An author and his central character unite to offer a look at automotive masterworks of the past in Clive Cussler’s Built for Adventure: The Classic Automobiles of Clive Cussler and Dirk Pitt®. Putnam’s will release this illustrated text, containing photographs by Ronnie Bramhall, in the U.S. on Oct. 27, 2011.
Cussler began his Dirk Pitt adventure series in 1973 with the publication of The Mediterranean Caper. Pitt, a former Air Force officer working with the US National Underwater and Marine Agency, inherits his affection for classic cars from his creator.
Photos of Cussler and the cars he features in this series frequently appear on the back cover of the books. Cussler owns the 1921 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Pitt drives in Treasure of Kahn (2006), the 1929 Duesenberg J-140 in Flood Tide (1997), the 1931 Marmom V16 in Trojan Odyssey (2003), the 1932 Stutz DV-32 in Dragon (1990) and the 1936 Avions Voisin C-28 Ambassade in Sahara (1992).
Built for Adventure includes photographs and Cussler’s commentary on 56 of the more than 100 cars in his collection. He houses these at the Cussler Museum in Arvada, Colo.
Bramhall's full-color photos illustrate the exteriors and interiors of these legendary vehicles, their hood ornaments, engines and even headlights and hubcaps. Cussler adds his own explanation of the history of each model along with details on how he acquired his specific vehicle. He often recounts stories concerning past owners as well.
In the attached YouTube video, Cussler describes how he began collecting and restoring classic cars with the acquisition of a 1946 Ford Club Coupé. He also speculates on the common trait that drives both writers and car collectors – perseverance. Like the automotive collector and restorer, "an author has to be one of these nuts that has to finish what they start," he decides.
FTC disclosure: A review copy of this book was provided by Putnam's.
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