Best of
Cars

2011

The Limit: Life and Death on the 1961 Grand Prix Circuit


Michael Cannell - 2011
    With the pacing and vivid description of a novel, THE LIMIT charts the journey that brought Hill from dusty California lots racing midget cars into the ranks of a singular breed of men, competing with daredevils for glory on Grand Prix tracks across Europe. Facing death at every turn, these men rounded circuits at well over 150 mph in an era before seat belts or roll bars-an era when drivers were "crushed, burned, and beheaded with unnerving regularity." From the stink of grease-smothered pits to the long anxious nights in lonely European hotels, from the tense camaraderie of teammates to the trembling suspense of photo finishes, THE LIMIT captures the 1961 season that would mark the high point of Hill's career. It brings readers up close to the remarkable men who surrounded Hill on the circuit-men like Hill's teammate and rival, the soigné and cool-headed German count Wolfgang Von Trips (nicknamed "Count Von Crash"), and Enzo Ferrari, the reclusive and monomaniacal padrone of the Ferrari racing empire. Race by race, THE LIMIT carries readers to its riveting and startling climax-the final contest that would decide it all, one of the deadliest in Grand Prix history.

Ultimate Speed Secrets: The Complete Guide to High-Performance and Race Driving


Ross Bentley - 2011
    Ultimate Speed Secrets is the indispensable tool to help make you faster, whatever your driving goals.  Professional race driver and coach Ross Bentley has raced everything from Indycars to World Sports Cars to production sedans, on ovals, road courses, and street circuits around the world. His proven high-performance driving techniques benefit novice drivers as well as professional racers. Ultimate Speed Secrets covers everything you need to know to maximize your potential and your car:Choosing the correct lineOvertaking maneuversAdapting to new tracks and carsThe mental game and dealing with adversityFinding (and keeping) a sponsor.The pages are filled with specially commissioned color diagrams to illustrate the concepts described. Whether you are a track-day novice or a seasoned professional, Ultimate Speed Secrets will arm you with practical information to lower your lap times and help you get the best out of your vehicle—and yourself. It’s the ultimate high-performance driving tutorial!

Mitchell's License


Hallie Durand - 2011
    He may need a little boost getting into the driver’s seat, but once he’s behind the wheel, his car sure goes fast! Left turn, right turn, slow down for speed bumps - Mitchell is a pro. And he loves the way that horn sounds! There’s just one problem: Mitchell and his car have a slight disagreement about what type of fuel should go into the tank. . . . With warmth and sly wit, Hallie Durand follows a young child obsessed with all things automobile, while Tony Fucile’s comical illustrations convey the well-tuned bond between an obliging father and a high-octane child.

Built for Adventure: The Classic Automobiles of Clive Cussler and Dirk Pitt


Clive Cussler - 2011
    Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Touring . . . Mercedes-Benz 630K . . . Duesenberg J-140 . . . Cadillac V-16 Roadster . . . Ford Cabriolet Hot Rod . . . Packard V-12 . . . it's a car lover's paradise!

Automotive Technology: Principles, Diagnosis, and Service


James D. Halderman - 2011
    Because many automotive systems are intertwined, presenting all systems together in one text makes it easier for the student to see how they are all connected. Topics are divided into 133 short chapters, which makes it easier for instructors and students to learn and master the content.

Fueled for Adventure (Cars 2)


Christine Peymani - 2011
    Based on the hit new film, Cars 2, and told through the eyes of British super-spy Finn McMissile!

The Car Book: The Definitive Visual History


Giles Chapman - 2011
    

Fundamentals of Automobile Body Structure Design


Donald E. Malen - 2011
    Providing comprehensive coverage of the fundamental principles of automobile body structure design, this book provides an insight into the behaviour of body structural systems not available from complex analysis tools such as finite elements analysis.

Driving on the Edge: The Art and Science of Race Driving


Michael Krumm - 2011
    Essential reading for beginner and experienced driver alike, it will also interest race team engineers and car enthusiasts who want to peek behind the scenes to learn more about the challenging world of the racing driver.

Hillier's Fundamentals of Motor Vehicle Technology, Book 1


V.A.W. Hillier - 2011
    This edition of Hillier's has been updated and undergone a full-colour revision featuring new photos and illustrations to engage those keen to learn the fundamentals of MVT and enhance their understanding of the core concepts whilst keeping the straightforward approach that is much admired in this authoritative manual.

Mater's Treasury of Tall Tales (Cars Toon)


Walt Disney Company - 2011
    From a drift race through Tokyo and a bulldozer fight in Spain to a fire-squad rescue misson and a stunt jump across Carburetor Canyon, Mater's tall tales make his friends wonder. . . . Was he really a world-champion monster truck wrestler? Even Mater's best friend, Lightning McQueen, isn't quite sure-although he's part of each wild adventure! To add to the fun, all nine Cars Toons feature full-color images on every page.

Performance Automotive Engine Math


John Baechtel - 2011
    When discussing high-performance automotive engines, a specific set of math formulas are used to develop and design power plants to make more power at higher rpm levels and still survive. The various forms of motorsport and street use all have different requirements, but the math used to design engines to be competitive does not change, regardless of the specific discipline. Multi-time author and well-regarded performance engine builder/designer John Baechtel has assembled the relevant mathematics and packaged it all together in a book designed for automotive enthusiasts. This book walks readers through the complete engine, showcasing the methodology required to define each specific parameter, and how to translate the engineering math to the hard measurements reflected in various engine parts. Designing the engine to work as a system of related components is no small task, but the ease with which Baechtel escorts the reader through the process makes this book perfect for both the budding engine enthusiast and the professional builder.Author Baechtel's experience and writing capabilities shine in Performance Automotive Engine Math, and this book will surely be a strong addition to any high-performance library.

Elgin Park: An Ideal American Town


Michael Paul Smith - 2011
    You won't find the town of Elgin Park on a map, but you will find it all over the web and in the media. Called an Internet phenomenon by the New York Times, Michael Paul Smith's Flickr site has received over 20 million hits since he first posted his convincing yet dreamlike photographs of an imaginary town, inspired by the small Pennsylvania one he grew up in. Viewers of all ages from across the world will respond to the memories and feelings evoked by his perfectly executed miniature street scenes with model vintage cars, which are photographed outdoors against actual backgrounds. Without digital manipulation, Smith creates wondrously realistic scenes, which are beautifully reproduced in this exquisite volume. Gail Ellison, a longtime colleague of the artist, explains Smith's ingenious methods and also uncovers the themes of his art.

Car: The Definitive Visual History of the Automobile


Kathryn Hennessy - 2011
    The most lavishly illustrated treatment of the subject on the market, featuring the most noteworthy cars of each decade in beautifully photographed catalogs, Car is truly an international view of the automobile through time, with histories of the men and machines that created brands which are now household names.

Fiat 500: The Autobiography


Fiat - 2011
    The Fiat 500, which began production in 1957, is the iconic car of Italy’s free-spirited ‘boom years’, when Italian films, fashion, and design took the world by storm. The car remains immortalized in America’s imagination and is much sought after by collectors and anyone with a nostalgic love for la dolce vita. This book celebrates the 500 for both its groundbreaking design and its role as a pop-culture icon.Despite its diminutive size, it proved to be enormously practical and popular. It was an instant hit with the Cinecitta movie stars as well as with American tourists absorbing Italy’s local color. The book features an array of vintage images of the 500, including film stills, paparazzi shots, and advertising, in addition to more serious chapters on design.  The publication of this handsome tribute volume is timed with Fiat’s release in the United States of its updated version of the car for the twenty-first century, the Fiat Nuova 500.

The Complete Book of Porsche 911: Every Model since 1964


Randy Leffingwell - 2011
    Following stellar work at Austro-Daimler, as well as with his own engineering firm, he formed his own automobile company after World War II, developing a line of sports cars which culminated in the fabled 911, the ultimate expression of Porsche’s original vision for the perfect sports car.The Complete Book of Porsche 911 provides a model-by-model overview for each year of the 911’s production, from the original 901 prototype to the current models. In addition to production cars, the book includes all of the factory's racing, prototype, and special-production cars illustrated with both current and archival photography. This book is the ultimate single-volume resource for the 911 aficionado.

Mustang Boss 302: From Racing Legend to Modern Muscle Car


Donald Farr - 2011
    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 through 1970. Designed by the legendary Larry Shinoda, the Boss cars were easily distinguished from their less potent stablemates by their race-bred powerplant, standard front spoiler, and bold graphics. For the 2012 model year, Ford has at long last revived the most revered of all Mustang models: BOSS. With a new racing counterpart and a modern street version that delivers more than 440 horsepower, the Boss is truly back! To mark this historic occasion, Mustang historian Donald Farr has written a complete history of the Boss 302, from its late 1960s origins in Ford’s boardrooms, through its Trans-Am successes and untimely demise in 1970 up to the conception and development of the spectacular new 2012 Mustang Boss 302. Packed with brilliant photography and first-hand accounts from the people who created the original Boss as well as the team that resurrected Ford’s most iconic Mustang, this is the story every Mustang enthusiast has been waiting to read!2011 International Automotive Media Silver Award Winner

The Lost Spyder


C. Sean Michael - 2011
    How wrong I was; by the middle of this text I found myself fascinated by Porsches not only as a plot device, but as a general source of interest as well. The parallel between the quest for a "lost" car and human ambition - for money, power, fame, or immortality - works nicely." -...

Cars Little Golden Book Favorites (Disney/Pixar Cars)


Walt Disney Company - 2011
    Starring Lightning McQueen, Mater, and all their four-wheeled friends, this book is a must-have for all boys ages 2-5—and it makes a great gift-item!

Fast Car Physics


Chuck Edmondson - 2011
    Car racing enthusiasts and race drivers alike know the thrill of competition, the push to perform better, and the agony—and dangers—of bad decisions. But driving faster and better involves more than just high horsepower and tightly tuned engines. Physicist and amateur racer Chuck Edmondson thoroughly discusses the physics underlying car racing and explains just what’s going on during any race, why, and how a driver can improve control and ultimately win.The world of motorsports is rich with excitement and competition—and physics. Edmondson applies common mathematical theories to real-world racing situations to reveal the secrets behind successful fast driving. He explains such key concepts as how to tune your car and why it matters, how to calculate 0 to 60 mph times and quarter-mile times and why they are important, and where, when, why, and how to use kinematics in road racing. He wraps it up with insight into the impact and benefit of green technologies in racing. In each case, Edmondson’s in-depth explanations and worked equations link the physics principles to qualitative racing advice.From selecting shifting points to load transfer in car control and beyond, Fast Car Physics is the ideal source to consult before buckling up and cinching down the belts on your racing harness.

Shelby Cobra Fifty Years


Colin Comer - 2011
    To further emphasize the gargantuan proportions of his vision, Shelby decided his company would manufacture nothing but ultra-high-performance sports cars, beginning with the landmark Cobra, introduced in 1962. To the amazement of everyone except Ol’ Shel’ himself, Shelby Automobiles succeeded beyond anyone’s wildest expectations, building cars that would provide the benchmarks for performance (benchmarks that stand to this day) and winning world championships in the process. Shelby Cobra Fifty Years is a complete history of Shelby’s Cobra sports cars. Beginning with a prologue about the events that led up to Shelby’s decision to build a high-performance sports car, the main portion of the book tells the history of the production Cobra street cars and race cars, ending with an epilogue about the continuation cars.2011 International Automotive Media Bronze Award Winner

Top Gear: Official Annual 2012


BBC - 2011
    

Ford Versus Ferrari: The Battle for Le Mans


Anthony Pritchard - 2011
    The original book, which was published in 1968, when the battle between these two great marques was still ongoing, forms the basis of the new project, but the text is completely rewritten and much expanded to include material that was not available at the time. Above all, this new is incomparable visually, and contains an exceptionally comprehensive and well-balanced selection of photographs, both color and black and white, portraying the two teams and their rivals, the races, drivers, engineers and mechanics in the greatest detail on and off the track, in the paddock at race meetings, in factories and in workshops.

Mondo Agnelli: Fiat, Chrysler, and the Power of a Dynasty


Jennifer Clark - 2011
    Fiat's against-all-odds swoop on Chrysler---masterminded by Sergio Marchionne, the Houdini-like manager who saved Fiat from its own near-collapse in 2005 - has made the automaker one of the most unlikely winners of the financial crisis. Mondo Agnelli is a new book that looks at the chain of unpredictable events triggered by the death of Gianni Agnelli in 2003. Gianni, the charismatic, silver-haired power broker and style icon, was the patriarch who had lead the company founded by his grandfather in 1899. But Gianni's own son had committed suicide. Without a mature heir, the dynasty and Fiat were rudderless. Backed by Gianni's closest advisors, his serious, shy, and determined grandson John plucked Marchionne from obscurity. Together, they saved the family company and, inadvertently, positioned Fiat as a global trailblazer when the global storm hit.A classic story of ingenuity and hard work, the book portrays a business dynasty that triumphed over adversity and family tragedy because of its own smarts, sweat, and ability to bend the rules A an engaging tale for those interested in the stories behind the economic crash, the book contains never-before reported material about how Fiat succeeded in making Chrysler profitable where both Daimler AG and Cerberus, its previous owners, had failed. A story for a wide audience, from car buffs, business readers, lovers of Italy, and anyone fascinated by the lifestyle of Europe's most glamorous industrial dynasty, this book tells the tale of how Fiat achieved the seemingly impossible -- turning around an American automotive icon everyone else had given up for dead.

Form Follows Function: The Art of the Supercar


Stuart Codling - 2011
    Removed from their ordinary environment and shot on black backgrounds, the photographer’s lens reveals not just the engineering brilliance of these cars, but also the inherent beauty in their form and details. Classic and new models from the world's most famous marques, including Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bugatti, Maserati, Aston Martin, and others will be featured. With historical and technical profiles by Stuart Codling and commentary from famed automotive designer Frank Stephenson, Form Follows Function: The Art of the Supercar is a must-have for any automotive enthusiast’s library.

Bobby Isaac: NASCAR's First Modern Champion


Steve Lehto - 2011
    He died in 1977 and is relatively unknown, even though his name is prominent in the NASCAR record books. He won 20 poles in a single season and 17 races in a season as well. This is Bobby's story. The book also includes a modern day test drive of Bobby's famous #71 Charger Daytona on the streets of Talladega! 206 pages.

Toyota RAV4 1996 thru 2010: 1996 thru 2010


John Harold Haynes - 2011
    Since 1960 Haynes has produced manuals written from hands-on experience based on a vehicle teardown with hundreds of photos and illustrations, making Haynes the world leader in automotive repair information.