Hot Rod Empire

Hot Rod Empire details Robert E. Petersen's creation of Hot Rod Magazine in the 1940s and the Petersen Publishing empire that grew to the mainstream juggernaut we know today. The end of World War II marked the release of pent-up war-years energy and the desire to live. For many this meant indulging in long-denied purchases, like a new car. For another group, including young vets, it meant a return to car building and racing. Money, exciting new cars, and speed parts all flowed freely in post-war America. Robert Petersen, a young SoCal-based photographer and Army Air Corps vet, noted the rapidly growing hot rod scene in and around Los Angeles. His first move was to organize the Los Angeles Hot Rod Exhibition in 1948. His second, and brilliant, move was to launch at the same event the first edition of Hot Rod magazine. From this launch pad, Petersen Publishing Company would grow to become the most influential enthusiast publisher in America. Petersen’s magazines were rallying points for all aspects of the car, truck, and motorcycle hobbies, well as nurturing and promoting all aspects from car building to racing to show events. Hot Rod, Motor Trend, Car Craft, Motorcyclist, Off-Road and Four Wheel Drive and some 75 other enthusiast titles dominated magazine racks and provided substantial influence over transportation and numerous other hobbies. Hot Rod Empirecelebrates the birth and explosive growth of the transportation hobby under Petersen’s watch.

A deserving tribute to the American muscle of the hot rod, this edition is filled with eye popping photography, gatefolds, and four prints to hang.

Get ready for a hot read on some cool cars! From modified 1930s Ford cars, such as the “Deuce” roadster and classic Model T, to crazy VW Bugs and pumped-up pickup trucks, HOT Hot Rods will show kids what makes these jaw-dropping cars and their powerful engines so special! With incredible, full-color photographs, thrill-seeking readers will learn all about the history of hot rods and the people who create and drive them. So fasten your seat belt and get ready for a fast ride!

There was time - not long ago - when cars were much more than transportation. Part function, part fashion, part id, cars were the largest thing you could wear. Every American teenager dreamed of having their own car because it promised joy, freedom and self-expression. During this era, Bob Larivee was the undisputed ringmaster of the greatest show on Earth - the indoor hot rod and custom car show. Driven by pure enthusiasm, and possessing a natural gift of knowing what would draw people, Larivee built an empire that showcased style, color, chrome, horsepower, pop culture and fantasy. His Promotions, Inc. (PI) produced events for decades that helped define American car passion while fueling the dreams of millions around the world. Hot Rod Dreams - Car Shows and Culture celebrates the people and stories of this not-so-long-ago - and still evolving - world. From the earliest days of Ed "Big Daddy" Roth through the golden era of car-crazy TV, Hot Rod Dreams celebrates what it was really like to buy an "Outlaw", employ Playboy Playmates, and make sure Dale Earnhardt got home in time for dinner - while also exploring how popular culture inspires our concepts of personal identity.

No other Hollywood star has been so closely linked with cars and bikes, from the 1968 Ford Mustang GT Fastback he drove in Bullitt (in the greatest car chase of all time) to the Triumph motorcycle of The Great Escape. McQueen’s Machines gives readers a close-up look at the cars and motorcycles McQueen drove in movies, those he owned, and others he raced. With a foreword by Steve’s son, Chad McQueen, and a wealth of details about of the star’s racing career, stunt work, and car and motorcycle collecting, McQueen’s Machines draws a fascinating picture of one outsized man’s driving passion. Now in paperback.

Ford's classic '32, equipped with a behemoth engine and modified for speed is everything a hot rod should be. They certainly don't make 'em like this anymore. We're talking about the car that launched the hot rod subculture: Ford's 1932 Deuce. With its stylish lines, timeless grille, and flowing fenders, Ford's Deuce coupe pretty much defines the term "hot rod." The breadth of creativity this classic design has inspired for generations of hot rod builders is on full display in Deuce. Ford's '32 was an immediate hit. By 1931, the Model A was obsolete in a marketplace where drivers wanted more style and power. The design goals for the '32 Ford could be summarized as "more": more cylinders, more horsepower, and more style. The resulting car achieved its objectives and then some. It was faster, more comfortable, more refined - a masterpiece of industrial design, yet still affordable. Henry Ford and his design team got it right. As the Deuce transitioned to the used car market, it drew the attention of those with a need for speed. Stripped down with an emphasis on performance, the Deuce became the bedrock of the burgeoning hot rod movement. To this day, it very much defines what a hot rod should look like. Hot rodders took Henry's master stroke to a whole other place, and Deuce stands as a tribute to their ongoing ingenuity.