New Assouline book celebrates the legacy of vintage cars

Author: Aoife Moriarty

What is it that powers our ongoing fascination with vintage cars? Despite relentless developments in auto technology over the past century, many of us continue to look to the motors of the past for nostalgia and inspiration.

Featuring superb glossy imagery by French photographer Laziz Hamani, a new coffee table tome from luxe publishers Assouline effectively captures our persistent fascination with classic cars.

After all, for most it is not just about collectability. Vintage cars are as desirable for their beauty, ingenuity and craftsmanship as much as they are for their value. The smell of real leather, the fine wire wheels and the proud marque stamps are all part of the draw.

Photos ©Laziz Hamani

©Laziz Hamani

Ken Gross, former executive director of the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, contributes the book’s thoughtful forward. “Modern automobiles embody very sophisticated technology,” says Gross. “They are literally computers on wheels. Vintage cars are more like fine furniture or an oil painting… Old cars have presence — a palpable joie de vivre that’s lacking in most new cars today.”