Book Reviews

Stars & Cars: Mythical Pairings

Stars & Cars: Mythical Pairings by Jacque Braunstein is a loving look at the close relationship of cars with film and television actors. 20th Century icons like Steve McQueen, James Dean, Don Johnson, Clint Eastwood, and Vin Diesel, all were emotionally involved with cars both on and off camera.  also looks how entire film projects use the car culture as a core for storytelling. A wide variety of vehicles are featured; accounting for the different tastes of the actors, as well as a film’s storyline. With High-quality photos supplementing the text, Stars & Cars is an educational yet introspective look at automobiles in the film industry.  A great Must Read for car lovers and film buffs alike.

Mercer Magic

Everyone knows that racing improves the breed. But, it seems like no other American car brand embraced that more in the industry’s infancy than the Mercer Automobile Company. Founded in 1909 by the Roebling family of Brooklyn Bridge fame, out of what was left of the Walter Automobile Company, they quickly began assembling cars.

But it was their Raceabout that truly put the brand on the map, as they began racing all over the country with much success; becoming what many consider to be America’s first sports car. Clifford W. Zink does a wonderfully thorough job of telling the Mercer story in his book Mercer Magic. 

It’s a great Must Read of a brand that may not have lasted that long, but certainly made its mark in automotive history. 

Airstream: America’s World Traveler

In America’s manufacturing landscape, it’s hard to think of a product that is more American than the Airstream camping trailer. Whether you’re an RVer or not, you’ll enjoy reading Patrick Foster’s book Airstream: America’s World Traveler about the history of this iconic brand. Foster is clearly an Airstream fan, and while that may come through a little too much over these pages; when reading them, you’ll certainly get the full history of how Airstream came to be, how it survived multiple economic downturns, and how it continues to thrive today as the oldest manufacturer of travel trailers in the U.S. Let’s face it, who hasn’t seen one of these silver trailers being towed down the road by a vehicle full of smiling people heading off for untold adventures, and thought maybe one day that could be you. Well even if you never make that happen, there’s plenty to enjoy in this picture-packed Must Read. 

American Muscle Cars: A Full Throttle History

As much as we love to consider ourselves connoisseurs of fine automobiles around here, nothing gets our automotive juices flowing more than good old American muscle cars. Yes, we know your bookshelves are already crowded with muscle car books as much as ours; but Darwin Holmstrom’s American Muscle Cars: A Full Throttle History is a Must Read that’s a worthy addition to any overcrowded collection. It’s less about glitz and glamour, and more about the stories behind how these roving beasts of American know-how came to be. And why we still can’t get enough of them. No matter where your allegiances lie, whether it’s with MOPAR, the bowtie, or the Blue Oval; you’ll find plenty here to satisfy your need for speed.

Darlene’s Silver Streak and the Bradford Model T Girls

While most collectable cars have a story to tell, none are quite as unique as the Silver Streak. This 1926 Model T shuttled a host of young ladies around the country in the late 1930’s and early 40’s. It seems Darlene Dorgan of Bradford, Illinois had some serious wanderlust, loading up the Model T every summer with 4 or 5 friends and hitting the road. This included trips to New York, California, and even up to Detroit to meet Henry Ford himself. John G. Butte grew up hearing stories of these trips, as his mother and aunt were both passengers on a few of these excursions. His book Darlene’s Silver Streak and the Bradford Model T Girls is an excellently researched, if a bit repetitive, account of all of those trips. But, the author saves the best for last, as in 2011 he was able to track down the Silver Streak, just as Darlene had left it, and purchase it for himself. Ensuring that these great stories will be told for years to come.

Driven to Delight

In a world where customer service is often severely lacking, Joseph A. Michelli makes a case in his book Driven to Delight: Delivering World-Class Customer Experience The Mercedes-Benz Way. Mercedes-Benz’s dedication to providing the ultimate ownership experience has been a  major key to their success here in America. Of course they make a great product, as do many other car companies. But it was the Driven to Delight program, put into place MBUSA CEO Stephen Cannon that has made the Mercedes-Benz ownership experience an unrivalled one. And a pattern for the rest of the industry, and all businesses to follow.

Ford Total Performance

If you know that Ford Total Performance was Ford Motor Company’s 1960’s program that pumped major bucks into auto racing development, in order to rule the streets and tracks of America as well as Europe, then good for you! If you didn’t, you can learn all about it in Martyn L. Schorr’s Ford Total Performance: Ford’s Legendary High-Performance Street and Race Cars. From the record setting lightweight Cammers of the ¼-mile, to the Holman and Moody Galaxies that dominated NASCAR high banks, and even the GT40s that beat the Europeans at their own road course endurance game. You’ll get the stories behind them all; as well as some captivating historical photography, many of the photos from the author’s own collection. So, whether you’re already in the know or not, no Ford-themed book collection is complete without this Must Read.