Doing just what it says on the tin, this takes a hundred top-notch cars of the last century and tells us about them in succinct fashion. There are a few that get four pages, but generally it's a page of text, and a page with databank and images, for the format. Every few we break off to look at a marque instead.

The writing can be on the technical side – this is something to go over the heads of all but the most garage-experienced youngsters – but it has qualities that many intended adult readers would want. There is talk of "delightful road manners" that seem to match the mood of the day the car came out, while phrases such as "to drive, a P6 can seem more Continental than British", both actually allow you to believe our author is as experienced as needs be behind the wheel, and speak to the petrol-head and not us numpties.

Pictorially, this is well-researched, with many of the cars modelling their types having quirky, personalised number plates related to their numbering and origins. The biggest issue then is perhaps the selection, and I think I know just enough to know this is a sensible range – it's not too biased to either side of the Atlantic, or the Channel, and the writing is forceful enough to show all the entries are justified. The only thing that struck me as an omission was the MR2, whose first gen was the car children of my age wanted their father to have. The fact so few dads obeyed is probably why it kinda flopped.

In a way this can join the other history of motoring books, as we see the first this, the first that – all told, if not dipped into as expected, there is a good narrative coming across relatively clearly. But this is for the occasional quick read – these three-minute essays telling us all that distinguishes the motors concerned. You'd be nudging £130 million to buy them all, at my quick estimate, so this is probably going to be quite the economical way to feel more in touch with these cars until that time comes.

This was an interesting book. I felt there was a good mix of car choices for the different eras and there are some lovely photos. The short overview of each car is well written in an engaging tone. I particularly liked the slightly longer pieces about the different manufacturers that are interspersed throughout.

Thanks to the author, publishers & NetGalley for access to this arc in return for an honest review.