About Fred Larimer

A Southern California native born in Long Beach, Fred Larimer has been immersed in car culture his entire life. From teenage slot-car racing to more than 50 years of involvement with the Long Beach Grand Prix, Fred is well known throughout Southern California automotive communities for his deep knowledge and photography skills.

His talent behind the camera came to life through the publication of two Motorbooks Buyer’s Guides: the Mercedes-Benz Buyer’s Guide and the BMW Buyer’s Guide.

Fred has also been a member of several California chapters of the BMW Car Club of America, participating in Concours events and track days throughout the region.

Visit the gallery to explore hundreds of photographs from past Southern California BMW Club and motorsports events.
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Mercedes-Benz Buyer’s Guide

Mercedes Buyer's Guide

Author: Fred Larimer

This book gives an up-close look at Mercedes-Benz roadsters, convertibles, and two-and four-seat coupes from the mid-1950s to present. With roadsters, starting with the 300SLs from the mid-1950 and continuing through the current SLKs – up to the 2003 model year. Coupes and Cabrios, this book details the 220SEb/300SE cars of 1960 and continues on up to the current CLKs to the 2003 model year.

This approach better serves those who are in the market for “personal cars” by not spreading the book too thin to cover the entire Mercedes-Benz lineup.

Explore all the traditional elements of the Buyers Guide series, such as the basic histories of each model or model type, Garage Watch photos with inset photo callouts, tables of common replacement parts, quotes from contemporary magazine reviews, owner testimonials, rating charts, and specification tables.

Softcover, – 8-1/4″ x 9″ – 156 pp – 225 color

Format: Softbound
Pages: 192
ISBN: 0760318115
Catalog ID: 137419AP
Publisher: MBI Publishing Co.
Copyright: ©2004

BMW Buyer’s Guide

BMW Buyer's Guide

Author: Fred Larimer

Navigate your way through the buying process effortlessly with the facts at your fingertips! From the exotic M1 and 850Csi to the popular 3, 5 and 7-Series sports luxury tourers, this all-color Buyers Guide points the way through the full history of the BMW marque, and offers valuable specifications, production numbers, investment advice, and more. Take the “ultimate driving machine” out for a test drive before you buy!

BMW Buyer's Guide

“The quintessential BMW reference guide for Bimmerheads everywhere. This book represents a significant body of work. It is worth every penny of the price. BMW Buyer’s Guide continues to be the single best reference resource for basic information on each modern BMW model.”
– Frank Macomber, European Car, February 2005

Softcover, 8 1/4 x 9, 160 pp, 200 color

Format: Softbound
Pages: 160
ISBN: 0760310998
Catalog ID: 135105AP
Publisher: MBI Publishing Co.
Copyright: ©2002