Book Review: The Car Book – A Definitive Visual History

Some F1 books are hidden behind their book covers. I normally post reviews of pure F1 books but while I was sifting through a pile of books in the corner of my study, DK’s The Car Book: A Definitive Visual History with the iconic Astin Martin DB stood out. After flicking through its pages again after so many years, I realised that it actually contains lots of very interesting pages on grand prix race cars.

The book has photos (basically side profile photo) on the following:

• 1920’s race cars: Alfa Romeo P2; Bugatti Type 35B, 35C, 39; Duesenberg 183
• 4 pages on the Bugatti Type 35B
• 1930’s single seater race cars: Maserati 8C 3000, 8CTF; Mercedes W25, W125, W145; Alfa Romeo 8C, 12C-37, Tipo B; Auto Union Type A, Type D; Bugatti Type 51
• 1950’s race cars: Maserati 250F; Mercedes W196
• 1960’s rear engine racers: Lotus 49; Matra Cosworth MS10; Ferrari 312/68
• Excellent 2 page profile on the Ford DFV V8 engine
• 1970’s race cars: Tyrrell Cosworth 001; Tyrrell 002; Brabham BT44; Lotus 72; Lotus 79; Surtees Hart TS10; Renault RS10
• 1980’s race cars: Benetton B188; McLaren Honda MP4/4; Ferrari 126C4/M2
• 1990’s racers: Ferrari F300; Williams Renault FW16; Williams Renault FW18; Leyton House Judd CG901B; Benetton Ford B193
• 2000’s: Ferrari F2008; Toyota TF108; Bar Honda; McLaren MP4/23
• Double page spread: Lotus Racing T127

For the in-depth car studies, there are various profile photos including closeups of exterior detail, dash and under the bonnet shots. Also many famous marques – Ferrari, Audi, VW, Jaguar, etc. have short historical profiles.

And if you’re also interested in road car history generally, the book is a whopping 350+ pages of color photos of all the major road cars from 1890’s to concept cars of 2010.

Wow Factor or Money Shot: The DeLorean DMC-12

Suitable for: Car history buffs and Jaguar, Fiat and DeLorean fans too.

Bugatti Type 35

70’s racers

90’s racers