Brooklands Portfolio Books : Historical Road Tests & Motoring Archives
In 1954, John Dowdeswell, the founder of Brooklands Books, published a reprint of a sold-out book about Morgan tricycles. Books on BSA and tuning Ford cars soon followed.
After purchasing a large batch of pre-war car magazines, John Dowdeswell realized how much unique documentation for cars and motorcycles enthusiasts was in danger of being lost. He got the idea to bundle the interesting articles from historical journals (including road tests, comparison tests, long-term tests, descriptions of new models and stories about certain makes) in book form. The "Road Test Portfolio" series was born.
Thanks to Brooklands Books, owners and enthusiasts can easily and cheaply access the press articles that appeared at the time about their favorite vehicle make or type, which are now almost impossible to find. There are about 800 Brooklands Portfolio books available, divided into the following series:
Brooklands Ultimate Portfolio
The Ultimate Portfolios are the most comprehensive Brooklands books with 208-220 pages and 400-450 photos. The newer editions are often partly in color.
Brooklands Gold Portfolio
Very popular are the Brooklands Gold Portfolio books. These volumes, 125 in total, each have 172-180 pages with about 300 photographs.
Brooklands Regular Road Test
The original Brooklands Portfolio books, each with approx. 100 pages and 200 photographs. Long sold-out titles have recently become available again in the Brooklands Road Test Portfolio series.
Brooklands Muscle Portfolio
The Brooklands Muscle Portfolio books deal with the American 'muscle cars' that were famous in the sixties and seventies. Each volume has 140 pages and about 250 photographs.
Brooklands Performance Portfolio
The Brooklands Performance Portfolio parts are dedicated to (sports) cars, off-road vehicles and motorcycles with powerful engines. Each volume has 140 pages and about 250 photographs.
Brooklands 'Takes on the Competition'
The Brooklands 'Takes on the Competition' series deals with one model each time, but contains tests in which this type is compared with other cars in the same market segment. Each volume has 140 pages and about 250 photographs.
Brooklands Limited Edition Extra
The Brooklands Limited Edition books cover more specific topics and are therefore printed in smaller series. The volumes from the Limited Edition Extra series have 136 pages.
Brooklands Limited Edition
Slightly thinner (92 pages) are the Brooklands Limited Edition books, which also contain articles about a specific model or a lesser-known brand.
Brooklands Military Portfolio
The books in the Brooklands Military Portfolio series include articles about military vehicles. They each have 140 pages and about 250 photos.
Road & Track Portfolio
Brookland's books with tests, model comparisons and other material from the prestigious American monthly magazine 'Road & Track'. Each book has about 90 pages with 200 photos.
Brooklands Restoration Guides
For some British sports cars, Brooklands also offers restoration guides. These are composed of articles that appeared in 'Practical Classics' and/or 'Car Restorer' at the time.
The articles in the Brooklands books have been reproduced - with permission - from British, American, Australian and other Anglo-Saxon magazines such as: Australian Motor Sports, Autosport, Auto Sports, Autocar, Automobile Magazine, Car, Car & Car Conversions, Car and Driver, Car Life, Cars, Cars South Africa, Classic American, Mechanic Illustrated, Modern Motor, Motor, Motor Sport, Motor Trend, Popular Mechanics, Popular Science, Road & Track, Road Test, Sports Car Graphic, Sport Cars Illustrated, Sports Car World, Wheels, World Automotive en World Car Catalogue.
The newer Brooklands books are often in full or in part in color.
Publisher: Brooklands Books Ltd, Cobham, Surrey (GB)
Size: 27 x 20 cm (10.6 x 7.9 in), paperback
Language: The Brooklands Portfolio books are only available in English.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the content in Brooklands Portfolio books come from?
The content is a curated collection of original articles, road tests, and photographs reproduced with permission from famous international automotive magazines. These include iconic titles such as Autocar, Motor, and Road & Track, as well as niche publications from the UK, USA, Australia, and South Africa.
What is the difference between a "Gold Portfolio" and an "Ultimate Portfolio"?
The main difference is the depth of coverage. A Gold Portfolio typically contains around 172–180 pages and 300 photographs, making it a thorough overview. The Ultimate Portfolio is the most comprehensive version available, expanding the page count to over 200 and featuring up to 450 photographs, often with more color pages in newer editions.
Are these books useful for vehicle restoration?
Yes, in two ways. Firstly, the standard Portfolios provide high-quality historical references, original performance data, and period-correct photographs. Secondly, Brooklands offers a specific Restoration Guide series, which compiles practical technical articles from specialist magazines like Practical Classics specifically for British sports car owners.