The car came of age during the 1930s. It ceased to be a successor to the horse-drawn cart and no longer was it a rich man's toy. This book charts the development made in the decade prior to the Second World War, during which the means of construction, materials, engineering and the companies themselves became established. Variety was the essence of the period and the public could take its pick from hundreds of models. It is a story of engineering improvement, the rationalisation of sales and service in vehicles and components, and of change even to the roads themselves.

Selected from the pages of Special Interest Autos, 14 different Packard models are profiled, with full specifications, line drawings and loads of interesting detail photographs. You'll find comprehensive profiles of the 1930 Packard 734 Speedster, '35 Packard Eight, '47 Custom Super Eight, the '58 Packard, and many more. Plus there's an in-depth listing of Packard clubs, parts suppliers and specialists. Sftbd., 8 1/4" x 11 1/2", 120 pages, approx. 250 b&w ill.

A luxurious, limited edition of the spectacular Rolls Royce Motorcars: Making a Legend Limited to 175 copies, bound in fine cloth and slipcased A fabulous collector's book about the most prestigious motor car in the world Step inside a world of engineering excellence with this collection, dedicated to Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. The authors were granted unique access by the Rolls-Royce company. Detailed descriptions of the manufacturing process are set against a backdrop of heritage and prestige, including an exclusive showcase of the company's manufacturing facility and a splendid gallery of Rolls-Royce cars dating back to sketches of work from the1930s. This collection includes numerous unseen photos of Sir Henry Royce driving early versions of his iconic cars. A true behind-the-scenes experience, this book introduces the reader to the Rolls-Royce master craftsmen at work. High-quality images and detailed insights reveal the process by which each car is constructed, from the 2019 Ghost Zenith back in time to the 1904 Original. Rolls-Royce opens their archive to reveal a spectacular timeline of design, providing readers with an insight into the world of those who still uphold the words of Sir Henry Royce: "Strive for perfection in everything you do". The contents list guides the reader through the complete construction of a car: Design and Customisation, Paint and Finish, Chassis Assembly, Woodwork, Leather, Testing, The Spirit of Ecstasy Hood Ornament, and more. With a glimpse at the Rolls- Royce Training Academy and a plethora of featured cars from last year to the start of the last century, this is the ultimate Rolls-Royce collectors' volume. Featured cars include the new Ghost (2020), the Phantom Tranquility (2019), Phantom Aviator Coupe (2012), the Phantom II Continental (1934), the AX201 Silver Ghost (1907), and many more.

László Almásy is best known for his fictional character in the English Patient movie, but he was a real life desert explorer, one of a handful who were searching out what is in the middle of the last remaining blank spot of the map of the world, the central Libyan Desert. Almásy was particularly interested in the myth of the lost Zerzura Oasis, he organised a number of expeditions to the central Libyan Desert, pioneering the use of aeroplane in desert exploration. He claimed to have identified a valley with vegetation in the Gilf Kebir with the mythical Zerzura, however more importantly he discovered a number of spectacular prehistoric paintings, including the famed Cave of Swimmers. He wrote three books on his travels in Hungarian, all of which appeared in the Library of the Hungarian Geographical Society series. This first book, With Motorcar to the Sudan (1929) describes a 1926 motorcar journey through Egypt and Sudan, his first encounter with Africa. Unlike his later two books, this one contains no dramatic accounts of exploration or discoveries, however it is a well written and amusing travelogue describing his first experiences (and blunders) while driving in the sand with a Steyr VII from Alexandria to Khartoum (the first such accomplishment by an ordinary automobile), then further south to the Dinder for a three week hunting trip. The crossing of the Nubian Desert in Sudan was a prelude to many of his greater desert voyages, and the narrative provides interesting glimpses into Almásy's character and thinking.

Coventry, home of the cycle industry, was also to become the birthplace of the motor industry when the Daimler Company became the first in Britain to mass produce cars in the late 1890s. Spearheaded by H.J. Lawson, Coventry soon became a hub of motoring activity, and by the early 1900s was teaming with small and large companies, testing cars, motor-bicycles and tricycles around the local streets and surrounding country lanes. Many of these companies had previously been established as cycle manufacturers, yet introduced engines to their cycle frames in various forms, as well as producing safer three- and four-wheeled experimental machines. Other companies were established solely as motor manufacturers, many were short-lived, but others would survive and prosper. This new-found industry soon attracted a new type of worker to Coventry, specialised in mechanical engineering. These men and their families came from all parts of the UK and beyond, and made new lives for themselves in the city. Coventry has been home to well in excess of 100 independent motor manufacturers, but in recent years the city has suffered greatly with the loss of huge companied like Jaguar and Peugeot. The legacy of many of these historic cars can, however, still be enjoyed through museums and private collections. This outstanding volume is illustrated with 200 archive photographs and ephemera from the collection held at Coventry Transport Museum, and is a valuable record of the motor companies and their machines, as well as the individuals who both founded and worked for these manufacturers.

When they first began working on this book, the authors thought they would simply write the story of Linda Killinger’s grandparents who, with seven of their thirteen kids, took a fifteen-month trip across the country visiting relatives and the national parks, in their brand new 1930 Model A Ford. Very quickly, they realized this was not just a simple story. Instead, they began to see it as a reveal of how this moment of history affected not only their grandparents’ family, but the generations to come, in the same way these historic events have affected so many other families. Levi’s Dream presents a living history of twentieth-century America. All proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to charity via The Kerry and Linda Killinger Foundation. Visit our website, thekillingerfoundation.org.