BOOKS AND LITERATURE

Michael Milne’s reports about transportation museums in the U.S. and abroad are mainstays in . His vast experience in this niche gives him a unique perspective about what makes an attraction truly worth visiting.is a well-curated collection of articles about museums he’s visited — many of which were published originally in . From Bulgaria there’s the Cars of Socialism Museum with its collection of Soviet-era automobiles and artifacts. From Germany the Porsche and Mercedes-Benz Museums, of course, but also a visit to the Dr. Carl Benz Auto Museum which occupies the original C. Benz and Sons factory. A stop in France brings the reader inside the Le Manoir de l’Automobile with its “starting grid” display featuring 18 Formula 1 race cars plus a fleet of historic Renaults, Citroëns, and lesser known French classics. Other chapters from across the pond include museum visits in Greece, Italy, the U.K., Poland, Romania, and Slovenia. The stateside portion of the book offers a who’s who of popular U.S. auto museums: the AACA, Gilmore, Simone, The Henry Ford, Auburn Cord Duesenberg, LeMay, and Petersen. But there are dozens of smaller attractions given equal space among the pages. As a bonus, Michael has included in the book his interviews with Jay Leno and rock star Alice Cooper — two celebrities well known for their automotive passions and opinions about cars. If you’re planning a road trip, or a trip to Europe, is an excellent guide to automotive attractions and a must-have for the traveling car enthusiast.