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Classics & Thoroughbreds
Classics & Thoroughbreds
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Classics & Thoroughbreds is a celebration of the machines, personalities and moments that have shaped automotive history, with a special emphasis on India's often-overlooked motoring heritage. Distinguishing genuine classics from fleeting icons is no easy task, and this book carefully curates the cars, motorcycles, pioneers and milestones that have truly stood the test of time. Alongside globally significant automobiles are rare Indian stories, meticulously researched and preserved for future generations. Written by pioneering automotive journalist Adil Jal Darukhanawala, the book combines historical depth with enthusiast appeal, earning recognition as one of India's most comprehensively researched automotive coffee table books. It is both a tribute to automotive excellence and the beginning of a continuing journey into India's rich motoring past.
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Share information about your brand with your customers. Describe a product, make announcements, or welcome customers to your store.Classics & Thoroughbreds is far more than a collection of beautiful classic automobiles. It is a meticulously researched chronicle of the machines, inventors, racers, visionaries and defining moments that shaped the evolution of the automobile and motorcycle across more than a century. Written by pioneering Indian automotive historian Adil Jal Darukhanawala, the book looks beyond the familiar legends to uncover the fascinating stories that transformed engineering into an enduring passion.
Beginning with landmark innovations such as the Daimler Einspur - the world's first petrol-powered motorcycle - and tracing the birth of organised motor racing through the 1894 Paris–Rouen Trials, the book explains how engineering breakthroughs, technological ambition and human ingenuity laid the foundations of modern mobility.
The narrative then explores the extraordinary people behind the machines. From the little-known story of Soichiro Honda's earliest racing ambitions to the historic merger that created Mercedes-Benz, every chapter reveals the determination, innovation and occasionally improbable circumstances that gave birth to automotive icons.
Equally compelling are the uniquely Indian stories that rarely find a place in mainstream automotive literature. The book uncovers forgotten episodes from India's industrial history, including the remarkable proposal that could have seen Tata manufacture the original Volkswagen Beetle in collaboration with Ferry Porsche during the early years of independent India. These meticulously documented accounts preserve a vital part of India's motoring heritage for future generations.
Blending historical scholarship with engaging storytelling and stunning period photography, ZigWheels: Classics & Thoroughbreds celebrates the vehicles and personalities that truly deserve to be called classics, while distinguishing them from fleeting icons. It is both an enthusiast's treasure and a valuable historical record, reminding readers that the story of the automobile is ultimately a story of human curiosity, relentless innovation and an enduring pursuit of excellence.