Classic Speedboats, 1945 1962

Less than one year after the end of World War II, speedboat enthusiasts resumed their passionate affair with the sport. The two nations at the fore of this renaissance were Italy -- where gentlemen racers capitalized on their proximity to exotic engines from Ferrari, Maserati and Alfa Romeo -- and the U.S. -- where skilled engineers and an abundant surplus of aircraft engines helped spawn a new breed of speedboats: the unlimited. This marvelous followup to Classic Speedboats 1916-1939 (MBI Item #125483AP) examines the birth of a modern motorsport. A knowledgeable text is combined with archival images depicting boats at speed, expertly crafted wood hulls, and the fantastic engines that powered them. Also included is coverage of great boats from other European nations, the advent of notoriously dangerous jet-powered hydroplanes, and the piston-engined Miss US 1, which in 1962 attained a speed of 200 mph, a record for piston-powered boats that remains unbroken.