In 1951 Chrysler produced its first ever V8 engine - and what an engine it was Technically advanced and featuring hemispherical combustion chambers, the new "Hemi-Head" engine produced much more power in relation to its capacity than any of its competitors could manage. In 1955 the new Chrysler C-300 was launched. The new model combined muscle (300 horse-power), style (by Virgil Exner) and superb handling for what was a large car. In its first year of production the new C-300 would win both major American stock car racing series: NASCAR and AAA. So began the legend and for each of the...

Two Summers offers a fresh, revealing and highly personal window into the culture of Grand Prix racing as it was during the 1954 and 1955 championships. The core of this book is devoted to individual portraits of the twelve races that comprised the 1954-55 seasons in which the W 196 R participated. Of those races, Fangio won seven and Moss won two.

With its carefully-crafted observations and conclusions, given added drama by its richly-detailed illustrations, there are numerous examples of the energy and dynamic nature of these racing seasons - not the least being abundant...