Hemmings Book Reviews- “Texas Legend” and “How The Electrical System Works In Your ‘70s Classic U.S. Car”

TEXAS LEGEND 

By George Levy, with Jim Hall 

Evro Publishing 

evropublishing.com 

ISBN 9781910505663 

$80 

★★★★

You know what they say about watching out for the quiet guys. Jim Hall, the genius-level engineer and car builder from the flatlands of Texas, is famously reticent to discuss his lifetime of achievements as a creator, racer, and inspiration. Which is why we’re so pleased that motorsport historian George Levy enlisted Hall’s help directly in the telling of his massive tale of accomplishment, which here requires 484 hardcover pages to relate, the text thoroughly illustrated with more than 480 color and monochrome photos. There are scores of other voices in this book representing the industry people, fellow designers, gobs of racers, and Hall family members who figure in this story. Most importantly, however, is that the author enlisted Hall’s help, and his memories, directly in the creation of this outstanding book. 

Aside from being one of the great American racers of the 1960s, Hall is justly acclaimed for the design of his conquering Chaparral sports cars, which became known for movable aerodynamics, ground effects, composite chassis, and the use of automatic transmissions. From the U.S. Road Racing Championship, Hall went on to compete with the best in world sports car racing, the high-flying Can-Am series, and even brought the first true ground-effect car to the Indianapolis 500, which dominated the race. Hall is truly one of the pinnacle-level talents of American motorsport. This book is a window into his thought, philosophy, and dedication. Levy’s work is overdue by decades, and we should all be grateful at the level of detail he brings to this study of a racing great. —By Jim Donnelly 

HOW THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WORKS IN YOUR ’70S CLASSIC U.S. CAR 

By George J. Whalen 

amazon.com 

ISBN 9798841095279 

$9.99-$29.95 

★★★

Automotive electronics have advanced massively over the past 50 years, transitioning from analog to digital with modern vehicles having processing power exceeding that of early supercomputers. Cars, trucks, and SUVs built from the late 1960s through the early 1980s had varying levels of electromechanical and solid-state technology in their electrical systems, making troubleshooting challenging for today’s novice mechanics. An electrical engineer, inventor, and prolific technology writer authored a guide covering contemporary automotive electronics back in 1970, and that book has been reprinted as a resource for new generations. 

The “modern” vehicular electrical system originated with the 1967 debut of the integrated circuit (IC) voltage regulator, and that’s where the 320-page book begins, describing in basic terms how starting and charging systems function. Six chapters (plus a helpful index) follow, and they cover ignition troubleshooting; lighting systems; instrumentation electronics; ABS, fuel injection, and cruise control; testing equipment; and an exploration of then-futuristic technologies that are now commonplace. This title can be purchased as a Kindle electronic download, as well as a printed paperback or hardcover. Its pages are scanned reproductions from an original book, so some image reproduction isn’t as crisp as we might like, but those diagrams and illustrations underscore the comprehensive nature of this reference. If you’re the caretaker of a classic vehicle and are interested in this area of automotive maintenance or restoration, it’s a valuable guide. —By Mark J. McCourt 

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