A Century of Motoring

By 1914 the motor car had taken its definitive form. Tiller steering had at last disappeareed (in 1911 when Lanchester abandoned it); the front engined rear-wheel drive stystem Panhard was almost universal, unit construction was being essayed (the Lagonda 11.9hp); coachwork was moving away decisively from its horse-carriage roots. A new industry was forming, with mass-production by Ford and Morris poised to drive car-ownership upwards. The First World War, precipitated by the assassination of a car-borne royal, was to be the first motorized conflict, and one that would see a generation of soldiers gaining experience of the automobile.

A Century of Motoring charts the progress of motoring from this nodal point to where we are today —more mobile than ever, but with environmental concerns shaping the way cars are made, use, and ultimately discarded. Through 50 carefully-chosen photographs it examines the steady democratization of motoring, the development of the British motor industry, and the place of the car in British life. Along the way it depicts the landmark models that are part of this rich history —the Model T Ford, the Austin Seven, the Jaguar E-type, the Mini —but doesn't forget the oddballs that have added so much color to the motoring scene, specials, and the bubble cars of the Suez era.

John Pressnell is a freelance journalist specializing in classic cars and is a Senior Contributor to Classic and Sports car magazine. He had a particular interest in the British motor industry, especially the Nuffield Organization, BMC and British Leyland, and has carried out pioneering research on various aspects of the works of the Mini's creator, Sir Alec Issigonia. His published work includes Great Cars of the World, Morris Minor: Exploring the Legend, Citroen DS: The Complete Story and a comprehensive revision of the late Michael Sedgwick's A-Z of Cars 1945-1970. He is the author of Shire's Touring Caravans.