- Books -
Book: Rover P5 and P5B The Complete Story
The Rover P5 was the last great representative of traditional British luxury saloon building, with the emphasis firmly on quality rather than sportiness. Its spaciousness, refinement and wood and leather charm still command a considerable classic car following today.
In Rover P5 and P5B - The Complete Story, James Taylor charts the history of these cars, looking at their design and development from the original 3-litre Mk 1 announced in 1958 to the last 3.5-litre P5B model built for the Queen.
Book: Rover P5 3 & 3.5 Litre Gold Portfolio 1958-1973
This book on the Rover P5 and P5B, fitted with the 3 litre and the 3.5 Litre V8, is full of contemporary road and comparison tests, new model introductions, driver’s impressions, touring and used car tests.
The P5 appeared in September 1958 badged as the 3-litre - production ended in 1973. Covered are the Rover P5 Mark I, Mark IA, Mark II, Mark III and the PB5 3.5 Litre with saloon and coupe body shapes. A Brooklands Books Gold Portfolio.
Book: The Strange Death of the British Motorcycle Industry
The British motor cycle industry once stood ‘at the top level of world production’. BSA, Ariel, Norton, Triumph, Matchless and Vincent led the world in design, technology, and popularity. After 1945, when the German industry failed to develop, British bikes continued to be untouchable both on the racetrack and in the showroom.
Then it all began to go horribly wrong. Lucrative overseas markets began to decline, and foreign scooters tore into the UK market. At the same time, rates of motorcycle accidents rose and many British consumers were deciding to buy cars instead of two-wheelers.Finally there came a whirlwind from the East, as fierce competition arrived from innovative, sophisticated and more mechanically reliable Japanese machines. By the early 1970s, with alarming rapidity, the British motor cycle industry had all but disappeared.
Book: Classic British Car Electrical Systems
Your in-depth colour illustrated guide to understanding, repairing & improving the electrical systems of British classics equipped with Lucas, Smiths Industries & SU components. 1950 to 1980.
The electrical systems used in British cars in the period 1950 to 1980 have gained some notoriety, most of it unfavourable and much of it undeserved. This book shines a light on the subject, system by system, including the murkier corners.
Whatever their foibles, the cars remain the cherished possessions of enthusiasts worldwide. This book’s contribution to making the electrical systems understandable and reliable will maintain the enjoyment the cars provide for many decades to come.
This book is the definitive and indispensable guide to British car electrical systems, and deserves a place on every enthusiast’s bookshelf.
Book: Rover V8 - the story of the engine
Rover V8 - the story of the engine tells the fascinating story of the engine that created a legend in its own lifetime. Starting life as a General Motors design in 1961, but withdrawn three years later in favour of cheaper technology, it reached Rover by chance in the mid-1960s. Few other British companies then had V8 engines in production, and Rover immediately gained a special status when the V8 entered UK production during 1967.
This was an extraordinarily compact design and also extraordinarily light, thanks to its all-aluminium alloy construction. It was not a temperamental high-performance engine, but had a well-proven and simple architecture that made it both reliable and easy to work on. Small wonder, then, that the Rover V8 was bought by sports car makers who needed a light, compact and powerful engine.
Small wonder that Rover kept it in production for so long, developing multiple different sizes and versions. Small wonder that the engine is still revered by Rover and Land Rover enthusiasts today, or that its popularity as an aftermarket conversion has ensured that it remains in small-volume production, half a century after entering production in the UK.
- Films -
DVD + Blu-ray: The Man Who Haunted Himself
Roger Moore gives a career-defining performance as a businessman whose existence is reshaped by malevolent forces in this taut psychological thriller directed by Ealing Films veteran Basil Dearden. Made at a point in his career post-Saintand pre-Persuaders, this is the film that showcased Moore’s big-screen charisma and ultimately lead to him taking over the role of James Bond. The complete, full-length version of The Man Who Haunted Himself is featured here in a brand-new HD restoration from original film elements in its as-exhibited theatrical aspect ratio on both Blu-ray and DVD.
