With winter already on the horizon, sometimes it’s nice to curl up with a good book by a warm fire instead of freezing your fingers off in the garage. Or maybe it’s time to get that perfect Christmas gift. If you can’t get the motor oil out of your blood, here are the best automotive books to keep you entertained when you’re not in the garage.
- ‘Formula 1: All the Races’ by Roger Smith
If you’re looking for a history lesson, you’ve come to the right place. “Formula 1: All the Races” details all of the races, from the first time a Formula 1 car hit the track in 1950 all the way through 2012. Whether you’re looking for race details, engine specs or driver competitive streaks, this book offers it in living color, making it the perfect addition to any collection.
Price: $48, from Amazon
- ‘Form Follows Function: The Art of the Supercar’ by Stuart Codling
Supercars are something we dream about driving. Whether you’re drooling over an Aston Martin or chasing down a Maserati, this book has it all. Along with the high definition photography of James Mann, this book is filled with designs, sketches and specs to help sate your biggest supercar craving.
Price: $30, from Amazon
- ‘Drive On! A Social History of the Motor Car’ by L.J.K Setright
Cars are so much more than their engines or their sleek lines. A car is mark of status, a piece of glass and steel that lets the rest of the world know where you stand in the grand scheme of things. While it doesn’t have as big of an impact as it used to, the history of a car as a piece of social currency is one of the most entertaining books you’ll read this year.
Price: $50 Used, From Amazon
- ‘The World According to Clarkson’ by Jeremy Clarkson
Who better to tell you about cars, the world and everything in between than Jeremy Clarkson. The former host of BBC car show “Top Gear” has released many books, but this was his first in this series. While it doesn’t have as much to do with cars as some of his other works, it’s still a great read and a good addition to anyone’s car book collection.
Price: $11.08 from Amazon
- ‘Mustang: Fifty Years: Celebrating America’s Only True Pony Car’ by Donald Farr
No car book collection is complete without at least one pony car book, and for a true fan there’s nothing better than the Mustang book. This beautiful, sleek book contains 400 high-definition photos of your favorite pony cars over the last 50 years. This edition came out in 2013, so it doesn’t have any of the new models released in the last couple of years, but it does have the most comprehensive list of ‘Stangs up to that point.
Price: $40, from Quarto Knows
- ‘How Cars Work’ by Tom Newton
If you’re a new grease monkey or have a child interested in working on cars, this is a great starter book. It doesn’t have the information for any specific car model, but it does have fully illustrated guides to 250 of the most important components under any hood. It even comes with a quiz after each chapter to help retain the information.
Price: $19.86 from Amazon
- ‘Auto Repair for Dummies’
Whether you’re looking for a good gag gift for the wrench monkey in your life or a useful addition to your collection, “Auto Repair for Dummies” should be on your Christmas list. In spite of its name, it’s the top selling repair guide, with nearly half a million copies making their way out into the world.
Price: $15.63 from Amazon
- ‘Engine Builder’s Handbook’
If “Auto Repair for Dummies” is too basic, it might be time to get the “Engine Builder’s Handbook.” This is a must-have for anyone who’s serious about really diving into a rebuild. What makes it even more helpful is the hundreds of detailed pictures and drawings.
Price: $21.99 from The Motor Bookstore
- ‘The Complete Book of Corvette: Every Model Since 1953’ by Mile Mueller
You can’t complete a car book collection without at least one book on the iconic Corvette. This particular title shows off every single Corvette model since 1963 when this Chevy muscle car made its debut. The book itself is licensed by Chevrolet, so it’s filled with high-definition photos from the manufacturer itself.
Price: $20.95 from Amazon
- ‘Go Like Hell: Ford, Ferrari, and Their Battle for Speed and Glory at Le Mans’ by A.J. Baime
There’s nothing more exciting than a furious competition, and the battle between giants Ferrari and Ford in the 1960s is one of the highlights of racing history. Follow the undefeated Ferrari cars that owned the Le Mans track until Henry Ford II decided to create the fastest race car of its time to dethrone the champions.
Price: $12.72 from Amazon
When you can’t make it to the garage this winter, lose yourself in one of the best automotive books. Have you added a few new books to your Christmas wish list?
