The Automobile - 30th Anniversaty Edition - 1982-2012

There are people who regard an old motor car as a troublesome collection of obsolete machinery, suitable only for the scrapyard or an expensive restoration that will never quite be finished. Then there are those who see a rusting radiator, a brass headlamp or an elderly engine and experience something approaching religious devotion. For these enthusiasts, the motor car is not merely a means of transport but a magnificent historical artefact, preferably one that requires considerable mechanical attention and an understanding bank manager. In The Automobile ? 30th Anniversary Edition 1982?2012 (2012), Jonathan Rishton celebrates three decades of one of Britain?s most respected publications devoted to historic motoring. Published by Enthusiast Publishing Ltd, this commemorative volume reflects the extraordinary world of veteran, Edwardian and vintage automobiles, recalling the machines, personalities and stories that have fascinated generations of dedicated collectors. The automobile?s early history was a wonderfully chaotic period of mechanical experimentation, when inventors enthusiastically attached engines to wheeled contraptions and hoped that the resulting machinery would travel in approximately the intended direction. Some designs were masterpieces of ingenuity, while others demonstrated that possessing a workshop and an ambitious imagination did not necessarily qualify somebody to revolutionise transportation. Over the decades, these pioneering machines became treasured survivors of a vanished age, admired for their craftsmanship, engineering originality and remarkable ability to remain operational despite having been manufactured before most modern conveniences were invented. The world of historic motoring possesses its own delightful eccentricities. Enthusiasts will happily spend years researching obscure manufacturers, locating unobtainable components and debating the correct finish of a dashboard fitting that approximately six people worldwide have ever examined. A perfectly ordinary individual may develop an extraordinary passion for pre-war carburettors, while another devotes an entire summer to restoring a vehicle that will subsequently travel twenty miles annually. This anniversary celebration reflects the passion and historical curiosity that have sustained The Automobile over thirty years, preserving an appreciation of motoring history that extends far beyond glamorous sports cars and famous manufacturers. The forgotten marques, unusual engineering experiments and everyday machines of earlier generations all deserve their place in the remarkable story of automotive development. There is something reassuring about a publication devoted to preserving the past in an industry permanently obsessed with the future. While manufacturers introduce increasingly sophisticated vehicles equipped with electronic assistance and enormous touchscreens, the historic motoring enthusiast remains perfectly content investigating why a century-old magneto has suddenly stopped cooperating. Condition: Good. This is a previously owned copy of the 2012 anniversary edition, displaying ordinary signs of age and handling. Unlike many of the historic vehicles celebrated within, it requires no replacement wooden body framing, painstaking engine rebuild or prolonged search for a specialist capable of manufacturing obsolete components. Published by Enthusiast Publishing Ltd in 2012. ISBN: 9780957458802. Offered by Crappy Old Books , where we admire the magnificent determination of classic motoring enthusiasts to preserve mechanical history, particularly when their endeavours involve more expense, frustration and shed space than most reasonable people would consider entirely sensible. An excellent addition to any collection of veteran and vintage motoring literature, automotive history or classic car memorabilia. Particularly recommended for enthusiasts who understand that an old car is never simply an old car, but a priceless piece of heritage t.…