I was inclined to get the more recent edition of the Standard Catalog of Imported Cars: 1946-2002 (Covello, 2001) until I read Amazon.com reader reviews. I don’t tend to take these reviews very seriously but noticed an unusual number of negative assessments of the second edition, which was edited by Mike Covello.
Consider the following excerpt from Robert MacLeay’s review: “Journalism rule #1: Spell their name right. The IDIOT who edited this edition took CORRECT information from the first edition and changed it. Yo Mike! Those italian cars are named ALFA Romeo,; this was correct in the first edition. Alfa stands for Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili. You changed it to “ALPHA ROMEO.” Perhaps the company moved to Greece while I was looking the other way? Stupid, stupid, stupid.”
So do buy the first edition instead. It has a few problems, e.g., incomplete price and sales information for Saab and Volvo (for further discussion go here). Nevertheless, this is a useful resource.
Like most other Standard catalogs, this one is lengthy (700 pages), printed on non-glossy paper and is filled with small text and black-and-white photos.
Standard Catalog of Imported Cars, 1946-1990
- James M. Flammang, 1992; First Ed.
- Krause Publications, Iola, WI
(1973-74 Honda) “Honda’s early advertising claim for the Civic was certainly modest: ‘It will get you where you’re going.’ Other ads promised that it would deliver ‘more miles per gallon than anybody.’ The CVCC engine was announced in 1972, but did not become available under U.S. Civic hoods until the 1975 model year. The EPA ranked Civic the most economical car of 1974, with a 29.1-mpg rating. Just over one-fourth of Hondas sold in 1973 had automatic shift, and only 8.5 percent were air conditioned.” (p. 285)
(1969 Saab) “As far back as the early 1950s, Saab designers had been pondering the shape of a future model. By the latter part of that decade, those thoughts were focusing on a profile with a low nose and tall tail end. The finished 99 sedan evolved from a ‘Gudmond’ prototype, and looked quite similar to a prototype completed in 1965.” (p. 560)
(1975-77 Volkswagen) “A new transverse-mounted 1471-cc engine went into the new front-drive Rabbit, as opposed to the longitudinal engine in the Dasher. Some Rabbits had all-drum brakes, but by 1976 front discs were standard. After one year with a 1471-cc engine, the Rabbit adopted a larger (1588-cc) four. A year later, that engine added fuel injection and the Rabbit added more standard equipment. Deluxe and Custom models added open-up vent windows. After 1977, the Rabbit would also be built in the U.S. A diesel engine became available in 1977.” (p. 636)
OTHER REVIEWS:
RE:SOURCES
- Covello, Mike; 2001. Standard Catalog of Imported Cars, 1946-2002. Second Ed. Krause Publications, Iola, WI.
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