What’s the first serious car book you bought? Still have?

Streetwiseguy said:

The 1972 "Motor" service manual.  Still have it.

Heavy book with a thick blue cover?

My Dad had a pile of those. They were very good as I recall

It's likely not the first car book I bought, but it's one of the first I remember reading and later buying. 

Sunday Driver, by Brock Yates.

High performance dodge neon builders handbook.  Still got it and even got the author to sign it.

My oldest book is actually my dad's undergrad book that I used in undergrad--Mark's Standard Handbook for Mechanical Engineers. My edition was published in 1976

Datsun310Guy said:

Ordering a book in grade school to have it delivered a month later doesn't count - ....

I'm sorry but I'm distracted by this requirement and apparently can't let it go.  It seems like an oddly specific exclusion.  Can I count books that don't meet all three requirements?   I'm  sure that my first serious books were purchased in grade school but I don't know if I ordered them or what the delivery time was.  I do have some that I know I picked up in used book stores while I was in grade school but I'm not sure if they were my first.  Do they count?

Cousin_Eddie (Forum Supporter) said:

How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive by John Muir. The early one, spiral bound, first edition. Way back in the 80s. 

This and still have a spiral wound one, regular one, digital one.

If you don't consider this a legitimate, serious book, I've got news for you. The amount of enthusiasts that were ignited by this book are legion.

They Call Me Mr. 500 by Andy Granatelli.  I also have a signed copy of Stroker Ace.

car39 said:

They Call Me Mr. 500 by Andy Granatelli.  I also have a signed copy of Stroker Ace.

If you are an Indy 500 fan that  is a must read (Mr 500)