Mini celebrates 60 amazing years of this iconic car, from its revolutionary introduction to the popularity of its new-generation models. The first two-door Mini, introduced in 1959 and built until 2000, revolutionized automotive design with its innovative front-wheel-drive layout that made the car appear bigger on the inside than the outside. In 1999, the Mini was voted the second most influential car of the 20th century, behind the Ford Model T. Designed for British Motor Corporation (BMC) by Sir Alec Issigonis and manufactured in England, Australia, Spain, Belgium, Chile, Italy, Portugal, South Africa, Uruguay, Venezuela, and Yugoslavia, the Mini was as successful in competition as it was on the street, winning the Monte Carlo Rally four times from 1964 through 1967. Originally built by BMC, the Mini’s later parent company, Rover, was acquired by BMW in 1994. In 2000, BMW sold most of the Rover Group but retained the Mini brand. The last and 5,387,862nd original Mini rolled off the production line in October 2000. In July 2001, BMW launched production of the new-generation of Mini which was soon joined by Countryman, Clubman, convertible, Cooper Works, and numerous special editions. Nearly 20 years later, the new Minis remain as popular as the original from 1959.
Very few cars inspire as much affection as the original Mini. It’s the small car everyone loves to eulogise because it oozes energetic fun, classless minimalism and evergreen style.But it’s also of massive historical importance: the 1959 Mini, designed by Alec Issigonis, set the template from which all successful compact cars have been created ever after. It was the technological wonder of its age. The original Mini was on sale for 41 years, during which its 5.3m sales made it the best-selling British car of all time – an achievement unlikely ever to be beaten.And just when it looked like the little car would shrivel and die, BMW had the vision to reinvent it as the planet’s most desirable small car range, and put it back on the serious motoring map as the MINI.Here, award-winning writer Giles Chapman tells the whole, amazing story.
Jaguar Century is a lavishly illustrated large-format retrospective examining 100 years of Jaguar, one of the most acclaimed marques in automotive history.
Good old Dad and his good old Dad's car. As solid and dependable as the man himself, if a little less balding, Dad's car was almost a member of the family, whisking you to exciting days out, or just to visit boring relatives in distant parts of the country to the chant of 'are we nearly there yet?' Like the man behind the wheel, Dad's car made you feel safe and secure, because it was as reassuring and sensible as he was. Maybe in an idle moment Dad dreamt of driving something rakish and fast, just like in idle moments he dreamt that your Mum was Twiggy, but the demands of family life meant soft tops, hard suspension and anything even remotely sporty were off the cards. Even anything less than four doors would have been wildly hedonistic. But although the family car may not have been the very essence of rock 'n' roll, Dad was proud of it. Spanning the 1950s to the '80s, this is a celebration of the heyday of the Dad car. From much loved family workhorses like the Ford Cortina and Vauxhall Viva to the rakish excitement and playground kudos of the Rover 3500 and Citroen CX, all the great Dad cars are here. Reflecting a time before people carriers and lifestyle off roaders, when the nearest thing to an airbag was hiding behind your fat brother, this is a celebration of simple, honest cars that were as flawed and as loveable as your Dad himself.
It was brash and it was loud – the 1980s put paid to the glumness of the '70s and nowhere was that more obvious than in the cars we drove, which took a quantum leap in durability, performance, equipment and style. They had to: Japanese quality and European design were luring away ever more customers. Features such as fuel injection, turbochargers, computer-controlled systems and four-wheel drive became commonplace. This was also the decade that brought us the people-carrier and the off-roader, new classes of car that radically reshaped family transport. Meanwhile, seatbelt-wearing became law, the M25 opened, speed cameras appeared and ram-raiding was the new motoring nemesis. Relive everything car-related in Britain in the 1980s with Giles Chapman.
A nostalgic look at the world's best-loved and most significant automobiles Drive down memory lane with this celebration of 150 of the world's greatest cars, from the weird and wonderful to the largest, fastest and most infamous. From 0 to 150 take a journey through the first steam-powered vehicles and the Model T Ford, to favourites like the James Bond amphibian car, the holder of the supersonic land speed record and the latest Air car recently hailed as the true car of tomorrow. Just the thing for boys of all ages! A nostalgic look at the world's best-loved and most significant automobiles Drive down memory lane with this celebration of 150 of the world's greatest cars, from the weird and wonderful to the largest, fastest and most infamous.From 0 to 150 take a journey through the first steam-powered vehicles and the Model T Ford, to favourites like the James Bond amphibian car, the holder of the supersonic land speed record and the latest Air car recently hailed as the true car of tomorrow. Just the thing for boys of all ages!
A nostalgic look at the world's best-loved and most significant automobiles. Drive down memory lane with this celebration of 150 of the world's greatest cars, from the weird and wonderful to the largest, fastest and most infamous.
In his new book, well-known motoring writer Giles Chapman tells us the complete story of the VW Camper, from its origins to its enduring appeal. The history and development of the Camper is explored here, alongside ninety colourful images. This is a light-hearted romp through the world of Campers, and is full of juicy snippets and fascinating quotes which will be of great interest to anyone who loves this iconic vehicle.
For fifty years, Britain made the best toy cars in the world, expertly shrinking every kind of reallife vehicle and producing them in their countless, die-cast millions. Dinky Toys were the 1930s pioneers, then in the 1950s came the pocket-money Matchbox series, followed by Corgi Toys bristling with ingenious features and movie stardust. But who were the driving forces behind this phenomenon? And how did they keep putting the latest, most exciting cars into the palm of your hand year after year? In this illustrated and expanded edition of Britain's Toy Car Wars, Giles Chapman reveals the extraordinary battle to dominate Britain's toy car industry, and the dramas and disasters that finally saw the tiny wheels come off ...
When you were a kid your Dad might have seemed like a man of simple pleasures. But like the rest of us, your Dad had dreams. Yes, he loved your Mum, but if Diana Dors came knocking with a trampoline and two drums of baby oil he'd have been out of his armchair in a flash. And don't think he was content with that Cortina or Cavalier either, because Dad was quietly dreaming of Ferraris, Astons and other shiny wedges that in truth he could never afford. This book celebrates those exotic fantasies that gave your Dad a faraway look in his eyes. If you're looking for more details on the Diana Dors thing you might have to find a more specialist publication. THIS IS JUST ABOUT CARS
Every weekend, throughout the year, an enormous number of British people flock to Car Boot Sales. At any one event, hundreds of them are selling off unwanted possessions or inherited junk to free up space at home and raise useful extra money. But many thousands more are searching for incredible bargains and overlooked gems. This book is a comprehensive guide to both selling and buying. It gives you all the practical information you’ll need to be a success at either, as well as an insight into the mindset of both vendor and customer so you can make any ‘Boot’ work to your advantage. For the would-be Car Boot Sale seller or buyer, every aspect is explained by an author who’s been through the process countless times.
A complete children's transportation encyclopedia, explaining how road, rail, air, and water vehicles get us from A to B. Knowledge Encyclopedia: Transportation! uses incredibly detailed 3D illustrations to show you everything you need to know about how vehicles work. Peer inside a car engine, feel the roar of a jet, watch a helicopter's rotor create lift, and explore below the decks of an ocean liner. Meet hundreds of vehicles that float, fly, or speed across the land, including the record breakers—the fastest, largest, longest, and strangest modes of transportation ever to zoom, sail, or soar. And check out current and future craft that use green energy to transport people and goods around the world. Part of DK's hugely successful Knowledge Encyclopedia series, this is the perfect gift for young transportation enthusiasts, who are curious about motors and machines.
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