By Michael Kliebenstein
2025 review by James Loveridge
Michael Kliebenstein is a well-known member of the classic car world and a look at his website will show the breadth of his activities such as his involvement in the London Classic Car Show. He is also a much respected, knowledgeable writer on the subject of classic cars and amongst his many writings is the prize winning SuperFinds: A truly Unique Selection of Previously Unseen Photographs of Important Historic Cars as Found in the 1960s and 1970s. Porter Press International are his publishers and several of their excellent publications have been reviewed on the SAHB’s website.
Mr Kliebenstein’s latest offering WHEELBASE: Dark dealing in the classic car world, described as “The unmissable motoring thriller of the year” on the cover, is something of a departure as it is a work of fiction – the appropriate disclaimer about no one (living or deceased) being referred to or intended – is on the title page. However, as Paul Griffin in his magisterial The Past and the Spurious has told us, the world of classic cars is no stranger to varying degrees of jiggery pokery and this book is very much about that, although considerably more heavy duty – there is gunplay and murder in this book.
The essence of the story is about two middle-aged classic car dealers, not top notch, no swanky London mews premises though they do own a couple of transport aircraft, and their efforts to secure the disposal of an important collection of Ferraris worth several millions. You could almost call it a romance; a beautiful Italian woman plays her part, but Mr Kliebenstein’s passion for the classic car world is very evident. The journeys of the hero, Mike Chapman, around Europe in his searches for bargains are well described and the odd barn find whets his appetite. A cloned Ferrari is one of their minor issues (à la Mr Griffin’s book). The need for finance is a constant feature of the story and this leads them into the arms of a wealthy investment company with a villainous boss. The complexities of documenting these sorts of transaction are described. Without giving away too much it can be said they are shafted by the villainous investment company boss, lose their Ferrari collection but get it back in the best James Bond manner. Everything ends up happily with the help of the beautiful Italian and her scary mother except, of course, for the villainous financier.
This 286-page paperback is, as said, published by Porter Press to its usual standard and Amazon and Waterstones have it for £13.99.
This is undoubtedly fiction but those who have some knowledge of the classic car word will recognise that the underlying activities of classic car dealing as told in this exciting story are pretty well true to life. It’s not too improbable to think something like this could happen; after all there is a great deal of money in classic cars these days and greed is eternal. It is strongly recommended for a weekend read.
Publisher: Porter Press International https://porterpress.co.uk/
Price: £13.99 plus postage.
Description: 19.8cm x 12.9cm, 286 pages, softback. | ISBN: 978-1-913089-51-1
Publisher: Porter Press International | Publication date: December 2024 | Author: Michael20.7cm x 25cm, 336 pages, hardback in dust jacket. 574 black & white and colour pictures.
ISBN: 978-1-787119-32-1
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