3 comments about California Look Vw.

1. I think Jay Tucker Jr is an a-hole who has no idea about why people modify and drive VWs. Perhaps he should stick to Hondas...



2. As a coffee table book of flashy pictures of Volkswagens done up in the classic "California Look," this will fit the bill with recent and period photos of the style; the features of which repeated until you expect a quiz from the author. Seume, who has a fixation on these particular period vehicles bordering on the, shall we say, unhealthy, writes as though he is the only one that can possibly appreciate what was basically a short customizing "craze" in late 60's Orange County California. Like many males with automotive fixations, the creators of this style sought to gain individuality through customizing their cars in a nearly identical manner. As with many things weirdly American, Seume notes with pride how this particularly narrow and short-lived styling look has recently gained a near fanatical following internationally, with Finns, Germans, Japanese, and other young men looking to belong and now affording what was basically meant to be an extremely cheap, throw-away automobile taking this style to near-worship in car clubs that approach the rivalry of street gangs. In Europe, the "Cal Look" as it is known in the States, is refered to as "Old School," with current auto part manufacturers mass-reproducing copies of the styling pieces for instant consumption at outrageous prices. Seume loses himself in his writing that borders on the fetishistic, and if a reader actually manages to read the all the copy written by the author, they were truly bored indeed. The photos of the modern examples done up in the style are gourgeous, but in reality toys, never to be driven on the street or seen outside a garage. One begins to wonder about someone who spends $30 to $40,000 on restoration and obscure period customizing pieces for a car that originally sold for $1995. If you like beautiful and period photos of old custom Volkswagens, this book is for you. The publisher could have left out the text written by Seume and no one would have ever noticed.



3. If you are one of those people that prefers to see a vw with a set of nice wheels and some nice trick bits, then this is the book for you. It captures the essence of the california look perfectly and could quite easily transform a hardcore vintage enthusiast into a cal look lover. It features several very well written sections covering different areas of influence on the scene. One covers the originators of the look, one the major companies involved with it, and another on the clubs that helped form the scene. Keith Seume has also managed to include a large amount of rare photos of early development taking place, right through to photos of clubs still alive from the heyday of the california look. Once you get this book you will be forever converted to that slammed, agro look of the cal lookers.

5 comments about How to Restore Your Collector Bicycle.

1. Well written book for a collector and enthusiast. Loads of helpful information for any restoration project. Great photos and checklists.



2. I am mainly into restoring classic British cars, but my interest in classic bicycles has always been strong. I have found this to be an excellent book for its coverage of the restoration process, for the many helpful technical tips sprinkled throughout, and for the high level historical information covering major categories of most commonly collected bikes.

   Some of best financial advice in the book relates to finding and selecting reasonable project bikes (I have a bad habit of trying to "save" bikes needing major work and/or missing parts). The chapters "Finding and Evaluating a Bicycle" and "Choosing the Right Project" have helped to change my approach. As recently as this morning, after becoming enamoured with a certain 1920s era bicycle needing restoration, I checked page 12 and was tipped off that the expense of the single tube tires might be significant. A quick phone call verified the expense...saved!

   This is a well written book and well worth the investment.




3. a great book love it



4. I can't say enough good things about this book! Of course it has the usual "how to remove a tire" info, but the sections on rebuilding and refinishing a vintage bicycle are plain outstanding! The information is detailed without being overwhelming. And they also make sense to non-gearheads like me. The book also gives lots of sources for obtaining vintage and reproduction parts--with URLs that actually work! One of the things I liked best about the book is that the author places much emphasis on the decision making process involved in cleaning/repairing/restoring an old bike. As we all know, many collectible bikes (and collectibles of any kind!) have been ruined by over-enthusiastic owners wanting to make them "like new." It is obvious that Mr. Love LOVES his hobby, and delights in sharing it with other people. Highly recommended!



5. Of course there is the basic "how to remove a tire" information, but there are also lots of good tips on how to evaluate a purchase, some really clever and easy techniques for brightening up an old bike's appearance, plus many excellent "insider" resources for information and replacement parts...with URLs that actually work! He uses different "experts" to demonstrate how to do a factory finish on the bike, how to get it replated etc., and the information is detailed, specific and fun to read without being overwhelming. The author places much emphasis on deciding whether to restore or not, which is a good thing-- as we all know many wonderful collectible bikes (or collectible anything!) are ruined by owners eager to make them "like new." This book strikes me as a labor of love by a person who really loves his hobby and enjoys sharing it with other people. The mechanical info might be too basic for die-hard gearheads, but even they will benefit from the wonderful body work sections!

No comments about The Golden Age of the Steam Locomotive: With over 250 Classic Illustrations (Trains).

No comments about Thomas F. McManus and the American Fishing Schooners: An Irish-American Success Story (American Maritime Library).

No comments about Vintage Japanese Street Bikes: Honda, 250 & 305Cc Twins, 1959-1969, Kawasaki, 250-750Cc Triples, 1969-1979, Kawasaki, 900 & 1000Cc Fours, 1973-1978 (Clymer ... Series/M305) (Clymer Collection Series/M305).

No comments about Standard Catalog of Ford.

No comments about Wheels in Motion: The American Automobile Industry's First Century.

5 comments about The Art of the Motorcycle (Guggenheim Museum Publications).

1. This book is a must have for the serious motorcyclist who wants to somehow broaden her two wheel horizon. It is also a very stylish reminder that many innovations are 60 year old ones. While pictures are of high quality and the prints very good, I can only regret that this particular selection of motorcycles may be seen by some as The ultimate bike park. It is not! A true exhibition catalog, the book remains unique: I do not know of any other printed material of this quality, show-casing motorcycles in this manner.



2. This is a nice "coffee table" book about their recent exhibit. As a rider since '59, I couldn't wait to get into the text, which is divided by time periods.
   Alas, the print is a super thin, "artsy" typeface, very faint and grey colored- not a rich, easy to read, black Courier, for example. And the white space is excessive; they could have increased the typeface size by 4 or 5 points and still have more than enough border on each page!
   Conclusion- a fine book marred by it's designers to make it less readable and useable!



3. Museums, exhibits and the books devolving from them only hint at the mysteries they purport to show but rarely reveal. This is particularly true of exhibits of things that move, whether airplanes, cars and motorcycles on one hand, or people on the other. Once mummified via restoration and encapsulated in historical review, these lively subjects lose their kinesthetic value and become dessicated.
   Within the limitations of those realities, here is a book that is endlessly fascinating and pleasing, replete with photos that while technically excellent are for the most part static and thus devoid of context. The essays, although pleasant, lack edge and passion, thus failing to evoke the adrenal glands (which operate at high levels when pushing a motorcycle to the limit).
   The descriptions of the machines, from knowledgeable masters such as Kevin Cameron, capture the essence of what the designer tried to do and how well he (no known female motorcycle designers, but correct me if I'm wrong) hit his target.
   This is a book to which one can return again and again with pleasure. For a rider who has survived (I confess, in context, that I'm the survivor of 1.6m miles on two wheels) and ridden any of these wondrous devices, the book is a channel back in time that the book conveys magnificently.
   It is to the credit of the Guggenheim and the sponsors, such as BMW, that the show/book could be produced and could demonstrate to a wide public the fascination of motorcycles and riding them.
   Even non-riders, who have seen motorcycles on the road or who may know motorcycle enthusiasts, will start to comprehend the addictive fascination that possesses riders who can't stop. If you are persuaded to ride, please wear the best gear you can afford, get training and realize that roadcraft only comes from mileage undertaken humbly but decisively, the kinesthetic realities no book, however good, can convey.



4. This book contains a good overview of motorcycling history, but its claims to fame are the wonderful photography and the high production values with which it was printed. It is a wonder to think that the photos are of bikes that actually exist today.

   If you are searching for something to give to a person you know who enjoys riding motorcycles, who used to ride or who dreams of one day riding this is a can't miss gift. I received my copy as a gift two years ago, and I still enjoying reading it.




5. more than onehundred pages of motorcycle history, culture and sport,hundreds of high quality pictures with more history on specific makes & models. this book 'll look very "chic" on your coffeetable. . must be the finest in it's kind. ( & at 1/2 the expo price. .)

2 comments about Old Fishing Lures and Tackle: An Identification and Value Guide (Old Fishing Lures & Tackle).

1. I've learned a lot about old fishing lures by browsing through this book. It is well worth it. I rated it four stars because some of the black and white pictures are not clear, and descriptions were a little too brief, although this could be because that's all the author had available to him. If you're new to collecting this is a great starter book.



2. I think that this book is great for someone just beginning lure collecting. It is very easy to use and understand.

1 comments about Mustang, America's Favorite Pony Car.

1. My good review of "Mustang-- America's Favorite Pony Car" may come as a surprise to people how know me. Even for people like me who love old American cars, Mustangs are one of those subjects that's been done to death, along with '55-'57 Chevys, Thunderbirds, and streetrods. I really didn't want to see yet another book on Mustangs, but I found myself unable to put this one down. This is not just another Mustang pep rally. For the first time in years, I found myself learing something about Mustangs. I've seen many California Specials, but I never knew the details of Mustang's High Country Special for 1968 or the evolution of Steve Saleen's amazing post-muscle-era custom performers. Like many, I had passed off the 1970's Pinto-based Mustang IIs as laughable relics of the bad old days, but more than any other chapter, the Mustang II story fascinated me with new and interesting material. For any Mustang enthusiast who's tired of the same old "aren't they wonderful" thing, this book will be a real joy with some subtle humor along the way. Apparently, terrified children were a Mustang option for 1967.