101 Brockbank Cartoons

Motoring enthusiasts need no introduction to Russell Brockbank’s incomparable cartoons, which were enormously popular in the fifties, sixties and seventies but have been rarely published since his death in 1979. Now the very best of his work has been brought together by Brockbank’s daughter and son-in-law Sue and Chris Ellis, in an inexpensive, captivating landscape-format book that will introduce Brockbank’s humour and draughtsmanship to a new generation of enthusiasts as well as stir nostalgia among long-time devotees.

Brockbank started drawing cars from the age of four, and achieved his first break when he sold five drawings to Prince Bira, the famous racing driver. He asked for £5 in total but was amazed to get £5 for each drawing- £25 was equivalent to a few weeks’ wages at the time. Despite his talent, Brockbank struggled commercially with his art and only became a professional artist at the age of 24.

Autocar magazine began publishing his work in 1930 and other titles such as Speed & the Motor, Lilliput and Road & Track followed suit, and he quickly established a name for himself and an enviable reputation for his exquisite illustrations. He developed a unique technique and ability to combine precise accuracy of detail with widely expressive animation, famously portrayed in his Blower Bentley illustrations such as ‘Citron Presse’.

For Motor magazine, Brockbank created the weekly strip featuring ‘Major Upset’ and his clapped-out Austin 8 Tourer. Major Upset’s escapades and forthright opinions reflected the many social changes of the time. Grown men and their sons fought over their copy of the magazine each week to find out what the Major had been up to. Other popular subjects were the aggressive policeman, the haughty Rolls-Royce driver and the female-versus-car stereotype, all conveyed with high humour, but no offence.

Brockbank’s ability - a result of thorough research and dedication to his craft - endeared him to motoring enthusiasts throughout the world and continues to do so. This book of his masterpieces will be savoured by all motoring enthusiasts - the ideal Christmas gift!

101 Brockbank Cartoons
Chris Ellis
Foreword by Quentin Blake
Publication date: October 2008
RRP: £6.99, Paperback, ISBN: 978 1 84425 647 1