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Cars As Canvas exhibit features the live-action painting of the 1919 Indianapolis Ballot. Purchase Your Tickets Here!
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The Revs Digital Library
Over 680,000 images with more added each month.
Preserving the Future of the Past
Books
Magazines
Video
Everything
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Click to access notable collections within the Library and Archives. The staff is in the process of scanning pre-1930 books, manuals, and sales literature. They are all available through the online library catalog and keyword searchable using PDF or browser search functions.
Archival Collections
Archival Collections: Over 120 collections, most with a detailed finding aid. Many of the image collections are digitized and available in the Revs Digital Library.
Auction Catalogs
Auction Catalogs: Listing of auction sale catalogs, dating back to 1945, published in the US and abroad.
Auto Show Programs
Auto Show Programs: listing of auto show programs and guides from a variety of auto show events held in the United States as well as abroad, and organized by the name of the auto show event.
Books
Books on all topics. The staff is in the process of scanning pre-1930 books. They are all available through the online library catalog and keyword searchable using PDF or browser search functions.Books on Alfa Romeo, Austin, Ballot, Bentley, BMW, Bugatti, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Citroën, Duesenberg, Ferrari, Fiat, Ford, Hispano-Suiza, Jaguar, Lancia, Maserati, McLaren, Mercedes, MG, Packard, Peugeot, Pierce-Arrow, Porsche, Rolls-Royce, Stutz, Sunbeam, Trabant, Vauxhall, and VolkswagenBooks on coachbuilding, concept cars, drivers, electric cars, Enzo Ferrari, Ettore Bugatti, Ferdinand Porsche, Henry Ford, Formula 1, Indy 500, Le Mans, mascots, safety, social aspects, women
Car Clubs
Car Clubs: over 240 magazines and newsletters from car clubs, mostly in the US and UK.
Clothing and Race Gear
Clothing and Race Gear: coats, glove, helmets and more worn for racing.
Color and Trim Collection
Color and Trim Collection: automobile color and trim samples dating from 1896 to 1989, including color swatches for coach builders. Of particular note are the booklets of suggested colors for Rolls Royce and Bentley cars.
Digital Exhibits
Digital Exhibits: six online exhibits on automotive history.
Film
Film: over 140 films from around the world, mostly on racing, many with a 30-second clip.
Magazines
Magazines: over 900 titles in English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, and more. Many other titles found only in small numbers of issues are found in the Miscellaneous Periodicals Collection.Magazines on Alfa Romeo, Austin, Bentley, BMW, Bugatti, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Citroën, Duesenberg, Ferrari, Fiat, Ford, Hispano-Suiza, Jaguar, Lancia, Maserati, McLaren, Mercedes, MG, Packard, Peugeot, Pierce-Arrow, Porsche, Rolls-Royce, Stutz, Vauxhall, and Volkswagen
Manuals
Manuals for all marques and models. The staff is in the process of scanning pre-1930 manuals. They are all available through the online library catalog and keyword searchable using PDF or browser search functions.Manuals on Alfa Romeo, Austin, Ballot, Bentley, BMW, Bugatti, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Citroën, Ferrari, Fiat, Ford, Hispano-Suiza, Jaguar, Lancia, Maserati, Mercedes, MG, Packard, Peugeot, Pierce-Arrow, Porsche, Rolls-Royce, Stutz, Sunbeam, Vauxhall, and Volkswagen
Mascots
Mascots: over 240 automotive mascots, each with a photograph and description.
Parts Manuals
Parts Manuals: listing of 3,444 parts catalogs and price lists dating back to 1900, published worldwide.
Posters
Posters: 1,000 posters, most available online.
Race Programs
Race Programs: a single, combined listing of all race programs from four major collections, totaling over 10,000 races worldwide. The collections include the Race Programs Collection, the Joel E. Finn Papers, the Geoffrey Hewitt photographs, Barré Lyndon papers, and the Helmut Schroer Race Program Collection. Includes the name of the event, collection, and cabinet, box, binder, and folder number of the program. The names of the events were recorded as used by the collector. The programs cover a variety of race events held in the United States as well as abroad, especially Europe, and organized by name of the race. The contents of each file vary, but often include include newspaper clippings, practice and race time sheets, car changes, the published programs, and post-race reports.
Racing Rule Books
Racing Rule Books: official rule books, yearbooks, and programs for a number of automobile racing groups, dating from 1926-1991.
Sales Literature
Sales Literature: brochures and booklets from manufacturers around the word. The staff is in the process of scanning pre-1930 sales literature. They are all available through the online library catalog and keyword searchable using PDF or browser search functions. The Sales literature collection contains 639 boxes (including those items scanned) of brochures, pamphlets, press kits, press releases, price lists, and other promotional items from a wide variety of U.S. and international automobile, coach builders, and service companies.
Theses and Dissertations
These and Dissertations on automotive history.
The Library supports the scholarly and instructional work of the Revs Institute staff, volunteers, and user community. Watch a screencast on how to find information in the Library.
The Collections
The Revs Institute’s holdings include 120 archival collections, 24,000 books, 200,000 magazine and journal issues, and over 670,000 online images. Materials are in English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, and more.
General Research
Revs Institute offers research services for a base research fee of 2 hours ($50 per hour for non-commercial and $100 per hour for commercial), and research can be extended in 2-hour increments. All billings are invoiced and paid through PayPal only. New requests enter the existing queue and team will respond as soon as possible. The staff undertakes extensive research, but please note that finding the requested material is not guaranteed. Depending on copyright, Revs Institute may digitize and license items for individual use. Normal image licensing fees will apply to any images found and licensed through the research process. Textual materials do not need to be individually licensed, but the time spent on digitization will be included in the research time.
Visit the Library
Researchers are welcome with an appointment. The Library is open Monday-Friday, 8 am-5 pm.
