Archive for Author 'Sabu Advani', only excerpts shown, click title for full entry.

Gentleman Heroes

by Giles Chapman with Clare Hay

If there is such a thing as “the most recognizable Bentley,” this may be the one. It didn’t win a lot, it didn’t hold up very well, but it played a singular and important role. And its price today is in the stratosphere.

Horten Ho 229

by Andrei I. Shepelev & Huib Ottens

The work of the Horten brothers is very remarkable, especially given their young age and the circumstances under which they worked. The Ho 229 was their last and most ambitious project—yielding lessons that are puzzling engineers still.

The Rise and Fall of the French Alpine Rally

by Martin Pfundner

How better to shake out cars—and impress the buying public—than by flogging them up and down hairy mountain passes. The French took their time embracing it but once they did, they stuck with it. Finally, here’s a proper book in English.

Stars & Sportcars

by Marianne zu Sayn-Wittgenstein

Racing photos, sure, but a whole lot more. Here are photos by someone who knew how to “see”—and not just with the eye.

Soviet Naval Aviation 1946–1991

by Yefim Gordon & Dmitriy Komissarov

A subject shrouded in mystery and suffering from spotty information. No more. Both history and machinery are covered.

Berlinetta ‘50s: Rare Italian Coupés of the Fifties

by Christian Descombes, photos by Xavier de Nombel

What makes Italian cars distinctly “Italian” is an evergreen subject and this book offers 37 examples of the sporting variety of La bella macchina to make the point that art (design) nourishes the soul.

The Goldfinger Files 

by Steffen Appel and Peter Wälty

The first Bond film to win an Oscar, Goldfinger was a financial success, recouping its budget in two weeks. It has become iconic for many reasons, not least the famous car chase in the mountains that is the subject of this lovely book.

The Race to the North

by David Wragg

It took 400 horses to go by coach from London to Scotland. And time. Steam power changed everything but, for a while, railroad companies played silly—and dangerous—games to get the traveling public on board.

Wave-Off! A History of LSOs and Ship-Board Landings

by Robert R. “Boom” Powell

If you have even the remotest interest in flying—of any sort—or teamwork—of any sort—don’t miss this book because it’ll offer food for thought about many things!

Lotus Elan: The Complete Story

by Matthew Vale

Among British sports cars the nimble Elan occupies a place of honor. Not least, as the firm’s first truly commercially successful road car it did much to bankroll the racing operation. This book is about as complete as the title claims it is.

Armoured Trains: An Illustrated Encyclopedia 1825–2016

by Paul Malmassari

From a battleship on rails to nimble if sometimes slapdash scout trolley, armored—and armed—trains have seen action much more recently than you might think. They have their limits but obviously they fulfill a role only they can do. This book gives you almost 200 years of examples.

Bugatti taucht auf

by Dea Loher

This very serious German novel is based on two real-life events: [1] a senseless murder in a town near [2] the lake on whose bottom a Bugatti is waiting for someone with enough of a reason to attempt raising it.