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HomeReference

Reference

Readings

Encyclopedia of American Cars is a useful but sometimes inaccurate reference book

January 30, 2025 Steve 0

(EXPANDED FROM 4/26/2013) Last weekend I made the trek to my favorite bookstore — Powell’s in Portland, Oregon. There I found a 1993 edition of the Encyclopedia of American Cars for $25. That struck me […]

Readings

‘My Dad Had That Car’ is a much bigger but not necessarily better book

December 5, 2024 Steve 2

(EXPANDED FROM 1/10/2022) Now that we’re once again hitting the peak of gift-giving season, let’s take a look at one of the more popular automotive books. My Dad Had That Car ranks among the top-15 […]

J. 'Kelly' Flory Jr.
Readings

J. ‘Kelly’ Flory Jr.’s American Cars series is pricey but valuable

April 18, 2024 Steve 0

The most valuable books I have bought of late have been J. “Kelly” Flory Jr.’s American Cars reference guides. This multi-volume set provides wide-ranging information on U.S.-made cars during the postwar era. Flory’s series has […]

Readings

Critique of automotive ‘atrocities’ snarks with the best — and worst

August 28, 2020 Steve 0

Automotive Atrocities! illustrates an increasingly popular genre: the car gallery. Authors take a theme — in this case cars that are supposedly infamous — and offer a few pages of info McNuggets. Repeat enough times […]

Readings

Standard Catalog about muscle cars screwed up its photos

August 7, 2020 Steve 0

The Standard Catalog folks offer a nice-looking book about muscle cars. Alas, the reference guide’s credibility is hurt by incorrect photos. The format for the Standard Catalog of American Muscle Cars: 1960-1972 has a lot […]

Readings

Standard Catalog of Imported Cars, 1946-1990

May 1, 2020 Steve 0

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 […]

Readings

Over 100 Years: The American Auto

April 30, 2013 Steve 0

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

‘Car Spotter’s Bible’ a simple but useful reference

April 25, 2013 Steve 0

Laugh if you will at the amateurish layout, but the American Car Spotter’s Bible: 1940-1980 is a useful reference. With this book you too can learn to name the make, model and year of every […]

Readings

Cars of the Sizzling ’60s: A flashy romp through the decade

April 22, 2013 Steve 0

(UPDATED 12/6/2022) Like the other three Cars of books by Consumer Guide, this one is an oversized, hard-cover book that includes large color pictures and has fairly minimal background narrative. The layout has a bit less text than Cars of the […]

Readings

Cars of the Fascinating ’40s: A Decade of Challenges and Changes

April 22, 2013 Steve 0

The first of a four-book Cars series places a greater emphasis on reproductions of advertising. The quality of proofing is better than the Cars of the Sizzling ’60s (auto editors of Consumer Guide, 2002).  Like the other three Cars of […]

Posts pagination

1 2 »
  • 1964 Studebaker Challenger
    Brooks Stevens’s rejection of brand continuity was bad for small automakers
    June 14, 2025 0
  • EVs need a George Romney to champion them in the next few years
    June 13, 2025 16
  • Citroen SM
    Citroen SM: A surprisingly conventional next step
    June 12, 2025 5
  • 1936-37 Cord 810/812 tried to do too much at once
    June 11, 2025 10
  • 1963 Studebaker Daytona convertible
    Classic film shows human side of Studebaker’s end
    June 10, 2025 15
  • Once upon a time, car wheels were 36-to-42 inches in diameter
    June 9, 2025 5
  • Ram customized pickup
    What would you think if it was 1965 and you could magically see this truck?
    June 8, 2025 1
  • Brooks Stevens’s 1965 Studebaker Lark concept: Almost a baby Continental
    June 6, 2025 5
  • 1949 Packard Super Eight
    Packard kept a bigger foothold in the luxury-car field than commonly assumed
    June 5, 2025 9
  • Exner bio offers mostly positive take on controversial car designer
    Peter Grist views car designer Virgil Exner through rose-tinted glasses
    June 3, 2025 9
  • 1970 Mercury Cyclone
    1970 Mercury Montego had a last-of-the-wine quality
    June 2, 2025 2
  • A query, a thank you and an update on miscellaneous stuff
    April 4, 2025 0
  • 1956 Buick hood scoop
    Readers brainstorm ideas for future Indie Auto stories
    October 14, 2022 124
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