Vintage Vehicle Maintenance

Whether it’s a timeless 1970’s two-stroke Kawasaki motorcycle or a head-turning 1960’s Triumph sports car, the allure of classic and vintage vehicles will always be close to our hearts. Over the next generation, with the rapid introduction of electric vehicles and self-driving modes of transport, the internal combustion engine will be consigned to the history books. Now’s a good time to invest in the literature of your favourite makes and models, and what better place to start than Country House Library’s collection.

MORRIS MINOR 1000 OWNER'S WORKSHOP MANUAL 1956-71 BY J.H. HAYNES 1971

Here’s a combination of two Great British classics – the Morris Minor and the Haynes Manual. Making its debut at the Earl’s Court Motor Show in 1948, designed by the famous Alec Issigonis, the Minor was the first British car to sell over one million units. The magazine Autocar said the Minor was “a primary way Britain got back on the road after the Second World War.”

The Haynes Manuals are named after their founding author John Haynes (1938-2019) who published his first manual in 1965 for the Austin-Healey Sprite. At the last count, Haynes had published manuals on around 300 models of car and 130 models of motorcycles. Aimed more at the enthusiastic amateur than the professional garage mechanic, Haynes manuals are published in 15 languages and now include guides on domestic appliances, personal computers, and sex! Peruse Country House Library’s collection of Haynes Manuals here.

THE OBSERVER'S BOOK OF MOTORCYCLES BY ROBERT M. CROUCHER 1980

For use in sport, commuting, business or leisure, the motorbike has been around since 1885, and nowadays enjoys massive worldwide popularity thanks in the main to the likes of Honda and Yamaha of Japan, and Hero in India. In western Europe and North America, the motorbike has become synonymous with a free-wheeling lifestyle – more for leisure activity than a utilitarian one, with a high proportion of owners clocking less than 5000 miles a year on their treasured machines. In comparison, Observer’s Books are comparatively recent, starting life in 1937, but since then have become one of the most successful prints of reference books in the English language. Rare editions of the oldest issues (there have been over 800 in total) fetch high prices among avid collectors. Find more books on motorcycles here.

HOW A CAR WORKS VOL 1 (THE MODERN CAR EASY GUIDE SERIES) 1958

This 1958 vintage guidebook would be a real treasure for any car or engine enthusiast – and also something for the collector of books on our industrial heritage. In another generation, the internal combustion engine will be museum exhibits so now’s a good time to invest in your motoring interest. This is volume one in the series produced by Temple Press Ltd. Other volumes include ‘Simple Repairs (Vol 3), Electrical Parts (Vol 4) and Carburettors (Vol 5). Explore more by Temple Press.

PEARSON'S ILLUSTRATED CAR SERVICING SERIES: AUSTIN CAMBRIDGE A60 & MORRIS OXFORD V1

Named after the famous university towns, the Austin Cambridge and Morris Oxford were the epitome of British family car engineering in the 1950’s and 60’s, and as light commercial vehicles through to the mid 1970’s. The Pearson publishing business began in the 1920’s when it purchased a number of local daily and weekly newspapers until in 1957 it purchased the Financial Times. By 1969, Pearsons was one of the largest publishers in the world and secured a listing on the London Stock Excahnge. This classic car maintenance and servicing guidebook is just one in a series of collectable issues, combining British social and automobile history. Find the full series here.

There’s a passionate following of commercial vehicles in all their various guises and what better way to add to your interest than this 1974 Observer book and guide. The 1970’s saw a transformation of road haulage with the rapid expansion of motorway networks all over the world. New manufacturers emerged with massive increases in load capacities and engine power. This book details all the changes in the vital industry, with marques from ten different countries including the USA, Japan and Europe. Starting life in 1937, Observer became the benchmark in this type of reference book. This is number 40 in the series of over 100, from the first on British Birds, to Wayside and Woodland in 2003. Find more in the series here.

AUTOCROSS MANUAL BY PETER NOAD 1968

Autocross in Great Britain is a relative newcomer in the panoply of motorsports, beginning in the 1950’s when clubs organised timed runs over farmer’s stubbled and muddy fields. Cars usually compete individually against the clock although more than one car can start if the course is long and wide enough. The author of this rare edition, Peter Noad (1936-19), was an accomplished motoring journalist and skilled trackside photographer, who wrote many articles for motoring magazines of the day. He also wrote several specialist books including this one published by ‘Speed and Sports’. This is a great edition to the collection of your vintage motorsport books. Test drive the Country House Library range here.

HAYNES MANUAL FORD FIESTA ALL MODELS 1990

With over 16 million sold since its launch in 1976, the Fiesta is one of Ford’s best-selling marques in the company’s 120 year history. Large car manufacturers were all looking for a compact, economical model to compete with BMC’s Mini range and the oil crisis in 1973 finally decided the US giant to enter the market with construction in Valencia, Bordeaux and Dagenham in Essex. Henry Ford II personally chose to name over the ‘Bravo’ alternative. In 1978 the Fiesta was the winner of the UK’s Design Council Efficiency Award and ‘Car of the Year’ by What Car in 1989. This vintage Haynes manual covers all models from 1976 to 1983 and will be a ‘must’ for anyone restoring a classic Fiesta, or for any collector of motoring history literature. Find more Haynes' manuals here.

THE BOOK OF AUSTIN BY BURGESS GARBUTT, 1935

Harking back to the inter-war years of 1935, this rare find, published by Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons Ltd, is one of the ‘Motorist’s Library’ series and covers the leading British car manufacturer of the day – Austin. Founded in 1905 by Herbert Austin, the main factory was based at Longbridge, Birmingham and continued manufacture until 1987. Isaac Pitman publishers was founded by Isaac (of shorthand fame) and his two sons, Alfred and Ernest. By the mid 20th century, Pitmans was one of the world leading educational publishers with offices all over the world. This antique hardback is one for afficionados of the fascinating history of the motorcar in the UK, and for anyone who loves old Austins. Take a spin around Country House Library’s collection here.

CAR CARE BY THE BRITISH SCHOOL OF MOTORING 1958

This car-care manual published by C. C. Wakefield & Co in 1958 is remarkable vintage value at just £5.87. Founded as an independent educational organisation in 1910 by S. C. H. Roberts, BSM is now owned by the same holding company as the AA and Saga. C. C. Wakefield & Co, (which later became Castrol Ltd) dealt mainly in lubricating oils, but also ran a ‘side-line’ in automotive publishing. Filled with easy to understand instructions and monochrome photography, this is a real treasure for lovers of both vintage books and the history of the motorcar. Find more car care here.

SALES MANUAL BY JAGUAR CARS LIMITED

Another wonderful find in the Country House Library collection, this Jaguar sales manual from the 1960’s would have been the car salesman’s bible, kept in pride of place in exclusive showrooms all over the world. Models covered include the Mk IX, Mk 2 3.8 3.4 2.4 & XK 150 fixed head coupe, with details of the technical specifications, colour schemes, road test data and the on the road price. For anyone who loves this most British of car marques, this rare find is a must for your collection of motoring literature. Explore the full vintage vehicle maintenance collection here.

SUMMARY

From the Morris Eight to the Sunbeam Alpine, the Hillman Minx to the MGB GT, the shelves at Country House Library are well stocked with vintage editions on your favourite classic car and motorbike. Including servicing and maintenance on a wide range of marques and models, there’s something for most ‘petrol-heads’ or indeed the more sedate armchair collector of motoring memorabilia.

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