Classic Car Reviews

Ok, you have to expect that I would rate my own book 5 stars - who wouldn't? I'm proud of this book because it is different from other hot rod books. Most rod books are titled "Hot Rods by Me - the Legend!" and they only give you one point of view - the author's. I have been involved with old cars for years but rather than give my single point of view, I interviewed hot rod shops all over the country so you could gain the expertise of multiple professionals at once. The single reason for failed hot rod projects is the lack of planning. This book helps you plan the entire project. You will be able to set budgets, goals, inspect shops and assess your skills to see what steps you can do yourself. The book is packed with online resources for shops and part suppliers; and is a must for any new hot rodder! If you are using a classic body, my first book, "Modern Techniques for Auto Restoration" may be helpful too. Good luck!

Spike has created another masterpiece. She writes with extraordinary charm and makes me wish I could join her on her wacky adventures.

This is a really great book for anyone with an interest in cars from the 50's to the 70's. The descriptions of the automobile wrecks are both informative and interesting, and the collection of pictures is truley amazing. The book is sectioned into groups of pictures with captions that describe the sceen and the automobile, making for a really great bathroom reader as you can work through just a few pages at a time. But if you enjoy the book as much as I have you'll probably have trouble putting it down.

this is the book to get if you want accurate interesting 50 word summaries of many models of most major auto marques with a b&w photo for every one - the text is part technical info, road test anecdotes, gripes , insights etc - the reviews of cars i know have been very accurate and its fun to just flip thru all the very different approaches to automobile engineering [there are 2 other companion books cars of 1945-70 and of the 70s - both also great]

This is another one of those British books that leaves a lot to be desired. I love the format, but often the cars are incorrect or there's wrong information. If you want a great general book, then check this one out. If you consider yourself knowledgable on cars and want to complement your collection, look elsewhere.

This book is a Classic Car Show in book form. Taking cars from the 1940s through to the 1970s, it covers no less than 60 autos "that changed the world." It has many great color pictures, and a great deal of information on each car. This book is a must-have for every automobile enthusiast!

This large "coffee table" book, is excellently done, a real treat for the eyes, and also quite interesting to read. Among the cars included are no-brainers, like the 1963 Ford Thunderbird, the 1966 Corvette Stingray, and 1971 Chevy Nova (we had one!). However, there are also some other cars that are interesting additions, like the 1943 Willys Jeep, the 1954 Hudson Hornet, and 1958 Packard Hawk. This is a great book, one you must see!

This book clearly deserves more than five stars. Any car buff will enjoy it, but it will be most appealing to those who do not get a chance to enjoy classic cars very often. If you can only afford one book on post-World War II American cars, this is the one for you!

I grew up in California, where people worshipped these cars when they came out. In many cases, I had not seen the cars or even photographs of them for more than 30 years. This was a wonderful trip down nostalgia lane for me.

But the nice surprise for me is that the book is filled with interesting information that I did not know before. Most of the 60 featured models are covered on a four page lay-out, especially the older ones. You get a side, front, and rear views of each car. You also get many slant views, as well. In little photographs, the book also captures key details, famous publicity shots, historic moments, and related personalities who owned the car. The engine and technical improvements are outlined, also. You also get each model's specifications, including how many were produced. I did not realize how many of the cars I love had only a very small production run.

One of the best parts of the book was showing how the car evolved into later models, or even newer ones. For example, did you know how the original 1943 Jeep became the Grand Cherokee?

Another feature that makes the book interesting are profiles of the most important car designers, as well as the other items they designed. Especially in the 1950s and early 1960s, the cars were more show than go. Then came the muscle cars!

Each decade has a brief historical overview of noncar events to put the cars into context.

Although there are many interesting and rewarding cars in the book, here were my favorites:

1948 Tucker Torpedo

1950 DeSoto Custom

1954 Chevrolet Corvette

1954 Kaiser Darrin

1955 Ford Thunderbird

1957 Chevrolet Bel Air

1958 Packard Hawk

1959 Plymouth Fury

1963 Ford Thunderbird

1963 Studebaker Avanti

1966 Pontiac GTO

1967 Ford Shelby Mustang GT500

But they are not all fun, sexy, and beautiful in the book. You get Edsels, Ford Falcons, and Chevrolet Corvairs as well. This provides a good background for appreciating the more wonderful cars.

After you have finished enjoying this exciting book, I suggest that you seek out a classic car show and go see the real thing. That will help you overcome your misconceptions that a picture gives you a full flavor of what is depicted. You still need to slide into those seats, look over the steering wheel and the hood to the open road, and feel the car corner. Perhaps someone will take you out for a spin. Now, that's a car dream worth living!

Take your life on the road again in classic style . . . and enjoy the drive!

The only reason I didn't give this book a top rating is because the author, Bill Reynolds, for some unknown reason, excluded
BMW and Mercedes automobiles from his book. And, I can not imagine why??? What a shame! The book could have been a 10 if he'd only shown a few BMW and MB highlights!
r. morgan lund
san juan capistrano ca
(porsche, jaguar, mustang, austin healy, mercedes and bmw owner since 1973)

wow..this is 288 pages of wow. The best thing is the photography...it is absolutely beautiful...there is a car a page, and some great cars..thehe book is divided into..

Post war cars1945-1955 Turning up the wick 1956-1962 Mid Engines and more 1963-1973 Heads down for the fuel crisis 1974-1983 Resurgence 1983 onwards and goes from 1950 Ferrari 166 MM Barchetta to the 1996 Jaguar XK8.. this book is great for a husband and great for the car loving kid..so what are u waiting for???

Bill Reynolds' photography is stunning in this book. A variety of high performance cars is reviewed in relation to the time period they were produced, starting in 1945 and ending in 1996. Brief, yet detailed, descriptions cover many topics including a range from technical specifications to notable style designs on each car.

If you enjoy viewing beautiful cars or want to know what the engines can do, you should enjoy this book.

Another interesting point to the book is the comparison between the European market and the United States market for sports cars.

I highly recommend this book for your personal collection or as a gift.

this book has so many types of cars from the willys jeep to the tucker to the 911 great book for everyone

So much has happened since the first Benz shuddered to life. We have become almost completely dependant on these machines and we often have an emotional connection with cars that no other mechanical invention has ever inspired. Except when we are sitting in gridlock, even I have wondered when the heck we are going to get some cars that really fly. Now, then you are talking freedom!

The 1959 Cadillac Convertible looked like it could quite possibly take off at any second. The fins were the ultimate design statement for the era. What I found fascinating is how the Mercedes A Class is almost a modern version of the BMW Isetta. The shape is strikingly similar.

Each car is displayed in all its glory and is show in various views. To the right of each double page you will find the Model, Production numbers, Body Styles, Construction, Engines, Power Output, Transmission, Suspension, Brake, Maxium Speed and A.F.C. information. And index provides an easy way for you to look up your favorite classic car.

"If we stand back and consider the Jaguar E-Type, surely the world's most beautiful car, we see a silhouette of outstandingly fine balance, proportion, and harmony of line. But more than its tremendous physical presence, it possessed an unprecedented emotional magic, radiating messages of speed, sexuality, power, and beauty. In fact, appreciating the proportions of an elderly Jag is the nearest most of us have ever been to the criticism and consumption of art." -Quentin Willson

No wonders that was my favorite car in this book!

I don't usually like these big coffee table car books, but a book from D-K is worth looking at. And D-K doesn't disappoint here as the pictures are fantastic. I am a DeSoto owner and thought that a general book like this would bypass that marque, but even a DeSoto is featured with a beautiful 1950 convertible! I also like the book because it has pictures of the hood ornaments, dashboards, interiors, and engines. It has the specs and history of the cars too!

I am five and I can read. I love transportation books. I have books by Virginia Lee Burton- Katy, Mike Mulligan and The Little House. I got Maybelle for Xmas. I like the cable car and the Golden Gate Bridge. I like the artwork. I looked up San Francisco on my map and on the internet. If you like transportation, this is a great story!

I just bought this book for my 4-year-old son (and myself!). He loves it. The book is about cable cars in San Francisco and is practically a history lesson. It's also fun!

One of my favorite books one I was a kid, and enjoyable for grown-ups, as well. Some wonderful art illustrating the workings of a cable car, San Francisco scenery, hilly hills with loads of cable car track, and a sweet story giving a simplified history of the train with a cable, and some contemporary settings(contemporary for when this book was originally released)chronicling the rise and popularity of the bus. But not to worry, Maybelle and her sisters win an election to stay in the city by the bay. Extremely enjoyable and under-rated.

"Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" was my favorite movie during early childhood. I was pleasantly surprised that the book tells a different story than the movie, although it conveys the same sense of adventure. Ian Fleming wrote "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" in a different style than more current children's literature, something that may bring a change of pace to a young audience. I don't think the crude illustrations by Burningham would be received in the same manner.

This was one of my favorites as a kid and I just read it to my son (aged 4 1/2). The story moves at a fast pace and was one of the first full length books we read. He loved it. The illustrations are wonderful and helped to hold his interest ... but not so many that he couldn't use his imagination to follow the story. I wish Ian Fleming had written more chldrens books.

This is my favorite children's book ever! I have read it at least 10 times--gets better every time!! Read this book to your children.

This book was needed years ago. Now we have it. It is chock full of good stuff about AMC's cars, which were the also-rans of the American automotive industry. However, AMC did mighty well, thank you, and the cars in the book reflect that. The biggest gripe about the book are the photographs. Many are rather poor in quality- it almost seems the author took them himself instead of relying on a professional. Still, I think this is a book that will complement any collection.

This book was needed years ago. Now we have it. It is chock full of good stuff about AMC's cars, which were the also-rans of the American automotive industry. However, AMC did mighty well, thank you, and the cars in the book reflect that. The biggest gripe about the book are the photographs. Many are rather poor in quality- it almost seems the author took them himself instead of relying on a professional. Still, I think this is a book that will complement any collection.

I am a new AMC convert and I love this book! I have a hard time keeping my hands off of it. I learned a lot by reading it and I liked all of the great pictures too. My only grip is that I wished it would have covered the larger AMCs a bit more. A V.I.N. decoder and total production numbers would certainly be a big plus. Overall, a definate must read for any AMC freak!