Book Nook
Rev your engine with a good car book
by Barbra Meisenheimer
Vancouver Mall Community Librarian
The other day I mentioned to a friend that I really am not that interested in cars, I just want one that will get me where I want to go and is easy to maintain. But, that is not really true. I’m not interested in today’s cars. If a 1940 Ford Woody, a 1958 Pontiac Bonneville or a 1955 Ford Thunderbird drives by, I’m all eyes. Here are some books about classic cars that might accelerate your own heart rate.
American Cars of the 1950s by Robert Genat celebrates the postwar automobile industry. With full-color pictures and fact-filled text, this book covers sports cars such as the Thunderbird (be still, my heart), as well as luxury sedans.
We all remember the “chicken” race in the movie “Rebel Without a Cause.” Just think how that scene would have been different if the car had been a cherry-red Mustang. Jim Glaston-bury’s The Ultimate Guide to Muscle Cars begins with the GTO and moves through the Hemi, Camaro, Firebird and of course the Trans-Am. Special highlight: Trans-Am/NASCAR racing.
If you just want to salivate over classic cars, Michael Furman’s Automobiles of the Chrome Age, 1946-1960 and Motorcars of the Classic Era feature full-page, full-color plates with a history of each model in the appendix.
For a more comprehensive look at cars, Quentin Willson’s Cars: A Celebration is a 600-page, highly illustrated volume on the history of the 150 most famous cars.
Finally, 100 Cars, 100 Years: The First Century of the Automobile by Fred Winkowski has 250 original images and stories, including a center foldout highlighting a legendary car for each year of the century.
With all this inspiration, I’ve now picked out my next vehicle—a World War II Willy’s Jeep.
Fort Vancouver Regional Library District has 13 libraries in Clark, Skamania, Klickitat and Cowlitz Counties. Call 360-695-1566 or visit www.fvrl.org for more information.
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