One Formula Celebrates Iconic Car Designer Gordon Murray
Two years in the making, comprehensive tome features every one of designer’s 70-plus designs, including those he never built.
A close collaboration between the legendary automotive designer Gordon Murray and award-winning author Philip Porter, the newly released One Formula: 50 Years of Car Design is an exclusive two-volume, 948-page literary project that has reportedly taken more than two years to complete. Covering in detail every one of Murray’s 70-plus designs, including those he never built, the books are comprehensive, detailed, and fascinating.
Apart from the design story – much of it in Murray’s own words – the books, published by the U.K.’s Porter Press International, 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.
The range of 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 captured in One Formula.
Cars featured in detail include his 35-plus 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 $1 million 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.”
One Formula is available in three different options:
First Edition, approximately $300: Two volumes, 948 pages, over 1,200 illustrations, slipcase, cloth binding.
Limited Edition, approximately $950: In a stylish slipcase with end cap. A hand-bound portfolio with two poster-style reproduction blueprints complete with explanatory notes by Murray. Signed by Murray and Porter. Each of the 100 copies will be hand numbered.
Unique Edition, approximately $3,150: In a suede-lined solander box with carbon fiber lid. Hand-bound books and slipcase, with an original unique signed sketch by 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.
Photos: Porter Press International‘s One Formula: 50 Years of Car Design