More than 1,000 photographs in b&w and color illustrate the extraordinary variety of sports cars that have been offered to the public. All the great names are featured, including cars from Israel, Egypt, Spain, Switzerland, Norway and Brazil.

In the forty-year period between 1951 and 1991, Canadian sports car competition underwent a massive change, transforming itself from an amateur recreational pastime to a commercialized profession and from an individual sport to a spectacle for mass consumption. The Chequered Past is the story of the struggle over power and purpose within the Canadian auto sport that led to this transformation. The first comprehensive history of sports car racing and rallying in Canada, The Chequered Past traces the efforts of the national governing body - the Canadian Auto Sport Clubs (CASC) - to bring its sports car competition up to a 'world class' level, and to manage the consequences of those efforts in the second half of the twentieth century. David Charters traces the social origins of the sport and the major trends that shaped it: professionalism, technological change, rising costs, and the influence of commercial sponsors. Charters argues that while early enthusiasts set the sport on a course toward professionalism that would eventually produce world-class Canadian events and racers, that course would also ultimately change the purpose of the sport: from personal recreation to mass entertainment. As technological innovations drove up the costs of competing at the top ranks, racers were forced to rely on sponsors, who commercialized and ultimately gained control of the sport. The end result, Charters argues, was the marginalization of the amateur competitor and of the CASC itself. Based on extensive research into the CASC's records and dozens of interviews with former competitors and officials, The Chequered Past opens a window into the rich but virtually unknown history of the auto sport, and claims for it a place in Canadian sports history.

This study chronicles the success of the Japanese car in America. Starting with Japan's first gasoline-powered car, the Takuri, it examines early Japanese inventors and automotive conditions in Japan; the arrival of Japanese cars in California in the late 1950s; consumer and media reactions to Japanese manufacturers; what obstacles they faced; initial sales; and how the cars gained popularity through shrewd marketing. Toyota, Honda, Datsun (Nissan), Mazda, Subaru, Isuzu, and Mitsubishi are profiled individually from their origins through the present. An examination follows of the forced cooperation between American and Japanese manufacturers, the present state of the industry in America, and the possible future of this union, most importantly in the race for a more environmentally-sound vehicle.

This comprehensive reference guide reviews the literature concerning the impact of the automobile on American social, economic, and political history. Covering the complete history of the automobile to date, twelve chapters of bibliographic essays describe the important works in a series of related topics and provide broad thematic contexts. This work includes general histories of the automobile, the industry it spawned and labor-management relations, as well as biographies of famous automotive personalities. Focusing on books concerned with various social aspects, chapters discuss such issues as the car's influence on family life, youth, women, the elderly, minorities, literature, and leisure and recreation. Berger has also included works that investigate the government's role in aiding and regulating the automobile, with sections on roads and highways, safety, and pollution. The guide concludes with an overview of reference works and periodicals in the field and a description of selected research collections. The Automobile in American History and Culture provides a resource with which to examine the entire field and its structure. Popular culture scholars and enthusiasts involved in automotive research will appreciate the extensive scope of this reference. Cross-referenced throughout, it will serve as a valuable research tool.

During the 1960s, the automobile finally secured its position as an indispensable component of daily life in Britain. Car ownership more than doubled from approximately one car for every 10 people in 1960 to one car for every 4.8 people by 1970. Consumers no longer asked "Do we need a car?" but "What car shall we have?" This well-illustrated history analyzes how both domestic car manufacturers and importers advertised their products in this growing market, identifying trends and themes. Over 180 advertisement illustrations are included.

Whether you're a vintage car spotter or an armchair petrolhead, strap yourself in for an unforgettable ride through motoring history. This sumptuously designed visual e-guide includes everything you could ever want to know about cars through the ages, from the earliest "horseless carriage" to the modern supercar and Formula 1. Inside the pages of this visually stunning car encyclopedia, you'll discover an iconic celebration of automotive design and motoring history. - Trace the history of the car decade-by-decade in stunning visual detail - In-depth profiles highlight the most important cars of each period along with their specifications and special features - Includes beautifully photographed "virtual tours" that showcase particularly celebrated cars such as the Ferrari F40 and the Rolls Royce Silver Ghost - Tells the story of the people and companies that created sports cars like Porsche and Lamborghini Take a trip through decades of automotive history See the fastest, biggest, most luxurious, most innovative, and downright sexiest motorized vehicles come to life in the most spectacular way! Packed with stunning photography and featuring more than 2000 cars, Car shows you how the finest cars from every corner of the globe have evolved over the last 130 years. Lavishly illustrated feature spreads reveal the stories behind the car world's most famous marques and models, the geniuses who designed them, and the companies and factories who built them. It's the ultimate gift for men or anyone interested in cars, motoring, and motor racing. This new edition has been updated to include hybrid and electric cars, as well as the cars of today and tomorrow. Want to learn more about machines? There's more to discover in this epic series from DK Books! Take an action-packed flight through the history of air travel in Aircraft. Stay on the right track and step off at the most important and incredible rail routes from all over the world in Train.