Random House New Releases - Transportation - Between November 28, 2008 and December 28, 2009.

Morris Minor by Ray Newell

2009-11-17T00:30:00-05:00

Morris Minor
Written by Ray Newell

Scottish Fishing Boats by Matthew Tanner

2009-11-17T00:30:00-05:00

Scottish Fishing Boats
Written by Matthew Tanner

This book introduces the history of the Scottish fishing vessel and chronicles the developments that have created fishing machines which are not only highly effective tools but a delight to the eyes as well. Fishing has an unglamorous reputation, yet the story of the fishing boat is one of continual innovation and experiment in design and technology. A number of vernacular boat types have appeared, each one admirably adapted to its peculiar environment and its particular tasks. By 1900 the fishing boat had been developed into the famous very large and very fast luggers known as fifies and zulus, but at the time steam power and very then motor power were swiftly being taken on board. The variations in fishing fortune since the Second World War have seen the advent of the multi-purpose all-weather fishing vessel fully equiped with the latest in electronic safety, navigation and fish-finding gear. Now from his wheelhouse armchair the skipper of a modern purse-seiner can effectively outfish the combined efforts of five hundred boats of 1840 and still spend only one quarter of the time at sea.

Vintage Motorcycles by Jeff Clew

2009-11-17T00:30:00-05:00

Vintage Motorcycles
Written by Jeff Clew

After the close of the First World War, the British motorcycle industry rose to prominence as British motorcycles became almost unbeatable in competitions. However, a shortage of these new model bikes pushed prices to a premium and most people were forced to settle for prewar designs. These high prices led to greater competition, and greater competition lead to swifter and more innovative development. By the mid 1920s the overhead valve engine came into its own, with enhanced performance, and then the overhead camshaft engine with even greater potential. Internal expanding hub brakes kept safety in step with increased performance. The later 1920s brought about further significant changes when wired-on tyres came into general use and electric lighting replaced acetylene lights. Appearance was improved when chromium plating took the place of nickel and the saddle tank rendered the old flat tank superfluous.

Packed with illustrations of the bikes in use , this book is a celebration of the golden years of British motorcycles.

Brooklands by Nicholas Lancaster

2009-10-20T00:30:00-05:00

Brooklands Cradle of British Motor Racing and Aviation
Written by Nicholas Lancaster

Brooklands, near Weybridge in Surrey, holds a unique and highly important place in the histories of both motoring and aviation. It was the first purpose-built motor racing track in Britain and the first major circuit in the world. From 1907 to the outbreak of the Second World War, the banked circuit was the epicenter of British motor sport, and events at Brooklands - races and speed record attempts - were an important part of the sporting and social calendar.

Motor sport was not the only activity for which Brooklands was famous, however: it became an important center for aviation. The first flight of a British pilot in a British aircraft took place there in 1908, and Britain's first flying school was opened within the circuit in 1910. Several manufacturers began aircraft production at Brooklands, and the most important of these, Vickers, took over large parts of the site when motor racing stopped in 1939. Many aircraft, including the Wellington bomber, were built here in large numbers during the war.

When peace returned in 1945 the race track at Brooklands was in poor condition and built over in places. Racing never resumed, but the aviation history of the site grew ever stronger, with design and production of airliners including the VC-10 and Concorde. Today Brooklands is home to a thriving museum and, as the years pass, more and more of the old track is being restored to its former glory. This book tells the story of this unique and important site, and conjures up the atmosphere of pre-war race meetings, of wartime aircraft production, and the birth of some of the world's most famous aeroplanes.

Victorian and Edwardian Horse Cabs by Trevor May

2009-09-22T00:30:00-05:00

Victorian and Edwardian Horse Cabs
Written by Trevor May

The Hansom cab is one of the most striking images of the Victorian city, but it was not the only type of cab in use during the Victorian and Edwardian periods. Much of the work was done by the 'growler', a four-wheeled cab that rattled through the streets, laden with luggage and with families eager to catch a train. Trevor May travels through the streets of Victorian and Edwardian England to trace the origins of the horse cab and the improvements in its design throughout the period, and to celebrate the cab drivers themselves, who had a reputation for quick-wittedness and repartee equal to that enjoyed by today's taxi-driver.

The London Bus by James Taylor

2009-09-22T00:30:00-05:00

The London Bus
Written by James Taylor

The red double decker bus is one of the enduring images of London. Although now increasingly replaced by modern bendy buses, the classic rear-entrance double-decker still appears on postcards, keyrings, t-shirts and other tourist souvenirs. Successor to the horse-drawn London buses of the nineteenth century, the B-type double-decker first appeared in the Edwardian period, and was the first in a classic line of London motorbuses. Take a trip back in time to explore the story of the London bus, from horse-drawn to bendy bus. With special attention paid to the much-loved double-decker, the author discusses bus design, manufacture and operation, plus the work of drivers and conductors, making this the perfect celebration of the best-loved bus in the world.

The Rover by George Mowat-Brown

2009-09-22T00:30:00-05:00

The Rover
Written by George Mowat-Brown

For over a century, no surviving marque so accurately charted the triumphs and tribulations of the British motor-manufacturing industry as Rover. This book traces the history of the company, starting with the cycle-making precursors of the Rover Company Limited. Covering the struggle through the Depression of the 1930s, and the expansions, mergers and contractions of the post-war period - the time of Rover's greatest success - the author then discusses Rover's placement within British Aerospace, the influence of the Japanese company Honda, and the ownership by BMW and the Phoenix Consortium. This book celebrates the history of Britain's last volume car producer, up to its sale to the Nanjing Corporation of China.

The London Taxi by Bill Munro

2009-08-18T00:30:00-05:00

The London Taxi
Written by G.N. Georgano and Bill Munro

The London Taxi is an iconic image of London transport and society. The unique vehicle is the only one in the world to be specifically designed for hire work in cities, and its distinctive turning circle of only 25 feet, a direct result of the strict regulations of design stipulated by the Public Carriage Office, serves it well for maneuvering through the busy traffic of the capital. Since the introduction of the London taxicab, a great variety of taxis have been produced and placed on the city's streets although the market has always been dominated by a few names, Austin being the leading taxi manufacturer in the 1930s and for decades after. This album follows the development of the taxi from its early years in the city through to the later models in the post-war era. Illustrated throughout with many black and white and color photographs, The London Taxi paints an image of the changing lifestyles of Londoners through the context of the growing cab trade and the many different styles of taxi that have served the people of London.

Traffic by Tom Vanderbilt

2009-08-11T00:30:00-05:00

Traffic Why We Drive the Way We Do (and What It Says About Us)
Written by Tom Vanderbilt

A New York Times Notable Book

One of the Best Books of the Year
The Washington Post • The Cleveland Plain-Dealer • Rocky Mountain News

In this brilliant, lively, and eye-opening investigation, Tom Vanderbilt examines the perceptual limits and cognitive underpinnings that make us worse drivers than we think we are. He demonstrates why plans to protect pedestrians from cars often lead to more accidents. He uncovers who is more likely to honk at whom, and why. He explains why traffic jams form, outlines the unintended consequences of our quest for safety, and even identifies the most common mistake drivers make in parking lots. Traffic is about more than driving: it's about human nature. It will change the way we see ourselves and the world around us, and it may even make us better drivers.

Old Delivery Vans by Nick Baldwin

2009-06-23T00:30:00-05:00

Old Delivery Vans
Written by Nick Baldwin

Providing a vital service to communities and businesses over the years, delivery vans have evolved through time, with many different models taking to the road. In the 1920s and 1930s many types of unusual bodywork were fitted and numerous and diverse technical specifications were available. Exploring the fascinating development of old delivery vans, the author discusses the improvements and fashions up to the 1960s, including the advances in locomotion from steam to petrol, electricity and diesel. With a close look at the Ford Model T, which first brought the van within the reach of high street business, and then at the more purpose-built light vans after 1945, this is a comprehensive and fully illustrated introduction to the history and design of classic delivery vans.

The Model T Ford by Jonathan Wood

2009-05-19T00:30:00-05:00

The Model T Ford
Written by Jonathan Wood

Trade Paperback, 40 pages | Shire | Transportation - Automotive - Antique & Classic | $11.95 | May 19, 2009 | 978-0-7478-0432-1 (0-7478-0432-X)

With 16.5 million built between 1908 and 1927, the Model T Ford was, until overtaken in the 1970s by the Volkswagen Beetle, the most popular car in automotive history. Mass-produced in America and around the globe, such was the Model T's market penetration and value-for-money that in 1921 Henry Ford's deceptively robust Tin Lizzie accounted for every other car on the highways of the world. Illustrated with many rare contemporary photographs from the Ford archives, this album charts the model's nineteen-year evolution and seeks to explain how this quirky, ingenious motor car put the world on wheels.

Random House New Releases - Transportation - Between November 28, 2008 and December 28, 2009.

Morris Minor by Ray Newell

Morris Minor Written by Ray Newell

Scottish Fishing Boats by Matthew Tanner

Scottish Fishing Boats Written by Matthew Tanner

Vintage Motorcycles by Jeff Clew

Vintage Motorcycles Written by Jeff Clew

Brooklands by Nicholas Lancaster

Brooklands Cradle of British Motor Racing and AviationWritten by Nicholas Lancaster

Victorian and Edwardian Horse Cabs by Trevor May

Victorian and Edwardian Horse Cabs Written by Trevor May

The London Bus by James Taylor

The London Bus Written by James Taylor

The Rover by George Mowat-Brown

The Rover Written by George Mowat-Brown

The London Taxi by Bill Munro

The London Taxi Written by G.N. Georgano and Bill Munro

Traffic by Tom Vanderbilt

Traffic Why We Drive the Way We Do (and What It Says About Us)Written by Tom Vanderbilt

Old Delivery Vans by Nick Baldwin

Old Delivery Vans Written by Nick Baldwin

The Model T Ford by Jonathan Wood

The Model T Ford Written by Jonathan Wood

Morris Minor
Written by Ray Newell

Scottish Fishing Boats
Written by Matthew Tanner

Vintage Motorcycles
Written by Jeff Clew

Brooklands Cradle of British Motor Racing and Aviation
Written by Nicholas Lancaster

Victorian and Edwardian Horse Cabs
Written by Trevor May

The London Bus
Written by James Taylor

The Rover
Written by George Mowat-Brown

The London Taxi
Written by G.N. Georgano and Bill Munro

Traffic Why We Drive the Way We Do (and What It Says About Us)
Written by Tom Vanderbilt

Old Delivery Vans
Written by Nick Baldwin

The Model T Ford
Written by Jonathan Wood