The Red Car Hardcover – January 11, 2000

Simply put ... growing up, in grade school, I hated reading, hated book reports. In the school library, I found a small obscure book, with a simple title ... I figured I could scan through and get enough info to write a book report. I was 13 and infatuated with cars ... so a good fit. I sat down to start reading a little, and was so enamored, my mother had to take the book from me so I would go to bed. When I got home from school the next day, I picked the book up and read it until at long last, a little after bed time, reading under the covers with a flashlight, I finished the book. It was the right book, the right time, and turned me into a reader, and ultimately a writer. About a boy in a small town, who saw a wrecked and available red MG .... I won't spoil it ... suffice to say, I had been looking for 40 years to find the book that changed my life. Reading through it now, it is a bit simplistic, but a with a little imagination, you to could be driving the red car.

Like everyone else reviewing this book, I first read it as a scholastic book club paperback as a preteen, sometime around 1970. I absolutely loved it then, and it holds up very well to this 60 year old reader. The one bit that didn't hold up is that the 1950 era social gender values stand out as old school sexist now. That said it is a wonderful coming of age/overcoming adversity book. I can say without any doubt that this book is why I bought a used MG Midget in the 70s, and why I undertook an austin healey bugeye sprite frame-off restoration for my "mid-life crisis" project. If you love classic british roadsters, you will love this classic story.

"The Red Car" is a book I read back in elementary school many moons ago. It helped to ignite in me a love of sports cars that lives to this day - I own an MGB roadster.I was reminded of the book reading a forum on MG's and the title came up. I looked for the book on Amazon and found it! I bought it seeking to rekindle old memories. The little book did not disappoint! It is written at more than an elementary school level, which makes it an enjoyable light read.It traces the story of a small town teen in the early 1950's who sees a wrecked little red sports car in a local mechanic's garage. He is smitten by the car and resolves to buy it and restore it to driveable condition. It follows him through numerous challenges which he faces with determination until he achieves his goal.Like all books that were old Scholastic Books selections, this one has an underlying theme of personal growth through adversity and determination.It succeeded in reconnecting me with days and memories long gone by. Glad I bought it.

I can't believe that after all of these years, I have re-discovered this book. I had read The Red Car thirty-some-odd years ago, and thought it wonderful. After loaning it to a teacher, and him loosing it, I had fogotten all about it. Consequently, after being indoctrinated into the wonderful world of sports cars (1965 AH Sprite) and the joys of the late apex, the thoughts of that lucky kid in the MG TC are still with me.I've only just ordered the book, but couldn't help but to write a short note on it, so, if you are as interested in classic sports cars as I am, driving same, or are just tired of the same old cookie cutter jap front wheel drive cracker boxes (mini's not included) get the book and read it. If anything, it will give you an idea of how to square off a corner, and recover brilliently! If anything else, a good read for the "gear head" car nut. Enjoy.

Written in the early 1950s, the story follows a fellow at the end of his High school years as he finds a way to procure an MG that found the side of a cliff and would have otherwise been unobtainable for him. Set around the adventure to get the car back on the road, the objections of his family and locals over foreign cars and the local scene including racing. The book actually shows a character who has work ethics, a desire to make something of himself and a general love for life. For anyone who enjoys British Sports Cars, has read modern Classics such as 'The Last Open Road' series by Burt Levy, has children interested in reading or automotive fiction or just wants a copy to put back on the shelf after years of missing this classic, I highly recommend 'The Red Car', a book for children of All ages!

It is a good story for any sports car fan.

Pure nostalgia! Fifteen, in the high school library for study hall, springtime Friday after lunch before yell practice, no A/C at our central Texas school yet so the tall windows are all up, quiet except for occasional shuffling of books or scraping of a chair on the plank floor, birds in the pecan trees outside, the smell of old books and fresh mowed lawn, and I have been transported by this book into my dream car with big wire wheels, the smells of fresh red paint, growling warm engine, pungent gasoline, hot tire rubber. The memory of this book has stayed with me for half a century!

This is the first "non-school book" that I ever read when I was nine with the help of my big brother. Over the years I have thought of the book every time I saw an MG, so I searched for and found it on Amazon. I was happy to find the book and to find that the book is something of a sports car cult classic. I bought the book, read it again promptly, and sent it off to my brother unannounced. I could hardly wait for his call to re-live the enjoyment we both shared as kids, and the passion for cars that we still share- much of the car enthusiasm came from this delightful book. Still a good read at my current 65.

I first read this book as a teenager, it is, probably the best young persons guide to sports cars. Although some of the dialogue appears dated the essence of the story is strong enough to allow you to ignore this. reading it again bought into focus the reason why I became a lover of all types of motorsport. I strongly recommend this book to anyone looking for a alternative to the wizards & vampire stories aimed at young people today. This is a good read with some strong moral themes running through it.

Don't buy this book expecting great literature! It isn't particularly well written or illustrated and it doesn't have a very complex story line. It is set in the 50's and is the story of a young man who falls in love with and buys a wrecked MG TC and sets about (with some help) rebuilding it. This was my favourite book when I was about 8 years old and I was delighted to find it offered on Amazon now that I am in my late 60's. Despite all it's short comings I wouldn't trade this book for almost anything. It is being reunited with my childhood and I love it!