Customer Reviews

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

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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.

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.)

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.

GREETINGS...THIS PARTICULAR COVER HAS A SILVER FERRARI AND INSIDE A BLUE SUNOCO OF PENSKE RACING AND SOME RED ONES AS WELL.BUT!THE ONE CAR THAT GRABS ATTENTION IS THE BIRDCAGE.MASERATI TIPO BIRDCAGE THAT IS.THIS PARTICULAR RACER HAS A LOOOONG HISTORY.EVEN SIR STIRLING HAS RACED IT AND WON.THE PORTRAITS IN BLACK DO THIS CAR JUSTICE.THE 5/6 PAGES ON THIS UNIQUE CONSTRUCTION PROVE THIS BOOK IS VALUE AT THIS PRICE...REGARDS...RONALD.C.LEE-HARRIS

I got this book for christmas... there is a lot of nice picture like the enzo and maserati mc12... also the lambo miura...and lots of old car which i don't care....however this book is about italian car design... and to tell the truth it is not much... just think of the old 1950's F1 cars... and most of the old car design looks like the new Ferrari 612, very boring... and some pictures of supercars.... must be mid engine of course...it is better if you just watch top gear than buying this book... the information is not really deep... even a car mag would have better information... but the picture is really really nice... the problem is how the car is describe.. read this book like you are reading a history book... i won't buy anymore book like this book.. well... except for books about Ferrari cars...