CAR book club: March 2024

Upon opening this book, my expectations were of a logically laid-out history publication on speedy blue ovals. However, the truth did take a few Scandinavian flicks.

It’s not a history of fast Fords as you might expect it. Instead, it’s more of an elongated story of Walton’s experience in various tuned Fords he’s driven over the years for different publications. From driving Jim Clark’s MK1 Lotus Cortina in period to attending the launch of the Focus WRC rally car.

No, it isn’t as easy to follow as a conventional history book. It’s very text heavy and rarely takes a break with photographs, and the chapters aren’t that consistent. But once you have enough time and really focus on Walton’s exquisite writing, my God is it good.

He picks out extracts from his period road tests as and when each car was new. A particular favourite is from Walton’s Feb 1969 feature in Cars and Car Conversions when testing a Ford Falcon racer: “I regroup my thoughts at the start of a flying lap into the first corner, Corpse. Change down to third, and try to place the Falcon tight around the curve, ease the throttle respectfully down and feel all those litres hurling it towards Maggots. Brake very hard and into third for Becketts, give it a fair bootful on the exit and feel the seat trying to force a way through my spine.”

Needless to say, that’s just a thousandth of the immersive, truly great motoring journalism lines littered within this publication. And the only way you can read the rest is by having a copy of your own.

The Pontiac Firebird was the sister of the more well-known Chevrolet Camaro, and alongside the GTO, was the brand’s way of diverting away from the elderly drivers’ image and into a younger, more dynamic new identity.

This new publication tells the whole story of the model since its inception in 1967 all the way up to its demise in 2002. Detail on all models is included from the early six-cylinder Sprint 6 all the way up to the Trans Am S.D 455. There’s even a quirky tale on a one-off powered by a 4.4 litre V12 from a Ferrari Daytona.

But most of us will recognise the Firebird from two examples of popular media. Did you know that a year after Smokey and the Bandit was released, sales of the Firebird rose by 30,000 units? Knight Rider had a similar effect, and the book is full of these interesting little insights as well as all the technical detail you could ever need.  

There is also a neat technical data sheet on the back pages which breaks down the specifications of the notable Firebird models over the years. It’s here when you begin to see the effects of oil crises and subsequent emissions regulations. If you’re into your American cars and looking to learn more, this is a great place to learn. Marc Cranswick does a great job at providing context when explaining the history of each model, comparing them to rival muscle/pony cars and even cars from across the Atlantic.

My favourite part, however, is the Forward of all chapters. That’s because it was written by a man called John Schinella. In the sixties, he helped work on and design Cadillacs, the Chevrolet Camaro, and the C3 Corvette. He went on to do the 1977 & 78 Firebirds and would eventually go on to work on the original sketch of K.I.T.T for Knight Rider. He had a long career at GM and subsequently Pontiac, and his words introduce the book very nicely.

Upon opening this glossy autobiography of designer, Keith Helfet, you’re introduced to some bizarre images of a Triumph Spitfire that looks as though it’s been roughly covered in polyurethane foam and plaster mould. Soon afterwards, you begin to learn that this was an artistic designer’s eye in the making – and he eventually ended up with something you might be used to seeing in a Gerry Anderson production.

Throughout this beautifully crafted and illustrated publication, there are design moulds, sketches, and photographs of Helfet’s highlight cars. The chapters of the Jaguar XJ220, XK180 prototype, and earlier XJ41 are the main batches of reading. Learning the backstories behind these cars and what Helfet was briefed with makes for a great coffee-break read on a Sunday morning.

Anyone keen with automotive design, Jaguars, and prototypes that never quite made it through to production, is guaranteed to enjoy this book. There’s even a detailed insight into how and why the XJ41 was then cancelled – after spending £50 million - before Ford merged it into the Aston Martin DB7.

It really is a quality book of tales, insight into both design and the car business. And because car designers tend to look beyond four wheels, the story even includes the design of an MRI scanner, Jaguar branded watches and perfume bottles.

The latest issue of CAR delves deeply into new, rather important electric vehicles coming soon to the showrooms. It’s been a wash of premium, very upmarket stuff over the past few years, but it seems manufacturers are finally getting to grips with affordable models.

The insights include a dive into what is set to be an impactful new Tesla – one that’s set to start at around the £25,000 mark. If all plays out accurately, competitors have a lot to worry about. But that’s not all, Volkswagen’s ID.2 is set to join the party, as well as the new Renault 5 EV. It’s an interesting insight into how the old European guard are going retro in order to try and draw consumers away from Tesla and Chinese marques.

And if you like your commercial vehicles, we have a four-way van group test. The Ford Transit Custom, VW ID.Buzz Cargo, Vauxhall Vivaro, and Toyota Pro Ace are put to test to find out which one is the best all-rounder.

Sports car fans, don’t worry; there’s a huge read on the new Aston Martin V8 Vantage as well as a dreamy exploration of Singer’s reimagined Porsche 911 range, which includes our own Ben Barry riding shotgun in a new Turbocharged test mule.

We're taking inspiration from the Ferrari F40 with this beautiful art-deco coffee maker. Like the Ferrari, it's made from aluminium and made in Italy, but it makes coffee as opposed to 478bhp. First introduced in 1933, this coffee maker is simple to use and makes delicious coffee.

Because you might want to have a coffee break whilst reading an extensive car book. We ought to include some actual coffee – or rather a neat machine by Nespresso that makes some.

The books we’ve reviewed are long reads, and you may want to take some short breaks. The Nespresso machine is perfect for the luxury. Not only does it look slick like a finely engineered part on a Porsche, but it delivers sublime coffee. Perfect if you need a quick boost.