CLASSIC CARS AND BIKES COLLECTION

by Alex Sharkey

Many of the bikes featured in this book are classics from the heyday of motorbike manufacturing. Sadly a number of these famous names – such as Ariel, BSA, and Velocette – are consigned to the history books and the bikes themselves have become more and more of a collector’s item. Many credit the demise of the British motorbike industry to the invasion of the Japanese manufacturers (Kawasaki, Suzuki, Honda and Yamaha) in the 1970s that changed the face of motorcycling in Britain as they established themselves as a global phenomenon but brands such as Royal Enfield, Norton and Triumph have survived into the 21st Century and now proudly cruise the country’s roads alongside the likes of Harley-Davidson and BMW.

by Jed Paine

Ferraris are best known for their sleek, stunning and curvaceous design, eye-watering price tag and standard rosso corsa (race red) paintwork. From the very first Ferrari – the 1947 Tipo 125 S racing sports car – through to the most recent 2013 LaFerrari mild hybrid limited edition road car, Ferrari have continued to astound enthusiasts and critics alike with their evolutionary performance road vehicles and unrivalled Formula 1 racing pedigree.Yet, motoring history might have been so different – Enzo Ferrari was a reluctant manufacturer in that he initially built and sold production vehicles purely to fund his Scuderia Ferrari racing team. For every success on the track, though, came a wave of innovation to be applied to their production cars. The F1 gearbox was one of the most important technological transfers from racing car to grand tourer and was quickly followed by traction control.The next generation of Ferraris are set to be turbocharged as strict consumption and emission regulations will affect the future of engineering. The agenda includes more special editions, tailor-made varieties, and one-off models although their core business will still lie in the GT road car market.

by Jed Paine

Few car manufacturers can boast such a rich history that demonstrates the clear path of evolution of their success. For Porsche, they are able to claim the title of being the largest sports car producer in the world, possess an enviable sporting heritage, and be creator to one of automotive history's most iconic cars – the legendary 911. This book explores the foundation of the company, delves into the history of Porsche and their contribution to Germany’s war effort during the Second World War, and uncovers their brief foray in the field of agricultural vehicles.In 1963 the 911 made its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the start of an epic journey of one of automotive history's most renowned vehicles. For five decades it has been the most significant development within the Porsche brand, becoming an iconic sports car that has continued to raise the benchmark for performance and desirability in the automotive industry. Few companies can boast such a remarkable vehicle that has continued to evolve throughout its lifetime. Porsche are not been content to rest upon their laurels however and have consolidated their position as class leader in the 21st Century. The Porsche 918 is an important car, as not only does it secure the future of Porsche, it heralds the direction for all sports car manufacturers.

by Mike Hobbs

Welcome to a world that is both vanishing down the end of the straight and yet tantalizingly close at hand. The great thing about superbikes is that they are accessible. By definition, race regulations give you the chance to ride bikes which are very like those that are sweeping all before them on the track. Rules for the Superbike World Championships demand that the models entering must be similar to those produced and sold to the public, receiving only tuning and minor adaptations in order to stay eligible. Therefore, manufacturers must produce (at least) an agreed number of the models for sale so that their superbike can enter these competitions. Generally profile, appearance and frame must stay the same, although wheels, brakes, suspensions and swingarm may vary. But for look and feel, your ride can get very close. So, for instance, you, too, like the great Max Biaggi, can ride bikes such as the Aprilia RSV4 1000 or the Factory model, the successor to the Aprilia RSV1000R, on which he became Superbike World Champion in 2010 and 2012 respectively.

by Charlie Morgan

Whether a car or bike enthusiast, or a casual admirer, this series allows readers to live it up in the sleek and fast Ferrari, envision driving in a Classic American Car of generations past, or hop onto a Super Bike and speed off. The Classic Cars and Bikes Collection features contemporary and archive photos, and defines and details the remarkable styling and revolutionary mechanical engineering for the greatest cars and bikes ever built. Each book offers a high interest journey and concludes with a list of automotive and bike clubs and websites suited for todays most contemporary enthusiast.

by Clyde Hawkins

Whether a car or bike enthusiast, or a casual admirer, this series allows readers to live it up in the sleek and fast Ferrari, envision driving in a Classic American Car of generations past, or hop onto a Super Bike and speed off. The Classic Cars and Bikes Collection features contemporary and archive photos, and defines and details the remarkable styling and revolutionary mechanical engineering for the greatest cars and bikes ever built. Each book offers a high interest journey and concludes with a list of automotive and bike clubs and websites suited for todays most contemporary enthusiast.