Great Machines: Books: Speed Read
June 1, 2006
So-Cal Speed Shop: The Fast Tale of the California Racers Who Made Hot
Rod History
Back in the days when Ford’s flathead V-8 engine brought the
sport of hot rodding into the American limelight, Gilmore Stadium in Los Angeles was the best place to watch T cars race, and Alex Xydias, the
man behind the wheel of the renowned So-Cal Speed Shop, was just entering his prime. In this book, Mark Christensen recounts
So-Cal’s humble beginnings, illustrated by photos of Xydias alongside his team and the Belly Tank design at the dry lakes in El
Mirage. The shop produced the first hot rods to run at 170, 180, and 190 mph, and in 1950, Xydias was the first person to
breach the 200 mph mark, traveling at 210 mph in his So-Cal Streamliner. In about 200 pages, Christensen captures the man and the
legend that transformed the meaning of speed. Xydias himself wrote the foreword, and many of the original images of the
So-Cal team come from his personal collection. So-Cal Speed Shop is available through Motorbooks for $34.95.
Motorbooks International, 715.294.3345, www.motorbooks.com
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Photography by Cordero Studios (Click image to enlarge)Legendary Cars: Cars That Made History From the Early Days to the 21st Century
Legendary Cars is a compendium of automobiles that set new standards for the industry and left an indelible mark on the automotive landscape. Each subject exhibited innovative design and extraordinary performance—and often both—for its time. Larry Edsall explores the history of these vehicles, recounting their stories, and highlighting their makers and the features that made them so exceptional. The book includes gorgeous images of more than 60 cars, ranging from the earliest Tin Lizzies to the Enzo Ferrariner Maria Cucchi, and places professional spreads next to vintage advertisements, which serve to illustrate the eras in which these legends lived. Legendary Cars (White Star, 2005; available through Rizzoli Bookstore for $39.95) is the perfect addition to the auto enthusiast’s coffee table collection, and it even provides accessible fuel for the newly converted.
Rizzoli Bookstore, 800.522.6657, www.rizzoliusa.com
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