Author Description

Nowhere else in the world has the automobile become such an integral part of a nation's culture as it has in the United States of America. In Europe it started out as the conveyance of the wealthy; in America it brought independence to the people. Before long the automobile reigned supreme as the most effective mode of transportation across America. This book chronicles the automobile's fortunes during the first twenty-five years following World War II - one of the most exciting periods since Henry Ford introduced the Model T. It was a quarter century of triumph and tragedy; of fierce competition and survival; of horsepower and innovation. Old, respected models died and new ones were born. Some, like the advanced Trucker and Corvair, were killed off due to misunderstandings and erroneous interpretation of the facts. On the other hand, the Mustang was the success story of the age. The author recounts these and other noteworthy events, with special emphasis on selected models such as Chrysler's 300, the 1957 Chevrolet, the incredible Ford with the retractable top, and Buick's styling class of the sixties; the Riviera. The text is accompanied by pages of full-color photographs exclusively taken for this book. Among the many great automobiles you will find the '57 Chevrolet, the luxurious Cadillac Fleetwood 75 and the Eldorado Brougham of 1957, the burly 1946 Continental, even the diminutive Crosley. Describing this most vibrant and exciting of periods in automobile construction, "Classic American Cars 1945-1970" provides a nostalgic look at a fabulous era of growth, innovation, and success in the industry. --