[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/vital-reads-petrolhead\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/vital-reads-petrolhead\/","headline":"Motoring Books for any petrolhead","name":"Motoring Books for any petrolhead","description":"March 1st marks World Book Day and while driving cars is always more exciting than reading about them, there are countless books dedicated to the automotive sector that reward investigating. With so many titles available, it can be hard to know where to start if you\u2019re keen to bury your face in a car-related tome. One obvious tip is to go for something that takes your fancy – maybe start with the car you drive right now, or the car […]","datePublished":"2018-03-01","dateModified":"2025-10-20","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/#Person","name":"Isabelle Lawrence","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/","identifier":30,"description":"Max Wheeler is a leading motoring journalist and classic car specialist at Smart Motoring, renowned for his sharp insight and infectious passion for all things automotive. With years of experience covering motoring news, supercars, and the enduring legacy of classic cars, Max brings stories to life with style and authority. Whether it\u2019s the roar of a Lamborghini, the elegance of an Aston Martin DB5, or the cultural impact of vintage motoring icons, he delivers expert commentary that inspires enthusiasts and collectors alike. Dedicated to celebrating the heritage and future of driving, Max Wheeler is your trusted voice for classic car news and beyond.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Smart Motoring","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/feature-1.jpg","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/feature-1.jpg","height":520,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/vital-reads-petrolhead\/","about":["BLOG"],"wordCount":629,"keywords":["books","How Cars Work - Tom Newton","How to Build a Car - Adrian Newey","motoring","My Dad Had One Of Those - Giles Chapman & Richard Porter","The good","the mad and the ugly (... not to mention Jeremy Clarkson): The golden years of motoring journalism? - Peter Dron"],"articleBody":"March 1st marks World Book Day and while driving cars is always more exciting than reading about them, there are countless books dedicated to the automotive sector that reward investigating.With so many titles available, it can be hard to know where to start if you\u2019re keen to bury your face in a car-related tome.One obvious tip is to go for something that takes your fancy – maybe start with the car you drive right now, or the car you\u2019d rather be driving, and have a dig to see what\u2019s about.Regardless of your taste in cars, we\u2019ve picked out some titles sure to pump the pistons of any petrolhead.My Dad Had One Of Those – Giles Chapman & Richard PorterWith more than 180,000 copies sold, this is one of the best-selling car books of all-time and its title should tell you everything you need to know.Penned by former Top Gear script editor Richard Porter and much-respected motoring journo Giles Chapman, this Top Gear-blessed book is a celebration of the heyday of the Dad car, spanning the 1950s to the ’80s.This means the focus is favourites like the Ford Cortina, Vauxhall Viva, Rover 3500 and Citroen CX – all the great Dad cars.It reflects on a time \u201cwhen the nearest thing to an airbag was hiding behind your fat brother – this is a celebration of simple, honest cars that were as flawed and as loveable as your Dad himself\u201d. Sounds perfect!Click here to buy.The good, the mad and the ugly (… not to mention Jeremy Clarkson): The golden years of motoring journalism? – Peter DronDo you ever read car reviews and wonder what goes on behind the scenes? If so, then Peter Dron\u2019s new book is sure to provide some enlightenment.Looking past the book\u2019s bloated click-baity title, this promises to deliver a lighthearted look at what the author considers to have been the golden age of motoring journalism – i.e. the last two decades of the 20th century.Dron – founder of Fast Lane magazine and a weekly columnist with The Daily Telegraph – speaks with industry moguls and unusual motoring journalists discussing the reasons motoring journalism isn\u2019t what it used to be.Click here to buy.How to Build a Car – Adrian NeweyLooking at the best-selling automotive books on Amazon isn\u2019t particularly thrilling – the top ten is populated by dry if essential titles like the Highway Code and various other guides of that ilk.However, one that jumps out is Adrian Newey\u2019s How to Build a Car.Anyone with the slightest interest in Formula One may recognise the author\u2019s name as the world’s foremost designer in the sport and arguably one of Britain’s greatest engineers.Rather than a step-by-step guide to constructing a car, this is the fascinating and powerful memoir of Adrian Newey OBE, covering his 35-year F1 career from the cars he has designed to the drivers he has worked with (Prost, Mansell, Vettel, Coulthard) and the races in which he’s been involved.The book also touches on tragedy, drawing on Newey\u2019s role with Williams in 1994 at the time of Ayrton Senna\u2019s fatal accident.Click here to buy.How Cars Work – Tom NewtonIf you\u2019re curious to inner workings of cars then this is more likely to scratch that technically inquisitive itch.This heavily illustrated guide describes the 250 most important car parts and how they work. With wonderfully simple line drawings and clear language, How Cars Work provides the basic vocabulary and mechanical knowledge you\u2019ll need to talk with your local grease monkey with confidence.Click here to buy.Have we missed out your favourite car book? Tell us down about it down there in the comments. "},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Motoring Books for any petrolhead","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/vital-reads-petrolhead\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]