Classic American Cars provides comprehensive coverage of 218 of the best loved automobiles produced in the US over the last 100 years. Arranged by manufacturer, this book covers cars created by Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, GMC, Jeep, Lincoln, Oldsmobile, Plymouth, Pontiac, and many more. It contains more than 2000 full color, specially commissioned photographs showing every aspect of these classic machines; specification panels with technical and performance details; and an overview of the historical and engineering development of each vehicle.

From the turn of the twentieth century through to the present day, the book traces the development of the automobile, reflecting the social change it both brought, and reflected.

This book is a celebration of everything that is great about the American automobile. From the turn of the twentieth century through to the present day, the book traces the development of the automobile, reflecting the social change it both brought, and reflected. From the horseless carriages of early times and the aero designs of the 1940’s (inspired by WWII fighter planes), right through to the retro look of today’s models.

The 1973 oil crisis forced the American automotive industry into a period of dramatic change, marked by stiff foreign competition, tougher product regulations and suddenly altered consumer demand. With gas prices soaring and the economy in a veritable tailspin, muscle cars and the massive "need-for-speed" engines of the late '60s were out, and fuel efficient compacts were in. By 1980, American manufacturers were churning out some of the most feature laden, yet smallest and most fuel efficient cars they had ever built. This exhaustive reference work details every model from each of the major American manufacturers from model years 1973 through 1980, including various "captive imports" (e.g. Dodge's Colt, built by Mitsubishi.) Within each model year, it reports on each manufacturer's significant news and details every model offered: its specifications, powertrain offerings, prices, standard features, major options, and production figures, among other facts. The work is heavily illustrated with approximately 1,300 photographs.

Includes directory of automobile museums.

Lists models, body styles, and original factory prices for every model year a car was manufactured plus value listings for collectors.

This is the muscle car history to own--a richly illustrated chronicle of America's greatest high-performance cars, told from their 1960s beginning through the present day! In the 1960s, three incendiary ingredients--developing V-8 engine technology, a culture consumed by the need for speed, and 75 million baby boomers entering the auto market--exploded in the form of the factory muscle car. The resulting vehicles, brutal machines unlike any the world had seen before or will ever see again, defined the sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll generation. American Muscle Cars chronicles this tumultuous period of American history through the primary tool Americans use to define themselves: their automobiles. From the street-racing hot rod culture that emerged following World War II through the new breed of muscle cars still emerging from Detroit today, this book brings to life the history of the American muscle car. When Pontiac's chief engineer, John Z. DeLorean, and his team bolted a big-inch engine into the division's intermediate chassis, they immediately invented the classic muscle car. In those 20 minutes it took Bill Collins and Russ Gee to bolt a 389 ci V-8 engine into a Tempest chassis they created the prototype for Pontiac's GTO--and changed the course of automotive history. From that moment on, American performance cars would never be the same. American Muscle Cars tells the story of the most desirable cars ever to come out of Detroit. It's a story of flat-out insanity told at full throttle and illustrated with beautiful photography.