Archive for Items Categorized 'French', only excerpts shown, click title for full entry.
The Fate of the Sleeping Beauties
by Ard & Arnoud op de Weegh, Kay Hottendorff
This is one book that could have used a subtitle! Not only are there several others with the words “sleeping beauties” in their tile, one of them covers the exact same subject—except . . . it tells a vastly different story and its sins of omission and commission are the raison d’être for this new one.
Salmson, la belle mécanique française
by Laurent Chevalier, Claude Chevalier
This book is the enhanced re-edition of Chevalier’s 1997 volume by the same publisher and which has sold out. His son Laurent has found about 200 new photographs that have never been published before. It proves that the “definitive work on …” only exists in authors’ and editors’ dreams or, at least, until the next one!
Bagheera: l’irrésistible panthère de Matra Simca
by André Dewael
Dewael founded the Belgian Matra Club in 1987 and so it is only natural that he embarked on the huge task of writing the definitive book on the futuristic Bagheera coupé—the “irresistible panther.” No stone was left unturned.
The Art of Bugatti: Mullin Automotive Museum
by Adatto, Kruta, Japp; photos by Furman
The book title notwithstanding, this museum is not just about Bugattis or, for that matter, cars. They do feature prominently but the purpose of the museum is an overall celebration of Art Deco in its totality, from artwork to furniture and cars to lighting—all exemplified by the extended Bugatti clan.
Ces belles voitures dont a rêvé mon père
by Xavier de Nombel & Patrice Vergès
The authors of this book are fixtures in the French automotive world. Both grew up in postwar France, when cars when cars were difficult to obtain and sometimes extravagantly expensive. Here they describe “their father’s dream cars.”
French Etceterini Miscellanea
A review of three slim specialty French books:
La 4CV Bosvin-Michel-Spéciale by Robert Bosvin
La Saga sportive de la Renault 4CV by François Rivage
Sportives tricolores, 1950–70 by Jean Paul Decker
The Classic Citroëns, 1935–1975
by John Reynolds
First things first, this book really goes beyond 1975, devoting the penultimate chapter to the 1974–1989 GSX and a brief final chapter to the 1976–2000 cars built by the PSA Group in the post-Michelin era. Then cars of the “classic” era to which the title alludes are quite different from what came later.
Alpine and Renault: The Development of the Revolutionary Turbo F1 Car 1968 to 1979
by Roy Smith
Neither Alpine nor Renault seem likely candidates for developoing the first turbocharged Grand Prix car. Finally there is proper book to tell the story of the people and ides behind it.
André Lefebvre and the Cars He Created for Voisin and Citroën
by Gijsbert-Paul Berk
In addition to his work at Voisin, Lefebvre was in large part responsible for the Citroën Traction Avant, the H series trucks and vans, the 2CV and the DS—to have been responsible for just one of these cars would be worthy of nomination to the Engineering Hall of Fame!
Alpine & Renault, The Sports Prototypes
by Roy Smith
Following his previous book Alpine & Renault: The Development of the Revolutionary Turbo F1 Car 1968–1979, Smith takes a look at a very different animal by the same maker/s in this two-volume set: the Sports Prototypes from 1963–1978.
SM: Citroën’s Maserati-Engined Supercar
by Brian Long & Philippe Claverol
How many cars do you know that were both state vehicle and rally car? The SM was a tour de force par excellence. Or, in ‘Murrican, it was out there, big time.
La Carrosserie Française: du Style au Design
by Serge Bellu
(French) Right from the cover photo the book leaves no doubt that French cars look, well, different. This distinction—and it is a distinction—is as true today as it was at the very beginning of the automobile era.
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