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NEW BOOK! British Specialist Cars, Specials & Kits 1945-60

Definitive A-Z Encylopaedia of Low-Volume British Sports Cars

By Chris Rees

Following World War 2, private car manufacturers were in ruins and austerity reigned. Invention follows necessity and an era of ingenuity and rebirth blossomed. With car ownership still an unreachable dream for many, the notion of buying your own sports car seemed way out of reach.

 

Yet a new industry quickly sprang up, building sports cars that enthusiasts craved. This was a time when a chassis and glassfibre body could be bought for the price of a cheap second-hand banger. Home builders could now create their own ‘specials’, either from scratch or using kits of parts – a major new innovation.

 

This fascinating and meticulously researched book tells the story of the post-war British specialist car industry and the birth of the kit car movement from 1945 on. As well as familiar names like Lotus, TVR and Ginetta, this book features pioneers like Buckler, RGS and Rochdale, plus dozens of obscure makes and models which have never been seen in a book before.

The full list of marques covered is: AKS, Ashley, Astra, Auto Bodies, Bonglass, Bowden, Brookes, Brooks, Buckler, Buroche, Cambridge, Concord, Convair, Conversion/Naco, CRS, CSC, Dante, Dellow, Delta, Dolphin, EB, Elva, Fairlite, Fairthorpe, Falcon, Fibrous, Frisky, Galt-Glass, Gilbern, Ginetta, GSM, Halifax, Hamblin, Hepworth, Heron, HG, Kenmar/Shirley, Leonard, Littabourne, LMB, Lockwood, Lotus, Marcos, Markham-Peasey, Martin, Microplas, Nickri, Nobel, Nordec, Opperman, Peel, Rejo, RGS, Rochdale, Speedex, Speedy, Super, Terrier, Tornado, Townend, Turner, TVR, TWM, Universal, Versil, Victory, Vixen, VW, Watford, Watling and Weslite. Numerous one-offs and specials are also illustrated. 

* 152 pages

* Hundreds of photographs

* 73 makes

* 156 different models

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ALSO AVAILABLE: The Magnificent 7 – Fourth Edition 

The Magnificent 7 (4th Edition): The enthusiast's guide to all models of Lotus and Caterham Seven, from 1957 to the present day - BY CHRIS REES

Getting behind the wheel of a Caterham or Lotus Seven is one of the most exhilarating experiences for any driver. The fourth edition of this well-respected and informative book includes details of the models produced in the five years since the third edition was published, and gives a full model listing, specification and driving impressions for each of the Lotus and Caterham Sevens, together with a guide to purchase and restoration, a summary of the main developments, and useful contacts.

Further to the various versions of the Lotus-built Seven, there are more than 80 models produced under the Caterham marque. In 1973, the company then owned by Graham Nearn took over the manufacturing rights from Lotus and has carried on developing this back-to-basics sports car ever since.

Detailed coverage of each of the cars, from the original Lotus Seven S1 Ford through to the Caterham Super Sprint. A timeline of main developments chassis, engine, transmission, suspension. Caterham kits and race cars. Fully updated to include models such as the 160, 270, 310, 420, 480, 620R, AeroSeven, Sprint, Super Sprint, Harrods Edition and Donington Edition. Also detailed are Caterham projects such as the 21, SP/300.R, C120, Formula 1 and LEGO 620R.

In addition there's guidance on purchase, restoration, motorsport and tuning, as well as useful contacts such as the factory, clubs, agents and specialists.

* 256 pages

* Over 500 illustrations

* Over 100 different Lotus & Caterham versions

ALSO AVAILABLE: Three-Wheelers A-Z by Chris Rees

The definitive encyclopaedia of three-wheeled cars vehicles from 1940 to date

This fantastic book about 3-wheeled cars and other vehicles from award-winning motoring author Chris Rees tells the full story of three-wheeled vehicles from 1940 onwards.

This essential A-Z reference book profiles every single three-wheeled vehicle – no fewer than 1,122 different types – with over 1,600 illustrations, many of them never seen before in print. The fascinating story of a hugely diverse branch of the motoring world details a whole myriad of captivating and unusual three-wheelers, including:

• Trikes, bubble cars, microcars, tuk tuks
• High performance trikes, exotics & prototypes                                   
• Kit cars, flying cars, amphibious cars
• Cabin scooters, invalid carriages

* 240 pages

* Over 1,600 illustrations

* Entries for 1,122 different three-wheelers