The straight eight engine, also known as the inline eight engine, was the driving force behind some of the most fascinating luxury vehicles of the first half of the twentieth century. From its introduction in the 1920s through its demise in the 1950s, the straight eight graced a number of upmarket vehicles from makers like Pontiac, Packard, and Daimler, and even appeared under the hood of the hyper-exclusive Rolls-Royce Phantom IV, of which only eighteen models were produced. Although it was eventually replaced by the V8 engine, the straight eight engine can be found in some of the most valuable and sought-after vehicles of all time. Keith Ray's The Straight Eight Engine is the first volume to be published about this extraordinary mechanism. Featuring four hundred images, the book is a lush tribute to an automotive component likely to never be equaled for smoothness and refinement.

Reprint of the original.

At the heart of every great car, there lies a great engine. The high-performance muscle car; the high-mileage family car; the high-speed race car: no matter the vintage or voltage, the torque or the task, the car with the power to move Americans—and the world—boasts an engine of remarkable ingenuity, dependability, and power. American Horsepower: 100 Years of Great Car Engines pays tribute to 25 outstanding American-made engines valued for their raw horsepower or their design simplicity, their longevity or their design innovation—or, in rare instances, all of the above. Bringing an auto enthusiast’s touch to the subject, author and photographer Mike Mueller details each engine’s conception, creators, specifications, performance records, and more. His knowledgeable, accessible text, accompanied by historical images, crisp detail shots, and studio-quality photographs, conveys with precision and unfailing interest the driving power of the great American engine.

"Art of the Classic Car showcases the most beautiful and in some cases rare vehicles of the early 20th century. Each car is showcased with breathtaking photography and coupled with explicit, informative prose detailing the particular history of each model"-Provided by publisher.

A detailed study of the medium sized touring cars in the extensive range built by Bugatti during the fifteen years following the 1914-18 war. Aspects of design and development are considered together with pictures of components and chassis commencing with the Type 28 culminating with the Type 49. These cars represented the bulk of production and typify the Bugatti style and design, which was the basis of the company's unique standing in the field of automobile engineering. Over one hundred and fifty different cars are depicted via over 200 principally contemporary photographs, many of which have not been published before. The works of many different coachbuilders, throughout Europe, built upon these chassis are illustrated together with tables showing their market position compared with other makes and models, which were competitors. A study of the performance of these cars in competition is included together with a survey of the fall and rise in values over eight decades. The book represents an important addition to the series already produced by Veloce covering models Type 40, Types 46/50 and Types 57/57S. The royalties pass to the Bugatti Trust, a foundation dedicated to the study of the works of Ettore Bugatti and the furtherance of aesthetics in engineering design.

"The thrilling story of America's greatest cars and their trail-blazing achievements in the Great Events. Richly illustrated with scores of rare and original photographs, many from the famous Lazarnick Collection ... Every known detail of the birth and development of every American sports car"--Dustjacket.

Beast was the nickname of a shocking new race engine unveiled for the 1994 Indianapolis 500. The massive effort to design and build it in a seemingly impossible timeframe is still hailed as one of the most herculean efforts and well-kept secrets in the history of the Indy 500. In the award-winning book, Beast, bestselling author Jade Gurss chronicles the subterfuge and debunks the myths about this legendary power plant that persist twenty years on. Gurss interviewed key players involved in the race to uncover the story of how this engine powered the Penske PC23 chassis to one of the most talked-about Indy 500 races in history. The British race-engine experts at Ilmor Engineering offer detail about the design and manufacture of the engine. Roger Penske's team reveals how the engine and car were tested and developed, and how Mercedes came to be involved in the project. The story unfolds as Roger Penske and Mario Illien and Paul Morgan of Ilmor play every card they possess to create an incredible race engine--even rare World War II fighter planes and supersonic jets roar into the heart of this high-tech tale. Drivers Al Unser Jr. of the United States and Paul Tracy of Canada provide details on the tense weeks leading up to race day. The book reaches a suspenseful climax at 240 miles per hour at the Indy 500 noone can forget. Wrapped up in the drama and intrigue are real business and motivational lessons which made Roger Penske one of the most successful businessmen in the world and that helped Ilmor and its cofounders, Mario Illien and the late Paul Morgan, design and manufacture Indy car and Formula 1 championship-winning engines. Beast is not only a must-read for sports and race fans, but a compelling narrative for those who enjoy genuine lessons in business and technology or thrilling mysteries based on actual events.