Assouline’s ‘Vintage Cars’ Book Treats Classic Automobiles With the Same Reverence as Fine Art

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Summary

  • Assouline is releasing Vintage Cars in June 2026, a 208-page large-format hardcover priced at $120 USD
  • The book features photography by Laziz Hamani and an introduction by renowned automotive historian Ken Gross, spanning iconic marques and rare collector models admired for their rarity, technical excellence, and timeless design
  • Vintage Cars is part of Assouline’s Classics Collection, continuing the publisher’s approach of treating cultural subjects with the material and editorial seriousness of luxury objects

Ken Gross believes classic cars should be appreciated like art – as objects reflecting the skill, design, and culture of their time. A new book from Assouline, Vintage Cars, due out in June 2026 for $120, visually supports this idea with 208 pages of stunning photography by Laziz Hamani. The photos highlight the beautiful shapes and gleaming details of cars that have endured long after their creation.

The book’s most impactful choice is pairing author Gross with photographer Hamani, and it works beautifully. Gross is a highly respected automotive writer and historian who brings a level of thoughtful analysis rarely seen in popular car culture. He immediately establishes the book’s core idea: classic cars aren’t just machines, they’re relics of a more innocent era that stir feelings in almost everyone who sees them. This approach makes Vintage Cars less of a guide for collectors and more of a heartfelt exploration for anyone who’s ever been captivated by an old car and felt a sense of nostalgia or wonder.

Hamani’s photography presents cars not as mere machines, but as beautiful, luxurious objects. He’s known for his work with fashion and high-end products, and he brings that same eye for detail to automobiles, focusing on their textures, shapes, and how light plays across their surfaces – something rarely seen in car photography. Each photograph highlights details like the curves of a hood, the shine of a fender, or the intricate design of the dashboard, inviting the viewer to examine them as closely as they would a piece of jewelry or a watch. The book’s large size – 11 x 13.5 inches – allows Hamani’s photos to truly showcase this level of detail and quality.

This collection showcases both well-known and exceptionally rare classic cars, all sharing qualities that define their importance as vintage vehicles: scarcity, superior engineering, enduring style, a well-documented past, and a rich history. Classic cars are unique among luxury goods. While items like watches and leather goods are made with precision in controlled environments, the finest cars from the first half of the 20th century were considered personalized art pieces by their manufacturers. The iconic Rolls-Royce “Flying Lady” hood ornament, featured in this collection, perfectly illustrates this mindset – it’s a practical component designed to also represent speed, elegance, and luxury.

Assouline’s Classics Collection is the perfect home for this book. Founded in Paris in 1994, Assouline has become known for creating beautifully crafted books about fascinating cultural topics – subjects that deserve special attention. With over 2,000 titles published, the Classics Collection beautifully blends history, artistry, and visual appeal. Vintage Cars follows in the tradition of Assouline books that treat the book itself as an extension of its subject. Because classic cars are objects of immense pride and artistry, this book is designed and produced with the same level of care and attention to detail. Assouline has successfully achieved this goal.

Vintage Cars is available in June 2026 via the Assouline webstore.

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2026-05-27 10:56