Legendary American Cars

Since the days of Henry Ford's Model T, American cars have dominated not only the market but also the imagination and desires of millions of people throughout the world. Dedicated to the exciting history of this icon of past and present times, this volume presents a complete overview of the history of the American car, with text written by one of the most famous journalists in the filed, enhanced by illustrations that capture the excitement, aesthetics, and the charm of this everlasting legend. Many books provide a basic catalog of American automobiles from ca. 1900 to 2000. This volume takes a very different approach: in addition to detailing engineering and styling advances, it also presents the broad social and economic environment and demonstrates how and why the automobile has evolved and thrived so stongly throughout the United States. Cars may be a universal product, but that's not to say that they are the same everywhere. Viewed from afar, American cars (and trucks) look too big, have engines that are too large, and are extravagant for solo commuting. Considering the American continent's vast extent, its wide, open roads, readily available parking and low energy prices, it is understandable why American automobiles differ in design, engineering, and size from those found elsewhere in the world. Beginning with the automobile's early days and Henry Ford's invention of the assembly line and continuing until modern times, this intriguing, richly illustrated volume traces the entire history of American automobiles. Whether luxury-market or average-family models, the American car is a dream possession and cult object famous and desired throughout the world.

Legendary American Automobiles is a richly illustrated volume that profiles the most renowned vehicles to be built in the USA, from the pre-assembly line era to modern times. Since the days of Henry Ford’s Model T, American cars have dominated not only the market, but also the imagination and desires of millions of people around the world. Dedicated to the exciting legacy of this iconic automobile, Legendary American Automobiles presents a complete overview of the history of the American car. This exhaustively written by one of the most famous journalists in the field, Matt DeLorenzo, this volume is also enhanced by illustrations that capture the exhilaration, aesthetics, and charm of these legendary vehicles. Where many books provide a basic catalog of American automobiles, Legendary American Automobiles takes a very different approach. Here you will see engineering details and styling advances, as well as the effect of the social and economic environments at the time. Beginning with the automobile’s early days and Henry Ford’s invention of the assembly line and continuing until modern times, this intriguing, richly illustrated volume traces the entire history of American automobiles. Whether luxury-market or average-family models, the American car is a dream possession and cult object famous and desired through the world.

Over 400 photographs capture the excitement and elegance of automotive history and include many famous American models. The illustrations and words combine to re-create the adventures of designing and driving the legendary cars that evolved into today's indispensable, stylish, and efficient automobile. The book begins by describing how automobiles evolved from little more than "cookie tins" propelled by sputtering internal combustion engines to smoother-riding, rounded forms. It then concentrates on the most important models produced in terms of social, aesthetic, and technological advances, covering developments in aerodynamics, speed, and horsepower, setbacks like the gasoline crisis of the 1970s, and the emergence of the modern car company. The book concludes with a peek into the future to see what types of vehicles we'll soon be driving. From dream cars to road cars, this book brings together pictures and descriptions of the most stirring blends of technology, art, beauty, and adventure.

The All-American Muscle Car provides the ultimate hands-on history of the American Muscle car and where it is now -- Mustangs, Camaros, 'Cudas, Challengers, you name it. When John Z. DeLorean and his cadre of enthusiastic rule benders took it upon themselves to bolt Pontiac's hottest engine into a mid-sized Tempest, disobeying orders from the top of General Motors food chain, they created something that should not have been, and will never be again: the muscle car. The resulting GTO spearheaded a new breed of performance car aimed at a new breed of buyer: the baby boom generation, tens of millions of young customers entering the market each year. The All-American Muscle Car: The Rise, Fall and Resurrection of Detroit's Greatest Performance Cars tells the story of these brutal performance machines through the words of muscle-car icons like Jim Wangers, the man who marketed DeLorean's thuggish invention, Joe Oldham, a legendary automotive journalist who tested these cars when they first came off the production line, often via illegal street racing, and classic-car broker Colin Comer, who has been instrumental in restoring some of the most iconic (and valuable) muscle cars. Top muscle car experts like Randy Leffingwell and David Newhardt tell other facets of the muscle-car story, like the pony-car wars between the Mustang, Camaro, 'Cuda, and Challenger; the ultra-high performance dealer specials; and the rebirth of the modern muscle car. All told, this book provides the ultimate hands-on history of these most American of cars.

Stunning color photographs and a lively narrative by one of today's foremost automotive writers tell the story of America's ongoing love affair with cars. Featuring classic cars, sports cars, and luxury automobiles, this handsome book brings together pictures and descriptions of the most impressive blends of technology, art, beauty, and adventure.

Look into this fascinating book to discover the intoxicating world of muscle cars. Includes information on models, facts, and other interesting information on America's pride and joy.

Muscle Cars is the story of America's pursuit of sheer horsepower in the 1960s and '70s. The first of the type, the famous Pontiac GTO or “Goat,” would launch a race between America's automotive manufacturers to produce ever-more-powerful V8 engines wrapped in legendary “Coke-bottle” sheet metal styling. Following Ford's extremely successful introduction of the galloping Mustang in 1964, others would follow, such as General Motors's Camaro and Firebird as well as Plymouth's Barracuda, competing against one another on race tracks to “Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday.” This book details these golden years, as well as the economic and environmental developments of the 1970s that brought an end to the muscle car era.