Customer Reviews

Art of the Formula 1 Race Car

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

First of all, I must admit that I am not objective about this book because my son was its editor. On the other hand, I have followed and read about Formula 1 racing for forty years and this is one of the best books I have seen. The basic concept is to show the beauty of Formula 1 car designs. To do this, photographer James Mann shot eighteen cars in studios around the UK. The photographic emphasis is on both the overall chassis design as well as details of the engines, driver's compartments, etc. All of Mann's photographs are beautiful. In addition there are historical photos from the era of each car. The cars range from the Alfa Romeo of the first F1 season, 1950, to the McLaren MP4-23 of 2008. Thus it covers the entire Formula 1 era. The text is by Stuart Codling, a highly regarded UK based motorsports journalist. In addition, there is commentary by former Formula 1 designer Gordon Murray. The sum of all of these contributions is a one-of-a-kind book that is both very beautiful to look at and also a very enjoyable read. I highly recommend it.

The first user review says that the technical summaries are "fraught with errors". Well, there are exactly two errors. On page 95, the engine displacement should be 2,993 cc rather than 3,993; and on page 170, the year for the Jordan 191 should be 1991 rather than 1981 (the correct year is included in Codling's main text however).

Harkens back to the days when a book like this was both fun to read, but also a conversation piece.

This book is great, some of the cars I did not know about. The photos are incredible, and the Gordon Murray parts are very eye opening.

I didn't read the book personally. It was purchased as a gift for my friend who is huge F1 fan and he absolutely loved the content and quality. it was a great gift.

The best photos by far. They really give you an inside look at an F1 car. It is awesome to say the least.

I bought this for my boyfriend, who is a big Formula 1 fan, and he loved it. The pictures are great, very clean looking. The information inside is also great, gives great detail on all cars. This is definitely a must for any Formula 1 fan.

My husband is an avid formula one fan. This was a last
minute little gift and has turned out to be his favorite gift. There photos are amazing and he has read
the descriptions at least twice. I highly recommend this product.

The subject of the book, the cars themselves marking technical history in F1 is enticing onto itself, but the photography is somewhat lack-luster. The beauty of these one-of machines is in the details and technology and the photos fall short of capturing that element. No photo of the Ferrari engine, come on......
Further the technical summary at the end of each segment is fraught with errors, dates are incorrect and engine descriptions are mis-matched.
At this price you have to ask, who proof read this book before it went to publishing, obviously the printer could not identify these errors.

I am a Sportscar/RoadRacing/Drag Racing fan(Real Racing) fan,and F1 just does not do it for me anymore.In this book The Art of The Formula 1 Race Car The only cars I really marveled at Was the Special Bodied Mercedes-Benz(despite not being a fan of the Pentastar),and the BRM car as well as the Brabham which has the Repco Engine which was a GM Stock Block for The Oldsmobile F-85 Cutlass car, other than that,where is the Sharknose? 18 cars? as usual fitted for format when so many cars could have been included,No Scarab Car? which despite never actually being competitive due to always changing rules of Formula Open-Wheel Racing.Not even the Eagle-Weslake Car(and mind you I am not a Ford fan at all.)Instead the book as most OF F1 caters to the European tastes of cars,talk of aerodynamics and no apparent beauty,the black background which makes for fingerprints on the book,if you want a F1 book look elsewhere.

Really happy with this as it is a gift and I know the recipient will be over the moon with it. It was packed really well and arrived well within the international shipping timeframe - thankfully, as it was left till the last minute!!
Thanks :-)