Every car collection should be complimented by a movie collection about cars.  Here is a quick list to get yours kick started.

American Graffiti

This contains one of the most defining images of street racing ever committed to film.  The film has an actual enjoyable plot that non-petrol heads can enjoy, however for those of us that like machinery the cars are very much central to the movie, with most of the action taking place in and around them.  Hot Rods, big American Barges, at least one Lead Sled and the aforementioned street racing scene, this is a must have.  Also it will help you identify the difference between a 3 window '32 Ford on modern rims and a '32 Ford that is "straight out of American Graffiti", before you make an embarrassing gaff :)

Le Mans

I'll keep this short: Steve McQueen + Porsche 917 = great movie.  If you don't own this, then shame on you!

Cannonball Run

It is still the quintessential 80's car movie.  Sure it’s not the original gumball rally movie, and the hair styles have dated a bit, but to my mind it is still the most fun movie about cars ever.  Also it has Dean Martin in it which also makes it doubly awesome.

Champion Don Garlits

The Champion series of DVDs is a great collection to have, usually concentrating on circuit racing drivers like Sterling Moss and James Hunt it is great to see one dedicated for drag racing legend Don Garlits.  Even if you are a circuit racing fan you should own this, and if you are a drag racing fan I'm sure you already do... what’s that you say?  You don't!?  Quick get it before someone finds out!

The Greatest Years Of Rallying 70s

Rallying is insane.  FACT!  The 70's were a great time for rallying with Ford dominating our perception of the era it is great to see a film that can show you the spread of cars as well as some fantastic footage.  If you are more of a Group B fan then The Greatest Years Of Rallying 80s is also available.

 

Well I don't know about you but here its pay day, and I'm feeling spendy.  What shall I spend my hard earned cash money on?  Books and things!

We've not covered much of our love of insane rally cars so far in the life of this blog/mag, but rest assured we do love rally cars, particularly when they all went insane in the group B period.  I wanted to be able to recommend a book called Group B: The Rise and Fall of Rallying's Wildest Cars, but its crazy expensive and there is only one available on Amazon at the moment.

So I've got the next best thing for you, the Author of the Group B book has also written a tome called : The Complete Book of The World Rally Championship: 1973-2003: All the Cars, All the Drivers 1974-2004 (snappy title).  It pretty much does what it says on the tin and covers a huge range of rally cars from the 70's through the Group B period and into the modern day, you can see the complete evolution of the cars competing.




If ever there was a controversial figure within the car modification scene then Von Dutch was that man.  Whilst a lot of people may not agree with his views, and others love him, it is worth reading about him and his life style to get informed.  If you are a devotee then this is a glimpse into his life which is sure to fascinate.  The book is aptly titled Sundays with Von Dutch and details, including photos, four Sundays spent in Von Dutch's company.




A brief and slightly premature recommendation here Kustomland : The Custom Car Photography of James Potter, 1955-1959 is sure to be a great book capturing custom cars at a time when they were forging their own culture.




If words and static pictures are too much for you then clap your eyes on the seminal car movie that is Two Lane Blacktop in glorious DVD'o'vision.



Tune in next time for more great ways to spend your money.

In honour of the Oscars we've come over all Hollywood with the recommendations this time.

First up with have all round Retro legend and hero to any right minded individual, Steve McQueen.  More specifically we have McQueen's Machines: The Cars and Bikes of a Hollywood Legend which details the famously petrolheaded McQueen's find array of machinery.  Just about any one of which we'd give a major organ to own.

 

Next we have a DVD for a change.  Rockstar Games are more famous for producing the Grand Theft Auto series of games.  During the course of that they commissioned a video to be made about The Majestics lowrider club from Compton, LA.  That video is called Sunday Driver and is worth opening your wallet and getting.

Thirdly we have more American cars! Muscle Car Confidential: Confessions of a Muscle Car Test Driver is the collected tales of Joe Oldham who through the golden age of the American muscle car got behind the wheel of pretty much all of them.  His stories are really well told and the whole book is a quality product with some really great photography.

 

So finally we bring it all the way back round back to Hollywood.  Sure this one falls firmly in the coffee table territory, but it is such a fun book with some great photographs and some stunning cars in it.  Star and Cars does exactly what it says on the cover.  Its photos are fantastic and the pages are filled with little snippets and facts to go along with the sumptuous picture content.  Stick it on your birthday list, or treat yourself right now..

 

We hope you find something you love in this little selection...

With the long winter months dragging on and the financial pinch of Christmas passing it might be worth considering some reading material to get your mojo running again.

There are so many books to choose from we thought it worth picking out a handful of good ones to ensure maximum satisfaction.

First up is 50 Years of Hot Rod magazine

 

 

A fantastic trip from the origins of Hot Rod magazine supporting the fledgling Hot Rod and racing scene, all the way up to the likes of Troy Trepanier and modern rodding. Every page brings with it something to inspire and fire off a hundred new ideas.

You should be aware that we are deeply infatuated with all things bonkers and Japanese, preferably in that order, so when we found out about there is a fantastic collection of pictures of Japanese Decotora trucks we had to jump on it. We definitely recommend this for its great photography and unique subject matter Tatsuki Masaru: Decotora, 1998-2007 Japanese Art Truck Scene

 

We all dream of turning up that barn find, anything from a Datsun Sunny 120Y all the way through to a Ferrari Daytona would keep us happy. For some people this isn't just idle day dreaming, Tom Cotter's The Cobra in the Barn : Great Stories of Automotive Archaeology as the name implies has some great stories of barn find cars.

 

 

If you enjoy that, or have already enjoyed it you may want to pick up The Hemi in the Barn also by Tom Cotter.

 

 

We hope you enjoy your new reading material. As we find more interesting books we'll be sure to share them.