Archive for Items Categorized 'US', only excerpts shown, click title for full entry.

The Story of a Stanley Steamer

by George Woodbury

This is not a company history but the saga of one specific 1917 model that a retired college professor took a shine to, returning a derelict to operational status. It was a complicated task in 1950 when this book was written, and would be harder now.

America’s Fire Engine, The American-LaFrance 700 Series, 1947–1959  

by Walter M. McCall and Alan M. Craig

Although that famous flat front was not the first example of cab-forward design, ALF’s success with it made it an industry standard and earned the 700 Series the nickname “America’s Fire Engine.”

The Chandler Automobile

A History Including the Cleveland and Chandler-Cleveland Marques

by James H. Lackey

Successful automaker, quality product, various styles, competitive prices. Promising. But an unclear product strategy and resulting overextension pulled out the rug.

Cadillac Style: Volume One 

by Richard Lentinello 

Written and photographed by a former Hemmings Motor News editor, this book is an homage to eighty years of Cadillacs, mostly seen through the eyes of their owners.

Pink Cars and Pocketbooks, How American Women Bought Their Way into the Driver’s Seat  

by Jessica A. Brockmole

Did automotive advertisers really ignore women from the beginning? Written by a “history nerd” this book came out of her doctoral dissertation and paints a much more complicated picture: automakers had all the right market research intel but their outreach failed.

Corvair Style

by Richard Lentinello

It was voted “Car of the Year” when it came out and its design staff received an industry award. Nine years and 1.8 million cars later it was all over. What happened? This is not the book for probing questions but enthusiastic owner endorsements.

Pontiac Performance 1960–1974: The Era of the Super Duty, H.O., & Ram Air Drag & Muscle Cars

by Don Keefe

Pontiac is still a registered trademark in the GM family but you haven’t seen a new car since 2009. Once upon a time they cranked out some of the most iconic performance cars of the day (as well as some real land yachts).

Early Funny Cars, 1964–1975

by Lou Hart

Does your car have 10,000 horses under the hood? Funny Cars are pretty serious machinery in terms of engineering parameters, and also aerodynamics.

Corvette: The Owners and the Cars

by Mario Brunner

Here the quintessential American car is explored by a German writer/photographer who owns one. 70 years of Corvette history—70 stories. Running a Corvette in the US is easy and cheap, in Germany not so much (taxation, gas prices etc.).

The Ford Dealership, Volumes I, II, III, and IV

by Henry L. Dominguez

Now four volumes strong—and with two more planned—this is surely the most voluminous coverage of the subject. Ford did not only invent standardized mass production but also the system of franchised dealers. The Blue Oval’s lasting success rests on both of these.

The Gilmore Car Museum, Miles From the Ordinary

by David O. Lyon

Opened in 1966, the Gilmore todays sits on a 90-acre campus that is also home to other car-related club headquarters, museums, and activities. Visiting it is in the best sense of the word an experience.

Fords of the Sixties 

by Michael Parris

The list of famous Fords from this decade is long, with the year 1964 representing a particular high point for quality, durability, and styling—and not just because the Mustang came out that year.