• New Cars
    • First Impressions
    • Road Tests
  • Classics
    • Classic Profiles
    • Classic Driving Impressions
    • Classics Information
    • Events and Days Out
  • Motoring For Fun
  • News & Views
  • Bookshelf
  • Technical
    • Grumpy Old Mechanic
    • Kim’s Tips
  • Features
    • Visits
    • Track Days
  • Contributors
    • About our contributors
    • Kim Henson
    • Chris Adamson
    • Kieron Fennelly
    • Ant Henson
    • Rachel Henson
    • David Miles
    • Gerald Morgan
    • Dave Moss
    • Dave Randle
    • Robin Roberts
    • Tom Scanlan
    • Glen Smale
    • Jeremy Walton
    • Keith Ward
    • John Price Williams
  • More…
    • About Wheels Alive
    • Tips for using this website
    • Useful Links

Wheels Alive

Old cars, new cars, borrowed cars & blue cars. If it steers it's here!

Old cars, new cars, borrowed cars & blue cars. If it steers it's here!

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.

To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

Bookshelf

Our pick of motoring related books covering a wide variety of fascinating subjects

For Your Bookshelf: Ferrari 857S – The remarkable history of 0578M

24th June 2020

Reviewed by Kieron Fennelly. Title: Ferrari 857S – The remarkable history of 0578M Author: Ian Wagstaff Published by: Porter Press International Ltd. www.porterpress.co.uk 128 pages; hardback       ISBN: 978-1-913089-08-5 £30 Fifties and sixties sports cars, especially Ferraris, exert an enduring fascination. Volume nine in Porter Press’s Exceptional Cars series deals with the … [Read more...]

For Your Bookshelf – The All-American Hero and Jaguar’s Racing E-types

17th June 2020

Reviewed by Kieron Fennelly. Title: The All-American Hero and Jaguar’s Racing E types Author: Phillip Bingham Published by: Porter Press International Ltd. www.porterpress.co.uk 287 pages; hardback Price: £60.00 ISBN: 978-1-907085-01-9 The subtitle of this work, 'Briggs Cunningham’s Le Mans dream' reflects the ambition of one (very) rich American enthusiast to win Le Mans with … [Read more...]

For Your Bookshelf – Motor Coaches and Charabancs

19th May 2020

Reviewed by Kim Henson... Title: Motor Coaches and Charabancs Author: James Taylor Published by: Shire Publications, www.shirebooks.co.uk 64 pages; softback Price: £8.99 (but currently offerd for an online price of £6.29, representing a discount of 30 per cent, through the Shire Publications website; link above). ISBN: 978-1-78442 412 1 The wonderful series of motor vehicle and … [Read more...]

For Your Bookshelf – Austin Cars 1948 to 1990

5th May 2020

Book Review – Austin Cars 1948 to 1990 – A Pictorial History. Reviewed by Kim Henson. Title: Austin Cars 1948 to 1990 – A Pictorial History Author: David Rowe Published by: Veloce Publishing www.veloce.co.uk 112 pages; softback Price: £12.99 ISBN: 978-1-787112-19-3 There is a huge amount of detail in this compact but informative volume. From writing motoring books myself I … [Read more...]

Book Review – Classic Engines, Modern Fuel

28th April 2020

For Your Bookshelf – Classic Engines, Modern Fuel – The Problems, the Solutions …Reviewed by Kieron Fennelly. Title: Classic Engines, Modern Fuel – The Problems, the Solutions Author: Paul Ireland Published by: Veloce Publishing www.veloce.co.uk 152 pages; softback Price: £15.99 ISBN: 978-1-787115-90-3 The author investigates a subject which vexes many classic car owners, … [Read more...]

Book Review – Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupé

17th April 2020

Book Review – Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupé – The Autobiography of CSX 2300 …Reviewed by Kieron Fennelly.   Title: Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupé Author: Rinsey Mills Published by: Porter Press International Ltd.  www.porterpress.com 336 pages; hardback       Price: £60.00 ISBN: 978-1-907085-42-0 This is a mighty tome, entirely appropriate though for what was a mighty if … [Read more...]

Book Review – An English Car Designer Abroad

8th April 2020

Book Review – An English Car Designer Abroad... ...Reviewed by Kieron Fennelly Title: An English Car Designer Abroad Author: Peter Birtwhistle Published by: Veloce Publishing Ltd.  www.veloce.co.uk 256 pages; hardback       Price: £37.50 ISBN: 978-1-787114-70-8 Peter Birtwhistle managed what many young men aspire to, but few achieve – to become a car designer. An RCA graduate, … [Read more...]

Book Review – Porsche 911 – The Practically Free Supercar

27th November 2019

Book reviewed by Kim Henson... (Book cover and Porsche 911 photos courtesy of Robert McGowan). Title: Porsche 911 – The Practically Free Supercar (‘The complete beginner’s guide to the smartest route into Porsche ownership’) Author: Robert McGowan Published by: Independently published 166 pages; paperback Price (typical): £12.87, including postage ISBN-10: 1091444838 ISBN-13: … [Read more...]

Book Review – Brunel – The Man Who Built the World

3rd July 2019

Book Review – Brunel – The Man Who Built the World Reviewed by Kim Henson Title: Brunel – The Man Who Built the World Author: Steven Brindle Published by: Weidenfeld and Nicolson 200 pages; paperback Price: £9.99 ISBN: 978-0-7538-2125-1 The extraordinary engineering achievements of Isambard Kingdom Brunel (following those of his father Marc Isambard Brunel) were as … [Read more...]

Book review – An Austin Anthology II

20th June 2019

Book Review – An Austin Anthology II. Reviewed by Kim Henson. Title: An Austin Anthology II Author: James ‘Jim’ Stringer Published by: Veloce Publishing Ltd; www.veloce.co.uk 112 pages; hardback Price: £15.99 UK; $25 USA. ISBN: 978-1-787114-26-5 Regular readers may remember that some time ago on this website I reviewed James (Jim) Stringer’s fascinating book entitled ‘An Austin … [Read more...]

Book Review – Making Tracks

16th March 2019

Book Review – Making Tracks – A whistle-stop tour of railway history. Reviewed by Kim Henson. Title: Making Tracks – A whistle-stop tour of railway history Author: Peter Saxton Published by: Michael O’Mara Books Limited 192 pages; softback Price (UK): £7.99 for printed version ISBN: 978-1-78243-768-0 in paperback format; 978-1-78243-332-3 in e-book format Of course Wheels-Alive … [Read more...]

Book review – Triumph Cars – The Complete Story (New Third Edition)

19th January 2019

Reviewed by Kieron Fennelly Title: Triumph Cars – The Complete Story (New Third Edition) Author: Graham Robson/Richard M Langworth Published by: Veloce; Veloce.co.uk 256 pages; hardback Price: £40 UK; $65US ISBN: 978-1-787112-89-6 The Triumph story, as this book shows, goes back as far as the nineteenth century and bicycles, later succeeded by the motorcycles for which the … [Read more...]

Retrospective Book Review – Around France in an 8 H.P. Car

10th January 2019

Reviewed by Kim Henson. Title: Around France in an 8 H.P. Car Author: Jackson Budd Published by: Stonevale, London, in 1949 212 pages; hardback Availability: Long out of print, but used copies (only) are often available on the internet Price (UK): Typically between £7 and £25 ISBN: Pre-dates ISBN system! There are, of course, many fascinating new motoring books available, but … [Read more...]

Book review – MGB – The Illustrated History

5th January 2019

MGB – The Illustrated History (4th edition). Reviewed by Kieron Fennelly. Authors: Jonanthan Wood/Lionel Burrell Published by: Veloce; veloce.co.uk 248 pages; hardback Price: £35 UK; $50 US ISBN: 978-1-787113-62-6 Over half a million MGBs were built during the model’s eighteen year life and the rorty MG remains one of the most popular and useable of classic cars. Veloce’s reprint … [Read more...]

Book review – Land Rover Design – 70 Years of Success

28th December 2018

Reviewed by Kieron Fennelly. Title: Land Rover Design – 70 Years of Success Author: Nick Hull Published by: Veloce; veloce.co.uk 240 pages; hardback Price: £50 UK; $80 US ISBN: 978-1-845849-87-0 There are many technical and historical books about the ubiquitous Land Rover, but Nick Hull takes a different approach, celebrating its seventieth birthday by charting its styling … [Read more...]

Austin A30/A35 book – available via Kim at Wheels-Alive…

4th December 2018

Austin A30/A35 – Read all about these small but big-hearted classics... Kim tells more... It is more than 50 years since the very last Austin A35 (a van version) came off the production line, but in fact the story of these cars dates back to the late 1940s, when the Austin Motor Company was instrumental in earning vital Dollars for Britain (following the financially crippling War effort), and … [Read more...]

Book Review – Setting Up a Home Car Workshop

11th October 2018

Reviewed by Kim Henson... Title: Setting Up a Home Car Workshop Author: Julian Edgar Published by: Veloce; www.veloce.co.uk and www.velocebooks.com 160 pages; softback Price: £19.99 UK; $32.50 USA. ISBN: 978-1-787112-08-7 Since my schooldays I have been working in, planning, and hopefully improving my various home garages and workshops, all with the aim of making life easier in … [Read more...]

Book Review – A fascinating children’s story about a long-dormant Jaguar XK120 and its re-awakening

20th September 2018

The XK Files: 120. Reviewed by Kim Henson. Author: Jennifer Barker (and illustrated by Robin Lawrie) Published by: Porter Press International Ltd; https://porterpress.co.uk/ 128 pages; softback Price: £6.99 UK; $9.99 USA. ISBN: 978-1-907085-72-7 When I was a lad I used to love reading, as well as being interested in motor cars, and I was always excited to find books that heavily … [Read more...]

Book Review – The Perfect Car

11th August 2018

The Perfect Car... Reviewed by Kieron Fennelly. Title: The Perfect Car (The Biography of John Barnard) Author: Nick Skeens Published by: Evro Publishing www.evropublishing.com 591 pages; hardback Price: £40 UK; $60 USA. ISBN: 978-1-910505-27-4 John Barnard’s remarkable design career encompassed two periods at McLaren, plus two stints at Ferrari as well as working for the Americans Parnelli … [Read more...]

Book Review – Derek Bell: All My Porsche Races

1st August 2018

Book Review – Derek Bell: All My Porsche Races. Reviewed by Kieron Fennelly. Title: All My Porsche Races Author: Derek Bell and Richard Heseltine Published by: Porter Press International: https://porterpress.co.uk/ (...and signed by Derek Bell if purchased direct). 304 pages; hardback Price: £45.00 UK ISBN: 978-1-907085-65-9 Derek Bell’s long career divides into two parts: … [Read more...]

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • Next Page »

Tip: For improved search accuracy, enclose search terms for multiple words in quotation marks. For example:
"Land Rover".

Advertise with us

Recent Posts

Government’s Road Safety Strategy soon to arrive… meanwhile here’s a close look at Cambridgeshire’s most dangerous roads

Introduction to the Wheels-Alive analysis of results from the DVLA/DfT ‘call for evidence’ on classic, kit built and radically altered vehicles, and those converted to electric power.

British Motor Museum shortlised for a Green Spark Award

Enjoy sounds, science and sustainability at The British Motor Museum this half-term, October 2025

Motor Ombudsman study finds that AI would steer nearly one in five drivers when choosing their next car

Toyota’s fascinating history – notably concentrating on the enduringly popular Corona model, which arrived in Britain exactly 60 years ago, on 1st October 1965

Kia Sportage MY26 – First Impressions

‘Never Stop Charging’ – ‘Charge Your Car Day’ 5th October 2025

Contributors

contributors

Our well-respected contributors live and breathe motor cars; aren’t we lucky?

Contributors to the site include talented, highly-respected people (so they tell me) on the hallowed membership list of the Guild of Motoring Writers, and from the similarly well thought-of Western Group of Motoring Writers. In addition there are valued contributions from other knowledgeable and capable motoring writers who have something useful to say about all aspects of driving and running vehicles in the 21st Century. All of our team are passionate about motor cars!


Read about our contributors  ››

Tags

Hybrid PHEV saloon Compact SUV MPV road test plug-in hybrid Coupé First Impressions EV 4x4 Suzuki City car Beaulieu British Motor Museum Tyres luxury SUV The Motor Ombudsman Seven seater SUV National Motor Museum Estate car five door hatchback large SUV SUV crossover Kia all-electric estate Electric hatchback

All Tags ››

Like us on Facebook

Like us on Facebook

Wheels Alive Social

  • E-mail
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Please share our website

Contact us

We welcome your questions, comments and feedback. Please click here to contact us.

Advertising Opportunities

Please contact us if you would like to discuss advertising opportunities on Wheels Alive.

Copyright © 2025 Kim Henson, Wheels Alive