Great Grilles of the ‘50s
by Mark Misercola and Hank Kaczmarek
Although this book reproduces stats and factory info—such as color “chips” and interior/exterior color options available along with some other stats pertaining to each specific year of make/model that is discussed—it isn’t presented as (or likely meant to be) an historical resource as much as a nostalgic-filled coffee-table-type tome. As such it is enjoyable to peruse. Anyone actually reading will have to overlook or ignore the too many careless misspells that slipped through uncorrected.
Great Grille’s authors’ biographies, as presented on the last couple of pages of the book, clearly convey that both are car enthusiasts. Thus one can imagine the fun they had choosing which vehicles to featureand then subsequently sourcing the factory material to be reproduced as well as nice examples to portray photographically. Only one vehicle choice apparently eluded them as all but two of the images for the chapter on the 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham are period Cadillac publicity images. And as one might anticipate from the title, all ten vehicles selected to profile were produced by American manufacturers with over half of those by one division or another of General Motors.
What would you select as the Great Grilles of the ‘50s? Here’s what Mark Misercola and Hank Kaczmarek, the authors, picked: 1953 Packard Caribbean, 1958 Edsel Citation, ’57 Chevys, 1957 DeSoto Fireflite, 1959 Dodge Custom Royal Lancer, 1953 Oldsmobile Fiesta, 1952 Pontiac Chieftain, 1959 Bonneville convertible, the previously mentioned 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham convertible, and 1957 Ford Thunderbird. Then there’s is an entire additional chapter explaining dagmars. Maybe Misercola and Kaczmarek think it’s a generational thing whether or not a potential reader understands that reference.
As Great Grilles of the ‘50s is published by MT Publishing attention was paid to layout and printing—even if not to proofing the copy which, as said, is sadly demonstrated by a number of spelling errors that slipped through. The hardcover book does feature car-photo friendly landscape format along with a dust jacket.
So, depending upon your age, if a nostalgic look back, or a look to see what all the fuss was about during the era of Great Grilles of the ‘50s is appealing to you, this book may be just what you’re seeking.
Copyright 2020, Helen V Hutchings (speedreaders.info).
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