Description: New additions to the automotive market are judged primarily by efficiency or fuel consumption. Things are quite different for historical cars. Major car shows, from Pebble Beach to Villa d'Este, feature classic cars, which although they may not achieve top marks in the wind tunnel, have a timeless elegance that makes the hearts of all aficionados skip a beat. The photographer Ansel Adams, who was an honorary judge at Pebble Beach, once defined them as follows: "The type of vehicle I would like to be buried in." From the Jaguar XK 140 to the Porsche 550 Spyder, René Staud has shot automotive classics in settings ranging from the subtle to the spectacular. As co-organizer and head of the Car Selection Committee for Schloss Bensberg Classics, Jürgen Lewandowski provides authoritative texts. The Classic Cars Book conveys a real passion for these spectacular vehicles, appealing to existing fans and those yet to fall under their spell.
Brief description: René Staud, the book's photographer, is among the most sought-after automotive photographers and is widely regarded as one of the most innovative in the industry. His invention of the Magicflash(R) lighting system was not only a source of impetus for his art, it influenced studio photography in general. Seven volumes of his work have now been published by teNeues. With more than 80,000 copies sold, they are now classics in automotive literature. Author Jürgen Lewandowski was editor of the Automobile and Transportation section of the newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung for more than 20 years. He has written roughly 100 books on automobiles, including teNeues bestsellers The Ferrari Book - Passion for Design and The Porsche 911 Book.