This is exactly the comprehensive bibliography that I wish had existed when I was working at the Royal Automobile Club. Alas, it was published at the end of 2003, 3 years after I went freelance. However, it will still be a godsend to any librarian or curator covering this subject.
The compilation came about because the author, when engaged in his doctoral thesis on the early years of motoring in Canada, began to realise exactly how much material existed on the car as a social and sporting phenomenon. It occurred to him, as he collected all his material together from numerous sources and in different languages, that these could be the beginning of a comprehensive bibliography on “motorization”. Once his thesis was complete, he carried on with the collection of references and this published work is the result.
The bibliography catalogues all works on motor vehicles and motoring up to and including the year 2000. As explained in the title, it contains over 13,000 items in 14 different languages. These include monographs, theses, biographies, encyclopedias, other reference works, company and government publications; and buyers, collectors, spotters and identification guides. Works specifically on motor vehicles are divided into four sections: automobiles; sports, muscle and racing cars; two‐wheeled vehicles; and general works, other vehicles and automotive accessories and components. A separate section includes books on the broader subject of motoring containing general works and cultural aspects; uses of motor vehicles; motor vehicles in industries; and individuals and organizations.
Readers should note that major magazine articles are not included – just as well – or the work would have run to many large volumes and the author might have taken on the appearance of Rip Van Winkle! Better to consult a computerised index of motoring journal articles such as we had at the Royal Automobile Club library (dating from 1989 onwards). The work also excludes books written for children, technical books such as restoration guides and Haynes manuals and books about military combat vehicles such as tanks. However, works on buses, trams, lorries and vans are included.
The compilation is extremely thorough and must have been a long labour of love. The publication starts with a short, but precise, explanation of how the bibliography is arranged and how to use it to the best advantage. Each entry is given a maximum of seven elements of information which consist of a unique entry number, basic bibliographic information, details on the edition, physical description, notes where ever relevant, other or prior editions and an annotation, wherever possible, to give details on content.
Each of the five sections, commencing with automobiles, contains first general works, which cover cars from all over the world but may not necessarily be written in English. Sections then follow on cars from specific countries such as France, Great Britain or Germany. So, for example, a book written on the VW Beetle in the English language would still be found in the section on German cars, just as a book on Rolls Royce by a German author would be found under the section on British marques. This sounds a little confusing, but is actually quite sensible because it means that all works on BMW's for instance, can be found quickly in one section (unless, of course, they are racing BMW's; in which case details will be found under the section on sports or racing cars). Readers should note that certain marques deemed to be “sporting” are listed only in the sporting section regardless of whether they can be used as a road car. Examples include Porsche, MG and Caterham together with many others. Each entry has a unique entry number – these provide an easy reference to the main body of the work. Under this particular section there is only one entry for Poland. Other more specific works by Polish authors can be traced via the comprehensive index, which is divided into author, title and subject sections.
The majority of what is worth collecting for a UK or North American motoring library, which aims to be comprehensive, is contained within this work. It would be interesting to talk to say, the library staff at the National Technical Museum in Prague to see if they felt the same way about the coverage of material available in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
In a work of this size and breadth, there are bound to be inconsistencies. I noticed for instance, that a biography by Karl Ludvigsen, of Bruce McLaren, the New Zealand racing driver, was contained in the Great Britain People section, and not, as perhaps it should have been, under the New Zealand People section. Likewise, we find entries for Jack Brabham, the Australian racing driver entered under Great Britain rather than his native Australia. Presumably, because both of them spent much of their careers in Britain, or in Europe, they have been put in the UK sections. But then Fangio spent much of his time racing for Alfa Romeo, Maserati and Mercedes, amongst others in Europe, yet it is still entered under his native Argentina. Fortunately, all entries can be traced from the excellent indexes so at least personalities do not disappear into black holes!
It is a pity that the author does not give us an indication of his worldwide sources. It would be helpful to know which libraries and collections he accessed in order to gain knowledge of all these invaluable references. However, he must be congratulated on a heroic effort and one which will, despite the odd glitch here and there, be well received by motoring historians, journalists, librarians, archivists, curators and petrol‐heads worldwide. Why, even my book on Royal Automobile Club badges is listed in it!
