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Drive: The Definitive History of Driving
Charting the 130-years from the arrival of horseless carriages to the advent of driverless vehicles, celebrate the automobile and the romance of the open road.
Beginning with the development of the first vehicles powered by an internal combustion engine, Drive explores the early glamour of driving, motor sport, and car design, and looks at how the automobile has shaped the modern world.
Revealing the advances in technology and design that have made cars faster, safer, and better to drive, and transformed them from a means of transportation into objects of status, excitement, and desire, Drive tracks trends in auto manufacturing and the public's changing tastes in cars: whether it's Golden Era sports cars such as the MG, Alfa Romeo, Jaguar, and Chevrolet, muscle cars like the Mustang, hot rods, custom cars, the hippie-standard VW, or modern-day hybrid cars. Trivia and fascinating facts covering the growth of car racing, the development of traffic lights, the boom in automobile advertising, the first car washes, and the craft of artisan-made cars complete the subject, making it a must-have for car enthusiasts.
Beginning with the development of the first vehicles powered by an internal combustion engine, Drive explores the early glamour of driving, motor sport, and car design, and looks at how the automobile has shaped the modern world.
Revealing the advances in technology and design that have made cars faster, safer, and better to drive, and transformed them from a means of transportation into objects of status, excitement, and desire, Drive tracks trends in auto manufacturing and the public's changing tastes in cars: whether it's Golden Era sports cars such as the MG, Alfa Romeo, Jaguar, and Chevrolet, muscle cars like the Mustang, hot rods, custom cars, the hippie-standard VW, or modern-day hybrid cars. Trivia and fascinating facts covering the growth of car racing, the development of traffic lights, the boom in automobile advertising, the first car washes, and the craft of artisan-made cars complete the subject, making it a must-have for car enthusiasts.
360 pages, Hardcover
Published April 3, 2018
2 people are currently reading
52 people want to read
About the author
Giles Chapman
74 books4 followersGiles Chapman is an award-winning writer and commentator on the industry, history and culture of cars. He began his career in 1984 in automotive consultancy, moving into magazine publishing in 1985. By 1991, he was editor of Classic & Sports Car, the world's best-selling classic car magazine. Since 1994, he's worked freelance across a huge variety of media. Today, he contributes to national newspapers and motoring publications, and was voted Jeep Consumer Journalist Of The Year in 2005, BCA Feature Writer Of The Year in 2008, AA Environment Writer Of The Year 2011, and Classic Writer Of The Year in 2022 as well as being shortlisted as the 2022 Royal Automobile Club Journalist Of The Year.
He's the author of almost 60 books including 'My Dad Had One Of Those' (co-written with Top Gear's Richard Porter) that was a non-fiction hardback best-seller in 2007 and has since sold almost 200,000 copies. This makes it one of the best-selling – and most popular – car books of all time.
He's the author of almost 60 books including 'My Dad Had One Of Those' (co-written with Top Gear's Richard Porter) that was a non-fiction hardback best-seller in 2007 and has since sold almost 200,000 copies. This makes it one of the best-selling – and most popular – car books of all time.
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August 16, 2022DK never fails to please with its Smithsonian-related releases. When it has the words “Definitive history..” as part of the title, then the book does not mislead in any manner. It is that and more when dealing with a variety of topics.
This time out it looks at the car, and its evolution, along with the revolution it created with ways to travel. It does focus on the beginnings of the car, mentioning in detail how it began and where it was heading as the years progressed. It is noted in the book that at one time, the automobile was loathed.
Cars were made to travel at a walking pace according to the author, and in France, road racing was banned because when there was a high number of accidents caused by out-of-control drivers. The book tells that, “When British motoring laws were relaxed in 1896, motorists celebrated. In honor of this brave new world, the Automobile Club arranged a drive from London to Brighton that is called the Emancipation Run. Thirty motorists took part in an event that is now known as the London to Brighton Run, which continues to this day.”
Cars were one time noted as a novelty, but as more people acquired them and were used for more than just driving around one’s city, they turned into more a necessity for many. The book embraces the spirit of the car, and how throughout the years they acquired newfangled parts to make them more user friendly.
Headlights were an essential creation especially at night, when roads were dark and one could not see that far in front of them.
Cars such as the Model-T are highlighted here, along with key moments in its history. Other essentials are also told in detail such as gas of course, and how drivers bought gasoline in two gallon cans before gas pumps were designed. The earliest pump models are shown in the book, giving a true historical perspective of something so essential.
DRIVE certainly covers as many bases as possible in the detailed analysis of cars and travel, packing so much information within its pages. Many firsts are told here also, such as the first parking garages, the first car wash which appeared in Detroit in 1914, and when airstream trailers were quite common on the roads.
Listed chronologically, the book leaves no road unturned in a manner of speaking. At the back of the is a special section on the most inspiring routes from around the world. In North America, the Riverhurst Crossing in Saskatchewan is profiled, especially noting how during the winter months, cars actually drive across the frozen lake to get to their destination.
If you are looking for a book that tells everything you need to know about the history of automobiles and dozens of subjects associated with it, then drive on down to get your copy. It is definitely a classic.
This time out it looks at the car, and its evolution, along with the revolution it created with ways to travel. It does focus on the beginnings of the car, mentioning in detail how it began and where it was heading as the years progressed. It is noted in the book that at one time, the automobile was loathed.
Cars were made to travel at a walking pace according to the author, and in France, road racing was banned because when there was a high number of accidents caused by out-of-control drivers. The book tells that, “When British motoring laws were relaxed in 1896, motorists celebrated. In honor of this brave new world, the Automobile Club arranged a drive from London to Brighton that is called the Emancipation Run. Thirty motorists took part in an event that is now known as the London to Brighton Run, which continues to this day.”
Cars were one time noted as a novelty, but as more people acquired them and were used for more than just driving around one’s city, they turned into more a necessity for many. The book embraces the spirit of the car, and how throughout the years they acquired newfangled parts to make them more user friendly.
Headlights were an essential creation especially at night, when roads were dark and one could not see that far in front of them.
Cars such as the Model-T are highlighted here, along with key moments in its history. Other essentials are also told in detail such as gas of course, and how drivers bought gasoline in two gallon cans before gas pumps were designed. The earliest pump models are shown in the book, giving a true historical perspective of something so essential.
DRIVE certainly covers as many bases as possible in the detailed analysis of cars and travel, packing so much information within its pages. Many firsts are told here also, such as the first parking garages, the first car wash which appeared in Detroit in 1914, and when airstream trailers were quite common on the roads.
Listed chronologically, the book leaves no road unturned in a manner of speaking. At the back of the is a special section on the most inspiring routes from around the world. In North America, the Riverhurst Crossing in Saskatchewan is profiled, especially noting how during the winter months, cars actually drive across the frozen lake to get to their destination.
If you are looking for a book that tells everything you need to know about the history of automobiles and dozens of subjects associated with it, then drive on down to get your copy. It is definitely a classic.
May 4, 2020
This book was published in UK, but "imported" by Smithsonian. The cover depicts the rear of a 1956 De Soto, but don't let that mislead you. This is not a book about American cars, especially those from the 50's. In fact, there is only a little about American cars from any era.
It is an international book on how automobiles influenced the world. Mostly focuses on Europe. But that is not a bad thing.
If you like automobiles in general, this is a very good book. Lots of photographs and thumbnail information about cars, people, petroliana, traffic, roads, etc.
It is an international book on how automobiles influenced the world. Mostly focuses on Europe. But that is not a bad thing.
If you like automobiles in general, this is a very good book. Lots of photographs and thumbnail information about cars, people, petroliana, traffic, roads, etc.
March 3, 2025
Great, entertaining coffee-table book covering the history of automobiles and driving around the world. I liked it because it was not focused on the American experience. In fact, if anything it leaned a bit heavily toward European subject matter. Being familiar with the subject from and American perspective, I was OK with that. This book does delve deeply into the mechanics of the auto, nor the design or business side of the industry. It is basically a book version of strolling through a transportation museum focused on the car.
Recommended.
Recommended.
December 22, 2023
Lots of pictures. A history of cars around the world. Germany and France got the start on this automotive discovery before America did. They show a lot of the early cars and companies that went out of business. There were lots of tidbit info like how we get tarmac. I’ve heard the word, never knew the history. Why do we drive on the side of the road we do? International road signs. Hyundai is an older company than I thought.
March 1, 2023
A delightful pictorial book covering everything imaginable about automobiles.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews