Motoring Specials — Ian Dussek (1991, First Edition)

2nd hand book, very good condition, see images

Discover the Golden Age of British Backyard Engineering with Motoring Specials by Ian Dussek

Delve into the ingenious and highly creative world of custom car building with Motoring Specials by noted automotive historian and HRG expert Ian Dussek. Published in 1991 by Shire Publications as an essential entry in their highly collectible Shire Album series (Volume #266), this first-edition paperback offers a concise and brilliantly illustrated chronicle of a uniquely passionate post-war movement.

Since the very early days of motoring, enthusiastic amateur car builders have experimented with collecting, modifying, and re-assembling salvaged vehicle components. This vintage automotive book expertly tracks the fascinating rise of the “Motoring Special”—hybrid machines born out of necessity and a desire for speed. Dussek outlines how amateur constructors utilised affordable donor chassis, suspension parts, and engines (such as the legendary Ford 1172cc side-valve unit) to craft highly personalised, low-cost racing machines. The narrative details how this unique sporting cult boomed in Britain during the post-war years, giving rise to long-forgotten backyard builders as well as household names like Colin Chapman's Lotus.

Spanning 32 high-quality pages, this reference booklet is lavishly illustrated with rare archival photographs from private collections, many published here for the very first time. It captures the true grit, engineering brilliance, and narrow escapes of an era when track success relied entirely on a constructor's imagination and mechanical resourcefulness.

Why Collectors Love This Book

An indispensable find for vintage racing enthusiasts, sports car historians, kit-car fans, and dedicated collectors of rare Shire Publications literature, this first-edition copy of Motoring Specials perfectly preserves a charismatic, boundary-pushing chapter of global motorsport heritage.

Book Details

Author: Ian Dussek · Publisher: Shire Publications · Year: 1991 · Edition: First Edition · Format: Paperback · Pages: 32 · Dimensions: 21.0 cm × 15.0 cm × 0.3 cm · Weight: 0.08 kg · Language: English