The Story of the Car

From the first horseless carriage to driverless cars, this book is the ultimate visual history of the motor car


Charting over a century of progress - from horseless carriages to driverless vehicles - this is a stunning visual celebration of the motorcar and the romance of the open road.

Beginning with the birth of the internal combustion engine, The Story of the Car explores how this once rare and luxurious status symbol has become an essential part of everyday life. It shows you the ways in which the automobile has influenced breakthroughs in new technology and design, while becoming the focal point of an exhilarating genera of sport.

Taking you on a journey along Route 66, inside the engine of a luxury car, and into the lives of the most successful pioneers of automobile history, the book also explores the possibilities of the "green" motoring, the electric engine, and the uses of AI on the roads of the future.

Combining rarely seen images, insightful biographies. and fascinating features, The Story of the Car illustrates how after more than a century of development, the car still conveys a sense of freedom, excitement, and desire.

About the Author

Giles Chapman is an award-winning writer and commentator on the industry, history, and culture of cars. He has worked across a vast array of media for 35 years, which includes writing 50 books on a diverse range of subjects. One of them, My Dad Had One of Those, is among the most popular car books of all time, with over 180,000 copies sold.

Chapman's Car Compendium won the Montagu of Beaulieu Trophy in 2008. His interviews with people whose lives are in, around, and sometimes even opposed to cars appear regularly in newspapers and magazines, and he has written widely on car design and its impact on the wider world.

Chapman's career began in automotive industry consultancy before moving into magazine publishing, where he was editor of Classic & Sports Car, the world's best-selling classic car magazine. He lives in Kent, UK.