“…it is a joy from cover to cover. …these are the cars that every enthusiast wants to see. Lentinello’s odyssey is a personal one, and the stories about individual classics and their owners, but the book is all the better for that. From Wayne Koffel’s 1930 Oaklant to Mark McCourt’s MGB, every tale is heartwarming.” – Classic and Sports Car
“This book focuses on unrestored classics (nearly all post-war) in the USA, telling their stories, the reasons why their owners cherish them, and the steps they take to preserve that all-important originality.” – Octane
“It’s a good book to read too, with plenty of good tales behind the cars and how they came to be preserved.” - Classic American
“They’ll (the featured cars will) fill up 92 pages with premium qualify photography both overall and detail, an unknown in to too many high quality books.” – Jim Donnelly, Hemmings Classic Car
“Lentinello makes a case for preservation rather than restoration by showcasing dozens of individual cars and their stories.” - Rolls-Royce Owners' Club, Inc.
“This is a collection of rare and immensely valuable finds that are untouched by time or restorers.” - MG Enthusiast
“If you like your cars good and original, and the word “patina” has a certain resonance, then you’ll appreciate It’s Only Origional Once which, as the title suggests, is a celebration of cars that have stood the test of time…” - 911 & Porsche World
“Lentinello selects a few representative cars, telling their stories in-depth. Elsewhere, he gives just a taste. But his prose is tight and well-written. He tells enough to keep your interest, while avoiding the unrestrained fan-boy bias present in many automotive histories.” - Larry Printz, Virginian-Pilot “It is a real celebration of originality and of the lengths to which owners go to bring back to life very original cars that often have been in storage for many years.” - The Automobile “Each survivor has an interesting tale behind it and all are accompanied by lavish color illustrations. There are also a few chapters devoted to concours and marque club functions and how they have recognized this important category of collector cars. If you’re lucky enough to have one of these artifacts, treasure it for all it represents. If not, this book will inspire you to continue searching. - The Classic Car Club of America Bulletin
Reader Reviews
Since I own an unrestored/original car (that has been in our family for 43 years) I could easily relate to the passion that Richard Lentinello has for this unique class of automobile. Richard captures, in many respects, the true love and passion for these "time capsules" with not only excellent photography, but a wonderful selection of classic, muscle and foreign cars and their fascinating history. Highly recommended for those who enjoy looking back in time at this unique class of automotive treasures.
Back To Top
