Van books - history and models

¡A la carga!: 80 años de furgonetas y camionetas españolas

This illustrated book presents the evolution of light commercial vehicles manufactured in Spain between 1907 and 1987. These vehicles, used to transport goods, people, or both, have varied technical configurations but share a maximum authorised mass not exceeding 3.500 kg. They can be driven with a standard car licence (Category B in Europe) and access urban areas under the same rules as passenger cars.

Three categories are described based on payload and volume:

1. Light vans: payload under 900 kg and volume up to 6.000 litres. Often derived from passenger cars, with modified rear sections, or open pick-up versions.
2. Medium vans: payload up to 1.400 kg or 9.000 litres. They may be panel vans or chassis-cab types, often with versions for mixed transport (combi simplex or duplex).
3. Heavy vans: usually rear-wheel-drive versions of medium vans with reinforced chassis, dual rear wheels, or extended suspension. Light trucks also fall into this group, adapted to stay within the light vehicle category.

The book focuses on how these vehicles and their development supported Spain's industrial growth during critical periods of economic transformation.

Product details

Author:	Juan Antonio Sosa del Cerro
Details:	276 pages, 28 x 21.5 x 1.6 cm / 11 x 8.5 x 0.63 in, paperback
Illustrations:	profusely illustrated
Publisher:	CreateSpace (USA, 2014)
ISBN:	9781500762391

British Vans & Pick Ups 1945-1965 - including camper vans

Directly after the Second World War, most light commercials were derived from passenger cars, usually small and of very limited carrying capacity. Typical of these was the Morris Eight van, which would struggle to cope with more than five hundredweight of potatoes or to reach 50mph. By comparison, the Ford Transit of 1965 would carry three times that amount, drove like a car and did 70 mph with ease.
In between these dates, from the early 1950s, manufacturers had started to develop vehicles specially designed for the market, introducing larger light commercials which not only enabled bulkier and heavier payloads to be carried but also led to them being converted for alternative uses - most notably the camper van.

In this book the manufacturers - large and small - are dealt with in A-Z order: Austin, Bedford, Bond, Commer, Douglas, Ford, Jowett, Morris, Morrison, Reliant, Standard and Trojan.

The author gives a brief history of each and then provides detailed coverage of the various models produced, using the original manufacturers' publicity material for the illustrations not only to identify the vehicles but also to give the flavour of the times when they were to be seen going about their business.
A companion volume to the author's much- praised "British Lorries 1945-1965", this is not only a reliable and comprehensive reference book but also via its illustrations a pleasing evocation of earlier times on Britain's roads.

Product details

Author:	Rinsey Mills
Details:	184 pages, 27 x 21 x 1.3 cm / 10.6 x 8.25 x 0.51 in, hardback
Illustrations:	800 illustrations in colour
Publisher:	Herridge & Sons Ltd (GB, 2012)
ISBN:	9781906133313

Carrozzeria Coriasco

In Italy "Coriasco" is the name given to every light compact truck. Apart from thousands of his most famous Fiat 600 and 850-based commercial vehicles, this coachbuilder also made many more special bodies, from coaches to ambulances, from advertising vehicles to giardinettas, elaborata and even a few sports cars.
This book tells the full history of Carrozzeria Coriasco, illustrating it with a wide selection of pictures, often never published before.

Product details

Author:	Alessandro Sannia
Details:	108 pages, 29.5 x 21 cm / 11.6 x 8.25 in, hardback
Illustrations:	220+ b&w and colour photos
Publisher:	Il Cammello (I)
ISBN:	9788896796627

The American Delivery Truck: An Illustrated History

Even when motorized vehicles replaced the horse, not everyone owned a vehicle to drive, much less to haul with. Rural residents relied heavily on vendors to bring the goods directly to them or their nearest town, and vendors relied on delivery trucks to deliver their food items or services. The idea took on a life of its own and in 1915 Reo created an entire class of vehicles called "Speed Wagons" that provided the basis for a new generation of delivery vehicles dubbed in Commercial Car Journal "Speed Trucks."
The Speed Truck chassis could provide for a whole range of special delivery-type vehicles to satisfy a growing need for reliability, speed, convenience, and a level of style that would create the right impression for the user to haul goods to its customers.

Other manufacturers created specialized chassis and mechanical configurations for delivery vehicles and, in addition, companies such as Boyertown Body created bodies to suit the needs of the customer, including vans, panel trucks, and even pickup trucks. Color, paint schemes, and lettering were crucial to creating a positive image.
Some of the major marques featured in this illustrated history include Reo, Federal, Diamond T, Sterling, Divco, International, Fargo, Dodge, Chevrolet, Ford, Graham, Stutz, and Diamond T, to name a few.

Product details

Author:	Robert Gabrick
Details:	128 pages, 28 x 21.5 x 0.6 cm / 11 x 8.5 x 0.24 in, hardback
Illustrations:	numerous b&w photos
Publisher:	Iconografix (USA, 2014)
ISBN:	9781583883112

Japanese Mini Truck - An Introduction to All Things Kei Truck

The Japanese mini truck is known for its remarkable utility, ranking among the most versatile vehicles worldwide. Compact enough to fit in the bed of a full-size pickup like an F150, it is also tough and capable of tackling rough terrains with its reliable four-wheel drive system.

Given the limited English literature on this topic, the author aimed to fill the gap, especially as mini trucks are growing in popularity in the United States, following global interest.
This guide, featuring over 160 color images, highlights the unique characteristics of mini trucks, setting them apart from other vehicles. It covers the history, uses, configurations, specifications, and comparisons, along with details on various makes, parts, accessories, and conversions, including electric and amphibious models.

Written by Mark Roehrig, this book serves not only as a useful resource for individuals but also as an engaging read for families and friends. It provides insights into Kei truck production, global distribution, and important considerations for potential owners. Readers will also learn about state regulations, towing and load capacities, model differences, and key factors to consider when purchasing or registering a Kei truck.

Product details

Author:	Mark Roehrig
Details:	72 pages, 28 x 21.5 x 0.4 cm / 11 x 8.5 x 0.16 in, paperback
Illustrations:	160+ colour photos
Publisher:	Trafford Publications (USA, 2012)
ISBN:	9781466941311

Petits Utilitaires français, depuis 1944

This book aims to list the light utility vehicles produced in France since 1944. In addition to the major manufacturers (Peugeot with the 202 402 203 403 404 and 504 commercial vehicles that still crisscross French roads; Renault with the Juvaquatre, 4 CV, Estafette, Goélette and Colorale utility vehicles; Citroën with the 11 U; C 6, U 23, U 55 and C 15), there are hundreds of vehicles built by major automotive companies (Simca, Chenard and Walker), or the fruit of the imagination of engineers seeking solutions to the problems of energy shortages (SOVEL and its electric vehicles, Duriez and its adaptations based on Jeep) or diversification of ranges (Berliet, Latil, Bernard, Delahaye).

The catalog of these productions is impressive in its diversity, bodywork and of creations which often made the link between the passenger car and the utility vehicle (weighing more than 3.5 tonnes).

Product details

Author:	François Allain, Dominique Pagneux
Details:	192 pages, 31 x 23.5 cm / 12.2 x 9.25 in, hardback
Illustrations:	profusely illustrated
Publisher:	ETAI (F, 2004)
ISBN:	9782726884423

Deutsche Autos - Personenwagen und Nutzfahrzeuge in der DDR

So much for just Trabant and Wartburg. Anyone who thinks that only these two cars waved their two-stroke flag in the GDR is seriously mistaken. There was certainly a lot of variety in the street scene of the workers' and farmers' state.

In the passenger car sector, for example, there were the F8, F9 and P70 models from IFA or EMW from Awtowelo, as well as cars from neighboring Eastern European countries.
For trucks, there were models such as Horch, Framo or Barkas, again supplemented by trucks from neighbors.

Michael Dünnebier and Eberhard Kittler describe all of these vehicles and even more, with their history and technology, and illustrate them with around 600 images.

Product details

Author:	Eberhard Kittler, Michael Dünnebier
Details:	320 pages, 26.5 x 23 cm / 10.4 x 9.1 in, hardback
Illustrations:	120 b&w and 436 colour photos
Publisher:	Motorbuch Verlag (D, 2017)
ISBN:	9783613040007

Deutsche Lieferwagen und Transporter - seit 1898

Delivery vans are indispensable, whether for supplying inner cities or for long-distance transport. They have been popular for a long time and are used in many different ways. From the early transport vans around 1900 to the delivery tricycles before and after the Second World War to today's flatbed and box vans on four wheels: Wolfgang H. Gebhardt presents the history of large and small series products and prototypes, including small municipal vehicle manufacturers in Germany.
An overview of all manufacturers from A to Z with more than 900 historical photos and detailed information on brands and types.

Product details

Author:	Wolfgang H. Gebhardt
Details:	500 pages, 26.5 x 23 cm / 10.4 x 9.1 in, hardback
Illustrations:	922 photos
Publisher:	Motorbuch Verlag (D, 2021)
ISBN:	9783613044142

Samochody użytkowe RWPG

The first publication in Polish presenting commercial vehicles produced in the countries belonging to the Comecon, the so-called Eastern Bloc, which existed after World War II, until 1990.
The author explains what kind of organisation the Comecon was and what kind of vehicles are defined as commercial vehicles. He presents the vehicle manufacturers and their production profile, as well as selected models of vans, trucks and buses, taking into account their construction and operating characteristics and technical data.

The vehicles are presented according to the manufacturers operating in each country, viz: Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, the German Democratic Republic, Poland, Romania, Hungary and the Soviet Union.
The descriptions of the manufacturers and their vehicles are preceded by short chapters providing information on the origins and development of the automotive industry in the countries mentioned.

Text in Polish.

Product details

Author:	Zdzisław Podbielski
Details:	184 pages, 29 x 20.5 cm / 11.4 x 8.1 in, hardback
Illustrations:	profusely illustrated
Publisher:	Dom Wydawniczy Księży Młyn (PL, 2023)
ISBN:	9788377297155

Il grande libro dei motocarri italiani

During the early 1930s, a form of motor transport for goods was introduced that was derived from the motorcycle, fitted with three wheels. That's how the three-wheel van phenomenon began, an economical, practical and untiring vehicle that covered the roads of Italy from the uneasy self-government years to those of extensive economic development.
With over 700 illustrations - all of them carefully selected originals from the periods concerned - the vehicles are compared in this book manufacturer by manufacturer, year by year, telling the history of the stylistic and technical evolution of this means of transport. Over one hundred manufacturers are listed all over the Twentieth Century.

Text in Italian.

Product details

Author:	Sergio Puttini, Giuseppe Thellung
Details:	168 pages, 30 x 22 cm / 11.8 x 8.7 in, hardback
Illustrations:	700+ b&w and colour photos
Publisher:	Giorgio Nada Editore (I, 2017)
ISBN:	9788879115827