Tag: Maintenance

Be a Practical Motorist

First published in 1934 by George Newnes, British car magazine Practical Motorist became an essential guide for generations of car owners who preferred the “do-it-yourself” approach to vehicle maintenance.
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More than just a technical manual, Practical Motorist captured the spirit of post-war motoring culture, fostering a community of enthusiasts who took pride in the grease under their fingernails and the reliability of their well-maintained vehicles.

[Click for larger pics. More practical covers here via Memo of the Air.]

The .Gif Friday Post No. 619 – Sleight Of Hand, One Capful At A Time & In The Park

[Found here and here and here. 2nd one courtesy of Carl L.]

The Best VW Repair Manual Ever: “How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive: A Manual of Step-by-Step Procedures for the Compleat Idiot”

VW CUTAWAY
This predates the “For Dummies” books, and although it focuses on VWs, it’s also a primer on how all the systems in a gasoline-powered car work, how to maintain them, how to diagnose trouble and how to fix it.  It’s written as if your Uncle Joe was coaching you, and the diagrams (and comics) are hand-drawn in Robert Crumb style. I learned a lot from it when I was in my 20s, and the book is still in print via Amazon here.

Even if you don’t own an old VW, get a copy and read it just for fun, enjoy the illustrations, and pass it on to your favorite teenage greasemonkey like I did. (It’s the perfect Christmas gift for someone with a VW, an adjustable wrench, a hammer and a couple of screwdrivers.)

Oh, and click on the image to see the big picture.