The Gentleman Magazine Issue 15 | June 2019 | Page 65

ONE FORMULA
50 YEARS OF CAR DESIGN
BY GORDON MURRAY
Cars featured in detail include his 35+ Formula One cars,
the unique Brabham BT46B fan car, the Duckhams Ford Le
Mans car built for Alain de Cadenet, the McLaren F1, the
GTR versions, the McLaren MP4/4, the OX, the new TVR, the
Rocket, and many more.
The most detailed story concerns the $1m F1 – arguably the
greatest road car of all time – and how Murray was persuaded
to prepare several for Le Mans, where they remarkably finished
first, third, fourth and fifth.
Murray's versatility is revealed by his designs for the first pit
lane trolley, Supertrac, RS200, the Batmobile, soapbox racers,
the MinBug, the Toray Teewave and the Mercedes McLaren
SLR.
The foreword is by Murray Walker who touches on Murray’s
wider interests outside motoring: 'He is very much a lover of
rock music, ghastly shirts, fine wines and riding high-powered
motorcycles – all of which makes him a top man for me.'
First Edition: Two volumes, 948 pages, over 1,200 illustrations,
slipcase, cloth binding.
Price £225
Limited Edition: In a stylish slipcase with end cap. A hand-
bound portfolio with two poster-style reproduction blueprints
complete with explanatory notes by Gordon Murray. Signed by
Gordon Murray and Philip Porter. Each of the 100 copies will
be hand numbered.
Price £750
Unique Edition: In a suede-lined solander box with carbon
fibre lid. Hand-bound books and slipcase, with an original
unique signed sketch by Gordon Murray, portfolio of
blueprints, T1 model, titanium chassis plate and GMD enamel
badge, plus portfolio containing reproduction passes and a
collection of photographs. Signed by Murray and Porter, and
hand-numbered. Limited to just 25 copies.
Price £2,500
A close collaboration between the legendary automotive
designer Gordon Murray and award-winning author Philip
Porter, One Formula is a two-volume blockbuster that has
taken more than two years to complete. Covering in detail
every one of Murray's 70+ designs, including those he never
built, the books are comprehensive, detailed, punchy and
fascinating.
Apart from the design story – much of it in Murray's own
words – the books are packed with illustrations from his
extraordinary archives, including pages from his notebooks,
original sketches, correspondence, drawings and behind-the-
scenes photographs. These are supplemented by stunning
period racing shots by many leading motoring photographers.
The range and breadth of Gordon Murray's automotive designs
is unique. From World Championship-winning Formula 1
cars to his extraordinary flat-packed vehicle for Africa, from
his pre-eminent McLaren F1 supercar to brilliant tiny city cars,
from the first sports car he built himself to his revolutionary
iStream manufacturing system, it is all in these two heavy and
ultra-stylish volumes.
The author: Philip Porter is the author of around 30 motoring
books. In an action-packed life, he started competing in
hillclimbs and sprints while still at school, winning 10 of 12
events in 1970 in his full-race Sprite. Bitten by the classic car
bug, he bought five Jaguar XKs in 1973 (four of which he still
has) and his historic E-types (9600 HP, the oldest E-type, and
848 CRY, the '61 racer and roadster in the film The Italian
Job) in 1976. He began writing articles and books in the
mid-eighties. In parallel he began flying hot air balloons and
airships competitively (European Airship Championships
Silver Medallist) and was the first person ever to fly an airship
in Africa. In 1997 he and his wife Julie formed the International
Jaguar XK Club – the Jaguar E-type Club following in 2004.
In 2005, he created Porter Press International, which is now
one of the world's leading motoring publishers, thanks to the
amazing team with which Philip is immensely proud to work.
The Gentleman Magazine | 65