Automoto Bookshop Feed

Wartime Jeeps: WW2 Jeeps - Prototypes, Production Models and Special Versions

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 0:59:38 GMT

Description

The American Jeep of World War II is one of the most familiar vehicles of all time and, having been involved in so many of the theatres of the war, Jeeps can be found almost all over the world. Simple, tough, practical, full of character and enormously capable, they can still do all the things they were designed foz and great numbers of them have been rescued and restored over the years. Today a Ford or Willys World War II Jeep is a valuable vehicle even in poor condition, which is proof of the regard in which they are held by so many enthusiasts.

Aside from the Jeep's important role in the war, it must also be recognised as the father of all the light four-wheel drive vehicles that have followed in its footsteps, from the Land Rover onwards. And it is still a match for most of them in off-road ability.

The aim of this book is not just to tell the Jeep's story, from prototypes onward, but also to demonstrate its extraordinary versatility in different shapes and forms. Eleven prototypes and variants are individually studied here:

Bantam BRC-40
Budd Pygmy
Willys MA
Ford GP Four Wheel Steer
Willys MB
Long Range Desert Group Willys MB
Ford GPW
Amphibious Ford GPA or "Seep",
6X6 Willys MT-TUG
T28 Half-Track
SAS Willys MB.

Each model gets its own section in this book, providing a detailed description followed by a gallery of specially commissioned colour photographs with detailed captions.

Land Rover Series I-III 1948 - 1985, Petrol, Diesel Expert Guide

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 0:46:06 GMT

Description

A conveniently-sized comprehensive troubleshooter for Series I, II and III Land Rovers. Identifies the most common problems, from engine noises to suspension issues, and provides quick, often innovative roadside repairs to get you moving again. Also offers advice on more extensive repairs.
Covering most civilian models, including both petrol and diesel engines, this is an essential book for Land Rover drivers.

Identifies 101 common faults and fixes
Cross-referenced throughout, to aid rapid problem diagnosis
What to carry n your spares kit for a quick roadside fix
Details of club and support organizations
Over 100 photos, hints and tips

Models Covered:

Land Rover Series I, II, IIA, III

British Buses 1945 - 1975

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 0:48:51 GMT

Description

By 1945, at the end of a long war, Britain was desperate for new buses and coaches. The manufacturers who had built them in the 1930s had been diverted to war production for the duration and only tiny numbers of buses were made. Older buses were patched up and kept going long beyond the end of their normal lives because there was no alternative. So by the time the government permitted bus production again an almost insatiable demand had built up, and many companies new to making buses came into the business, so that the later 1940s and the 1950s saw a fascinating variety of different types reaching the market. In this book the manufacturers large and small are dealt with in A-Z order: AEC, Albion, Atkinson, Austin, Bedford, Bristol, Commer, Crossley, Daimler, Dennis, Dodge, Foden, Ford, Guy, Jensen, Karrier, Leyland, Maudslay, Moths-Commercial, Rowe, Rutland, Seddon, Sentinel, Thornycroft, Tilling-Stevens, Trojan, Vulcan. The author gives a brief history of each and then provides individual coverage of the models produced, using original material from brochures and advertisements for the illustrations, not only to identify the vehicles but also to give the flavour of the times when they were to be seen going about their business.

A companion volume to British Lorries 1945- 1965, this is not only a reliable and comprehensive reference book but also via its illustrations a pleasing evocation of earlier times on Britain's roads and streets.

The Ducati Monster Bible

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 0:22:44 GMT

Description

When Ducati unleashed Galluzzi's Monster at the Cologne Show at the end of 1992, few expected it to become Ducati's most successful model. Dramatically styled, minimalist in stature, yet bristling with innovative engineering, the 900 Monster created a new niche market.

A multi-faceted machine, the Monster bridged the gap between racetrack oriented sports bikes and cruisers. Here was a naked motorcycle that was as much a performance machine as a cruiser.

The Monster's radical styling has also been the inspiration for a large after-market industry, providing cosmetic and performance accessories, and with engine capacities ranging from 400 to 1100cc there really is a Monster for everyone.

This book provides a fascinating guide through the maze of Monsters produced over the past 18 years.

Full description of development model-by-model
Analysis of the Monster by each model year
All Monsters covered, from 400 to 1100cc
Unravels a myriad of different models and specification changes
Includes full technical specifications

Torana Tough: History of the Holden Torana 1967 - 1980

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 0:13:36 GMT

Introduction by the author

On the publication of Monaro Magic in January 2010 I was immediately asked about the Torana. It was a logical step to take given the passion both Monaro and Torana enthusiasts have for each model. Initially believing there would not be the same level of history, photographs and interest I quickly came to realize that there was a large untapped resource sitting in past Holden employees cupboards, sheds and memories. In the end I had to cut down on what was to be used.

I purposely have not included much on the Torana's racing history. This is a separate subject and this history could not do it justice. However you cannot write a Torana History without including to bare bones of its racing glory. And glorious it was. No other model can claim the success over so many different fields of motor sport as the Torana can. Many years ago a marketing survey of Australians found that after Coca Cola, Peter Brock was the most recognizable name, without the Torana Peter would not have gained this level of notoriety.

My own experience with the Torana originally lay in my time at GMH when I had a role in the Engineering budgets and costs. To some extent I found myself frustrated that I did not write down more of what occurred during the 1970s, the heydays of the Torana. At the time I drove XU-1s, SLRs and Hatchbacks but back then they were just cars you drove to get from A to B. Unlike some, I never even took a photograph of a Torana in my care, wish I had though, as do many Holden employees involved in the Design, Development and Manufacture of the model.

I believe Torana Tough breaks new ground for the level of detail provided, it answers many questions and I believe settles a few myths. Will Holden revive the Torana name plate? It's doubtful given the current direction of global manufacturing of models but then maybe it's a good thing to leave the Torana name as it was as any future car can never be the same. When You're Hot You're Hot.

Chapters

HB Torana - The Great Escape 1
LC Torana Development
LC Torana - Holden's Exciting New Breakaway 37
LC Torana GTR XU-1 - Torana the Great 69
LJ Torana - When You're Hot You're Hot 87
TA Torana 106
LJ Torana GTR XU-1 - 111
LJ Torana GTR XU-1 V8 - Bullet on Wheels 133
Torana GTR-X - RD003 143
LH Torana Development 155
LH Torana - The Car of its Time 163
LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 - 185
LX Torana - Luxury at a Price you can afford 211
LX Torana SS & SL/R 5000 - A9X 235
UC Torana - Dedicated to the Driver 243
Torana Specials 263
Torana Identification 271
Engines EH to XU-1 86 Beyond 281
Bibliography 292
Acknowledgements 293
Index 294

Cobra Replicas 1980 to 2011: The Essential Buyer's Guide

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 3:33:31 GMT

Description

STOP! Don't buy a Cobra replica without buying this book FIRST!

Having this book in your pocket is just like having a real marque expert by your side. Benefit from lain Ayre's years of experience, learn how to spot a bad car quickly, and how to assess a promising car like a professional.

Get the right car at the right price! Packed with good advice - from running costs, through paperwork, vital statistics, valuation and the Cobra replica community, to will a Cobra replica fit in your garage and with your lifestyle - this is THE COMPLETE GUIDE to choosing, assessing and buying your dream car.

Mazda MX-5 Miata MKI, MKII 1989 - 2001: The Essential Buyer's Guide

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 3:18:12 GMT

Description

STOP! Don't buy a Mazda MX-5 Miata without buying this book FIRST!

Having this book in your pocket is just like having a real marque expert by your side. Benefit from Carla Crook's years of MX-5 experience, learn how to spot a bad car quickly, and how to assess a promising one like a professional. Get the right car at the right price!

Packed with good advice - from running costs, through paperwork, vital statistics, valuation, and the MX-5 community, to whether an MX-5 will suit you and your lifestyle - this is THE COMPLETE GUIDE to choosing, assessing and buying the MX-5 of your dreams.

Covers MkI 1989 - 1997 & MKII 1998 - 2001

Ultimate Speed Secrets: The Complete Guide to High-Performance and Race Driving

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 2:18:17 GMT

Description

Performance and racing drivers constantly seek ways to sharpen their skills and lower their lap times. Ultimate Speed Secrets is the indispensible tool to make you faster, whatever your driving goals. Professional race driver and coach Ross Bentley has raced everything from Indycars to World

Sports Cars to production sedans, on ovals, road courses, and street circuits around the world. His proven high-performance driving techniques will benefit novice drivers as well as professional racers. Ultimate Speed Secrets covers everything you need to know to maximize yourself and your car, from choosing the correct line, overtaking maneuvers, adapting to different tracks and different cars, the mental game, dealing with adversity, and finding (and keeping) a sponsor.

Whether you are a track-day novice or a seasoned professional, Ultimate Speed Secrets will arm you with practical information that will lower your lap times and show you how to get the best out of your vehicle and yourself. It's the ultimate high-performance driving tutorial!

Audi R8 WSC Giants

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 1:56:49 GMT

Description

The history of the world's most successful endurance racing car: the Audi R8, featuring reports of all of its 80 races, plus profiles of the 35 drivers who raced the car between 2000 and 2006 as well as the Audi R8R and R8C of 1999.

With individual chassis details, results and observations from significant individuals involved with the R8, and illustrated in colour throughout with many previously unpublished photos, this book is a must for all endurance racing fans.

Motor Racing The Pursuit of Victory 1930 - 1962

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 4:56:04 GMT

Description

This book is a virtual time machine to the past. It presents stunning photographs from motor racing history, most previously unpublished, and examines the many facets of Grand Prix racing before the dominance of television and commercial advertising. Here are stories of derring-do and racing that constantly pushed the boundaries of technology.

The story begins in the 1930s when the German Auto Unions and Mercedes were heavily subsidised by the Nazi regime to strengthen its engineering might. This produced the most powerful racing cars ever (at least until the turbocharged cars of the 1980s), and was followed by the postwar era that saw the BRM V16 bringing prestige to Great Britain, before the rear-engined revolution in Formula 1.

It was the Lotus marque that pushed the limits ever further under the direction of its founder, Colin Chapman. Bob Dance tells us about the part he played in the team in the days when Jimmy Clark was winning world championships. His own photographic archive sets the scene during the 1950s when he followed motor racing as a teenager. The images juxtapose with those of Reggie Tongue, who photographed the sport both at home and abroad at a time when he was racing ERAs before World War II.

Automotive Wiring A Practical Guide to Wiring Your Hot Rod or Custom Car

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 2:44:25 GMT

Description

In the world of automotive do-it-yourself projects it seems there's always been an air of mystery surrounding electrical wiring. "Do I have the right size and the right kind of wire? How do I connect them? What kind of fuse? What the heck is a diode, a solenoid, or an SPST?

Automotive Wiring: A Practical Guide to Wiring Your Hot Rod or Custom Car answers all these questions and more, providing you with the knowledge and confidence to do everything from rewiring your hot rod or custom car to adding the latest modern accessories, such as GPS, Bluetooth, and iPods. With valuable information about tools and test equipment, lighting, ignition, charging systems, engine monitoring systems, switches, troubleshooting, and much more, Automotive Wiring:- A Practical Guide to Wiring Your Hot Rod or Custom Car is a must-have for every do-it-yourselfer's library.

Auto Wiring Basics Clearly Explained
Dolt-Yourself Installation Projects
Ignition and Charging Systems
Lighting, Switches, and Accessories
Installing GPS Systems, Bluetooths, and iPods

Elva The Cars, The People, The History

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 2:29:09 GMT

Description

Spirited, fast, quirky, elemental, affordable, idiosyncratic, and most of all, funthese are among the many adjectives that have been used to describe British sports and sports-racing cars of the 1950s and 1960s. The cars of Elva fulfill all these descriptions and more: simple, yet clever and competitive. For many automotive enthusiasts the Elva name has been familiar, but its history has remained shrouded in myth. For Elva followers, the cars’ and the company’s successes and failures have been almost secretuntil now. Read More.

Like many of its contemporaries, Elva began modestly, but the specials built by Frank Nichols and his crew in the south of England were soon recognized internationally for performance that often exceeded that of their peers, at a fraction of the cost. Elvas epitomized the concept of intuitive design. As one observer put it, “All that the mechanics seem to have were a set of tools consisting of a file and a hacksaw . . . not a drawing in the place. The cars just happen.”

Beginning with little more than chalk lines on the floor, giant-killers emerged that caught the eyes of major players in motorsport. Porsche’s mighty 908, 910, and 917 sports-racers were in part inspired by the manufacturer’s association with Nichols via the Elva-Porsche. Elva also helped Bruce McLaren establish himself as a car constructor and sow the seeds of a racing dynasty by building the first McLaren-Elvas.

The history of Elva is not just about the cars. It is about the many people who created the cars, were inspired by them, and developed racing careers around them. Elva is the last significant British automobile marque of the 1950s and 1960s to have a dedicated history book. This is it. Careful research, colorful anecdotes, and a thorough narrative of Elva history are woven into renowned motorsport historian János Wimpffen’s definitive look at this important manufacturer.

Ben Spies Taking It To the Next Level

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 2:01:07 GMT

Description

AMA and World Superbike Champion and MotoGP star Ben Spies was a racing prodigy who started winning when he was in second grade. Ben traveled an unusual path to racing stardom; his talent was nurtured by his mother, a single parent who encouraged her children to pursue their dreams.

Ben quickly rose through amateur racing to become a professional in a ruthless world where the only things that count are pole positions and race wins.Through it all he possessed the mental toughness to endure the divorce of his parents, a sometimes harsh training environment fostered by a hard-driving father figure, the racing death of his closest friend, and the tough psychological warfare dished out by his Yoshimura Suzuki teammate Mat Mladin. Ben also suffered a shocking 180-mph crash at Daytona that tested not only his personal courage but the resolve of his family for him to keep racing.

Ben persevered, overcame these challenges, and triumphed. In 2006 he won the first of three straight AMA Super-bike Championships, ending Mladin's title streak. Then in 2009 he stunned the international community, becoming the most successful World Superbike rookie of all time, winning a record number of polesand the championshipon tracks he'd never seen before, riding for a new manufacturer, Yamaha. The next year Ben was promoted to MotoGP, the pinnacle of motorcycle racing, with Yamaha's satellite team, Tech 3. Confirmation that Ben had joined racing's elite came in 2011 when he moved to the factory Yamaha squad.

Ben Spies: Taking It To The Next Level is the story of one young man striving toward his ultimate goaland the determination of his family to help him achieve his dream.

The Complete Book of Corvette: Every Model Since 1953 (Revised and Updated Edition)

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 1:42:59 GMT

Description

This is a Corvette book like no other Corvette book. Many books celebrate the most powerful and most attractive Corvette models, but only The Complete Book of Corvette details every model, including prototypes and factory racers. Created in cooperation with General Motors and illustrated from GM's design archives, The Complete Book of Corvette showcases in photos, text, and technical specifications all the factory-built Vettes since 1953: If Chevrolet built it, it's here.

Chevrolet's Corvette is the most iconic sports car built in America. This lavishly illustrated work details the Corvette's six decades of continuous productiona rich and varied history nearly unmatched in the automotive world. An exhaustive review of six generations of American high performance, from the first six-cylinder Vette of 1953 through today's fire-breathing, world-beating C6, The Complete Book of Corvette offers an in-depth look at the prototypes and experimental models, the anniversary and pace cars, and the specialty packages for street and competition driving that have made the Corvette an automobile legend for nearly 60 years. With extensive details, specifications, and photographic coverage, this book is the ultimate resource on America's favorite sports car.

The Book of the Classic MV Agusta Fours

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 1:22:46 GMT

Description

MV Agusta's classic four-cylinder dominated Grand Prix racing for a decade from 1956. When it was replaced by the new triple in 1966, Count Agusta decided to make the Four available in limited numbers as a production bike. To prevent privateers converting it into a Grand Prix racer that might embarrass the factory, he stipulated it should be 600cc and have shaft final drive. The touring 600 eventually evolved into the 750 Sport and GT, and finally the America, but MV Fours were always built in extremely small numbers. As befits an engine that handed multiple World Championships to John Surtees, Gary Hocking, and Mike Hai!wood, the technical specification was staggering, and remains so to this day. This magnificent engine was always at the heart of the MV Agusta, and it was this engine that created and sustained the legend.

Full description of model development
A look at the 600, 750 and America prototypes
Examines the racing history that led to the creation of the myth
Tips on riding and maintaining an MV four
Researched with the cooperation of Arturo Magni, Dave and Mark Kay, and Albert Bola
Guide to authenticity
Analysis of the four-cylinder engine
Production numbers of the early fours

Mercedes-Benz SL W113 Series 1963 to 1971

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 1:12:48 GMT

Description

It's hard to believe, but the 113-series Mercedes-Benz SL was launched almost 50 years ago. However, its timeless styling has kept it fresh and attractive in the eyes of new generations of enthusiasts, as well as those returning to this classic German machine, having owned one when they were still current.
But the W113 isn't just a visual treat: its combination of superb original design, peerless engineering and build quality has ensured that many of these cars can still be seen in regular use today, with reliability and practicality adding to the desirability of the series.

Covering the SL's ever-changing specification, its competition record, and its presence in many of the world's major markets is a huge task, but it's all presented here in definitive detail, along with stunning contemporary photography, in a volume that will readily grace any reference library shelf or connoisseur's coffee table.

Audi TT 1.8L turbo, 3.2L petrol incl. Roadster and Quattro 2000 - 2006 Workshop Manual

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 2:02:15 GMT

Description

Service to Audi owners is of top priority to Audi and has always included the continuing development and introduction of new and expanded services. Whether you're a professional or a do-it-yourself Audi owner, this manual will help you understand, care for, and repair your Audi.

Although the do-it-yourself Audi owner will find this manual indispensable as a source of theory of operation and step-by-step maintenance and repair information, the Audi owner who has no intention of working on his or her car will find that reading and owning this manual will make it possible to discuss repairs more intelligently with a professional technician.

Production years: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006

Features:

Maintenance procedures: from oil changes to belt replacement.
Engine and cylinder head service, including timing belt replacement for 4-cylinder engines.
Removal, installation and testing of Motronic fuel injection system components.
Exhaust system component replacement, including secondary air injection system.
Drivetrain maintenance, troubleshooting, adjustment and repair, including clutch, gearshift linkage, and drive axles.
Suspension component replacement, including front struts, rear shocks, springs, front stabilizer bar and alignment procedures and specifications.
Body adjustment and repairs, including front door components, fenders, bumper covers and convertible top replacement.
Interior equipment, door panels, trim panels and removal and installation of front and rear seats.
Heating and air-conditioning component replacement.
Electrical system troubleshooting and repair, including instrument cluster, sound system, lighting and switches.
Full model line wiring diagrams with fuse and relay locations, including an easy-to-use illustrated component locator section.
Audi OBD II diagnostic trouble codes, SAE-defined OBD II P-codes, as well as basic scan tool operation.
Comprehensive Audi factory tolerances, wear limits, adjustments, and tightening torques.

Engines:

1.8 liter turbo gasoline (engine code: ATC, AWP, AMU, BEA) 3.2 liter gasoline (engine code: BHE)

Transmissions:

02J 5-speed manual (front-wheel drive)
02M/02Y 5- and 6-speed manual (all-wheel drive) 09G 6-speed automatic (front-wheel drive)
02E 6-speed DSG (all-wheel drive)

Tiff Gear The Autobiography of Tiff Needell

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 5:01:07 GMT

Description

Few have raced and driven in such a wide variety of cars as Tiff Needell, but when you add a television career that has made him famous across the world, his story becomes absolutely unique.

Tiff Gear takes you across six decades of motorsport history from a wide-eyed little boy clinging to the fence at Goodwood dreaming of being a racing driver to a television presenter on both Top Gear and Fifth Gear.

That Tiff made it from winning a racing car in a magazine competition to joining the elite ranks of the Grand Prix grid is a story in itself, and a world away from the modern ladder of karting to Formula One climbed by the likes of Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton.

He was a racing fan who had to take on a full-time job as a civil engineer while preparing his own racing car in a little lock-up garage in order to work his way to the top. Grand Prix stardom was all too brief but nevertheless a professional racing career blossomed and took him all over the world, from the banked track of Daytona Beach to the narrow streets of Macau not to mention 14 Le Mans 24 Hour races.

Tiff's TV career started as a sideline but, with ratings soaring, Top Gear's original tame racing driver soon found his fame spreading fast. When Top Gear was taken off the air he helped create Fifth Gear and now has over 20 years of television experiences to add to his 40-plus seasons of racing.
With a story that begins with one of his great uncle's planes helping to sink the Bismarck, Tiff Gear takes you on a journey through a sport that has been not just his life but his passion as well.

Jorge Lorenzo My Story So Far (3rd edition)

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 4:30:24 GMT

Description

Jorge Lorenzo has always wanted to be different and, since the very beginning, his journey from child prodigy to MotoGP World Champion has been set apart by its uniqueness, from his genius on a motorcycle to an extraordinary gift for philosophy.

In this remarkable autobiography, now in its third edition, Jorge opens his heart about the high and low points of his life the rifts and rivalries, the disciplines and rewards. It is a rare tale of a young man's journey of self-discovery, his quest to uncover the secrets of charisma and humility, and his drive to become not only the best racer he can be but the best person too.

David Jefferies The Official Biography

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 4:05:32 GMT

Description

Inscribed on the gravestone of David Jefferies is: 'Those who risk nothing do nothing, achieve nothing, become nothing'.

As the undisputed master of the most dangerous race track in the world, the Isle of Man TT course, the affable Yorkshireman risked so much and achieved legendary status before losing his life in practice for the 2003 TT. This is his inspiring story.