Cars & Motorcycles

The Official Inside Story of the McLaren F1, profusely illustrated with b&w and colour photographs, diagrams and cutaway drawings, reproductions of contemporary documents (see picture below), appendices giving technical specifications of the different variants and the motor-racing record of the racing versions, double-sided poster included loose at the rear, 273 pp, black boards with representation of the car’s steering-wheel and logo impressed into front cover, with d/w, the book would probably pass as ‘new’ in most bookshops, Virgin Books 1999

29.4 x 28.5 cm, 2240g, ISBN 1 85227 841 2

As befits a car produced to a standard and not a price, the official history of the car could hardly be more comprehensive – see, for example, the picture below giving a cutaway drawing and photos of the two development hacks ‘Edward’ and ‘Albert’ – Ron Dennis was so appalled at their ugliness that once they were of no further use he had them crushed so no-one could find and restore them thirty years later!  For once the ‘blurb’ on the dustwrapper flap falls a little short of describing the book inside.   

The fact that Doug Nye was chosen to compile the book means it is also very readable.  This is one of the few books on this website that I read from cover to cover before putting it on sale.

The book’s size, weight and production quality make it inconceivable it would ever be reprinted.  It is yet another book where American booksellers quote ridiculous prices – over £400 in one case . . .

As the book weighs over 2kg, it would cost a fortune to send abroad.   If you are outside the U.K. and are thinking about buying it, please email us first on enquiries@monkshillbooks.co.uk and we will quote a price for postage.