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

by Richard Heseltine (Author), Michel Zumbrunn (Photographer)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
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 fifty-five 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 peformance, 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.

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; 1 edition (October 30, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1858943361
• ISBN-13: 978-1858943367
• Product Dimensions: 12.7 x 9.6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,030,834 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 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 (REAL NAME)

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.

0 of 1 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 (REAL NAME)

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.

2 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not bad, December 9, 2006

A Kid's Review

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...