Car

Hardback cover of Car

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Published by DK

RRP: $40.00

""Definitive" is an ambitious goal, but one this hefty book tackles with élan - perhaps the way a 1965 Gordon-Keeble might tackle a winding country road. I'd never heard of a Gordon-Keeble until I picked up "Car," but there it is, parked among the hundreds of automobiles, both well loved and obscure, in this volume. They range from the primitive Grenville Steam Carriage of 1880 to the futuristic Alfa Romeo/Bertone Pandion of 2010, and readers will be hard-pressed to think of a make or model that isn't here, or at least represented by a close relative.DK Publishing has made a trademark of its richly visual layouts, with silhouetted photographs scattered liberally throughout. In "Car," each decade gets 30-odd pages; each two-page spread examines a particular type, like the convertible or the sport sedan. Each illustrated example is accompanied by the briefest of spec sheets, and its story is told in a sentence or two.The editors seem to have feared (perhaps rightly) that after a while the book might resemble the world's biggest Matchbox collection. To break the monotony, they have interspersed magazine-style articles on great marques and notable models. Informative engine cutaways will appease readers itching to get under the hood.The book was put together by Dorling Kindersley, DK Publishing's English relative, and while the United States is well represented in this Americanized edition, there is a preponderance of what Americans used to quaintly call foreign cars. There's nothing wrong with this, but it may leave some readers hankering for more details and bigger images of unfamiliar makes, like that Gordon-Keeble.For grease-under-the-nails gearheads, "Car" may seem a tad superficial. But the rest of us may well find hours of fascination long after the holidays have receded in the rearview mirror."

New York Times

"Titling a book <i>Car</i>? Presumptuous. Titling this book <i>Car</i>? Apt. It's as dense and diverse as the history of the automobile itself, yet the accessible presentation makes <i>Car</i> the perfect textbook for automotive neophytes. DK Publishing paints broad pictures of automotive trends at every decade in a catalog of more than 1,200 cars interjected with focused explorations of iconic engines, marques, and automobiles. Use it to school your eight-year-old, and you'll find yourself steeped in the pages."

Automobile magazine

"There are very few, if any, books that picture as many cars from around the world and from as many eras as 'Car.'...the philosophy under which Giles Chapman edited 'Car' makes this a book for the fan of every marque."

Old Cars Weekly

"Anyone who understands the importance of mobility in American society will spend hours absorbing this engrossing work, arranged by decades from the 1920s to the present. Editor-in-chief Giles Chapman is a noted commentator on the industry, history, and culture of cars."

History Wire

About Car

Whether you're a vintage car spotter or an armchair gearhead, strap yourself in for an unforgettable ride through motoring history.

This sumptuously designed visual guide is packed with everything you could ever want to know about cars through the ages, from the earliest "horseless carriage" to the modern supercar and Formula 1.

Inside the pages of this visually stunning car encyclopedia, you'll discover an iconic celebration of automotive design and motoring history.

- Trace the history of the car decade-by-decade in stunning visual detail
- In-depth profiles highlight the most important cars of each period along with their specifications and special features
- Includes beautifully photographed "virtual tours" that showcase particularly celebrated cars such as the Ferrari F40 and the Rolls Royce Silver Ghost
- Tells the story of the people and companies that created sports cars like Porsche and Lamborghini

Take a trip through decades of automotive history

See the fastest, biggest, most luxurious, most innovative, and downright sexiest motorized vehicles come to life in the most spectacular way! Packed with stunning photography and featuring more than 2000 cars, Car shows you how the finest cars from every corner of the globe have evolved over the last 130 years.

Lavishly illustrated feature spreads reveal the stories behind the car world's most famous marques and models, the geniuses who designed them, and the companies and factories who built them. It's the ultimate gift for men or anyone interested in cars, motoring, and motor racing.

This new edition has been updated to include hybrid and electric cars, as well as the cars of today and tomorrow.

Want to learn more about machines?


There's more to discover in this epic series from DK Books! Take an action-packed flight through the history of air travel in Aircraft. Stay on the right track and step off at the most important and incredible rail routes from all over the world in Train.