Quotes
Somewhere on the Internet a top-design list is wrong
“Any failure to mention the 1953 Cadillac Eldorado convertible is reprehensible.” — Stephen Smith, The Daily Drive
1930s
Readings
Over 100 Years: The American Auto
This is another oversized coffee table book by Consumer Guide that emphasizes color photos and brief analysis. The editorial tone can at times be quite critical of the American automakers, as the quote below about […]
Readings
Studebaker: The Complete History
This a visually appealing and well-balanced Studebaker history for those who don’t already have one on their shelf. For those who do, the main appeal of Studebaker: The Complete History may be its generous supply of large […]
Readings
It’s Delightful! It’s Delovely! It’s . . . DeSoto Automobiles
I suppose we should feel grateful that someone finally decided to write a history about the under-appreciated DeSoto. Dennis David’s book is visually appealing, with lots of color photos, reproduced advertising and extra-large type. Collectors may appreciate the emphasis on […]
Readings
Standard Catalog of Independents: The Struggle to Survive Among Giants
Ron Kowalke has put together a handy source of data about American independents. As with other Standard Catalog volumes, this 400-page book has some data gaps. This book can be exceptionally dense reading even for a […]
Readings
Standard Catalog of American Cars, 1805-1942
This may be the most heavily researched of the Standard Catalog of American Car series. That’s by necessity — the 1,612-page catalog covers almost 140 years and a huge number of minor makes. Editors Beverly Rae Kimes […]
Readings
Standard Catalog of American Light-Duty Trucks, 1896-1986
This 800-page paperback reference book covers pickups (both truck and car based), vans and sport utility vehicles. Like most Standard catalogs, the format is unpretentious — non-glossy paper, small black-and-white photos, and a sea of text in small type. […]
Readings
The Complete History of Chrysler Corporation 1924-1985
The text of this book has many similarities to Chrysler & Imperial 1946-1985 (1993) as well as various Consumer Guide histories. The result is often derivative but contains plenty of interesting historical nuggets. For example, authors Richard […]
Readings
The Lincoln Motorcar: Sixty Years of Excellence
Of Thomas E. Bonsall’s two Lincoln books, this one has a more boosterish tone than The Lincoln Story (2004). However, Sixty Years still includes robust critiques of Ford management. This is an accessible but thorough history with […]
Readings
Ford: Decline and Rebirth 1933-1962
This is the final of a three-volume corporate history that runs more than 500 pages of dense text and few photographs. The authors were arguably at their best in presenting in vivid colors the deterioration […]