Ultimate Garages II   -    Author: Phil Berg     Publisher: David Bull Publishing, 2008

While the immaculately spotless rooms in Ultimate Garages II may appear to be pristine museum displays, they are actually privately owned garages housing some of the most impressive automobile collections throughout the country.  These spaces embody the imaginations and countless man-hours put forth by their individual creators.  As the title suggests, this book is the larger and much –anticipated follow-up to Phil Berg’s original Ultimate Garages, the book that first identified the trend toward custom-designed spaces for exceptional vehicles.  The author is off an running again, lifting garage doors to find the best four walls for keeping classic cars pampered and protected.

Each of the 23 garages featured in this book reflects the distinct personalities and tastes of its owners.  They range from lavishly appointed spaces that resemble movie sets, to more functional garages that any weekend tinkerer could aspire to realize.  You’ll see everything from warehouses to wood-paneled lounges.

Although the owners, themselves, come from various walks of life, they all share one common passion: the desire to show their prized automobiles.  There’s a stockbroker, an automotive writer, and a former bar owner, among the mix, and each brings with them a unique perspective and approach.  The book is also chock full of insightful anecdotes.  One collector sums up it all up with this - “I do this full-time, but it’s just for myself.  Look, I’m 66 years old, so I want to beat the drum while the skin’s still tight.  If you stop moving, you’re dead.  Building these cars is the fun of it.”

One new element that the author has added is a data box that provides a thumbnail summary of each garage.  These include critical specifications, such as total square footage, the number of cars housed, whether or not the space is climate controlled, and estimated construction costs – all useful reference points for readers considering their own projects.  The data box also highlights intangibles, such as “What makes this garage cool.”

The objective of this book is no doubt, double-edged.  One aspect focuses on the pure enthusiasm and entertainment value, allowing readers to enjoy the accomplishments of others.  But on the more practical side, Ultimate Garages II serves as a helpful guide, an inspiration tool if you will, for those who have a vision to create an interior space for their own automobile(s).  Some may even want to construct a dream garage prior to even having the cars to put in it.  These are folks who live by the motto, “If you build it, the cars will come.”

But Phil Berg’s sequel is about more than just storage space.  Along with contrasts in design and architectural treatments, this book also presents a remarkable array of cars and collections, which include vintage hot rods and muscle cars, concourse-winning classics, and retired racecars.  It’s a veritable ”who’s who” of four-wheeled machines for any degree of car fanatic.

Scores of large, smartly-composed color photographs show every corner and detail of the well-conceived floor spaces.  If you need the motivation to get your own “car clubhouse” cleaned up, or you just want to check out other drivers’ fantasies-come-true, look no further than these fine pages.

By Shamit Choksey

Mr. Choksey is a contributing writer for Automobile.com, JDPower, and Kelly Blue Book.

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