Observer book of automobiles

[JimmyJam]

Anyone remember these? I had one as a child and it was an absolute bible for me on cars of the late 70's and 80's. I was thinking of a present for my son and thought these would be perfect so trawled eBay for something similar and then stumbled across one of the original copies I had from back in the day. Great nostalgia, when manufacturers only had a few models and engine sizes in their range. BMW could probably fill 1 book with their full range nowadays!
Are there any modern equivalents?

[PlayersNo6]

I've got one, think it's the 1979 edition with a red MkV Cortina on the cover.

[LuS1fer]

I have the 1970 and 1971 editions endorsed with which ones I had sat in or had a brochure on.

[wildcat45]

PlayersNo6 said:

I've got one, think it's the 1979 edition with a red MkV Cortina on the cover.

Me too. It has my childishly scrawled name in the front because I took it away with me on two school holiday trips. Essential kit to settle those 10 year old arguments about whether a Monza was better than a Royale Coupe etc.

[kwk]

I bought the 1971 book of Commercial Vehicles off e bay last week. Takes me back to my childhood.

[Save Ferris]

Ive still have the ones I got as a car mad kid, the 1986-1993 editions.

[JimmyJam]

PlayersNo6 said:

I've got one, think it's the 1979 edition with a red MkV Cortina on the cover.

I think the one I just bought is '79 and it has a Porsche 928 on front

[deltashad]

JimmyJam said:

PlayersNo6 said:

I've got one, think it's the 1979 edition with a red MkV Cortina on the cover.

I think the one I just bought is '79 and it has a Porsche 928 on front

Pretty sure this was the 928. I had a new one every year, used to write to Stuart Bladon and tell him all the mistakes in his books!
The best present ever was the Observer's book of automobiles. I ruined most of mine by colouring in the cars and adding spoilers etc....

He used to write back and thank me.. ah, the good old days...

[deltashad]

John Blunsden did the original hard backs, where did all my books disappear to?

[PlayersNo6]

JimmyJam said:

PlayersNo6 said:

I've got one, think it's the 1979 edition with a red MkV Cortina on the cover.

I think the one I just bought is '79 and it has a Porsche 928 on front

Just checked mine and you're right, published 1980

[LarJammer]

My dad gave me a very early edition, i used to spend hours drooling over it. i got my son worlds fastest cars by haynes which is pretty good.

[ClaphamGT3]

LuS1fer said:

I have the 1970 and 1971 editions endorsed with which ones I had sat in or had a brochure on.

Have 1977, 78, 79 and 83

[iva cosworth]

I had many of these in the 70s.

I cut them up to put the pictures somewhere else.

Where....

Maybe a look at Ebay to buy some memories...

[AdeTuono]

Bought '67 & '68 a few weeks ago from eBay, just for the memories. Some fantastic snapshots of days gone by.

[av185]

Mine had an orangeish BL 1300 GT on the cover.

Early 70s maybe. Somewhere in the loft now I guess.....

[RDMcG]

I had them in the sixties I think....long gone now, sadly. I recall just one price...a Ferrari 500 Superfast for 11519 , amn unimaginable sum.....

[RDMcG]

Many for sale used on AbeBooks:

http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?sts=...

[LuS1fer]

av185 said:

Mine had an orangeish BL 1300 GT on the cover.

Early 70s maybe. Somewhere in the loft now I guess.....

Same as mine. 1970 I think, possibly 1969.

[nicanary]

You're all newbies. Mine's from 1959 - the Lotus XI is listed as a production model. Class.

I used to buy it every year as a kid. And the aircraft one.

[quiraing]

kwk said:

I bought the 1971 book of Commercial Vehicles off e bay last week. Takes me back to my childhood.

A child lorry driver - ok in 71 but sadly no longer allowed

There was a whole series of Observers books - had one on Classic Cars too.

And another on, errrrm, dogs.

And received the aeroplane one as a prize from my school for being first in my year. At woodwork.