Chaparral: Can-Am Racing Cars from Texas (Ludvigsen Library)

Great photos and insights into a great innovative program

This is a basic black & white book, similar to those model guidebooks with some shots that show detail, and some info on the car, and Jim Hall.Worth getting if you're really, really interested in Chaparrals, or mid engine racecars. I was hoping for some info on how they built these cars, but there is not much info on the actual manufacturing process. No blueprints or plans either, which is why I'm giving it only 4 stars.I don't really regret buying it, but I was expecting more. (Expecting too much, perhaps).Might be inspirational for those who are considering building their own mid engine racecar!

nice pictures

This is very much a picture book. Jim Hall's genius in areodynamic design is traced through each generation of Chapparral that he pioneered. Each iteration is well documented with photos of the many modifications. The author interjects a reasonable amount of descriptive narration, but the B&W photos of that era are what makes the book so enjoyable. This book is for anyone who knows CanAm racing history or has an interest in the cutting edge of race car design.

not much history

Chaparral: Can-Am Racing Cars from Texas by Karl Ludvigsen ensnares the minds of even the most casual sport-racing fans. If you are looking for a book that delves into the high value of these majestic oil country machines, this book will be a treat. Focusing on the Can-Am racing cars of the 1960s, this book offers candid insight you won't find in any other text.Ludvigsen's knowledge about the history of Jim Hall and Hap Sharp's chaparrals is intriguing. Readers will learn about innovations like aerodynamic wings and auto transmissions in a new way - with black and white photos to document their entry into Can-Am racing. Readers will have the opportunity to see some of the first front-engine cars and their evolution through the generations. This look into the past is inspirational for anybody thinking about building their own racecar.Employed by Ford, Fiat, and General Motors in the past, the author has a unique perspective the reader cannot help but trust. Ludvigsen has a distinguished record in the motor industry as a journalist and historian who delves into the characters central to the racing revolution, including Hap Sharp - "a more complex character" than Jim Hall. A contemporary of his that also contributes to the discussion is Allan Girdler. Several of his books have been re-released, and I recommend you to check out  American Road Race Specials, 1934-70: Glory Days of Homebuilt Racers .

Belle foto, non completo per i modelli prodotti.troppi i particolari meccanici fotografati.

One of the great series produced by the author and great insight on the cars from Midland

J'ai mis du temps à le trouver, il est rare, et les photos sont superbes pour les amateurs et les connaisseurs d'une époque ...

Un peu cher pour ce type de livre en occase

The fabulous Chaparrals may have been painted white, but colour photos would have helped. And more about Rattlesnake Raceway and individual biographies of Jim Hall and Hap Sharp, often unsung heroes.