A detailed technical analysis of the extraordinary AC Cobra and the compelling story of the people and events behind its creation. Contains a complete history of the AC Cobra, mini-biographies of the men behind the car, road tests, specifications, buying and restoration advice.
Biography of the Texas race car driver and automotive designer of the Shelby Mustang and many other cars.
"Carroll Shelby wasn't born to run. He was born to race - some of the fastest cars ever to tear up a speedway. Now his high-velocity story has taken its place in racing history--in the words of the man who actually lived every action-packed second of it. The exciting new feature film Ford v Ferrari--starring Matt Damon as Shelby and Christian Bale as fellow racer Ken Miles--immortalizes the small-town Texas boy who won the notorious Le Mans 24-hour challenge, and revolutionized auto racing. But Shelby's got many more zero-to-speed-of-light stories to share, in his own wild, unmistakable style. A wizard behind the wheel, he was also a visionary designer of speed machines that ruled the racetrack and the road. While his GT40s racked up victories in the world's most prestigious professional racing showdowns, his masterpiece, the Ford Cobra, gave Europe's formidable Ferrari an all-American run for its money. With his foot on the pedal and his eyes on the prize, Carroll Shelby never looked back on his rocket-ride into greatness."--Provided by publisher.
From DJ While still a relatively unknown driver Shelby envisioned what he figured would be an exciting and marketable a sports car in the light, responsive European tradition, but with a big American V8 up front. In 1962 his dream became a reality, the hottest thing on wheels. Book includes thrills, some spills and plenty of his own brand of earthy humor and personal insight. (Description by http-mart)
Ferrari: Stories from Those Who Lived the Legend tells the complete story of this fabled marque. Long-time Road & Trackwriter and photographer John Lamm sought out the men and women who breathed life into the legend-famed racers like Mario Andretti, Dan Gurney, Phil Hill, Dario Franchetti, Sam Posey, and Carroll Shelby; designers Sergio Scaglietti, Giorgetto Giugiaro, and Sergio Pininfarina; and Ferrari fans like Ralph Lauren-letting each tell their personal Ferrari story.
"The First Three Shelby Cobras tells the story of three remarkable cars, the first AC Cobras created by the legendary Carroll Shelby in 1962 and now favorites of sports-car enthusiasts throughout the world. The prototype CSX2000 has been described as the most important American car, although it was built on a British AC Ace chassis with an American Ford V8 engine. It was retained by the Shelby family until 2016, when it sold at auction for a record $13.75 million. CSX2001 was the first production Cobra, and was delivered to American racing driver Ed Hugus. It was later sold to Frenchman Jean-Marie Vincent, who raced in the Tour de France and in numerous European hillclimbs. CSX2002 was the first Cobra to race and nearly won its inaugural outing at Riverside, driven by Bill Krause, until sidelined by a broken rear hub. It did take the first ever Cobra win, with Dave MacDonald at Tucson in March 1963. Its success led to a series of competition wins that made Shelby's Cobras famous and admired across the globe. All three cars are now the pride of car collections in the United States of America. CSX2000 and CSX2002 are part of the Larry Miller Collection, and CSX2001 belongs to California-based motorsport aficionado Bruce Meyer."--Publisher description
Carroll Shelby's story is one of guts, grit, and gumption. It is a tale of high speeds and higher risks, of winning-and losing-on the world's biggest stages. It is a primer of international motor racing, a case study of ingenuity and entrepreneurship, and a treatise of American performance cars. It is the history of larger-than-life Texas who was a World War II pilot, failed chicken farmer, racing champion, captain of industry,. chili-cooking hell-raiser, and philanthropist-all on the way to becoming an American legend.
Jay Leno, host of the "The Tonight Show" and a noted car collector, was a close friend of Shelby's, and introduces this tribute with humor and grace. --Taken from book jacket
"In 'My First Car', author and automotive journalist Matt Stone compiles 60 stories of such first from celebrities, athletes, race car drivers, and industry moguls. In their own words, these stories of victories and defeats, of saving for their "dream car," and of wrenching away their Sunday afternoons speaks to the stories and memories each of us has of our very first car"--Jacket.
This newly updated and expanded edition gives incredible insight into the life and times of Carroll Hall Shelby, from his humble birth as the son of a rural Texas postman up through his death in 2012. Updates include 16 additional pages of photos, updated information and larger text, Bonus 50 question Shelby trivia quiz, new Foreword by Bob Bondarant, and coverage through 2013 Mustangs. Get the nitty-gritty details only an unauthorized biography (as this book is) would include!
About the Author: Wallace A. Wyss has authored books on GT40s, Ferraris, Porsche etc. His magazine articles are found in Motor Trend, Car and Driver, and Auto Motor and Sport. He is also an ad copywriter, and consultant to the auto industry on high-performance cars.
Before a Cobra was even a gleam in his eye, Carroll Shelby was a great race driver, one of the very best Americans driving during the 1950s. His career behind the wheel is told for the first time in this book. It includes remembrances written by Shelby himself along with many never before published photographs. Among other achievements, Shelby won Le Mans in 1959, was twice the Sport Car Club of America National Champion and was chosen Sports Car Driver of the Year two times. The book details a large number of his races as well as his relationships with Juan Fangio, Phil Hill, Stirling Moss, Jack Brabham and John Fitch among many others. Shelby had World Championship ability, but unfortunately, his racing career was cut short after the 1960 season due to his heart condition.
"A real hairy-chested, swashbuckling little rat that will snap Gramp's head right off his shoulders if you hit the go pedal when he isn't ready." That's how automotive journalist Tom McCahill described the first Cobra- a 260 roadster. But that was just the beginning; the 260 was followed by the famous 289 Cobra and then came the fire-breathing, god-awful-fast 427 Cobra, with something like over 400 horses, a zip-to-sixty time of less than four seconds and top speed of 180-plus mules per -one of the most awesome four-wheeled concoctions ever." -Taken from book jacket
"This generation of Americans has a rendezvous with destiny," said President Franklin D. Roosevelt of the young Americans who grew up during the deprivation of the Great Depression and later served during World War II. The 23 described in this book went on to make their mark on the racetrack"-- Provided by publisher.
"Through a once-in-a-lifetime gathering of votes from famous and prestigious drivers, esteemed automotive photographer and journalist Dennis Adler reveals - for the first time - the cars listed as the best of the best by those who have actually driven them ... The fifty cars in this book could change your entire perception of the automobile with one drive around the block. With stunning full-color photography representing the highest standard in the business and visceral descriptions of what it's like to turn the key and rev the engine, 50 Cars to Drive is the next best thing to a test drive."--Jacket.
Biography of Bob Bondurant, an American race cars driver that won the 1965 World Manufacturers Championship driving a Ford Cobra for Carroll Shelby. Bob also drove in the CanAm, TransAm and Formula One for BRM and Dan Gurney's F1 Eagle. Bob own one of the best High Performance Racing Driving School.
ACTION!
Memorial Day, 1925. The biggest crowd ever to witness a sports event up to that time sees young Peter De Paolo drive a Duesenberg Special 500 miles at Indianapolis at over 100 miles an hour ...
40 years later. Art Arfons rockets his "Green Monster" to 600 miles an hour-a tire blows, and his braking chute tears free ...
Between these two famous moments in auto racing, George Sullivan has crammed his new book full of
speed and excitement. It is like no other book on auto racing that you have ever read!
- From the back cover
35 years after winning at Le Mans, Ford have decided to put the limited edition GT into production. This book explores both the development and design of the GT, as well as the race history of the car that inspired it - the original GT40.
Your hands-on-guide to pro-driver's secrets for road and track
“Motorsports Literature At Its Best”
By William I. Brown
I bought this book purely on a whim having little idea who Phil Henny was. It didn’t take completion of the first chapter before I realized I’d hit a gold-mine in automotive literature. It represents some of the best value in overall content and packaging of any motorsports book I’ve read, and I’ve been collecting and reading books about sports car racing for over 40 years. There are scant few memoirs out there written by the men who turned the wrenches, and a number of these frankly have little of substance to say- not so with Henny’s book. With unparalleled access to the world of the great Carroll Shelby, Phil presents an engaging look at an incredible era in racing. To his credit, he doesn’t gloss over any aspect of what he saw, either within or outside of Shelby’s organization. His comments about drivers are particularly insightful. In many respects, this is as good if not better than the vast majority of driver memoirs or books by leading authors in the field (on par with Eoin Young, Anthony Pritchard, Dave Friedman, etc). Phil’s just-released companion work about the great Bob Bondurant should make a welcome addition to the Shelby story. I don’t mean it lightly when I say this is an absolute “must have” book if you’re remotely interested in sports car racing from the 1960s (follow the purchase of “Just Call Me Carroll” with Phil’s book on Bondurant if you wish a more complete picture of Bondurant’s contributions to Shelby’s successes against the might of Ferrari).
This performance book is intended to help improve the performance of vehicles intended solely for off-road use in sanctioned competitive events. Vehicles which are used on streets and highways should not be modified.
One of your most important assets before starting the job is the appropriate service manual. It will save you a lot of time when you perform your modifications. We suggest that before you incorporate any of these modifications into your off-road vehicle the following items be checked carefully.
-taken from inside front cover
Enjoy this work of art that describes in great detail the legend, allure, and sharp beauty of the greatest American muscle car.
From the era-standard Shelby to the super-performance machines of today, the Mustang is represented in all of its creative genius and power through 300 lavish full-color photographs and personal stories of the car owners.
This book describes the story of the Filipinetti Team, a legendary figure of the 60s and 70s. Based in Geneva, it took part in numerous sports car championships. The Filipinetti Team used various Ferraris, thanks to its privileged relationship with the Commendatore himself. The book includes various anecdotes and depicts the golden age of motor racing.
"This edition of the SHELBY AMERICAN WORLD REGISTRY took one year to complete. More than a dozen people made a serious commitment of time and energy to correlate, compress, review and finalize the vast amount of information that was collected on each type of car. The six individual registrars - Ned Scudder (Cobras), Howard C. Pardee (1965-66 Shelbys), David Mathews (1967 Shelbys), Douglas Waschenko (1968 Shelbys), Vincent Liska (1969-70 Shelbys) and Peter DeSilva (Ford GT40s) - incurred no small amount of personal expense and asked nothing in return, other than honest recognition of their efforts. Whether they realized it or not their work made each of them the recipient of detailed knowledge on the cars that each concentrated on. They received an education unobtainable anywhere else at any price. They also received a great deal of personal satisfaction knowing that they made a significant contribution to the recorded history of Carroll Shelby's cars." - taken from the INTRODUCTION page 4
Shelby Cobra Dave Friedman. Subtitled: The Shelby American Original Color Archives 1963-1965. Never-before published, original color photos from author and official Shelby American team photographer Dave Friedman. Friedman was on the scene with camera in hand to capture the entire development and production of Carroll Shelby's legendary Cobra. This detailed history provides coverage of both the street and racing models, including all of the 26, 289 and 427 models. Fascinating first-hand accounts from Shelby and his crew members tell the entire behind-the-scenes story.
Get a complete history of Shelby's Cobra sports cars, including why Shelby decided to build a high-performance sports car, the history of Cobra street cars, and the continuation cars.
The story of one of the most memorable endurance races of the 1960s. Relive Jim Hall in his Chaparral battling the Ford GTs, Cobra Daytonas and Dan Gurney's Lotus - and almost a foot of rain!
Examines unique automobile racing in the United states spanning the past 100 years, and focuses on its history, superstars, early cars, professional racing, strict new rules, speed, performance, modern racing vehicles, well-known present day drivers, and other related racing themes.
American Racing is an intensely intimate and revealing portrait in photographs and words of some of the greatest moments in the history of road racing.
It was the 1950s. European-style road racing was just coming into its own in the Americas. Europe's factory teams began arriving in force to conquer this new frontier.
Momentum gathered quickly. Legendary venues such as Sebring and Watkins Glen, Nassau, Cuba, Venezuela and Mosport sprang into being, as did obscure airport and private road courses with names like Cumberland and Bridgehampton, Montgomery, Beverly and Bryfan Tyddyn.
For most of the 1950s and '60s, at these circuits and others up and down the Eastern Coast of America and inland as far as Elkhart Lake and Eagle Mountain, photojournalist Tom Burnside chronicled the flowering of American motorsport from the insider's point of view.
--Taken from book jacket
Traces the history of stock car racing and looks at major drivers, teams, and racetracks.
The vision of one man, Captain Sherman "Red" Crise formed the basis for what was to become the Bahamas Speed Weeks, a series of motor races held on the island of New Providence in the Bahamas. They started in the mid 1950s and continued for 13 years, before ending due to a mix of political decisions, ill fortune and a shift in the direction motor racing had taken over that period of time. These years were described by many commentators as the "Golden Age" of motor racing, where internationally acclaimed drivers attended the Speed Weeks to mix with the many amateur racers from America who came to enjoy the scenario of sun, parties and racing. For many drivers the social scene was as important as the racing, and in latter years prize money was an extra incentive to turn up. This well researched account tracks the history of the Speed Weeks with its roller-coaster ride throughout its 13 years existence, and includes stunning archival photographs, complete statistics, and more.
Located in the Great Salt Lake Desert, the Bonneville Salt Flats are both a geographic and land-speed marvel. There, a crusty yet perfectly flat strip measuring nine miles long by just 80 feet wide was formed 50,000 years ago when a 45,000-square-mile sea receded in what is now western Utah. Since 1909, Bonneville has hosted hundreds of races and speed trials featuring scores of remarkable cars, motorcycles, and drivers.
This photo history features all of the marques, both automotive and motorcycle, that have campaigned the Bonneville Salt Flats over the past nine decades. Represented are the four general racing categories associated with the venue--special construction, vintage, modified, and production--with special emphasis on the postwar years from 1950 through the 1970s, and such legendary drivers as Craig "Land Speed" Breedlove and Gary Gabelich, the latter of whom gained fame by driving the rocket-shaped, hydrogen-powered Blue Flame to a land-speed record of 622 miles per hour in 1970--one day before a storm dropped five inches of snow on the Bonneville course
" ... Amateur motorsports devotees have used the blistering hot, flat land as a speed laboratory for more than a century. ... On the salt, people find the limits of their courage, learn what daring greatly is all about, and realize why a Bonneville Salt Flats speed record is an internationally respected pedigree. People who race on the salt flats become a family bound together by speed ... and this is their story."
--Taken from back cover.
Caribbean Capers captures the dramatic story of Cuba's major sports car races, with all the international flavor, political intrigue and competitive action that characterized the island nation at that time. The story is told first-hand, the author's experience at the races in Cuba during 1958 and 1960, and is the culmination of over 50 years of research, fact-finding, and information gathering to produce a volume with more than 500 historic images of the cars, drivers and events many never-before published along with numerous meticulously compiled charts of the race entries and results. -- Havana was truly the sin city of the 1950s; the gambling capital of the world, with profits that surpassed Las Vegas. Against this backdrop, Ferraris, Maseratis, and Porsches roared through the streets of Havana with the world's best drivers at the wheel. Stirling Moss, Phil Hill, Carroll Shelby, Jack Brabham and, of course, the five-time world champion, Juan Manuel Fangio, competed in Cuba in now-legendary sports cars. A kidnapping that captured headlines around the world, when pole-sitter Fangio was taken at gunpoint his Havana hotel the night before the race in 1958, illustrates the challenges faced by the organizers and competitors. Needless to say, Cuba's political turmoil added to the unpredictable and exciting course of international racing in Cuba.
"Sail over high dunes in a souped-up dune buggy at a California drag meet. Follow world champion Jackie Stewart at speeds of up to 200 mph around Grand Prix circuits of the world. Fight exhaustion and danger in the twenty-four hours of Le Mans with Tazio Nuvolari. Drop in on Phil Hill, the only American ever to win the world championship of Grand Prix racing....Roar full throttle down the coast of Italy with Juan Fangio in the Mille Miglia.... Slide the dirt ovals in a roaring midget with champion Ted Horn....Chuckle at the madness of the New York-to-Paris zany marathon of 1908, a race like no other before or since. These and other racing adventures are in this tingling Carnival of Speed."
--Taken from About the Book
Carrera Panamericana: the Mexican Road Race. In its day it was the longest, fastest and likely wildest international automobile race ever staged. A World Championship event along with Le Mans, the Mille Miglia, Nüburgring and the Tourist Trophy, most drivers considered it the best-and the worst-of them all. From 1950 to 1954, it was witnessed by ten million spectators along a nearly 2,000-mile course that featured deserts where the faster cars could reach 180 mph and 10,000-foot mountain passes requiring first-gear operation. Carrera Panamericana influenced engineering and marketing from Michigan to Modena. Ferrari designed and named a model specifically for the race. Lincoln emerged as a high-performance sedan and Porsche's Carrera was named in honor of its wins. The Pan-Am was so unconventional and fascinating that it came to hold the world's attention for a full week each year. It was one of the last of the great open road events and the first in which European and American cars could be compared and marked the return of US factory support to racing in America.
Featured are the 289 and 427 Cobra roadsters and coupes, Ferrari GTOs, LM, and GTB, Aston 214 , Corvette Grand Sport, Jaguar Lightweight E-Type, Porsche 904 and Abarth Simca 2000 -- in 27 1963-1965 FIA world championship races, from Sebring, Florida to Le Mans, France.
Personal recollections range from Shelby's greenest mechanic to Ferraris chief engineer, from forgotten privateers to world-class drivers. Acclaimed by Ferrari and Cobra enthusiasts alike, this is the definitive history of the epic struggle that changed sports car racing forever.
The work is based on interviews of 53 of the original participants, conducted over 18 years. Over 530 archival photos, drawings, blueprints and documents, including 57 large-format color prints.
Describes memorable races including the British Grand Prix, Le Mans, Monaco Grand Prix, Indianapolis 500, Sebring, and the Italian Grand Prix
In 1962, when he was 35, it was Lee lacocca's dream for Ford to dominate world motorsports. From 1962 through 1970, Ford launched a massive assault on every major venue of motorsport in the world -- with unparalleled success. From Formula 1 to Le Mans, NASCAR stock cars to the Indy 500, and from Trans-Am to NHRA drag racing -- Ford eventually won championships in each venue.
Racing journalist and historian Alex Gabbard chronicles Ford's rise to world racing domination, taking us behind the scenes with the men responsible for designing, building, and driving the many racing machines that took the racing world by storm during this performance era. Hundreds of rare racing photos help readers relive the many victorious moments in what is considered to be Ford's most successful racing period, the era of "Total Performance."
What happened when America's richest car company, producing many thousands of cars per year, went head to head with Ferrari of Italy in the mid '60s? This is the story of an immovable force coming up against the stubbornness of an unmovable object that is, Ford against Ferrari. Enzo Ferrari, whose company produced less than four hundred cars per year in 1963, wasn't going to bow to Ford after he had turned down its offer to buy his company. The only place left to duke it out was on the racetracks of the world, and one in particular: Le Mans '66.
By the early 1960s, the Ford Motor Company was falling behind. Young Henry Ford II, who had taken the reins with little business experience, had to do something to shake things up. Baby boomers were taking to the road in droves, looking for speed not safety, style not comfort. Meanwhile, Enzo Ferrari, whose cars epitomized style, was crafting beautiful sports cars, "science fiction on wheels," but was also called "the Assassin" because so many drivers perished while racing them. This is the story of how Henry Ford II, with the help of a young visionary named Lee Iacocca and a former racing champion turned engineer, Carroll Shelby, concocted a scheme to reinvent the Ford company. They would design, build, and race a car that could beat Ferrari at his own game at the most prestigious and brutal race in the world, something no American car had ever done.
--From publisher description
"The goal of this book is to try to capture in words and pictures some of the flavor of thrills and excitement that make automobile racing one of the most popular sports in the world. If I have succeeded in doing this in some small way, it is due, in part, to the help and cooperation of many individuals and organizations involved in the field."
--Taken from author
"For seventy-five years the evolution of racing cars has been matched by the evolution of racing drivers. Each mechanical advance has been accommodated by new intellectual and physical skills in the cockpit. This is Charles Fox's Story of the striving toward unknown limits, from the French Grand Prix of 1914 to the brink of tomorrow."
--Taken from book jacket
The Austin Healey was one of the most successful sporting marques ever produced. Models from the entire range, from the small low-cost Sprite to the luxury 3000, have now become collector's pieces, proudly displayed and raced at the numrous Healey club meetings held throughout the world. Geoffrey Healey, chief engineer of the team that created this great marque, has written this history, concentrating on one of themost intriguing and exciting aspects of any care manufacturing enterprise: the specials. He describes in detail the development and career of these special cars created by the Healey team at Warwick. Cars that can exceed 200 mph, cars that blazed the Healey name around the racing circuits, cars that never got off the drawing board, and odd ball cars that are still exciting today.
Officially licensed with the ACO, the organizers of the annual Le Mans 24 Hours race, this sumptuous book is the third title in a decade-by-decade series that will eventually build up into an eight-volume set covering every race since 1923. Each year is exhaustively covered in vivid photographs, a detailed and insightful commentary, full results data and a glorious rendering of the official race poster. Compiled by an acknowledged authority of this legendary race, this series of books will be treasured by all enthusiasts of sports car racing.
Officially licensed with the ACO, the organizers of the annual Le Mans 24 Hours race, this sumptuous book will be the first in a decade-by-decade series that will eventually build up into an eight-volume set covering every race since 1923. Each year will be exhaustively covered in vivid photographs, a detailed race account, full results data and a glorious rendering of the official race poster. Compiled by an acknowledged authority of this legendary race, this series of books will be treasured by all enthusiasts of sports car racing.
Contemporary Le Mans race reports from British and American journals covering the years 1958 to 1965. With detailed results and annual summaries by Anders Ditlev Clausager. Contemporary Le Mans race reports from British and American journals covering the years 1958 to 1965. With detailed results and annual summaries by Anders Ditlev Clausager
Contemporary Le Mans race reports from British and American journals covering the years 1966 to 1974. With detailed results and annual summaries by Anders Ditlev Clausager.
Motor Racing at Nassau focuses on the vision of one man, Captain Sherman 'Red' Crise, and his quest to bring motor racing to the Bahamas. From its stuttering start in 1954, his event rapidly developed in stature to become the most important and prestigious sports car event on the race calendar other than World Championship events. The races started in the mid-1950s and continued for thirteen years, and are described by many commentators as the 'Golden Age' of motor racing, where internationally acclaimed drivers attended Nassau to mix with the many amateur racers from America and enjoy the sun, parties and racing. For many drivers, the social scene was as important as the racing, and in later years prize money was an extra incentive to turn up - in 1960, it was claimed to be the highest paying event on the race calendar. Words alone cannot begin to describe the atmosphere generated at the races, so the wealth of previously unpublished photographs together with a complete collection of program covers, and other material accumulated during six years of research, bring real vibrancy to these fascinating race accounts.
In this lavishly illustrated book, prize-winning American photographer Al Satterwhite has captured the most exciting era of the legendary endurance car races - such as Le Mans, Sebring, and Daytona - on camera. Between 1963 and 1973 race cars became faster than ever before, making quantum leaps in handling and aerodynamics with revolutionary results. In these photos, Satterwhite captures the drivers and the action of endurance motor races from up close. Drivers and manufacturers of that time are legends today: Phil Hill, Carroll Shelby, Dan Gurney, Hans Herrmann, Mario Andretti, Steve McQueen, Jacky Ickx, among others.
Steve McQueen drove with a broken ankle to a stunning second-place finish in 1970. Dan Gurney watched the winner's trophy slip away when his Ford's engine seized a heartbreaking 250 yards from the finish line in 1966. Stirling Moss was handed a bottle of Coca-Cola during the 1957 race and politely returned the empty on the next lap. No other race in motorsports has evoked such epic tales of triumph, defeat, and gallantry. The 12 Hours of Sebring has a character all its own -- born from a tradition of attracting legendary drivers and teams for extraordinarily competitive racing.Author Ken Breslauer brings to life five decades of Sebring competition in this beautifully illustrated history. And the book's exhaustive appendix provides the definitive collection of Sebring facts, including year-by-year race statistics and an index of every driver who ever competed at Sebring.
From the Publisher:
Winner, Book of the Year Award, American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association
"Carroll Shelby is a Renaissance racin' man, a competitor who has mixed it up at racing's highest levels. After a successful driving career tearing up tracks both in America and abroad in the 190s through 1960, Shelby founded Shelby American in 1962 to develop race cars and field teams to compete at venues from California's old Riverside track to Le Mans.
Before the Shelby team quit racing in 1969 it had posted one of the most enviable records in motorsports including numerous sports car wins with the awesome Cobras, Mustang-powered Trans-Am championships, and Le Mans and Daytona victories with the Ford GTs.
Shelby American Racing History covers all of Carroll Shelby's racing projects. Author and Shelby American team photographer Dave Friedman was here to capture all the highs and lows. More than 300 black and white photos and a special eight-page color gallery bring to life Shelby's fantastic racing history. Cobras, King Cobras, Daytona Coupes, GT350s, Sunbeam Tigers, GT40s, and Trans-Am Mustangs dice with Ferraris, Chaparrals, Porsches, Camaros, and more. A superb record of sports car racing in the the 1960s."
--Taken from back cover
"This is an expert narrative of the four spectacular years of 1968-71, during which sports car racing reached a peak of high-speed competition that will not be matched for a long time.
I was a period during which new cars adhering to the new regulations concerning engine size came from Porsche, Ferrari, British Ford, Matra, Apine, Lola, and Alfa Romeo. They included technical developments of great interest and produced racing of the most exciting sort. Mr. Pritchard traces the evolution of each car, its engineering successes and failures and provides the specifications of each of the major contenders. In addition, he tells the narrative of the championship races in detail, and gives intimate views of the drivers, the race managers, and of the individual cars themselves in action.
The book concludes with appendices, supplying technical data, race results in tabular form, and a detailed description of the evolution of the champion Porsche 917.
Anthony Pritchard enjoys a fine reputation as a motor-racing historian and reporter of the current motor-racing scene. His previous books include The Racing Sports Car, the story of the evolution of this important and distinctive class of competition car. A lawyer by profession, Mr. Pritchard is the enthusiastic owner of a Porsche 911, which he uses to attend most of the season's races."
--Taken from book jacket
The Cobra was, and is a phenomenon. The mating of the elegant and simple AC Ace boy to the brutal power and stump-pulling torque of a large capacity American V8 engine was an inspiration, even if not a new idea, for Sydney Allard certainly got there first...
Shelby's presence always looms so large in the Cobra story that the very real amount of time and effort put into the car's development by both AC and Ford is often overlooked. Somehow, when the card did well it was always a Shelby Cobra but when it had problems it became an AC or Ford. This must have been particularly hard for FoMoCo to swallow as they backed the 'Ford Cobra' with hard cash in the hope that the performance image would rub off on their projects. Some of it did off course, but most of the glory went to Shelby. Hence Ford pulling the plug on the Cobra in favour of the GT40.
I [Rod Grainger] enjoyed writing this book for, like most enthusiasts bored with the emasculated sports cars of today, I would love to have a Cobra in my garage. I hope like-minded readers will enjoy the Cobra's story.
--Taken from Foreword
The birth of the muscle car, mid-sized cars with big engines making big horsepower, marked not only a revolution in performance—but also a revolution in marketing. For the first time ever, car manufacturers tailored their product to a youth audience. The genre thrived in the 60s and early 70s and was reborn in the 21st century. The All-American Muscle Car celebrates the fifty-year history of the breed through stunning modern and archival photography, and brilliant essays from today’s top muscle-car writers. Organized by themes, its chapters cover the introduction and early years of muscle; the cultural trends that made muscle cars so wildly popular; the pop culture that surrounded the cars in music, film, and television; and racing, both legal and illegal. Great rivalries are detailed—Camaro versus Mustang versus Firebird versus Challenger versus ‘Cuda, GTO versus Road Runner versus Super Bee versus Chevelle SS versus Buick Gran Sport versus Oldsmobile 4-4-2, and the like. The book also explores the illogical extremes at the end of the classic era, the Plymouth Superbirds, GTOJudges, LS6 Chevelles, Hemi ‘Cudas, W-30 Oldsmobiles, Ram Air IV Pontiacs, Stage I GSX Buicks, and 440/6 Road Runners; the dark years and the death of performance; the rebirth of the muscle car; and the modern interpretations of the breed including the new Camaro, Mustang, and Challenger.
Once upon a time, there was a guy named Max Balchowsky who decided he wanted to beat Ferrari and Jaguar at their own game-road racing. The trouble was, he didn't have the cash for a factory racer. So he built his own. Using a Ford homemade tube frame, a souped-up Buick V-8 and running on recapped whitewalls, Ol' Yaller whipped them all.
Welcome to American Road Race Specials 1934-70. These were the glory days of road racing in the United States, from the first races between imported MGs to the world-winning Made-in-the-USA Scarabs and Chaparrals, and on toe the downfall of the Shadow.
This is the story of the men who built and ran their own homemade cars in pioneer SCCA and Cal Club races on town streets, airports and then the first purpose-built American racetracks. Here is Jim Hall, Lance Reventlow, Ken Miles, Carroll Shelby, Ak Miller, Balchowsky, Troutman and Barnes, Phil Hill, Dan Gurney, Roger Penske, George Follmer, and all the rest....
And the cars: Ol' Yaller, Cunningham, Scarab, Chaparral, Kurtis, Devin, Zerex Special, Bocar, Caballo de Hierro, Pooper, Shadow, Ferraries with Chevy V-8s and every other possible chassis-engine combination a racer could think of. Some were crude, others deceptively homespun; most were half hot rod, half sports car-all of them were unique and built with passion.
Historian Allan Girdler's straight-talking technical writing and colorful storytelling brings to life the home-builts' history as no other could. Girdler is a former Car Life and Cycle World editor and is currently an editor-at-large for Road & Track. His other books include Harley-Davidson Racing 1934-1986 and Harley-Davidson XR-750.
Source: Publisher
... Google Books
"Follow the development of American high-performance cars from the 1913 Mercer Raceabout through Detroit's latest offerings. Roger Huntington goes beneath the shiny sheet metal to tell you what made supercars go fast. Describes how rule changes in drag, stock-car and sports-car racing resulted in such unique cars as the Plymouth Superbird and Ford Thunderbolt.
Relive those exciting days of supercharged Duesenbergs, flathead Fords, fuel-injected Chevys, Chrysler 300s, Pontiac GTOs, Shelby Cobras, Plymouth Road Runners and more.
Packed with hundreds of exciting photos and dozens of road-test tables."
- Taken from book cover
The most comprehensive text-and-picture history of the dual-purpose car since it came to life more than sixty years ago.
Tells the story of Carroll Shelby's innovative Cobra racing car, and includes recollections from the drivers and crew
The legendary history of the pony car wars comes to life in this softcover edition of The Cars of Trans-Am Racing .
The SCCA Trans-Am Racing Series launched in 1966 and was designed to showcase a new class of sporty domestic cars racing on road courses. Each major automotive manufacturer participated heavily in the Trans-Am Series, and in a few short years, it became the ultimate American automobile showdown. When the modified muscle cars of the series were seen performing well on the country's finest tracks, fans wanted a model of their own in the driveway. These "pony cars" boasted a new look and style not seen before, and their all-around performance eclipsed anything accomplished by production-based American GT cars up to that point.
This softcover edition of The Cars of Trans-Am Racing is unique in that it focuses on the cars used in this legendary series. These vintage Mustangs, Camaros, Challengers, Barracudas, Firebirds, Cougars, and Javelins all are extremely popular with collectors and enthusiasts today. Seeing them in their "full-competition" versions when they were new will bring back many fond memories for those who were fans of this series. In addition, enthusiasts who enjoy these cars today look to the Trans-Am Series cars for styling inspiration and performance hints as part of the growing Pro Touring trend.
Many of these historic cars have been restored to race-ready condition. Additional insight and interviews from the original builders and the teams that maintained the cars provide an insider's viewpoint never before seen in print.
In recent years, interest in the cars created by Shelby-American has increased dramatically. Good Shelbys are getting harder to find each year, and their values continue to rise dramatically. A.C. Cobras--with just over 1,000 made--are becoming impossible to find. The result is that clones of these cars have appeared and there is intense competition among replica owners to see whose replica will end up being most faithful to the originals. This book shows not only the originals but also shows the creativity shown by replica Shelby and Cobra owners in modifying their cars in an attempt to capture the spirit of the originals. Not left out are the replica Cobras and Shelbys sold by Shelby himself. Ford's new '05 Ford GT and '07 Shelby Mustang are also covered.
"This book provides information on the history of Ford's greatest high-performance car, the Cobra Jet, including how it was designed, its debut, its performance on the track, and much more."
-- Provided by publisher.
"This is the story of the sports car that would not die. The Cobra was created by Carroll Shelby and produced jointly by Shelby American in the USA and AC Cars Ltd in the UK. Launched in 1962, the Cobra had ceased production by 1968 having achieved success a the race track and secured its place in history as the world's fastest production car in its ultimate 7-liter form.
The Cobra was later revived by the kit car industry to such acclaim that both of the original manufacturers put their own versions back into production. Behind the scenes, arguments broke out and legal battles took place as each party fought for its share of the market. The politics continue to this day and the Cobra remains in production in a variety of forms.
Fully illustrated with over 300 stunning photographs, many never previously published, this fascinating book tells the unique story of the iconic Cobra sports car."
- Taken from book cover
Buying and restoring older cars can mean money in your pocket- if you buy low and sell high. The Complete Book of Collectible Cars 1940-1980 shows you how. Here are the "classics" and the "comers" among postwar automobiles-cars with high interest value today and high profit potential tomorrow. An informative, indispensable value guide to the old-car hobby now enjoyed by over a quarter-million collectors. Loaded with facts and figures for hours of reading entertainment for investors and enthusiasts alike.
-Taken from back cover
This lavishly illustrated, officially licensed reference work walks you through Mustang's nearly 60 years of continuous production-a rich and varied history nearly unmatched in the automotive world. Ford's Mustang is America's most iconic pony car. According to many, it is the only vehicle that really actually deserves the title "pony car." From the first six-cylinder Mustang of 1964-1/2 through fire-breathing, world-beating Boss and Shelby versions of the 1960s and early '70s, to today's Mustang Mach 1 and Shelby GT500, The Complete Book of Ford Mustang offers an in-depth look at the prototypes and experimental models, the anniversary and pace cars, and the specialty packages for street and competition driving that have made the Mustang an automotive legend for nearly 60 years.
"Shelby American gained almost instant recognition from the moment the first Cobra hit the street. The entire original Cobra/Ford GT/Shelby Mustang period spanned just over eight years, eight years filled with countless racing accomplishments, the World Manufacturer's Championship, a 1-2-3 finish at LeMans, you name it and Shelby won it. The underdog did it, and to this day we are still rooting for him. And deservedly so. The stories and accomplishments are legendary, but none more so than what can only be described as the magic this company and its cars possess to this day. It was the perfect storm. Shelby found the right ingredients, the right talent, the right sponsors, the right drivers, and enough unbridled enthusiasm to take what some had called "a bunch of junk" out into the world and not come home until there wasn't a challenge they didn't win. Call it what you will - dumb luck, stubbornness, or just being in the right place at the right time, nobody can deny that we will never see the likes of anything like Shelby ever again. The Complete Book of Shelby is just that - a complete listing of Shelby automobiles. It is the story of every car ever touched by that Shelby magic. From Cobras to Mustangs, race cars to street cars, AC Cars to Toyota, it is your ticket to knowing a little more about every vehicle that Shelby "messed with" as the big Texan would say."
--Publisher description.
The Complete Mustang follows the history and technological developments of the car that has captured the heart of American. From the 1963 prototype and 2+2 Fastback, back in 1964, through the high-performance Shelbys, the 1978 King Cobra and the "new breed" Fox Mustang, with its popular 5.0-liter-of-the-pack, engine, and on to the SN-95 and the SVT Cobra to today's Mustang Mach 1, this book tackles all the great models. Each legendary car comes with detailed specifications, information and production features, and color photography, alongside an extensive narrative text that leads the reader sequentially through Mustang's exuberant history. For all Mustang enthusiasts and car devotees, this is an invaluable insight and comprehensive guide to a perennial favorite.- This lavish, profusely illustrated, large format book is a fantastic tribute to a legend that celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2004- A model-by-model history of one of America's most exciting and classic automobiles- Includes detailed model specifications, production figures, and developments in styling and power, alongside an erudite narrative- Ultimate book for Mustang fans.
Henry Ford founded his manufacturing company in America in 1903, and in 2003 the Ford Motor Company will celebrate its 100th anniversary. This wonderful book reveals Ford's full history, from the days of Henry Ford, to its development into the massive corporation we know today. All the landmark Ford models including the Model T, the Mustang, and the Thunderbird, are featured in stunning pictures and detailed historical specifications. In addition to specially-commissioned color photographs, the illustrations also include hundreds of archive pictures, advertisements, and line drawings. As well as telling the story of Ford itself, the book also reviews some of the famous automobile designers and stylists associated with the company, including Edsel Ford, Henry's son. This work of nostalgia is perfect for those interested in the development of car design throughout the last century and is an essential reference work for all automobile enthusiasts. In addition to the American side of the story, the text also covers the history of the company abroad, including a look into Ford factories in the United Kingdom.
"Ford GT40 tells the history of Ford's historic racing program of the mid-twentieth century that challenged "real" racers and established a racing dynasty for the American manufacturer"
-- Provided by publisher.
Ford and performance always have gone together. For the earliest days of founder Henry in open specials to the modern cars that race in all manner of competitions, cars powered by Ford engines and ford components have set trends that others follow. Ford Muscle: Street, Stock, and Strip says it all. The cars from Ford have always been exceptional. form Model Ts to the latest GT 90 concept car, Fords have always inspired dreams and created a presence wherever cars have been driven. Open these pages and celebrate Ford through the images of Phil Kunz and other photographers and the worlds of veteran author Bill Holder. Hang on for an unforgettable ride!
--Taken from back cover
Full-color coverage of the ever-popular Ford Mustang inception to today's high-performance Mustangs. Original color photography highlights the history, technical development, and marketing of this famous American icon.
In the early 1960s, Lee Iacocca--then director of the Ford division at Ford Motor Company--convinced Henry Ford II to produce a sporty four-seat car aimed at the emerging youth market. That car, essentially a reconfigured and re-skinned Falcon economy car, became the Ford Mustang, and it changed the automotive world like no other car before or since. In Mustang: Fifty Years, acclaimed Mustang writer Donald Farr celebrates this unbroken lineage of muscle: its phenomenal first-year sales, the new "pony car" genre it pioneered, and subsequent models that include the Mustang GT, Shelby GT350, Shelby GT500, Super Cobra Jet, Boss 302 and Boss 429--all part of a line of American performance cars that continues on to this day.
The compelling story of the company that helped put America on wheels come to life via informative captions, vintage advertising, interesting promotional items, and exciting photos from yesterday and today!
The most significant American high-performance cars of the early 60s through the early 70s.
Descriptions and photos of over 200 of the world's greatest automobiles by the auto editors of Consumer Guide.
Describes the history and technical achievements of a hundred innovative and significant automobiles from the 1901 Mercedes 35 HP to the 1991 Honda/Acura NS-X, and provides specifications
Illustrated history of the Mustang automobile.
"More words have been written on the definition of a sports car than on any other kind of vehicle. Practically every car has been entered for a sporting competition of some kind or another, but the definition must surely rest not on how the cars were actually used, but on the maker' intentions. Here one can hardly find a better definition than that of Cyril Posthumus who said that a sports car is one in which performance takes precedence over carrying capacity. This applies to a greater or lesser extent to all the cars described in this book, but one must add that in the modern sports/racing car performance takes such precedence that the cars are unsuitable for ordinary road use." --Provided by publisher
Here we have the story of the GT40 in its various manifestations - the development, the racing, the people involved.
"Ken W. Purdy is widely regarded as the dean of American motoring writers. He has written seven books on the automobile. His book Kings of the Road, was in print for seventeen years, and his biography of Stirling Moss, All But My Life, has been called on of the best automobile book ever written. Purdy has probably published more articles on motoring in magazines of general circulation than anyone else using the English language. His the Day They Dug Up Babs was judged the best automobile article published in 1970. He is the author of the Encyclopaedia Britannica's section on the historical development of the automobile. Purdy has also written automobile oriented fiction."
-Taken from Foreword
The allure of beautiful and rare cars is timeless, since the dawn of the automotive age people have aspired to own and drive the fastest, the coolest, and the most expensive cars. Million Dollar Classics-The World's Most Expensive Cars is a lavish photographic collection of some of the most sought after models that have been made available for auction in recent years. All of the cars featured in this elegant book attained auction prices upwards of $1,000,000, making them the most desired cars in the world, as well as the most expensive. Captured on camera by specialist automobile photographer Simon Clay, the stunning images in this book are accompanied by an informative text that gives the reader the specs, history and other fascinating details of these dream vehicles. This book is perfect for any automobile lover, or collector and includes vehicles created by Mercedes-Benz, Bugatti, Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Jaguar, Maserati, and Aston Martin. This description may be from another edition of this product.
"In 1979, a new generation of Mustangs rolled off the Ford assembly lines, effectively saving the cherished marque from obsolescence and reasserting the Mustang's position at the top of the muscle heap. Based on Ford's "Fox" chassis and powered by a fuel-injected V8 engine, the new models offered the best Mustang performance since the 1960s. This beautifully illustrated volume chronicles the evolution of today's Mustang from 1979 to the present, with an eye toward the next generation of pony car power."
Through the 1960s and into the 1970s, America's car makers fought an unbridled war for street supremacy. Who would have dreams that 20 years later the advent of electronically controlled engine-management systems would make possible the rebirth of the muscle car?
"What is a muscle car? First of all, le s eliminate what it is not: it is not a piece of Italian exotica, a Ferrari or a Lamborghini, cars which are just too complex and too specialized; nor is it a German Porsche, which is too efficient and too clever by half; nor yet a classic British sports car, a Morgan, TVR or Jaguar, which cold never be regarded as fitting the bill. Sports cars, by large, are not muscle cars, with two notable exceptions: the legendary AC Cobra of the 1960s, and the Dodge Viper of the 1990s. These followed the muscle car creed of back-to-basics raw power."
-Taken from Introduction
Chronicles the history and development of the Ford Mustang and discusses why the car is so popular, how it was created, what changes have been made in its design, and other related topics.
This book is the story of the Ford Mustang, from the prototypes of the sixties, seventies, and eighties to the present day.
Impact of the breed
The Mustang has come a long way since its introduction on April 17, 1964. It has had its bad times but they pale into insignificance when you consider all the good cars that proudly carry the name. Its overall concept hasn't changed; that of the four seater car possessing good looks and plenty of go. For creating a car with character at a time when the industry was serving up unimaginative ideas. the world is industry was serving up unimaginative ideas, the world is eternally grateful to Lee Iacocca, a man of vision.
What of Mustang's future? Well, it looks bright and present.....The Mustang is at the forefront of good design...after all, it is one of Ford's 'Better Ideas.'
--Provided from publisher
Since its debut on April 17, 1994, the Ford Mustang has been an icon of American car culture. For more than four decades, the Mustang has survived tough competition from Chrysler and General Motors, but its sleek lines, loads of horsepower, and outstanding performance keep it standing strong. Mustang 40 Years: America's Original Muscle Car examines the history of this renowned vehicle, from its humble beginnings to its retro-inspired transformation for the 21st century. More than 200 brilliant photos illustrate the 40 years of muscle car magnificence.
In this book, Mueller presents rare archival photos from Ford, vintage ads, and his own photographs of some of the best restored Mustangs in the country. These images combine with extensive research and interviews to tell the rich, intriguing story of the classic Mustangs that defined the American pony car.
--Taken from jacket
A pictorial presentation of the legendary Ford Mustang sports car, including a look at its history, various models and popularity.
An illustrated overview of the development and history of the Ford Mustang automobile.
Traces the fascinating lineage of Ford's history-making sporty car through each of its generations, from the record-breaking 1964 launch all the way to today's exciting new models. Along the way, enjoy such timeless classics as Shelby GT-350s and GT-500s, Mach 1s, Bosses, Cobras, SVOs, 5.0 GTs, and Bullitt Mustangs.
With 90 full-color photographs, this book presents the story of the Mustang, from its beginnings in the swinging sixties to the latest models of the nineties.
In addition to a detailed and comprehensive history of the Mustang's development, this book explores such subjects as the famous chase scene from Bullitt, biographical information on Lee Iacocca and other key engineers and designers, the Mustang's role in professional automobile racing, and the widespread membership of the Mustang Club of America. Includes complete chronology.
"Of the legendary names in the history of the Ford Mustang, one stands apart: BOSS. Originally created to homologate the new Boss 302 engine and option package for SCCA Trans-Am racing, the Mustang Boss 302 debuted for the 1969 model year and was built in limited numbers for the street. Designed by the legendary Larry Shinoda, the Boss cars were easily distinguished from their less potent stablemates by their race-bred powerplants, standard spoilers, and bold graphics. With no small amount of fanfare today, Ford is paying homage to its performance past with the reintroduction of the 5.0-liter V-8 in the Mustang GT. Though no longer the iron-block, pushrod Windsor engine of yore, Ford's newest iteration of a DOHC, modular V-8 is the most potent base Mustang GT motor yet, topping 400 horsepower. For the 2012 model year, Ford is at long last reviving the most revered of all Mustang models: BOSS. With a new racing counterpart and a modern street version that makes more than 440 horsepower, the Boss is truly back!"
-- Provided by publisher.
"Tells the story of the development of the Ford Mustang."
--Provided by publisher.
Someone at Ford wanted to call it "Cougar." Others liked "Torino" and Henry Ford II favored "Thunderbird II." In the end, the name was Mustang, a car that thundered forth as coupes, ragtops, and fastbacks, GTs, Cobras, and Shelbys - creating a unique legacy of style and performance. Inside, you'll enjoy five decades of key models, revealed via exclusive photo shoots and lively original ads and other promotional material. What a ride!
Since its debut in 1964, Ford's Mustang has dazzled the world with its speed, horsepower, and sleek, understated styling. Leading the American pony car heard for the next four decades, the Mustang became e legend by packing big horsepower in an affordable, elegant package.
Filled with extensive research by acclaimed automotive journalists David Newhardt and Randy Leffingwell, Mustang: Forty Years is a definitive resource for every Mustang lover. Covering every model, from the stock 'Stangs to the Shelby GTs, Cobras, Bosses, and Mach 1s, Newhardt and Leffingwell's pristine color photography also makes Mustang: Forty Years a fitting tribute to America's finest pony car and a fantastic addition to any automotive library.
--Taken from the back cover
The author explores over four decades of Mustang history, with photos, technical information, performance statistics and a detailed history of each generation of Mustang, from the early fastbacks and coupes to the 2007 Shelby GT500.
"By 1965, the Mustang was blazing down the streets of America and setting sales records along the way. Recognized as the first pony car, Ford's long hood/short deck, nimble-handling sports coupe sparked a revolution. The first 'Stangs featured fresh styling and spirited V-8 performance that demonstrated the early pony car market. Later, the Shelby, Boss, and Mach 1 big-blocks and small blocks laid waste to the competition at the height of the musclecar wars. Thirty-six years after its glorious debut, the Mustang had has become and American automotive icon, and many of the high-performance models have earned milestone status.
Mustang Milestones is a fascinating retrospective of the ultimate high performance Mustangs. Motor Trend Feature Editor and Photographer David Newhardt provides a detailed overview of each great Mustang and puts them into historical perspective. In addition, he discusses what propelled each car to the head of its class. The available engines, transmissions, and popular options, as well as horsepower ratings, quarter mile figures, and -60 times, are all covered.
More than 80 photos and an evocative text capture the tire-smoking fury of the great muscle Mustangs of the late 1960s and early 1970s, the canyon carving sports Mustangs, and race replica production cars."
--Taken from book cover
"Of the cars manufactured during the past 40 years, only a tiny minority stand supreme for the impact and influence they have had on marketplace, and of this select band the first-generation Mustangs manufactured between 1964 and 1973 (through the first examples were officially classified as '1965s') have earned a special place...It is not difficult to account for these cars' burgeoning popularity. The Mustang was the most popular single model in half a century and over a million examples had been produced before it had been on the market for a year. Above all it was and interesting car, made available with a spectrum of options which could render it either and economical six-cylinder runabout or a highly competitive performer on the race track of drag strip. It could be a luxury compact with automatic transmission, or a high-specification mile-eater in the true GT tradition."
--Taken from book jacket
Few cars can have been greeted with such enormous acclaim as the Ford Mustang, unveiled on April 17, 1964. More than 30 years later, the Mustang remains a genuine automotive icon, and much of the credit for that must go to the advertising agencies who promoted it so effectively.
Compiled by two Mustang experts, Mustang: Selling the Legend looks at the many ways in which "America's favorite ponycar" was sold and promoted: the award winning advertising campaigns of J. Walter Thompson: toys and models: promo items such as jackets, shirts and coloring books; pedal cars and gas powered miniature cars; Mustang racing triumphs; Indy 500 Pace Cars and the specials created by the legendary Carroll Shelby and Steve Saleen.
Mustang: Selling the Legend provides a different and fascinating perspective on the Mustang. Ponycar enthusiasts everywhere will love it.
--Taken from back cover
This book is a history of special-edition Mustang cars.
--Provided by publisher.
A look at one of America's favorite sports cars, the Mustang, including its interior design and different models.
Offers a detailed study of the design, production, technology, and impact of Ford Mustang models built since 1964.
Mustang follows the evolution of one of the worlds most beloved cars from its earliest pre-prototype days through the latest generation, debuted in 1994. Leffingwells extensively researched text offers an inside look at the engineering, design, corporate politics, and enthusiast reactions that have literally shaped the Mustang since its 1964 1/2 introduction. Filled with more than 200 fabulous color photographs, ads, brochures, and historical shots.
Since its debut in 1964, Ford’s Mustang has dazzled the world with its speed, horsepower, and sleek, understated veneer. Leading the American pony car pack for the next four decades, the Mustang became a legend by packing big horsepower in an affordable, elegant package. Through 40 years of tough competition from Chrysler and General Motors, the Mustang has survived and outlasted them all.
The restorer's and owner's guide to 100% originality Outstanding examples of Ace, Aceca & Cobra models covered in depth More than 160 specially commissioned colour photographs Bodywork, interior and mechanical details illustrated Minutely researched text covers original specifications and equipment
--Taken form back cover
Travel back to the muscle car era and examine the clever marketing campaigns from Detroit's Big Three and even AMC and Studebaker with this comprehensive volume. Automotive writer Diego Rosenberg recounts the catchy nicknames of cars, such as The GTO Judge, Plymouth Roadrunner, Cobra, and Dodge Super Bee. Entire manufacturer lines were given catchy marketing campaigns, such as Dodge's Scat Pack, AMC's Go Package, and Ford's Total Performance. From racing to commercials and print ads, from dealer showrooms to national auto shows, each manufacturer had its own approach in vying for the buyer's attention, and gimmicks and tactics ranged from comical to dead serious. As the muscle car wars developed in the early 1960s, auto manufacturers scrambled to find catchy marketing campaigns to entice the buying public into their dealerships. General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler, with all their divisions, as well as AMC and Studebaker, inevitably sank billions of dollars into one-upmanship in an effort to vie for the consumer's last dollar. Selling the American Muscle Car: Marketing Detroit Iron in the 60s and 70s takes you back to an era when options were plentiful and performance was cheap. Relive or be introduced to some of the cleverest marketing campaigns created during a time when America was changing every day.
The Shelby American Story is about the decade of the sixties. Carroll Shelby is world-renowned for developing the Shelby Cobras and Mustangs as well as the Ford GT racing program.
In 1962 retired racing great Carroll Shelby was looking for his next big move. He'd started a racing school at Riverside Raceway in California, but he really wanted to build his own sports and racing car. He found a promising platform in the British AC Ace, and set about stuffing an American V-8 between the AC's dainty fenders. Thus was born the Shelby Cobra. Shelby set up shop in Venice, California, later in 1962, marking the beginning of the classic Cobra era. It was a near supernatural combination of brilliant designers and wrenches, ever-faster cars, championship-winning teams and drivers, and sheer chutzpah. The Venice shop spawned the 289 Cobra, Daytona Coupe, 427 Cobra, Mustang GT350, Sunbeam Tiger, and more. Eventually the Venice facility could not handle the work, especially when Ford tapped Shelby to create a high-performance version of its new and wildly successful Mustang. Moving to a larger facility and the closer relationship with Ford seemed to diminish the fast and loose nature of the original enterprise. Some of the mojo was lost. Shelby American Up Close and Behind the Scenes takes the reader inside the Venice shop in the critical 1962-1965 period. Author/photographer Dave Friedman was Shelby's official shooter, and he documented everything from Cobra construction to paddock wrenching to race wins. Shelby American Up Close and Behind the Scenes is an insider's look via Friedman's documentary photography and first-person stories from Shelby's key players. It's a must-have review of this critical period in both Shelby's history and the history of American racing.
"This edition of the Shelby American World Registry took one year to complete. More than a dozen people made a serious commitment of time and energy to correlate, compress, review and finalize the vast amount of information what was collected on each type of car."
--provided by Publisher
"Envisioned by the flamboyant Texan Carroll Shelby, the original production of the Cobra lasted just five years and amounted to barely a thousand cars built within the original framework. But it was only the beginning of a story that is still very much alive, encompassing 'continuations,' spin-offs, and a massive worldwide replica industry."
--Back cover.
Shelby Cobra Fifty Years is a complete history of Shelby's Cobra sports cars, including the events leading up to Shelby's decision to build a high-performance sports car, the history of the production Cobra street cars, and the continuation cars.
A full-color gallery of the cars that bore the name of Carroll Shelby, including:
--Taken from back cover
When Ford wanted to add some spice to its new Mustang pony car in the mid-1960s, it turned to talented, colorful, and opinionated Texan Carroll Shelby, who was then building high-performance racing sports cars (Cobras) using a British body and a Ford engine. The resulting Shelby Mustangs proved to be the definitive performance Mustangs of the muscle car era. Ford has recently released a new Mustang, the first truly all-new Mustang since 1979, returning the model to the spotlight. The most-talked-about and anticipated version of the new Mustang is the Shelby Cobra GT500, which Ford will bring to market in 2006. Shelby himself was involved in the development of what will be the most powerful factory-produced Mustang ever. This rich new history from award-winning authors Randy Leffingwell and David Newhardt traces the Shelby Mustang story from the early Shelby America cars built in a converted airplane hangar in Southern California to the 2006 version of the new Mustang.
"Shelby Mustang covers every iteration of this iconic pony car, from the raw 1965 GT350 to today's fire-breathing Shelby GT500, and the people that made it all happen."
-- Provided by publisher.
The story of the Shelby Series 1 is a drama about everything that could possibly go wrong and then did. It's a drama of gigantic and and aspiring egos, petty prerogatives, awesome talents, bureaucratic bungling and brilliant engineering. Of the many cars Shelby created none was as controversial as the Series 1.
" ... The Cobra was a limited edition series that were specially modified by former champion professional race car driver Carroll Shelby. His company, Shelby American Inc. operated out of the old Lance Revenlow Scarb racing shop at 1042 Princeton Drive in Venice [Calif.] from 1962 to 1964 ... In 1962 Shelby entered the Cobra in its first race ..."
--Foreword.
Presents a retrospective look at the history of the world's fastest automobiles including, Ferrari, Porsche, the Chevy Corvette and more.
Supercars: Built for Speed (Hardback) By International Ltd, Publications By editors of consumer guide, Auto RRP: $42.05 $42.05 In Stock US This book traces the evolution of supercars from their early days to today. Revel in fast speeds, top performance, and incredible design. 70 supercars are profiled, from the 1920 Mercedes-Benz SSK to the 2018 Spyker C8 Preliator.
Seldom has the history of any motorcar been so short and exciting as are the collective episodes and happy memories of the Sunbeam Tiger. Produced by the Rootes Group in Britain from1964 to 1967, the Tiger remains an important part of the life of everyone who touched it. Here is the first and complete story of the Tiger's birthing in Carroll Shelby's California Cobra factory as told by those who were involved from its conception to completion. Historic pictures of Tigers built, and of Tigers planned but never to see the light of day. Here's what Ian Garrad and Carroll Shelby had to say about this delightful British vehicle.
A descriptive work on Routes competition cars which include, Sunbeam Talbot 90 / Alpine 1953 - 56 and Sunbeam Tigers, Alpines and Rapiers.
The history of the Mustang from it's precursors, conception, design and development. Models 1964-2004
The Pontiac GTO, the Carroll Shelby - designed Ford Mustangs, and Chrysler's Hemi V-8 engine changed the automotive world forever. From the street to the track, these three elements came together and helped to propel the muscle car phenomenon. They became symbols of the era, and of our culture during the 1960s and 1970s. These cars raised the bar for speed, style, and performance, pushing the limits of power from their mid-sized engines. Loaded with archival images, period advertisements, and gorgeous color photos of perfect restorations, the authors bring together their expert research to tell the story of these untouchable cars. Hang on tight, as Ultimate Muscle pulls you into the design rooms, race shops, drive-ins, and drag strips of the muscle car era. Combines three of MBI's most popular Muscle Car Color Histories in one 384 page book.- Hemi (0-87938-537-5)- GTO 9164-1967 (0-87938-539-1)- Shelby Mustang (0-87938-620-7)'
This book illustrates the Mustang's complete history, year by year, including interior and exterior evolution, racing advances, and the people behind the development of this phenomenon of the American automotive industry.
Step inside dozens of the world's most powerful cars, in this guide to the most covetable and sensational classic sports cars. Covers the trends and technical developments of each decade, and is filled with little-known facts and insights.
An autobiography of the American race car driver who has won the Indianapolis 500 four times, the Le Mans, and the Daytona 500.
"He's moral. He's ethical. And he's quick. You can't do better than that."-Paul Newman
Text by Mario Andretti; foreword by Paul Newman; edited by Mark Vanci.
Augie Pabst was one of the best American sports car racers 1956-1965. He started in small production cars and progressed rapidly to the best and fastest sports racing cars of the day. Along the way he scored many major victories and won two National Championships. He not only raced on all the major US and Canadian courses, but also on the international stage at Le Mans, Brands Hatch, and Nassau. His career was marked by two-year stints at three of the very best American teams; Meister Bräuser, Briggs Cunningham, and Mecom. He raced against and often beat not only the top US drivers, but many international stars as well.
With more than 80,000 copies of the three previous editions in print, Bob Bondurant on High-Performance Driving teaches students ranging from novices to pros how to drive a car to its full potential, both on the street and on the track. Here are Bondurant's methods for controlling weight transfer, seeing and following lines through corners, tail-braking, and much more.
Who better to write the definitive book on high performance driving than Bob Bondurant. In this excellent book Bob Bondurant shares his vast experience of teaching thousands-from novice to accomplished professional- the skills of high performance driving. This book contains Bob's unique insights and valuable that will show you how to concentrate better and be smoother behind the wheel. You'll learn the importance of a turn's apex area and all about late apexes. You'll learn how to be a faster, safer, better driver. Chapters cover Bob's racing background, getting to know yourself and your car, handling spins, buying a race car and much more.
--Taken from back cover
"The fiery conglomeration of diced beef, gravy and hot red peppers, familiarly known to connoisseurs as "a bowl of red" is generically termed chili con carne. The origin of this indescribable dish is lost in the mists of history but recipes for it have come down in families of the Southwestern part of the U.S. since the earliest Anglo-Saxon settlers began to exchange cultural heritages with the Latin populations south of the border."
-- Taken from book cover
Bruce McLaren arrived in Europe in 1958 virtually unknown. As this fascinating biography relates, by the time of his fatal testing accident 12 years later he had established himself on both sides of the Atlantic as a driver of extraordinary versatility. He also founded the team that went on to become one of the most successful in Formula 1. Content includes McLaren's fifth-place effort in the 1958 German Grand Prix and runner-up finish in the Autocar F2 Championship; his victory at the 1959 American Grand Prix, where he became the youngest-ever GP winner; his second-place finish in the 1960 World Championship; building and racing his own car, the McLaren M1A; winning Le Mans for Ford in 1966 with Chris Amon, and Sebring in 1967 with Mario Andretti; and success in the Can-Am series as a constructor and two-time driver champion.
"Few sports-racing cars have captured the imagination as did the Chaparrals, menacing white machines out of the Texas oil country that cut ta swathe through American sports-car racing in the 1960s and even won at the Nurburgring and Brands Hatch. Created by Jim Hall and Hap Sharp, with the help of GM and Chevrolet, the Chaparrals pioneered such innovations in racing the wind for aerodynamic downforce and the automatic transmission."
--Taken from book cover
This book is not a biography, it is a remembrance of the extraordinary life and accomplishments of an American racing icon with whom I had the opportunity to be associated in one of his greatest victories: the famous endurance race, the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1967.
Chronicles the history reflected by fifteen iconic car models to discuss how automobiles reflect key cultural shifts as well as developments in such areas as manufacturing, women's rights, and environmental awareness.
"To nearly every motoring enthusiast the name Ferrari means, and has meant for some years, the essence of motoring in the truly grand manner: the art and science of automobile engineering at its greatest. This book is the autobiography of Enzo Ferrari, the man who has been responsible for he cars which have achieved more in a shorter time than almost any other marque. It is the autobiography of a man who has known the great, and who deserves his own share of greatness in motoring and motor racing history."
--Taken from Foreword by Sterling Moss
"1898-1997: a century of major changes. One hundred years which saw the birth of the motor-car, leading to the excitement of speed. form this century Enzo Ferrari represents the spirit more than anyone else. Ferrari as a driver, then a constructor, together with legends such as Tazio Nuvolari."
--Taken from book cover
A chronicle of the Ford industrial dynasty provides information on the making of the cars of each model year over a span of ninety years and four generations.
Chris Amon, the New Zealand sheep farmer's son who led the Ferrari team for two seasons in the late 1960s, is remembered in Formula 1 as the best driver never to win a Grand Prix. Yet his contemporary Jackie Stewart rated him as one of the world's foremost drivers and Jochen Rindt considered him a true rival. Eoin Young chronicles the life of this extraordinary racer who was driving at the age of six, had a pilot's license at 16 and competed a 1954 250F Grand Prix Maserati a year later.
Biography of a man regarded as the greatest auto racing driver in history.
"Now, once again, we have the most outrageously hilarious book Smith has ever written. This time the subject is a chil-cooking contest held under the auspices of the Dallas Chili Appreciation Society International (a purely local organization)."
--Taken from book cover
Traces the life of the grandson of the founder of Ford Motor Company, and describes the challenges he faced rebuilding the company after the war.
Heroes of Hot Rodding, by David Fetherston, is a paperback book with photographs and interviews with some of the well-known and popular hot rodders and car racers of the 20th Century.
--taken from hotrodhotline.com
Almquist (an automotive engineer and himself a hot-rodder) profiles approximately 200 hot rod innovators, and tells the story of the sport. The book traces its history from the sport's golden age following World War II through its popularity in the 1950s and 1960s, to the gas crisis lull of the 1970s, and on to the present. Numerous black and white photographs are prominently featured. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
A self-portrait of the executive who rescued the Chrysler Corporation from bankruptcy.
Here for the first time is the complete story of the sensational A.J. Foyt, who at the age of thirty-five is considered America's top driver in Championship cars.
--Taken from book jacket
Ken Miles follows the racer's life from the early days in England to his tragic death at Riverside Raceway in 1966. The book format is somewhat different from others. It is essentially a scrapbook. More than 130 photographs are included. Many are from private collections and have never before been published. ...
--Taken from Google Books
A personal look at NASCAR racing chronicles the story of the men who risked and lost their lives competing in the sport, including such legends as Curtis Turner and the Allison brothers.
Mario Andretti's life story is presented through exclusive interviews with Mario, his family, and the drivers and teams he raced with. In-depth descriptions of his greatest races and cars, combine with behind-the-scenes team photos and commentary provide an insider's perspective on the progression of racing technology and the teamwork behind a a winning effort.
The behind-the-scenes illustrated story of the men who make the big wins-the men who can wipe a windshield, change tires and fill a gas tank in 20 seconds, providing the competitive edge a racer needs to win. It's a look behind closed garage doors where the Wood Brothers take a $5,000 assembly line job and turn it into a $25,0000 race car. It's A.J. Foyt, the legendary Curtis Turner, Fireball Roberts, Jim Clark and others who have raced an won in a Wood Borthers car. All this and more in a book about the fabulous brothers who have turned time into money for some of the greatest names in racing history.
--Taken from book jacket
Legends dogged the heels of the James-Younger Gang on their infamous trek through southern Minnesota. Some of these stories, passed down from grandparents who "swear they were there, " have no basis, but some could be real, and others surely are! Koblas sifts through the detritus of history to compile this tour of myths and legends, facts and forgeries of the who, what, and where of Jesse James and his gang.
"I am glad of this opportunity to pay my tribute to Alfred Neubauer, not only as an outstanding figure in the world of motor-racing, but also because of his great human qualities.
As team-manager he had not equal in the history of big-time motor-racing. In facet, it was Neubauer who virtually created the role of tam-manger and made it an indispensable feature of international motor-racing."
--Taken from Foreword
Tracing the history and achievements of enlisted pilots from 1912, when a Corporal volunteered for pilot training, through 1942, "They Also Flew" records the personal sagas of men determined to serve their country in the air.
The fascinating stories of New Zealand drivers Bruce McLaren, Denny Hulme, and Chris Amon--their backgrounds, differences, and similarities.
The Unfair Advantage is a vivid story of a great racing career, with its ups and downs and ever-present danger- a revealing picture of a great driver as he progresses from awe and respect for the stars of racing to be one himself.
BARN FIND! There are no two more exciting words for car collectors the world over! And there's an incredible hunt going on for valuable cars that were at one time forgotten, abandoned, or cast aside, but which are now regarded as valuable and historical treasures. Author Wallace Wyss, a Motor Trend veteran, recounts stories that are almost beyond belief. Here are a few examples: a pre-war Mercedes 540K that was simply abandoned by a German baroness at a Connecticut resort and later sold for over $11 million; the rubber-bodied Cobra that Ford built to assuage the ego of their top design exec; the jet-powered Fiat prototype that an American fell in love with and spent almost $1 million to make into a running driving car; and the Corvette that Carroll Shelby and pals had bodied in Italy as part of a plan to create Italian-bodied Corvettes, a plan that failed after three cars were made.
--Publisher's description.
"John Wyer's motor-racing autobiography plunges the reader headlong into the anxieties, triumphs, glories and tragedies of the sportscar racing world. A motor sport enthusiast from his childhood, John Wyer, probably the greatest racing team manager that Britain has produced, is uniquely qualified to describe the planning, tactics and organisation that brought victory to Aston Martin, Ford and Porsche under his management."
--Taken from book cover
The first volume, Walkin' Under a Snake's Belly, covers Smokey's life outside racing, beginning with growing up in Neshaminy, Pennsylvania on a farm, dropping out of high school to take care of the family and going off to World War II as a B-17 pilot. The war stories are told through the eyes of a young man who believed all that the Army Air Corps taught him, but he had a mind of his own and was also hell-bent on having fun at all costs. (If that meant irritating a few generals, then that was just par for the course.)
The second volume, All Right You Sons-a-Bitches, Lets Have a Race, chronicles the stock car racing years in living color. The warning on these books, that they are not to be read by those under 18 unless they are with a grandparent who can translate the social and moral implications of the stories, is not to be taken lightly. (Smokey even includes his own dictionary to explain the terms that racers used in the early days to the uninformed.) Smokey and his band of merry compatriots were racers and there were only two things on their mind when the sun went down women and booze. Smokey had his share of both during 15 years of racing, when racers were looked down on as the dregs of society. Nothing could stop his dream of being the fastest at the sport he loved, no matter what happened along the way the sign of a true racer.
Lil Skinny Rule Book, covers his love of this famed event and the wonderful stories of the days before the big corporate sponsors; when it was just men and their machines, sleeping on the floor in the garage and most times coming home with nothing. As the title implies, Smokey loved Indy because the rules were so simple. His inventive mind and knack for thinking way outside the box were at their best when Indy was involved.
"One of the trio couldn't avoid the world of motor racing; he was born into it. The other two had no family links with the sport but developed a curiosity and passion for speed, and ultimately satisfied it.
If Bruce McLaren, Denny Hulme and Chris Amon lacked a common thread in motor racing background they can all claim a genuinely unique place in New Zealand sporting history. In the sixties, they gave a small nation of three drivers of the highest quality on the Formula One Grand Prix scene. No New Zealander had made such an impact at Grand Prix level before them and no-one has since, nor are they ever likely to.
Hulme became the ultimate achiever of the three, winning the Formula One would drivers' championship in 1967, and cam close other times as well. McLaren could have, and should have, won the crown and, but for his cursed luck, Amon might also have become world champion. McLaren and Hulme also became cult figures in North America as they utterly dominated the rich Can Am series.
Hulme was the consummate driver, Amon on of rare talent, and McLaren, the one who had something of the genius about him, a man who went on to combine his gifts as a quality race driver and a skilled racing car designer and constructor.
This is the story of Bruce McLaren, Denny Hulme, and Chris Amon-Champions of Speed."
--Taken from book cover
It's the fantasy of every car enthusiast: Pull a tarp off a pile in a barn, or hear a farmer say, "there's an old car out back," and discover a classic collectible such as a Hemi 'Cuda, a rare Porsche, or a Jaguar E-Type racer. Many such tales told during enthusiasts' bench racing sessions are urban myths. But this book is full of true tales of rare gems pulled out of haystacks or junkyard--and there are before and after photos to prove it! Author Tom Cotter uses his engaging writing style in telling the tales of found Cobras, a rare Delehaye found disassembled in Czechoslovakia that eventually won Best in Show at Pebble Beach, a Ferrari racer found in a California woodchip pile, and several more. Cotter traces the early histories of the cars, how they were discovered, and where they are today."
--Publisher's description.
This book primarily takes a close look at the Hugus-Shelby Cobra connection. In the early 1960s James Edward (Ed) Hugus personally financed the first seven production Cobras built since Carroll Shelby did not have the money or facilities for the project. Hugus ordered the first modified but unfinished Aces the A.C. Cars factory in England, and had his service department mechanics at European Cars in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania install the Ford 260 engines and Galaxie transmissions, completing the cars for sale. Once Ford signed a contract for Shelby American Cobra production in Venice, California, Hugus still completed Cobras for distribution and sales to all points east of the Mississippi River. -- In his capacity as a driver, Hugus piloted the first racing Cobra (CSX 2001) in competition, and in 1963, the first Cobra (CSX 2142) to appear at Le Mans. -- Carroll Shelby may have had the Cobra dream but it was Hugus who stepped forward and made Shelby's venture a reality.
Fast Days by Joel Jackson tells the true story of one of the most accomplished performance groups in automotive history: the Chrysler-Shelby Performance Center. They took existing cars designed for other purposes and reinvented them into exciting performance sports cars that shattered records around the world. They set land speed records that may never be broken and bested the automobiles that helped create the Carroll Shelby legend. Fast Days celebrates this once in a lifetime period in automotive history and offers an intimate look at the personalities, mechanics, engine builders, crew chiefs, and test drivers who actually designed and built the Chrysler-Shelby platforms. This extraordinary group won races, won championships, set world records, and forever established their place in automotive history. Written in the tradition of the best in the narrative nonfiction genre, Fast Days recounts a time when original design and automotive achievement meant something special.
--Taken from Google Books
This reprint of the long out-of-print 1968 classic covers seven decades of Ford's pioneering and illustrious activities in auto racing. As author Leo Levine writes, "No other American manufacturer has been more involved with the sport. In many respects, the competition history of Ford parallels the progress of auto racing in this country.' From Henry Ford's own victory at the October 1901 Detroit Driving Club race to the 1967 LeMans triumph of A.J. Foyt and Dan Gurney, this first volume of Ford: The Dust and The Glory (the second volume will cover 1968 - 2000) tells the inside story of Ford's spectacular racing accomplishments.
Ford: The Dust and The Glory features the stories - and numerous photographs - of the great races, the great cars, and the legendary personalities (both the famous drivers and those "behind the scenes') associated with Ford and its great competitors of the era. In addition to the dramatic moments of glory and tragedy, Levine chronicles the day-to-day grind behind those moments - the frantic but disciplined hours at the drawing board, in the workshops, on the proving grounds, and in the pits.
Some remember him for his ever-present cowboy hat. Others remember him for his laidback nature and slow, measured speech, the direct opposite of his intense competitive nature behind the wheel of a race car. But most remember him as a man accursed with "hard luck" at the crown jewel of the USAC Championship Car race circuit: the Indianapolis 500. From his humble but successful beginnings on the dirt tracks of Texas and Oklahoma, to his shining but all too brief run with Ken Miles as a factory driver for the Shelby American Ford GT40 program and his glory days as a USAC star, Lloyd Ruby's career exhibited excellence across multiple forms of motorsport. Packed with over 275 color and black and white photos, Hard Luck Lloyd tells the tale of "the Pride of Wichita Falls," a man who raced across four decades, capturing over 150 recorded victories, all while staying true to his roots.
Author John Lingle has gone to great lengths to cover all aspects of Ruby's life; interviewing family members, friends, journalists, racing historians, and driver contemporaries such as Mario Andretti, Johnny Rutherford, Al and Bobby Unser and A. J. Foyt, all of whom helped to paint a complete portrait of Lloyd's life.
The life of the supremely talented Australian racing driver Paul Hawkins was cut tragically short at Oulton Park in 1969, but in his cruelly shortened life and career he made a lasting impression on those around him, on and off the track. This thoroughly entertaining biography tells the story of a man whose talents behind the wheel were only eclipsed by his charm and outspokenness out of the car. Famed for a vocabulary that would make a sailor blush, mayhem was never far away and many of the anecdotes from friends and acquaintances are absolutely hilarious. Perhaps not one to read in a public place!
Holman-Moody is back! This book is the second edition of the highly-detailed illustrated work by well-known authors Tom Cotter and Al Pearce, who recount the colorful story of how two hard-working car guys built one of the largest race teams in history. With 256 lush pages of photography by Don Hunter and others, the book is a look back at the racing factory that fielded stock cars, GT40s, drag cars, race boats, and the Can-Am racer Honker II. The list of drivers who raced behind the wheel of Holman-Moody cars is an all-star cast that includes Mario Andretti, Dan Gurney, Fred Lorenzen, Bobby Allison, and David Pearson. At its peak, Holman-Moody employed more than 300 people. The builders and tuners from who started at Holman-Moody went on to become race team owners and some of the best-known engine tuners in the business including Robert Yates, Waddell Wilson, and many more.
To tell the life story of Ed Isky Iskenderian is to tell the history of hot rodding in America. Ed was there from the very beginning. Born in 1921 to first-generation Armenian immigrants, Ed's first hobby was ham radio, but like many young men in the years before World War II, his interest turned to automobiles, especially hot rods. Ed had natural skills in metal working and machining that were developed in high school. He wanted to further develop those skills, so he joined the Air Corps to continue his education and flew with Air Transport Command. By the time Ed mustered out of the service, the California hot rod scene was in full bloom, with tens of thousands of vets who had the desire to make cars go fast. Isky: Ed Isky Iskenderian and the History of Hot Rodding, tells the whole story, from his pre-war Lake Muroc and car club activities, his service in the military, starting a small business fabricating parts and making cams in the back of a rented shop, and then selling cams to other rodders. It covers how he grew a business from a single cam grinder and became the leading cam authority in barely 10 years. Ed was a gifted machinist, and he also had a natural knack for promotion. He purchased an ad in the very first edition of Hot Rod magazine, sensing something big; his instincts, as always, were right. He was also the first to use T-shirts and uniforms as promotion. Not only was he an early pioneer in the industry for print adverting and catalogs, he was also among the first to understand the value of having successful race cars using his cams in their engines and wearing his decals on their fenders. The biggest names in the racing industry were running Isky cams, and Ed made sure the world knew it. Ed's company name went on to become one of the household names in the performance community. His continued success is an entertaining tale of mingling with industry icons, insight into the business of hot rodding, great stories of yesterday and today, and a life very well lived. You will enjoy the stories recorded here as much as Ed Isky Iskenderian seems to enjoy telling them.
This is the true story of my dad's 1965 Shelby Gt 350. He brought it home on my twelfth birthday and I was privileged to drive it for 40 to 50 thousand miles. I had gotten the car and myself into a lot of trouble as I was hot rodding all over the La and Ventura landscape. I met Mr. Shelby at the Reno Air Races when he was with Barron Hilton. The first meeting I could not explain how much his car had meant to me so I went home and started writing. The initial letter he read and signed and took the rest of my manuscript to read later. Steve Fossett disappeared the following year preventing me from catching up to Mr. Shelby at the races and things happened the next two years so now I will never know in his own words what he thought first hand. I get into some Moto Cross history and some of the Malibu jobs as well as the surfing that occurred back then. This is a fun read and I hope you enjoy!!!
Get the inside story of how Ford used Kar-Kraft to win Le Mans and take revenge on Ferrari, succeed in NASCAR, NHRA, Trans-Am, and Can-Am racing, create prototypes, and produce muscle for the street. For the first time ever, author Charlie Henry, a former Kar-Kraft employee, provides an in-depth look into this skunkworks facility. Additional insight and recollections from more than 10 other former Kar-Kraft employees are included as well.The story of Kar-Kraft began, as did many others in the automotive industry, with an axe to grind. In 1963, Ford was seriously interested in purchasing Ferrari. Ferrari was a legendary brand with considerable success in racing, and Ford saw the acquisition as a great way to be instantly successful in the racing arena. When Enzo Ferrari realized that Ford would not give him complete control of the racing program, he backed out of the deal late in the process. Ford had spent millions in vetting and audits, which then set in motion a vengeful response against Ferrari. The result was the unthinkable: Ford beat Ferrari at Le Mans. Ford wanted to become competitive quickly, but it did not have the race history or resources in house. To remedy the situation, Ford searched the U.K. for an independent company to help accelerate its race car development. It first settled on Lola Cars and set up Ford Advanced Vehicles. Later, Ford brought its Le Mans effort to the U.S. and the Kar-Kraft relationship was established. Although Kar-Kraft was technically an independent company, it really only had one customer: Ford Special Vehicles. Kar-Kraft's story doesn't begin and end with the GT 40 that took the win away from Ferrari at Le Mans. Ford expanded upon the program and organized an all-out assault on racing in general. In addition, street versions of the Boss 429 were assembled under its roof. And fabled prototypes, including the LID Mustang, Boss 302 Maverick, and Mach 2C, were all assembled in Ford's contracted race shop. And then, out of the blue, its doors closed for good on a cold day in 1970.
The author writes: 'To those followers of the sport who are interested in what goes on behind the scenes, I hope it will not prove too depressing and that it may eliminate for him much of the labour which has for me been unavoidable; a fascinating experience, but one of very considerable effort.'
There is a strong element of chance in motor racing, as in every sport; but in the tightly-packed and often vivid pages of this book, the author shows how to reduce this to an absolute minimum; and how by well-integrated team-work, the drivers are given the maximum possible chance of success.
The volume includes diagrams, charts, reproductions of the author's notes and records, and wide range of excellent photographs. It will be essential reading for ever motor racing enthusiasts.
--Taken from the book jacket
Even as a child-maybe especially as a child-Fred R. Harshbarger was curious about life. Adventurous, humorous, and born into a hardworking family, Fred has made his life a journey that most of us can only dream of. Born during the Great Depression, Fred tells of his earliest memories, all of which involve some form of travel-even across the block-and the members of his large family. He takes us with him, across the country at age 16 in a two-year-old Buick, working for gas money and seeing some of the greatest sights in America. We ride in a Navy destroyer through a Caribbean hurricane, and feel the leather on his gloves wear out as he negotiates gigantic waves. We meet the love of his life, Janet, and fly through the whirlwind of young love and early marriage. We move as Fred does through his life, meeting people who are now legendary, such as Ole Fahlin, Steve McQueen, Paul Newman, Carroll Shelby, and Gorgeous George Junior. We make donuts. We sail a yacht around Florida, the Bahamas, and even across the Pacific Ocean to Tonga. We travel in an RV, taking in the sights and experiences all along the way. We even go to Africa on safari, and eat chocolate birthday cake in the Masai Mara. Fred is still an adventurer, still curious about what is going to happen tomorrow. And in his autobiography, you'll come to learn why there will always be something happening in Fred's life...tomorrow.
The story of Parnelli Jones is the story of American auto racing. Jones grew up in Torrance, a tough city on the edge of Los Angeles. A teenage love affair with cars turned into a full-blown relationship with adult speed, running hardscrabble races across the country: from jalopies at Carrell Speedway to the dirt track at Ascot Park to sprint cars in the Midwest to the stock circuit in the South. By today's standards the racing was unbelievable in its recklessness. His life was on the line in every race, but his courage was impenetrable. In 1963 Parnelli qualified for Indy and won. In 1964 he was almost killed at the same race. In 1967 he was eight miles from victory when his car broke down, leaving him unable to finish. In 1968 he was the lion in winter, battling equipment and overwhelming odds. This is a gritty, American tale of survival and the unlikely birth of a savage and spectacular sport.
It covers my years at Shelby American with a focus on the time I spent in Modena, Italy designing the Shelby – De Tomaso P70 for Carroll Shelby, a car planned for the emerging Can-Am series. Working in Modena was one of the best experiences of my life. I started to write the story of the history and creation of the 1964 Shelby – De Tomaso P70 when I realized I also had to describe what was happening with Carroll’s various projects, racing, and other cars I had designed at Shelby American (e.g. Lang Cooper, Nethercutt Mirage), to place the P70 car in context. Consequently in this book I share the transition from the Cobra’s first appearance in ‘62 to its championship in ’63, through to the King Cobra USRRC race period to the transition to Can-Am. Shelby had his fingers in a lot of pies. Every move was well thought out and intentional, all with the ultimate goal of getting Ford’s lucrative GT40 program but having contingency plans in case it didn’t happen. Shelby’s venture with Alejandro de Tomaso was one of those contingencies. Looking back, these few short years turned out to be one of the most interesting and innovative in sports racer history. The quest to understand and harness air flow and ground effects led to amazing creativity and a race series that showcased it all to the world, the Can-Am. My designs during this period at Shelby’s included the FIA World GT Champion Daytona Cobra Coupe, the Shelby GT350 Mustang, the Lang Cooper, the Nethercutt Mirage, Shelby’s Can-Am spec racer and ultimately the Shelby – De Tomaso P70.
"This book went into production the day the Grand Prix driver was killed in South Africa, and this knowledge -- available to the reader but unmentioned in either the narrative or (obviously) the autobiographical sections written by Revson himself -- necessarily lends poignancy to what attempts to be a most level-headed book about the mind and life of a racer. That Revson was a Revlon heir (his brother was also killed racing, in 1967) was not as irrelevant as Revson apparently liked to think, for his cool elegant off-putting style (quite different from the brashness and/or ebullience of other drivers) came out perhaps as much in competition (it took him years to win his first Grand Prix) as in his life. He approached driving with a rational appraisal of risks and his own limitations, allowing his egotism to surface primarily in the endless arguments with his teams (for many years, McLaren) and the interlocking group of sponsors with whom he drove tough, intelligent deals in an attempt to prove his worth, financially and otherwise. The intricacies of testing and qualifying are mingled proportionately with the hassles of the various (USAC, Can-Am and Championship Car) circuits and the competitive friendliness with other drivers, too many of whom died. This is the most intelligent racing biography ever written."
--Taken from Kirkus Reviews.
During the 1960s, more specifically during the height of the muscle car era, each manufacturer had at least one dealership that pushed the envelope, that created muscle cars beyond the factory offerings, that created a reputation so legendary that collectors pay real money strictly for the original chrome trunk tags that told the world that your car came from somewhere special. Chevrolet had Yenko, Nickey, and Baldwin-Motion; Chrysler had Spaulding Dodge; and if you were into Ford performance, you had to go to Tasca Ford.
Tasca Ford was not only a dealership that sold and specialized in performance models, but they created models of their own, influencing Ford to follow suit. The factory Cobra-Jet Mustang was a direct result of Tasca stuffing 428 engines into 390 Mustangs, recreating the effort of building the legendary Ford Thunderbolt only a few years earlier. But Tasca Ford was not simply a performance dealership. They gained their reputation, and the attention of Ford, through outstanding and innovative sales and customer service practices that led to them becoming the premier Ford performance dealership in the country. That continues through their sales and racing efforts today. Tasca Ford is truly an American success story.
Bob McClurg brings his accumulated knowledge and experience of more than four decades to this heavily researched book with the full cooperation of the Tasca family. He details the early days, when Bob Tasca was just getting his start, through the growth of the dealership during its successful performance years, all the way to modern times. The Tasca name is still proudly selling Fords, and winning races with them too. If you are a Ford fan, or even a muscle car fan, the Tasca Ford story is one you want to read.
Walt Hansgen was a star in both sports cars and single-seaters, and his meteoric career carried him from the early days of amateur road racing to the very highest level of professional competition in America and Europe. As the lead driver on Briggs Cunningham’s dominant team, and later John Mecom’s team, Walt evaluated and developed race cars working closely with Jaguar, Lister, Maserati, and Ford. At different points in his career he paired with Dan Gurney, Stirling Moss, John Fitch, Archie Scott Brown, and Augie Pabst on circuits as far-flung as Watkins Glen, Le Mans, Silverstone, Sebring, and Road America. Walt was a relentless competitor, but his sense of fairness and camaraderie made him respected by his peers and a leader in the sport. For many up-and-coming racers, including Mark Donohue, Walt was a crucial mentor. The 1950s and 1960s were a time of tremendous change in racing. In this exciting, fast-paced biography author Michael Argetsinger shows how Walt’s life encompassed the conflict between amateur and professional racing, the extraordinary advances in technology, and the joyful ambition of his era. The result is a vivid account of the remarkable history of post-war American road racing.
In Wheels for the world, Douglas Brinkley reveals the riveting details of Ford Motor Company's epic achievements, chronicling the success of the Tin Lizzie to the beloved Model A through the glory days of the Thunderbird, Mustang, and Taurus, as well as the revolutionary plants where they were built-Highland Park and River Rouge. Brinkley tells of the amazing acquisitions of Volvo, Land Rover, Jaguar, and Mazda in the 1990s. His narrative also explores Ford Motor Company's darker aspects, from its founder's anti-Semitism, ill-considered wartime pacifism, and disloyalty-not only to the cohorts who made him the richest man of his time but also to his only son. Along the way, Brinkley introduces the whole cast of characters-from the early brains of the outfit, later U.S. Senator James Couzens; to CEO Lee Iacocca to the chairman and CEO of today, William Clay Ford, Jr.
