Book Reviews, November 1957, November 1957
“The Restoration of Vintage and Thoroughbred Cars,” by Richard C. Wheatley and Brian Morgan. 192 pp. 9 in. by 6 in. (B. T. Batsford Ltd., 4, Fitzhardinge Street, London, W.1. 30s.)
Here is a practical book of interest to these embarking on the task of restoring a vintage or pre-war thoroughbred car, yet produced in a quality in keeping with Batsford’s other motoring books. The authors, who include photographic reproductions of the 1931 Rolls-Royce Barker-bodied Phantom II and vintage 4½-1itre Bentley on which they gained their experience of restorative work, deal with their subject in great detail. Indeed, they give advice on finding a suitable subject for restoration and then take the reader stage by stage through the processes of dismantling, cleaning, inspecting and rebuilding the chassis, axles, steering gear, shock-absorbers, gearbox, transmission, radiator, fuel system, controls, electrical equipment, and body, with asides on all manner of detail work. Finally, there are chapters on painting, coach trimming, special processes and workshop equipment. This useful book concludes with a list of suppliers of equipment and appropriate clubs and registers. It is copiously illustrated and has a nice dust jacket featuring 22/90 Alfa-Romeo and Rolls-Royce cars. — W.B.
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“Model Maker Annual,” compiled by Vic Smeed. 120 pp., 10 in. by 7½ in. (Model Aeronautical Press Ltd., 38, Clarendon Road, Watford, Herts. 10s.)
This annual, with hosts of drawings and photographic reproductions, not forgetting plans, covers every aspect of model making and is exceptionally good value for 10s. The model car builder, whether scale non-working or of competition persuasion, is adequately catered for. — W.B.
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The Dunlop Rubber Company has issued an attractive book dealing with race winners at Le Mans from the inception of the great 24-Hour Race. It contains rather poor drawings of all the winning cars. Copies are available free, on application to Fort Dunlop, Birmingham, mentioning Motor Sport.
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Those who wish to obtain a proper understanding of glass-fibre and its application to the construction of car bodies, boats and items of domestic equipment, should find interesting the Bondaglass Handbook, by G. M. Lewis. Bondaglass Ltd., 55, South End, Croydon, Surrey, supply it, for 2s. post free.
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The Things They Say . . .
“To me, its grinning, short-beer grille looks like a horse that has eaten too many green apples.” — Tom McCahill, testing the M.G. MGA for Mechanix Illustrated.
Pity The Unhappy Historian
All the reports of the Modena Grand Prix we have seen credit Jean Behra with winning this race at the wheel of a new V12 Maserati. It seems that only ” D.S.J.” of Motor Sport got it right—Behra won in a six-cylinder Maserati.