I find it fascinating that a small company like Morgan survived all the decades of change in the automotive industry, while continuing to establish a very well known brand. So I was looking forward to getting to know more. Veloce Publishing just released a new book “Making a Morgan’ written by Andreas and Dagmar Hensing.

Making a Morgan written by Andreas and Dagmar Hensing.

As you might know, each car is made in almost the same way as it was done before WWII. A steel chassis with a wooden frame and a metal body. They produce around 500 cars per year in a factory in Malvern in Worchestershire. Of course this book, like so many car books, starts with the history of the brand.  I particularly liked the photo of Dorothy, the sister of the founder Harry Morgan, in the protoype of the Morgan three-wheeler. These three wheelers, in a much more modern version are still being produced at Morgan.

Making a Morgan written by Andreas and Dagmar Hensing.

Morgan build “pure” cars. They have this unique combination of classic and fresh design. It feels like a tribute to the past. Well especially the Morgan Aeromax, designed in 2005 by Matthew Humphries who had completed an apprenticeship in the Morgan works. The design was a homage to the legendary Bugatti Type 57 SC Atlantic.

Making a Morgan written by Andreas and Dagmar Hensing.

As said, Morgans are being built in the traditional way and the following 110 pages document the production process step by step. Photos, text and interviews with the different craftsman add to the personality of the brand. It makes the reader appreciate the dedication each worker at Morgan has for his or her car. Day by the day the production process is followed, from the chassis to the wood work, from the body to the painting.

Making a Morgan written by Andreas and Dagmar Hensing.

Making a Morgan written by Andreas and Dagmar Hensing.

Making a Morgan written by Andreas and Dagmar Hensing.

Making a Morgan written by Andreas and Dagmar Hensing.

A lovely book. Available at Veloce Publishing. ISBN: 978-1-845848-73-6

The post MAKING A MORGAN appeared first on CarArtSpot.

Randy Leffingwell is an established writer of automotive books. His fast knowledge of American cars and of the Porsche is impressive. He combines insight into the technical data with historical details. Supported by an impressive network in the automotive scene.

But beside his writing skills he has become an expert in what he and photographer Tom Loeser name “light painting”. It results in photos with a black background emphasizing the car in a perfect light.

Wide-Open Muscle by Randy Leffingwell. Photography by Tom Loeser

For one of his previous books, Randy worked with 'The Brothers' and seeing so many unique big-block convertibles, it didn’t take long to decide to do a book on these cars covering 30 cars from The Brothers collection.

The regulations in those days required that racing cars needed to be street legal. However, racers would never consider using an open top car for racing. Not strong enough, not rigid enough and not safe enough. But for the streets it was a perfect combination of power and coolness.

1965 Pontiac GTO

Leffingwell presents the cars in three parts; the Chrysler Corporation, the Ford motor Company and General Motors.

1967 Chevrolet Corvette 427 L68 Convertible

One of the first artists interviews I did was with Etienne Carignan. He had just completed an illustration of the Plymouth Roadrunner and I fell in love with that car. Randy spends a full chapter on the convertible version of this cartoon inspired car. The rapid flightless bird can be found in several places on the car and the engineers even installed a “beep-beep” horn . Eventually the Plymouth road runner became Chrysler Corporations purest muscle car. 

Wide-Open Muscle by Randy Leffingwell. Photography by Tom Loeser.

Wide-Open Muscle by Randy Leffingwell. Photography by Tom Loeser.

Wide-Open Muscle by Randy Leffingwell. Photography by Tom Loeser.

This is one of those books that belongs in each men’s mancave where you enjoy showing these cars to your buddies, while sharing dreams about your next car and bragging about the performance of your muscle car. A real must have!

This book is available at:  Motorbooks

The post Wide-Open Muscle appeared first on CarArtSpot.

The stunning number of beautiful classic cars, icons from the history of car racing. Driving through small romantic villages and historic cities like Ferarra and Pisa.  Springtime under the Italian sun. Long winding roads and thousands of spectators waiving and cheering.

Mille Miglia 2015 – The Official Book

What was once a race, not without risks, became a tradition to celebrate wonderful cars. Heroes of those days like Sir Stirling Moss, made the event even more memorable. Heritance of famous car brands show 'acte de presence' like Porsche, Ferrari and Zagato.

Mille Miglia 2015 – The Official Book

Mille Miglia 2015 - The Official Book is just that. A photo book showing photos and names of all the contestants and their cars. Pages filled with tables show the details of the cars and their final ranking. The winners of 2015 were Juan Tonconogy and Guillermo Berisso in a bright blue Bugatti T40, made in 1927. Mind you, driving 1000 miles for four days in an 89 year old car!

Bugatti T40 made in 1927

Going through all the photo filled pages of each of the participants, I realized that it was not only classic cars participating. There are a few Fiat 500 Topolino’s, a Lincoln Capri Sport Coupe and a Renault 4, just to name a few. 

Renault 4 1957

Aaldering eigenaar Brummen

The last two chapters are filled with photos of the Ferrari and Mercedes tribute to the participants. Cars like the Ferrari LaFerrari and Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR Stirling Moss. I am sure that all the 2015 Mille Miglia participants would like to have this book. Also those interested in everything around this event, because it really is a great book.

Mille Miglia 2015 – The Official Book

Evert Louwman eigenaar Louwman museum

However, I am missing something and after going through the book for the second time, I realized that I miss photos which capture the feeling of driving through beautiful Italy. All the photos are close-ups of the cars with their drivers but without landscapes. Or photos of all the preparations before the race and late night activities to fix and prep the car for the next day. Stories which are more interesting to me then just the cars. Well maybe that is something for 2016?

This book is available at Giorgio Nada Editore 

The post Mille Miglia 2015 – The Official Book appeared first on CarArtSpot.

Art of the Hot Rod by Ken Gross with photography by Peter Harholdt Published by Motorbooks

Lately I have had several conversations with automotive artists on the subject of car art. They all agree that cars can be art but I haven’t found one description for art which adequately fits cars.
But then I received the “The Art of the Hot Rod” to write a book review and going through the pages I realized 'this is it'. This is art. Each car in this book is built by guys and girls with a drive to create the prefect Hot Rod. A car with perfect proportions, lines that flow, stunning colours perfectly combined with the leather interiors and chrome elements. Their work expresses the respect and admiration for past car designs but with their own signature style.

Steve Moal and his sons David and Michael.

I prefer to build from scratch. That’s where you’re challenged to be the most creative. And with that challenge, you have a responsibility. There’s always a chance, a risk, that you might build an ugly car.

1948 Custom, Ex-Norman Timbs, owned by Gary Cerveny

Art of the Hot Rod by Ken Gross with photography by Peter Harholdt Published by Motorbooks

1932 Ford Board Track Racer Full Speed Ahead owned by Lee Munder

1935 Ford Aeroliner owned by Richard Ullman

The post The Art of the Hot Rod appeared first on CarArtSpot.

Olivier Gamiette - Artist and Designer

When I noticed that Designstudio press released a book on concept watches made by a car designer, I was intrigued. Cars and watches are worlds apart. The scale and dimensions of the components differ in magnitudes. Why would a car designer want to design watches and what is the link? As I started my career as a precision engineer, I have always had an interested in the precision mechanics of timepieces.  So when I received the book for a review, my expectations were high. And rightly so, since I spent hours studying Olivier Gamiettes' designs and figuring out how to read the time on some of his designs. I was eager to know more and contacted him for an interview. Here is his story.

SOON Timepiece Phenomena by Olivier Gamiette

How did you get into designing and cars Olivier?

For some reason I have always been attracted to cars. As a kid, I used to play exclusively with toy cars that I happened to customize myself and I dreamed of one day building my own car. I have also always liked to draw. Later I entered the world of professional design as a 3D modeler for the Peugeot brand. I was responsible for converting drawings for designers, the so called « sketches » in 3D surfaces and volumes respecting the technical constraints and mechanical bases of the project.

Through the years the creativity spectrum has broadened and today I enjoy designing manifold objects and basically anything that comes into my head. I only considered myself an artist quite recently. Right now, I am into watchmaking. I would say that being an artist AND an engineer has always been a great advantage for me, leading me to imagine credible design solutions, which are original and feasible at the same time. I believe that the work I have done recently, and my concept watches book in particular, have brought together all the pieces of the puzzle of my creative personality.

As an automotive designer what did it take to re-calibrate your understanding of dimensions when you started to work on these watch designs?

I started from scratch to design these watches, I do not know how it worked, what were the right dimensions, what was the size of the parts. I did drawing after drawing and realized how to articulate this huge puzzle in this small object. I had to dissect a watch to better understand the different plans on which mechanisms lay. I also printed my watches on strips of paper to give me an idea of ​​the size I was manipulating. It also allowed me to understand whether the figures, the details were sufficiently visible and realistic. Everything came gradually. However, I still have a long way to go. Working on a computer screen distorts the perception of the scale for such a small object. Everything is magnified on the screen and it is better to have some real references as a starting point.

Automotive Art by Olivier Gamiette

Several of your designs include car elements. Like the dials on “Copper shield”, “formula 3” and “la Magnifique”. What is your vision on car designs today compared to the past? Which ones inspire you more?

Automotive design has probably reached its limits today because the technical and security constraints and regulations as well as the will to make profit naturally, end up in ‘compromise cars’ as a result. This does not mean that we put less effort into making nice cars, it is just more difficult to make an original and strong design. Elitist machines that I cherish the most are becoming as rare as they are not market profitable. On the other hand, with the help of internet, car design trends spread out instantly. Design is too fast and becomes uniform worldwide. Manufacturers share design formulas that seem to appeal to customers and show less enthusiasm to take risks in order to push forward their proper design vision. I think they used to be more insolent in the past, especially in the 70s. It was an age that used to emphasize hard, strict shapes, devoid of gratuitousness. This is a great source of inspiration for my watch designs.

Breitling and Bentley are working together and there is a beautiful watch named “La Ferrari”. Do you see yourself working together with a specific car brand in the future? For example, your design “la Magnifique” could be related to Bugatti already.

Of course it would be interesting. La Magnifique is only a first draft, we should further develop its own watch philosophy and refine the choice of materials especially if we had to amplify the relationship with this prestigious brand. All car brands are not willing to go as far as Hublot with Ferrari. This is a watch that does not lack audacity even if I would have preferred a smaller size. Other brands may simply want a more wearable, less extravagant watch. Personally, I love strong design watches, that look different from the traditional watch, free from traditional needles to display new kinematics, but I am aware that not everyone feels the same. I would like to work on the sobriety and purity of the dial graphics in the next future.

Watch Design by Olivier Gamiette

Watch Designs by Designer Olivier Gamiette

In the 70’s, all Lincoln Continentals came with a Cartier clock. This came to mind when I saw your “Trion”. Have your watch designs influenced your automotive designs?

I think so, though it is not necessarily conscious. I guess all the ideas in my head talk together. As I said before, there are no borders when I create. There is a bank of shapes in my head that is fed by external images and by my own research which is used for a comprehensive creative process.

Your work reminded me of the designs by Daniel Simon. Do you know him? Are there any specific car designers that have influenced you and more specifically, your watch designs.

I know the work of Daniel Simon, just like him I like portraying interesting details. His work showed me that one should not be afraid to push boundaries. Beyond its style and its formidable design, it is the coherent universe that he managed to create that inspired me. The notion of creative universe might be hard to understand as it is not palpable nor visible to all. One has the impression of watching fantastic cars and mechanical gear with stunning design but ultimately, it is Daniel Simon’s universe as a whole that stands out. His world lies in our mind and does not stop at the book’s pages. This is what I find the most inspiring. I felt like I wanted to create my own universe around watches. I wanted to imagine a set of objects very different from one other but emanating from one consistent universe, my own creative universe.

Hot Rod by Olivier Gamiette

Do you have a certain theme in your work?

As my job is to draw mostly production cars, I escape in my free time by imagining forms which are more free. In my daily work life, there are technical and product specifications and a brand identity to respect, so it is quite complicated to have fun. I like hotrods, custom bikes and very mechanical machines with a metal body.

Which techniques do you use?

I do a lot of pencil sketches, usually with crayons but also with a ballpoint pen. I inevitably go through this phase because the relationship I have with paper gives me the creative freedom and spontaneity that I have not found with other tools. On paper I can throw down ideas very quickly and instinctively as they arise. I decant sketches for some time before looking at them with a fresher eye later on and select sketches that I will colour with Photoshop. I use Photoshop exclusively for colouring, I never draw with it on the graphic tablet.

I believe that the work I have done around the watches is quite unique, as representing such timepieces in a photorealistic way gives them a special identity Actually, watchmaking illustration standard is gouache drawings, digital sketches are hardly ever shown and 3D renderings are too explicit to be done by a machine. Even though I enjoy digital drawings a lot, one day I would like to explore other subjects with more concrete, classical techniques such as oil painting.

Watch Designs by Olivier Gamiette

What inspires you to start a specific artwork?

I try to imagine and draw objects that I would like to see in the street. My world is more conceptual than artistically. I'm not just trying to make beautiful illustrations, I am striving to show new and unique ideas, concepts, mechanisms at their best. I do not merely want to draw, I want to create and that is what drives me to draw.

Whatever the topic, I always start with a freehand sketch to find new ideas or new shapes. I make many very little drawings on a single sheet of paper. This way, I spend little time doing the design itself, so I can make more spontaneous research without getting tired and wasting my time with a big, detailed drawing. A beautiful design is based on a powerful idea and that can also be expressed in a small sketch. Today’s tools allow to resize the sketch in order to work on the right scale and I like reinterpret my old drawings which I had abandoned. I never throw my drawings away! I usually draw with pencil crayons or a ballpoint pen.

What do you want to express with your artwork?

In my work I seek principles, ideas that challenge the existing common knowledge. I like to believe that there is another truth than the one we know. For example, in some car illustrations, I imagine that the scene takes place in a world where light can be solid and therefore transmits efforts. As I have an engineering background, I like to use physical, optical and mechanical phenomena to create new things with style. I have an engineer’s head and an artist's hands. This becomes very clear when I design watches, looking primarily to propose new forms and shapes but also previously unseen kinematics. As many things have already been done before, the challenge is a lot more interesting.

Automotive Art by Olivier Gamiette

What are you most proud of?

Today I am pleased to wear two hats: one as an engineer and the other as an artist. This allows me to be very independent in my creations. As a designer, it is very important for me to create credible, consistent, meaningful and well-drawn objects. I am proud of the infinite potential that this represents. I am also proud to bring this knowledge and convey it to the people through my illustrations. Managing to provide pleasure or emotions by means of a drawing is a great pride and reward for me.

How did you develop your style?

I have always liked to see the reflections that become distorted, especially on cars’ metal bodies. I have always wanted to represent this in my drawings. It's a way for me to bring realism to the object in the drawing because this will psychologically melt in its’ environment. The brain interprets the reflections and understands that the object is integrated in the scene. My math’s curriculum led me to understand the tricks of such deformations. And it is trying to imitate reality that I have found the effects and functions to translate it on Photoshop over time. Today my designs borrow certain physical phenomena from reality, but they remain mere illustrations of reality.

Do you prefer any specific materials or tools?

As a designer, my favourite tool is the black pencil which I use on Bristol paper which ages better in time. I am not looking to make beautiful designs in this phase but try to grasp the idea that lurks in my head and pencil crayons or ballpoint pen allow me to capture it very quickly with little loss. That's why I do not do my research on the graphic tablet; it disturbs my creative rhythm. Moreover, coloured pencils allow you to shade the drawing, creating the illusion of volume which is the best! It is more difficult with a ballpoint pen to draw the volume’s shadows. After defining the linework to create the shape, I quickly shade the drawing to mark down the volumes in order to keep the idea for the second phase. The second phase, in fact, hinges on the Photoshop tool. There are other digital tools to colour drawings on the computer but I have known this program for a long time. This phase is very technical because it consists in creating volumes with light and shadow and also to generate perceived material finish that is not borrowed from any picture. For example, for many of my watches I use a brushed copper finish which I draw exclusively with Photoshop. I like layer management a lot because the possibilities are endless.

Watch Designs by Olivier Gamiette

Watch Design by Olivier Gamiette

Do you work alone?

Yes, but I like to expose the topics that I want to develop to my creative partners (Nicolas Depierre and Alexandre Meyer). They are my favourite guinea pigs! They share my vision of design and their reactions tell me about the relevance of my concepts and intentions. Before moving to the colour phase which can take a long time, it is valuable for me to have some intermediate feedback.

Do you work in silence or with music? What type of music?

I find this question particularly interesting because artists’ work is usually shown without specifying the context in which such artists operate or the atmosphere in which they create. It is important for me to work with music, it is like taking a warm bath. I feel immersed in my world of vibrations, of feelings and inner exchanges enhancing the desire to create.

Do you have a favourite car design?

For me car design is a huge puzzle. That said I do not like a particular brand above others, but I like the stance of some manufacturers, I like cars that have a well defined character and a clear formal language. Finally, if there was only one car to remember, I would say that for me Bertone Stratos Zero is the most fantastic car ever imagined. The line is simply amazing and timeless.

Do you own a car yourself?

I own a Plymouth Prowler 1999 that I bought in the US back in 2003. It is a very original car which does not go unnoticed here in Paris. However, I bought it for its line and proportions that are very close to a designer’s fantasies. It is an uncompromising car; that is what I like.

Hot Rod by Automotive Artist & Designer Olivier Gamiette

What is your advice for people who want to become an Automotive Artist?

Be patient, because nothing happens overnight. It takes time to practice and find an artistic identity which is natural and consistent with your own self. One must get inspiration from other artists but it has its’ limits. You have to tell your own story and claim your uniqueness. Do not be afraid to be different or to see things differently, it is a chance to have this vision instead. You must practice regularly and learn to listen to others’ feedback because the purpose of your work is to be seen and appreciated by the public. It is that people see from the outside what we express from the inside as artists.

Is this a book for car fans? No, it's not. There are no cars in this book. But is it a book for anyone interested in car design? Then the answer is definitely yes. It will give you a deeper appreciation of what it takes to design devices and objects. How to bridge technical challenges and how to be innovative and break traditional boundaries.

To see more of Olivier Gamiettes work, please visit his website.

Book is published by Designstudio press. and available here.

The post Olivier Gamiette Automotive Designer to Watch appeared first on CarArtSpot.

At the Retromobile in Paris recently, we saw the unique and artistic work by Amaury Dubois for the first time. His photographic modifications of cars are dynamic and intriguing! Of course, CarArtSpot wanted to know more.

Amaury Dubois - Artist & Photographer

Was your recent exposition at Retromobile in Paris successful for you Amaury?

It was a really good introduction and a surprising success for my new work.  There was a lot more interest than I had expected and I think I was successful in bringing my vision of photography from a different aspect, over to the public.

La Ferrari by Amaury Dubois

How long have you been doing cars?

I have been an artist for 14 years. My first work was with paintings but I studied photography in Belgium. I did photography at the weekends but my real work was paintings. It took about eight years before I figured out my own style in photography and I thought it was time to show my work.

You have been successful with both photography and your paintings.

In the past I have been more successful with my paintings but the last years there has been a lot of interest in my photographic work. I am self-taught and the difference you see in my photographical work comes from my painting style. I take photos in the same way as I paint.

So you use the same technique and principle for both?

Yes. I plan my photo’s in the same way as I would plan a painting. I look for the eye-line and at the anatomy of the objects in the photo.

Ferrari 250 GTE by Amaury Dubois

Looking at your Ferrari 250GTE which also provides a view inside the car, kind of showing all the elements. Is that what you mean by the anatomy?

No, my style is like a guide for your eyes.  It’s a way of looking at it which draws out your own idea of what you think about it. It is more about someone’s’ own dream or vision of a car, instead of just a photo of the car.

So what is your dream of the car? Is it the feeling of the powerful engine and sitting inside and driving this wonderful car?

Yes.  It’s not a static photo. It’s about the speed of the car.

You keep each element in place but also very detailed. You don’t blur it. It is in focus.

I keep all the elements and the line of the car and at first glance, you only see a car. But when you look at the photo more carefully, your brain starts working and you see that there is something different with the photo. You see the front, the back, the engine and all the parts of the car but what is this car? It makes someone think.

Aston DBS 2 by Amaury Dubois

Interior Design by Amaury Dubois

Do you start with a sketch before you start working with the photo?

Yes and I start doing the photos based on my sketch. So I know exactly which photos I need to take, it’s like a shopping list.

Do all the different images come from your database?

No. I have to find car collectors. Sometimes I phone them and other times it goes via word and mouth but the car collectors want to first see my work and meet with me in person before taking me to their collection. Some collectors have very expensive cars stored in very secretive places. It’s very interesting. They like the style of my work and this is why they want to work with me. It’s not just a usual photo of a car. It’s a very different style.

How do you produce your graphical work featured on your new website? Do you use real paints or keep it digital?

I start with a real painting, then take a photo of that painting and then I work with it on the computer.

Painting by Amaury Dubois

Looking at your gallery, I see most of your work has a black background and not yet all these graphical designs. Where are you going with this?

It is still in the experimental stage at the moment. I am not really sure. Maybe it will re-appear in a few years. For the moment, I prefer a black background.  But I always try something different and this is part of my research.

The audience only gets to see the tip of the Iceberg

Before I go to take the photos of the car, I make lots of sketches in preparation of how I want to photograph the car and from which angles. I am a painter and so I work like a painter. I am not like other photographers. It’s more my brain and spirit that do the photo’s which lead to my creations.

I think that is why you are reaching so many new people. Your work goes much further and deeper than other digital photographers.

Like an architect, I need a map and plan.

Corvette C1 by Amaury Dubois

Porsche 918 Spyder by Amaury Dubois

What is your dream for the coming years?

When I see a new car, there’s a new dream. I am going to Singapore soon for an exposition of my paintings.

As an artist you are very diverse, you do paintings, photos but there are also some sculptures

Yes, but for the moment it is only a stage. I am working on it but it’s not ready.

So you have a lot of ideas which still need to be created.

Yes, my brain is full of ideas.

Interior Design by Amaury Dubois

To see more of Amaury Dubois’s work, please visit his website: http://www.amaury-dubois.com/fr/

For his automotive art he recently launched a new website at http://www.art-photo-car.com/en/

The post Amaury Dubois Gives Cars A New Dimension appeared first on CarArtSpot.

MERCEDES BENZ Milestones of Motorsports

Milestones of Motorsports - Mercedes-Benz 300 SL racing sports car

Recently I have had quite some conversations with artists and car designers as to whether cars are art? Each car starts with a drawing and a clay model and while most artworks, like paintings, are the result of one person, the creation of a car requires a whole team. A team who all share a vision and a dream to create something new, faster and better.

This book describes the making of a sculpture named the 300 SL.  A car which is being treated as art today and which is a valued piece in many car collections.

The Mercedes designers and management by no means had the intent to create a collection item. Working hard to rebuild the company after WWII, they initially did not have the available resources to work on sports car. However, the desire was there and plans were made to create a representative sports car, as early as 1948. Ideas and visions were discussed and shared and Mercedes initiated a dedicated department to start working on a car that could win the important races and put Mercedes on the map.

From management discussions to the technical decisions, each step in the design processes are outlined in this book. Technical drawings, unique photos, letters and documents illustrate the history.

MERCEDES BENZ Milestones of Motorsports

Maybe the most characteristic element of the 300 SL is its gullwing doors. Since the 300 SL measured only 1225 mm in height and had a high-sided design space frame, the designers had to come up with a solution on how to get into the car. The Gullwing doors were the answer! Not unique to Mercedes being as others had tried and used it before, but it became the signature element of the 300 SL. A design which stirred some legal discussions about it's compliance with the International Motor sport regulations.

MERCEDES BENZ Milestones of Motorsports

Milestones of Motorsports - Mercedes-Benz 300 SL racing sports car

So what can you expect from this book?

It starts with a beautiful photo series of all the famous races, printed on 100 pages of black paper, emphasizing the rough pixels of photo technology in those days. Perfectly capturing the atmosphere of the race. Names of drivers and designers are stated, which is explained much later in the book. I found this intriguing; who are these fine men and women celebrating the victories of these races, working on fixing the cars to keep them running during Le Mans.

MERCEDES BENZ Milestones of Motorsports

MERCEDES BENZ Milestones of Motorsports

What follows is the history of the designs, the technical iterations and the races. As to be expected from such a detailed book, each chassis number is referred to, including all the technical details and where and when it raced.

Any owner of a 300 SL, be it the original version or a later model, should have this magnificant book which is housed in a hardback cover. A wonderful possession for all Mercedes lovers.

This book is published by Hatje Canz and available here.

The post MERCEDES-BENZ Milestones of Motorsports appeared first on CarArtSpot.

Bulli Forever. Liebeserklärung an ein Lebensgefühl by Jamie Tinney

Everytime one of my daughters spots an old Volkswagen Transporter they start dreaming out loud; “When I have my driver’s license, I will buy that car and travel around the world”.

How did this classic MPV achieve such a cult status? We accept that they are painted in beautiful bright colours, often conveying a view of 'life by itself'. And of course we respect the perfectly restored version in concourse condition. But that’s not it, this car has become a symbol of freedom, an icon of independent minds living their lives on their terms. A joy de fivre.

Bulli Forever. Liebeserklärung an ein Lebensgefühl by Jamie Tinney

"It is good to have a destination in mind but at the end, it is the journey that matters"  Ursula K. Le Guin

Bulli Forever. Liebeserklärung an ein Lebensgefühl by Jamie Tinney

"Travelling is not something you are good at. It is just something you do. Like breathing." Gayle Foreman

This new book on the “Bulli”, the German “nick-name” for the T1, tries to capture that feeling by images and quotes. This is not a car book, this is a book about a way of life, showing a way of life without people but only through the combination of cars and quotes and that's quite a challenge.

Did they succeed in this? Yes and no. Yes, when it comes to finding the right quotes and combining them with matching photos and colourful graphic designs.

But no, for the photos. The author made a selection from a wide range of photos and photographers.  But the majority of these photos have not been made with the intent of capturing the T1's joy de fivre.

Bulli Forever. Liebeserklärung an ein Lebensgefühl by Jamie Tinney

"Do not be afraid of perfection" Salvador Dali

Bulli Forever. Liebeserklärung an ein Lebensgefühl by Jamie Tinney

"Not all those who wander are lost"  J.R.R Tolkien

This book is published by Delius Klasing and available here. 

ISBN: 978-3-667-10464-9. Please note that all quotes are in German.

The post Bulli Forever appeared first on CarArtSpot.

Leica and Zagato, two brands with a long history combined in one book.

Zagato Leica USA Collectibles by Winston Goodfellow

One of the roles of art is to beautify our lives. Design has a similar role and we don’t always have to own the objects to enjoy their beauty. When going through this book, I began wondering what it was all about. What does a famous brand in lenses have to do with Zagato? But then it dawned on me that both brands have a long heritage in high quality and exclusive design. In the current trend of exclusive brands working together to create something unique, sharing each others strengths, this cooperation resulted in a pair of binoculars. This book is on one hand documenting the joint efforts designing these binoculars and on the other, a celebration of beauty.

It shows 33 Zagato USA collectibles in beautiful photos and quotes only. No historical details of the car, or its technical specifications. Just the plain beauty of the car seen through the lenses of Leica. This book demonstrates that you don’t always need words to tell a story.

Zagato Leica USA Collectibles by Winston Goodfellow

One quote in the book by Ansel Adams kind of summarizes it all;

“You don’t make a photograph just with a camera. You bring to the act of photography all the pictures you have seen, the books you have read, the music you have heard, the people you have loved.”

So what does this book give you?

The first chapter shows the design process of a unique collaboration between Leica and Zagato through the design of the Ultravid 8x32 “Edition Zagato” binoculars. A unique limited edition.

ZAGATO LEICA USA Collectibles

ZAGATO LEICA USA Collectibles

What follows are 130 pages of beautiful photographed cars. 3 Zagato’s from collections in the USA and photographed in their current habitat. The cars vary from the Fiat 8V Zagato Elaborata 1954, to an Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Spider Aerodinamica from 1934 and a stunning Lamborghini Raptor (1996).

For those interested in the details of each car, the book ends with a short description of each.

ZAGATO LEICA USA Collectibles

This book is published at Delius Klasing and available here. 

ISBN: 978-3-667-10423-6

The post Zagato Leica USA Collectibles appeared first on CarArtSpot.

Art of The Mustang. Photography by Tom Loeser and text by Donald Farr

The ultimate dream of any Muscle car fan would be to own a Mustang and preferably a Shelby version. Especially if that fan would be me. I fell in love with this car after watching Nicolas Cage drive it in Gone in 60 Seconds. “Eleanor” the 1967 Ford Mustang fastback depicted as a Shelby GT500.

Art of The Mustang - 2014 Shelby GT500

Art of The Mustang - 2015 Mustang 50 Year Limited Edition

In this book, photographer Tom Loeser pays his tribute to 50 years of Mustang. He knows how to highlight the specifics of each model by playing with dark and light to get the best photos. The strength of the photos in this book is the fact that there are no backgrounds distracting you from the car. They are pitch black which enhances and accentuates the colours and lines of the car.

Mustangs are cars which bring back memories and make you share stories. And that’s exactly what Donald Farr has done with this book, sharing the stories of guys like Jordan Besenburch who happens to be the proud owner of a Boss 302. His grandfather parked the car under a tarp in 1988 after blowing up the engine during a street race. David now plans to refurbish the Boss in tribute to his father.

Art of The Mustang. Photography by Tom Loeser and text by Donald Farr

Art of The Mustang - 1965 GT350 School Car

The combination of photos, stories and some technical background text works really well. Art deserves to be shared and exposed to a large audience and the Art of the Mustang is no different. A worthy tribute to the Mustang.

This book is published by Motorbooks and available here.

ISBN 9780760347867

The post Art of the Mustang appeared first on CarArtSpot.