Italian Auto Legends: Classics of Style And Design (Auto Legends Series) [Hardcover]

Richard Heseltine (Author), Michel Zumbrunn (Photographer)

Book Description

Series: Auto Legends Series | Publication Date: October 1, 2006

Italian car design engenders a unique sense of passion in drivers and car enthusiasts everywhere. Its great names - Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Lancia, Maserati - are associated with some of the most charismatic and exciting cars ever made, and resonate the world over. This lavishly illustrated book brings together more than 55 of the most important Italian cars designed from 1907 to the present day, each one representing a key moment in Italian car design. With an introduction describing the epic history of Italian motoring and its great marques, a succinct description of each car's history, design and performance, and the unparalleled photographs of one of the world's top car photographers, this book is the definitive testament to the original car-styling 'capital' of the world.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Superb photography with intelligent text ... a veritable design feast - AUTOMOBILE Hours of enjoyment - AUTO ITALIA

About the Author

Michel Zumbrunn is one of the world's most celebrated car photographers. For over forty years his work has been featured in car magazines worldwide. Richard Heseltine is features editor of MotorSport magazine and has contributed to over forty other journals, including Autocar, Autosport and Classic & Sports Car.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Merrell Publishers; 1 edition (October 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1858943361
• ISBN-13: 978-1858943367
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 12.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,141,631 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful photos, but lopsided coverage..., January 28, 2008

By 

A. E. Harvey "Sceptical" (Albany NY) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Italian Auto Legends: Classics of Style And Design (Auto Legends Series) (Hardcover)

The photos are very high quality studio shots, but a buyer should be aware the coverage is more impressive and thorough of the pre-1965 era. There are some omissions of important cars from the 1960's through 80's.

I bought this after reading a positive review in a British auto magazine and seeing the nice cover photo of the Ferrari 250GTO. You get very very nice studio photos of select classic Italian cars. The emphasis is on pre-1965 cars, but the title didn't say that. The cars are presented chronologically starting in 1907 and by 3/4 of the book we are at 1960. Fewer photos are dedicated to each post-1960 car. This leaves sparse and perhaps a bit Ferrari-centric coverage of the remaining years up to 2004, but even the lovely Ferrari Lusso gets only one photo. Everyone has their own taste. Personally I am disappointed by the following: You won't find the Iso Grifo, Ghia 450SS, Maserati Ghibli, DeTomaso Mangusta, Alfa-Romeo Tipo 33, or the Ferrari 288GTO. Yet you'll find the relatively unappealing and in my humble opinion "non-classic" DeTomaso Vallelunga. You'll find the Pininfarina Ferrari 512S showcar from which few styling cues were used on production cars, but you won't find the Lamborghini Marzal or Afla Romeo 33 Carabo. I do give the book credit for its early year coverage and beautiful photos of those cars, and I'm grateful it's not trying to be a historical or technical reference piece saving more space for photos.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Italian Auto Legends -- Beautifully photographed and written, May 14, 2010

By 

Martin L. Greenman (Napa, CA, US) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Italian Auto Legends: Classics of Style And Design (Auto Legends Series) (Hardcover)

This is a thoroughly researched, well-written and beautifully photographed book. Those who have followed the design of Italian sports cars will inevitably be surprised by some cars that have been included and disappointed by some that were omitted (the Maserati Ghibli, for one, is a personal favorite). But that is a minor point. The book should be in every collection of books on Italian cars. (Let me also plug the incomparable "World Sports Cars" by Frank Oleski, which has cogent essays and stunning photographs in Alpine settings and follows the same progressive format, from 1945-1980, in selecting cars from those years.)

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Italian Auto Legends, October 19, 2007

By 

N. Young (Maryland) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Italian Auto Legends: Classics of Style And Design (Auto Legends Series) (Hardcover)

Before I ordered this book, I read another review that said the reader was disappointed. However, I took a chance and bought it. The book was exactly what I wanted. It may not have all the technical stuff the other reviewer wanted, but if you're more interested in the sheer beauty of these magnificent automobiles, you won't be disappointed.