With its highly readable text and stunning illustrations, this masterpiece of a book tells the story of the creation, evolution and exploitation of the V12 engine. From the big American V12s of the early 1900s to today's Aston Martin Vanquish V12, these glorious engines have been revered as more than just feats of engineering; in many cases they are respected as works of art. Here is an insightful, analytical and technical history of the V12 engines that have powered some of the most exciting and dramatic cars ever built for road or track.

"In this richly illustrated volume, Karl Ludvigsen takes the reader behind the scenes of the creation of the greatest V12 engines, recalling the effortless urge of the luxurious Hispano-Suiza of the 1930s and the scintillating surge of Lamborghini supercars of the 1960s. From exotic Auburns, Packards and Pierce Arrows in America to Europe's Ferraris, Lagondas and Delahayes, The V12 Engine is a lavish feast for car enthusiasts who relish the untold facts behind the story"--Provided by publisher.

A Dictionary of Mechanical Engineering is one of the latest additions to the market leading Oxford Paperback Reference series. In over 8,500 clear and concise A to Z entries, it provides definitions and explanations for mechanical engineering terms in the core areas of design, stress analysis, dynamics and vibrations, thermodynamics, and fluid mechanics. Topics covered include heat transfer, combustion, control, lubrication, robotics, instrumentation, and measurement. Where relevant, the dictionary also touches on related subject areas such as acoustics, bioengineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, aeronautical engineering, environmental engineering, and materials science. Useful entry-level web links are listed and regularly updated on a dedicated companion website to expand the coverage of the dictionary. Cross-referenced and including many line drawings, this excellent new volume is the most comprehensive and authoritative dictionary of its kind. It is an essential reference for students of mechanical engineering and for anyone with an interest in the subject.