Over twenty years in the making, its pages are reflections of metalled emotion. It transverses lawn and asphalt to examine the Twentieth Century’s defining automotive engineering.
The earliest examples of le Belle Époque through to the end of the Century’s Avant Garde exotica are presented to honor the designers imagination, industrial vision, art of the craftsmanship, and intimately, the driver's visceral experience.
The gallery conversations are stories told by the low rumble at idle, the reverberating thunder echoed across concrete and hillside, approaching, passing, and vanishing into the distance of time, from where their histories emanate.
An art gallery in three volumes, over 965 pages.
Hand produced at our printer and bookbinder in the States. Automobilist Century represents a new standard in art book publishing. Allow me to explain why this isn't mere hyperbole. During Covid, we took the time to analyze changes in 4 color press OS. As a result we have developed new techniques for pre-press and on-press methods. These new production processes result in each page having the look and feel of the finest photo enlargements right out of the developer.
We achieve blue and red spectrum photographic reproduction on-press that is the visual quality of the original slides as viewed through a loop. Thus setting standards for gallery reproductions.
To further enhance this gallery display experience each page, for the hundreds of photographs comprising the three volumes of AC, is formatted at 12" x 8". This is also the full frame aspect ratio of the original 35mm E6 slide film, as well as the new digital photographic format.
The earliest examples of le Belle Époque through to the end of the Century’s Avant Garde exotica are presented to honor the designers imagination, industrial vision, art of the craftsmanship, and intimately, the driver's visceral experience.
The gallery conversations are stories told by the low rumble at idle, the reverberating thunder echoed across concrete and hillside, approaching, passing, and vanishing into the distance of time, from where their histories emanate.
An art gallery in three volumes, over 965 pages.
Hand produced at our printer and bookbinder in the States. Automobilist Century represents a new standard in art book publishing. Allow me to explain why this isn't mere hyperbole. During Covid, we took the time to analyze changes in 4 color press OS. As a result we have developed new techniques for pre-press and on-press methods. These new production processes result in each page having the look and feel of the finest photo enlargements right out of the developer.
We achieve blue and red spectrum photographic reproduction on-press that is the visual quality of the original slides as viewed through a loop. Thus setting standards for gallery reproductions.
To further enhance this gallery display experience each page, for the hundreds of photographs comprising the three volumes of AC, is formatted at 12" x 8". This is also the full frame aspect ratio of the original 35mm E6 slide film, as well as the new digital photographic format.
Automobilist Century
Alfa Romeo:
View from the Mouth of the Dragon
View from the Mouth of the Dragon
Metal Memory: the mystery of 0718
Maserati: In Search of the Road Cars
An Irish Mystery
Lawrence Stroll came to me to compose a provenance on his 1958 TR #0718 because he felt it had been incorrectly represented in a number of publications. After spending a year and a half unwinding this international mystery I thought a fresh editorial approach was called for. Rather than making a lot of declarative statements based on the extensive research and interviews, I wanted to take the reader along on my own journey of discovery about 0718.
The best way to do this, I felt, was to write it in the form of a dialogue driven non-fiction novel. A detective story, that unfolded along the way as things became evident. Red Herrings and all.
This was made possible by having all 18 months of recorded interviews transcribed. As you read them you realize they are not interviews at all, but as I requested, stories told of the time, the men, and the impact this singular car had on their lives.
Click photo to read John Barnes full revieww in Cavallino.
The best way to do this, I felt, was to write it in the form of a dialogue driven non-fiction novel. A detective story, that unfolded along the way as things became evident. Red Herrings and all.
This was made possible by having all 18 months of recorded interviews transcribed. As you read them you realize they are not interviews at all, but as I requested, stories told of the time, the men, and the impact this singular car had on their lives.
Click photo to read John Barnes full revieww in Cavallino.
"…Callan's books are covered in the finest leather, using the best inks and paper available, with absolute quality in every detail. Each is printed individually, customized to the owner and numbered, featuring period-correct photography and incredible illustrations. "
Sharon Spurlin
publisher
Automobilia Magazine
Sharon Spurlin
publisher
Automobilia Magazine
Another Bite at the Apple
'Apple' is our suspense novel
Revenge and murder in a small computer company, widens out into an international political thriller, in our time of Orwellian digital malevolence.
It has often been said that Social Security is the third rail of American politics, so it proves to be in 'Another Bite at the Apple'.
Originally formatted for Amazon's Kindle, we have here loaded the entire novella for your mobile reading pleasure. It was written in the tradition of traveling paperback mysteries.
Here we tell the story of a Marque in a completely different manner.
Most books discuss the cars from the technical standpoint of how they were conceived, produced and sent out into the world. Here we discuss with owners how Maserati’s engineering has actually served over the years.
As the Maserati road cars were so closely derived from the racing cars, as a result of budgetary constraints, we show the complete lineage of every Maserati made for the track and how it evolved to the road.
Now you’ll notice we peg the origin of the company at 1926. The Maserati brothers produced their first car in 1926. It was actually called the 26 for just such a reason. Alfieri may have influenced the production of other Marques to pioneer the sports car when manager of these firms. Such was the case of the 1911 Isotta Fraschini FE. Which is rather where our story starts…
For your online reading pleasure we present the first 148 pages of the book here.
Most books discuss the cars from the technical standpoint of how they were conceived, produced and sent out into the world. Here we discuss with owners how Maserati’s engineering has actually served over the years.
As the Maserati road cars were so closely derived from the racing cars, as a result of budgetary constraints, we show the complete lineage of every Maserati made for the track and how it evolved to the road.
Now you’ll notice we peg the origin of the company at 1926. The Maserati brothers produced their first car in 1926. It was actually called the 26 for just such a reason. Alfieri may have influenced the production of other Marques to pioneer the sports car when manager of these firms. Such was the case of the 1911 Isotta Fraschini FE. Which is rather where our story starts…
For your online reading pleasure we present the first 148 pages of the book here.
Observations On Ferrari 1946 - 1966
- The King's Eyes -
- The King's Eyes -
"Total mastery over complex technical and social material.
I've really never read anything like it in the automotive genre. In fact I doubt if there is anything like it in any genre. The author goes from CLEARLY describing the multiple valve spring arrangement of Lampredi's Ferrari four to a discussion of GM's role in the sports car movement. This combination of expertly commenting on both the technical and the social is unusual and used here to great effect. The width and depth of knowledge is amazing.
Reads like David Halberstam.
A landmark automotive book."
Pete Vack
Veloce Today
I've really never read anything like it in the automotive genre. In fact I doubt if there is anything like it in any genre. The author goes from CLEARLY describing the multiple valve spring arrangement of Lampredi's Ferrari four to a discussion of GM's role in the sports car movement. This combination of expertly commenting on both the technical and the social is unusual and used here to great effect. The width and depth of knowledge is amazing.
Reads like David Halberstam.
A landmark automotive book."
Pete Vack
Veloce Today
Set in the Irish racing green Isle, this is the tale of the last of the SOHC MG’s. Made as a high performance road car, it was soon serving as a competition car. In the hands of the heir to the first Irish airline fortune, it would begin its life as a shape-shifting embodiment of the Irish Racing scene, whose roots are that of Grand Prix itself in it earliest days.
The Iona Special is then followed forward through post war racing, the collect car scene of the ‘60s and on through the many lives it lead, on its way around the world and back to the Emerald Green Isle.
The Iona Special is then followed forward through post war racing, the collect car scene of the ‘60s and on through the many lives it lead, on its way around the world and back to the Emerald Green Isle.
Want to discuss any aspect of our books?
email us at the link above, or
Give us a ring:
510.388.2636
email us at the link above, or
Give us a ring:
510.388.2636
The Book that started it all. The first digital automotive publication (1996)
New for 2024
New third edition 2024
Available as a Special order
collector's edition
collector's edition
James Elliot
Managing Editor
Classics and Sports Cars
September 1997
"Make no mistake, this hi-tech CD-ROM is actually a book. Alfa Romeo: View from the Mouth of the Dragon comes from the States and traces the history of Alfa from its Darracq roots and through all the great characters such as Merosi.Jano and Ferrari,
To use the book you need a PC running Windows and-be warned-it does take a little getting used to reading a book on a computer screen.
On the plus side S Scott Callan's book is an absorbing read and the big advantages of all this technology are motion sequences and subfiles on the more important figures.
An excellent 500-page 'living archive' as fascinating as it is encyclopaedic."
Managing Editor
Classics and Sports Cars
September 1997
"Make no mistake, this hi-tech CD-ROM is actually a book. Alfa Romeo: View from the Mouth of the Dragon comes from the States and traces the history of Alfa from its Darracq roots and through all the great characters such as Merosi.Jano and Ferrari,
To use the book you need a PC running Windows and-be warned-it does take a little getting used to reading a book on a computer screen.
On the plus side S Scott Callan's book is an absorbing read and the big advantages of all this technology are motion sequences and subfiles on the more important figures.
An excellent 500-page 'living archive' as fascinating as it is encyclopaedic."
This is what Alain de Cadenet had to say in
Alfa Owner magazine
"This latest printed offering from S. Scott Callan was originally published in the 1990's as an early CD Rom item. It needed to be a book to be fully appreciated with it's many years of in depth research in the lives and works of Giuseppe Merosi and Vittorio Jano. Photographs, drawings and 'grabs' from ancient footage all feature in abundance. Everything and more that you could want to know from 1900 to 1940 that caused Alfa-Romeo to grow to be one of the most fabled manufacturers of racing and road cars of all time, is here. Add in the politics of Italy and Germany, what was happening at Fiat, Bugatti, Mercedes and others and you have a very different panoply of history to a mere 'marque' book. Definitely scholarship rather than 'coffee table'.
Altogether this is an exciting way to explore more Alfa folklore and imbibe copious quantities of fresh information. Obviously a labour of great love for the marque and a most valid contribution indeed to the Alfa section of any enthusiast's library."
Alfa Owner magazine
"This latest printed offering from S. Scott Callan was originally published in the 1990's as an early CD Rom item. It needed to be a book to be fully appreciated with it's many years of in depth research in the lives and works of Giuseppe Merosi and Vittorio Jano. Photographs, drawings and 'grabs' from ancient footage all feature in abundance. Everything and more that you could want to know from 1900 to 1940 that caused Alfa-Romeo to grow to be one of the most fabled manufacturers of racing and road cars of all time, is here. Add in the politics of Italy and Germany, what was happening at Fiat, Bugatti, Mercedes and others and you have a very different panoply of history to a mere 'marque' book. Definitely scholarship rather than 'coffee table'.
Altogether this is an exciting way to explore more Alfa folklore and imbibe copious quantities of fresh information. Obviously a labour of great love for the marque and a most valid contribution indeed to the Alfa section of any enthusiast's library."
Read the Cavallino Review
The 'Book' That Started It All:
first digital automotive publication (1996)
first digital automotive publication (1996)
