The Red Car
Something reminded me today of the 1954 Don Stanford novel titled The Red Car. I read it probably when I was somewhere between 10 and 13 years old. As happened with other boys of that era — you can see the evidence in reviews on Goodreads and Amazon — it influenced my life forever. The book tells the story of a 16-year-old who restores a somewhat wrecked 1948 MG TC. He has help from a foreign-trained mechanic (and mysterious former nobleman) going by the nickname of Frenchy. Frenchy also explains the capacities and wonders of a real sports car. The story reaches a climax with the car entering a race. Frenchy drives because of insurance rules, according to a summary on the internet. I can't remember the details at all but I do remember the impact of the book. From the day I finished it to this day, the only car that I really thought of as true and exciting has been an MG TC from that era, preferably red.
The book also introduced me to some the basic intricacies of engine performance and suspension systems. Stanford apparently wrote much of the story based on his own experiences, including in a race in Colorado in 1951. I never owned an MG TC. They must be quite rare now. A replicar version would no doubt be more reliable and far cheaper to maintain, but how satisfying is a simulation? The closest I got for a few years was a red 2003 Volvo S40 with a stick shift; that was adequate for daydreaming purposes. A check of the internet today showed the book has also become rare, despite a hardcover edition having been published in 2000. Amazon lists a hardcover for $266 and a paperback for $182 plus change. A couple of copies are listed in "fair" condition on Abe Books for less than $10. Some internet sources also apparently offer free reading of e-copies. I don't know if I'll try to read it again. The magic would likely be gone, replaced by mere nostalgic curiosity. A number of books listed on Amazon have "Red" and "Car" in their titles. There's also a recent one called "The Red Car." The description suggests it's a modern touchy-feely thing. I guess that shows how cultures can change. I'll stick to the original Red Car, even if only in memory. A book can have enormous power over a reader's store of information and dreams.
The book also introduced me to some the basic intricacies of engine performance and suspension systems. Stanford apparently wrote much of the story based on his own experiences, including in a race in Colorado in 1951. I never owned an MG TC. They must be quite rare now. A replicar version would no doubt be more reliable and far cheaper to maintain, but how satisfying is a simulation? The closest I got for a few years was a red 2003 Volvo S40 with a stick shift; that was adequate for daydreaming purposes. A check of the internet today showed the book has also become rare, despite a hardcover edition having been published in 2000. Amazon lists a hardcover for $266 and a paperback for $182 plus change. A couple of copies are listed in "fair" condition on Abe Books for less than $10. Some internet sources also apparently offer free reading of e-copies. I don't know if I'll try to read it again. The magic would likely be gone, replaced by mere nostalgic curiosity. A number of books listed on Amazon have "Red" and "Car" in their titles. There's also a recent one called "The Red Car." The description suggests it's a modern touchy-feely thing. I guess that shows how cultures can change. I'll stick to the original Red Car, even if only in memory. A book can have enormous power over a reader's store of information and dreams.
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