Archive for Items Categorized 'French', only excerpts shown, click title for full entry.

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.

Bugatti Queen: In Search of a French Racing Legend

by Miranda Seymour

The protagonist of this book went from 1920s nude model, ballerina, and cabaret dancer to race driver, becoming the “fastest woman in the world.”