News of books

It seems that new editions of the complete Aston Martin history and of Batsford’s “Vintage Car Pocketbook” can be anticipated and that a BMW history is in hand. We also hope not to have to wait too long for Peter Hartley’s next volume of Motorcycle Racing at Brooklands.

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Those who like hot-rods, dragsters and queer sprint machines, including bikes, will find them between the covers of “Wild Cars” by Mike Hill, a £1.50 picture book by Hamlyn.

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Latest in the series of Observer’s Books is the revised edition of “The Observer’s Book of Commercial Vehicles”. Just the thing for providing cold comfort by at least allowing you to identify that huge Continental container lorry which has just crushed your Fiat 126, this traditional pocket-sized format book describes and illustrates vehicles from all over the World, including specialised equipment such as fire appliances, municipal vehicles, crane carriers, etc., as well as a wide range of commercial load-carrying vehicles. Published by Frederick Warne and Co. Ltd., 40, Bedford Square, London, WC1B 3HE, and compiled by Nick Baldwin, it costs 60p.