Automobile Year No.12.

“Automobile Year No. 12”
Edited by Ami Guichard. 224 pp. 12-3/4 in. x 9-3/4 in. (English agent: G. T. Foulis & Co. Ltd., 1-5, Portpool Lane, London, E.C.1. 55s.)

The lavishly-produced “Automobile Year” is still the best of these annuals, in spite of many imitators. It is beautifully printed and the advertisements, many of them in colour, are a complement to the editorial text and pictures.

The 1964/65 edition includes the usual review of the 1964 racing season, by Douglas Armstrong, generously illustrated with action photographs and fine colour plates, and supporting articles on the international rallies of 1964 (Sprinzel), Evolution at Indianapolis (Poe) and the 1966 Formula One (Pomeroy). William Boddy deals with “The Cult of the Historic Racing Car,” his article somewhat out of date as it was written for last year’s edition, there is a long account of the dramatic 1914 French G.P. by Heinz Ulrich Wilselman, who graphically paints in words the race at Lyons but has got the Delage valve gear rather mixed up with the controls, while the competition cars of 1964 are tabulated and depicted and this year the leading marque article is about the Cadillac, by Eric Nielssen.

In addition, coachwork trends are dealt with, with striking illustrations, von Frankenberg looks at streamlining and concludes that the streamlined touring car still doesn’t exist, and the high-performance cars of 1964 are reviewed, backed-up by a road-test report on the B.M.W. 1800 TI by the Editor. Tommy Wisdom writes about the B.S.M. High-Performance Course.

The customary tabulation of records broken in 1964, concluding with Arfons’ incredible 536 m.p.h. Land Speed Record and covering long-distance class records by VW 1500S, Ford Corsair GT, and Alan Allard’s s.s. kilo record of 104 m.p.h. at Chelveston in an Allard Dragon dragster, are proof of “Automobile Year’s” full coverage. If you invest in one motoring annual annually, this is the one. — W.B.