My query is motivated by a comment from popular science journalist Bryan Appleyard that "Google has made reference books obsolete".
I'm not asking for advice on how to find information, although incidental tips are welcome. I'm interested in opinions about how much accurate historical data (prior to 1993, say) can be retrieved from a search of the web or Usenet or older digital archives with a web interface. 1993 is roughly the time when the internet became a public resource and enthusiast web sites developed.
When I'm watching TV, I often write a reminder to myself about an alleged fact or a vehicle or a location that intrigues me. Some facts (eg date when post-WWII meat rationing ended in the UK) are easy to find on the internet, but identification of an unfamiliar vehicle requires a lot of work. It's usually easier to scan through an A to Z model/manufacturer book.
Once I've established the basics, the internet doesn't necessarily take me much further. The best enthusiast web sites provide me with information that I half remember or could have guessed, with recommendations for specialist books.
My experience is that it is easier to browse photos in a reference book than on the internet and that a 20 year old book will give all of the basics about a marque. Is Bryan Appleyard talking tosh or should I try harder?