Life in the Fast Lane
The stories behind 50 of the world’s most spectacular sports cars
For the seasoned car collector or the awestruck newcomer, this volume is the consummate sports car anthology. Bringing together 50 of the most exquisite, desirable, and adrenaline-charging sports cars of all time, it recounts the enthralling endeavors in automotive design and engineering in pursuit of optimum dynamic performance for both road and track. This expertly curated roundup of glorious, high-speed two-seaters includes both all-out sports racers as well as their street-legal homologated brethren. Indeed, some of the most desirable cars across all auto-collecting genres are from the glorious golden era of sports car racing, which existed up until the late 1960s. In that time, gentleman privateers would drive their cars to a competition event, such as the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans, race them hard—perhaps winning their class or even the race—before coolly driving them home again.
Showcasing 50 of the most sought-after sports cars ever created, from the 1912 Stutz Model A Bear Cat and the 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B MM Spider to the 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR “Uhlenhaut Coupé”—the world’s most expensive car—and the 1962/64 Ferrari 250 GTO Series II, this spectacular volume is an automobilia treasure trove. Each fabled model is presented with lavish spreads, complete with stunning imagery taken by the world’s leading car photographers alongside rare archival gems, from original factory photos to famous motorsports event posters. Each entry is also accompanied by expert descriptive texts and specs, tapping into the authors’ transatlantic expertise and insider knowledge.
The stories behind 50 of the world’s most spectacular sports cars
For the seasoned car collector or the awestruck newcomer, this volume is the consummate sports car anthology. Bringing together 50 of the most exquisite, desirable, and adrenaline-charging sports cars of all time, it recounts the enthralling endeavors in automotive design and engineering in pursuit of optimum dynamic performance for both road and track. This expertly curated roundup of glorious, high-speed two-seaters includes both all-out sports racers as well as their street-legal homologated brethren. Indeed, some of the most desirable cars across all auto-collecting genres are from the glorious golden era of sports car racing, which existed up until the late 1960s. In that time, gentleman privateers would drive their cars to a competition event, such as the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans, race them hard—perhaps winning their class or even the race—before coolly driving them home again.
Showcasing 50 of the most sought-after sports cars ever created, from the 1912 Stutz Model A Bear Cat and the 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B MM Spider to the 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR “Uhlenhaut Coupé”—the world’s most expensive car—and the 1962/64 Ferrari 250 GTO Series II, this spectacular volume is an automobilia treasure trove. Each fabled model is presented with lavish spreads, complete with stunning imagery taken by the world’s leading car photographers alongside rare archival gems, from original factory photos to famous motorsports event posters. Each entry is also accompanied by expert descriptive texts and specs, tapping into the authors’ transatlantic expertise and insider knowledge.
The editor and author
Charlotte & Peter Fiell are well-known design authors having written over sixty books on the subject. Among their various areas of specialization is the realm of transportation design in all its diverse forms. The Fiells have lectured widely, guest taught courses, curated exhibitions, and consulted manufacturing companies, museums, salerooms, and major private collectors around the world. Together, they have written numerous TASCHEN books, including 1000 Chairs, Design of the 20th Century, Industrial Design A–Z, 1000 Lights, and Scandinavian Design. They also edited TASCHEN's Decorative Art series and the 12-volume domus 1928–1999 and have most recently authored the double-volume Ultimate Collector Cars.
Charlotte & Peter Fiell are well-known design authors having written over sixty books on the subject. Among their various areas of specialization is the realm of transportation design in all its diverse forms. The Fiells have lectured widely, guest taught courses, curated exhibitions, and consulted manufacturing companies, museums, salerooms, and major private collectors around the world. Together, they have written numerous TASCHEN books, including 1000 Chairs, Design of the 20th Century, Industrial Design A–Z, 1000 Lights, and Scandinavian Design. They also edited TASCHEN's Decorative Art series and the 12-volume domus 1928–1999 and have most recently authored the double-volume Ultimate Collector Cars.
