enthusiast of these widely respected cars will want to be without this book.

MGB - The superlative MG
MGB - The superlative MG

Author: David Knowles

Publisher: The Crowood Press

Published: 2022-01-22

Total Pages: 943

ISBN-13: 1785009427

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The MGB was a great British success story, a product largely conceived, designed and produced by a small team of dedicated people who genuinely cared about their work. Of course, the MGB came from a proud, successful sports car tradition, and the model it replaced - the revolutionary aerodynamic MGA - had been an unprecedented success - so the new car had big shoes to fill. Launching in 1962 and in production for eighteen years, the MGB became one of the most successful sports cars the world has ever known. This book describes how the MGB arose principally from the ideas of one man, MG's Chief Engineer, Syd Enever, how it was designed and developed, how it survived and thrived, and how it became the classic car still highly regarded today. There have been many previous books about the MGB, and the related MGC and V8 variants, but MGB - The superlative MG reaches a new level of detail together seasoned with fresh insight. David Knowles has been researching and writing about the MGB for more than thirty years. Prepare to be surprised at some of the stories you will have never read before, and new twists on some you possibly thought you knew well.

Classic Jaguar XK
Classic Jaguar XK

Author: Brian Laban

Publisher: The Crowood Press

Published: 2016-08-31

Total Pages: 414

ISBN-13: 1785001949

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

There have been other generations of Jaguar XK since, but the definitive incarnation is the family of 6-cylinder sports cars that stretches from the late 1940s to the mid-1970s, from XK120 to the E-Type. On road, on track and on rally stage, they built the foundations of Jaguar's sporty image and giant-killing reputation, not to mention its commercial roots - especially in America. By any definition, the 6-cylinder XKs are at the heart of everything that Jaguar grew into. This is the complete story of the whole 6-cylinder XK generation, the circumstances, the people and the events that created it and made it a sports car legend - and guaranteed that forever after, in Jaguar's vocabulary, XK would always mean 'sports car'. This book will be of great interest to all motoring historians and Jaguar enthusiasts and is superbly illustrated with 270 colour archive photographs.

Mercedes-Benz W126 S-Class 1979-1991
Mercedes-Benz W126 S-Class 1979-1991

Author: Nik Greene

Publisher: The Crowood Press

Published: 2019-02-18

Total Pages: 540

ISBN-13: 1785005421

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The Mercedes 126 S-Class of 1979-1991 remains the most successful premium saloon in the company's history and is considered by many to be one of the best cars in the world. "You don't simply decide to buy an S-Class: it comes to you when fate has ordained that your life should take that course. The door closes with a reassuring clunk - and you have arrived," said the sales brochure of the first real Sonderklasse, the W116. With over 300 colour photos and production histories and specifications for both Generation One and Two models, this is an essential resource for anyone with an interest in this timeless car. The book covers an overview of the key personalities who drove the development of this model; the initial 116 Sonderklasse and its subsequent evolution; the history and personality of each model and finally detailed analysis of the different engines - both petrol and diesel. This essential resource explores both the technical and social sides of how this legend was born and is superbly illustrated with 314 colour photographs.

Morgan Plus 8
Morgan Plus 8

Author: Michael Palmer

Publisher: The Crowood Press

Published: 2020-04-20

Total Pages: 581

ISBN-13: 1785007262

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Once given the green light to use Rover's newly acquired V8 engine, the Morgan Motor Company lost no time installing it under the bonnet of their traditional sports car. The Morgan Plus 8 became their biggest-selling model, spanning thirty-six years from its 1968 launch to discontinuation in 2004. After an eight-year respite it was reintroduced to the firm's model line -up from 2012 until 2018, underpinned by a new state of the art bonded aluminium chassis and powered by a potent BMW V8. Morgan Plus 8 - Fifty Years an Icon gives a detailed account of the history, design and manufacturing process of the Morgan Plus 8. With over 300 colour photographs it covers both the traditional and Aero chassis cars; the history of both the Rover V8 and the BMW V8 engines; includes full specifications for each model; recalls the Plus 8's motor sport heritage; features personal first-hand accounts from key personalities and finally, covers the history of the mark and looks at is future.

Lamborghini Diablo
Lamborghini Diablo

Author: Thillainathan Pathmanathan

Publisher: The Crowood Press

Published: 2023-09-06

Total Pages: 580

ISBN-13: 071984245X

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

This book examines the Diablo in detail, starting with Ferruccio Lamborghini's objectives for his eponymous supercar company and his diktat that it eschew racing, which would go on to heavily influence the Diablo's design and development, even though the founder had long since left the company. Each of the model variants is examined in detail, as are the socio-politico-economic factors that that made designing and developing the Diablo imperative and unavoidable , and which forced the Sant' Agata works into making evolutionary modifications as well as introducing radical innovations over the course of the Diablo's long reign. Written by two passionate and deeply knowledgeable owners who for over two decades have run two wedge shaped, spaceframe, Bizzarrini-engined Lamborghini flagships, this book also delves into pre-purchase considerations, the Diablo's known foibles and the value of a pre-purchase inspection, before discussing the buying process, the trials and tribulations of periodic servicing, preventative maintenance, and garaging, after which it shares the sheer elation and exhilaration of actually piloting a Diablo.

Mercedes-Benz Saloon Coupe
Mercedes-Benz Saloon Coupe

Author: Nik Greene

Publisher: The Crowood Press

Published: 2021-09-27

Total Pages: 412

ISBN-13: 1785009346

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

First produced in 1928, Mercedes-Benz Coupés became the embodiment of elegance and exclusivity on four wheels. Their design became an experience for all the senses, appealing to every emotion. Hans-Dieter Futschik, the designer responsible for many of the later Mercedes-Benz models, said of the Saloon Coupé: 'A shorter wheelbase compared with the saloons gives it different proportions that are almost sports car-like in character. The passenger compartment is set further back. This gives it a sportier look than a saloon. In addition, the greenhouse is smaller and more streamlined than the basic body. It looks like a small head set on a muscular body, exuding a powerful and more dynamic attitude... Everything radiates power, elegance and agility.' This complete guide includes an overview of early automotive history; pre-merger design from both Benz and Daimler; the historical protagonists and how they influenced the design; how design and fashion change vehicle shape; the continued development of Saloon Coupe design to suit every class and finally, the modern idea of the Coupe.

Lotus Esprit
Lotus Esprit

Author: Johnny Tipler

Publisher: The Crowood Press

Published: 2023-11-10

Total Pages: 588

ISBN-13: 0719842948

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

As Lotus's flagship model for almost three decades, the Esprit was launched in 1976 and remained in production for over a quarter of a century. It received regular refreshment along the way, principally to its original Giorgetto Giugiaro design and, from 1987, to its later Peter Stevens incarnation. Both iterations enabled the Esprit to maintain its position at the forefront of its market segment. Regularly compared to the best available from its German and Italian rivals, the Esprit was equally at home on the race track as it was on the road. A promising return to top-line international GT racing saw the Esprit compete on equal terms with the likes of Ferrari and McLaren, whilst, back in the showrooms, the car was selling for a fraction of their cost. The legacy of the Esprit can clearly be seen in current Lotus models whose core design brief is that they should always be the finest handling vehicle with the deftest of steering, feedback and feel. With over 300 stunning images, including professional photos, factory archive pictures and specially commissioned artworks, and featuring several interviews with Lotus personnel intimately concerned with Esprit production, this volume is a fitting tribute to a masterpiece of design and technology.