Buses and the British Bugatti

A history of Crossley has been long awaited. Now Michael Eyre, Chris Heaps and Alan Townsin have supplied one. Quality-produced, it has an enormous display of interesting pictures, and is not only for car folk. Titled CrossIey (ISBN 86093 5744, Oxford Publishing Co, £35) it covers everything its name implies. The cars, of course, but also family history, the gas engines, railway engines, military and commercial vehicles, buses, coaches, trolleybuses, aeroplanes, marine engines and so on are all there, including an explanation of the Willys-Overland-Crossley nightmare, and how Crossley built British Bugattis.

From the sporting aspect, the racing Crossleys are referred to, from the 1914 TT cars to the post-war 20/70s used at Brooklands, as are the pre-war and 1920s `Shelsley’ sportscars. The story of Crossley Brothers and Crossley Motors Ltd is detailed, as is the account of the Crossley family, and statistics of cars and engines are listed. An enormous tour de force, occupying 272 A4-sized art pages and featuring many intriguing photos.

So, the definitive history of an important British engineering firm dating back to 1860, at a competitive price. A book for car enthusiasts, commercial vehicle and bus clubs and the research fraternity. One can but say, just tremendous”.