Every hot rodding magazine ever published (not to mention numerous books and countless web sites) has taken stabs at creating comprehensive glossaries of automotive enthusiasts terms and phrases. Finally Motorbooks has done it right with the publication of The Ultimate Hot Rod Dictionary. The title says it all. This book is 243 pages thick and includes more than 1,600 words and phrases, with definitions, phrase origins and examples of usage. In addition, the dictionary includes more than 225 line-art illustrations."If you never thought you'd find yourself reading a dictionary, this informative and fun book may surprise you. - Rod and Custom, October, 2004Perplexed about Peg Leggers? Curious about Crazy Stacks? Every enthusiast group inevitably spawns its own slang, but few are as rich as that which has evolved around the world of hot rods and customs. Once a unique American sub-language, the gearhead vernacular has long since gone global. Containing some 1,700 entries, this first-ever dictionary of the colorful language and phraseology that has developed in the world of hot rodding and customizing features not just terms used to describe the technologies and designs, but also those pertaining to the culture itself. In the end it's not just a dictionary with something for everyone from newbies to vets, but a book that reveals how the customizers have, in fact, customized their lingo. Includes specially commissioned line-art illustrations and cross-references for related or like terms.

David Perry, Foreword by Robt. Williams. For as long as young men have been channeling, chopping, and hopping up rods and customs, women - whether loyal girlfriends or trouble-seeking "bad girls" - have been an integral to their scene. In this unique portfolio evoking great 1950s pin-up artists like Vargas and Elvgren, talented photographer David Perry depicts models in and out of cherry-picked rods and customs wearing painstakingly chosen period dress and hairstyles. More than 100 photos present these modern-day pin-ups under three themes: Garage, Cruising, and Race. In addition, essays explore each topic and are also accompanied by pulp novel covers, period mags, and ads that place the photography in a historical context. Captions identify the car owners, photo location, and, where appropriate, interesting car specs and histories.

Describes a variety of hot rods, including Ford vehicles, Volkswagen Beetles, trucks, motorcycles, and others.

People are as interesting in painting and customizing now, as they were when this material was first created, in the 1950s. Everyone wants to know how to do a flame job, or how to run a pair of pinstripes straight down the side of their car. In this book George Barris explains how he and brother Sam did their custom painting and early flame jobs in the 1950s. No one can tell this story as well as George Barris, a fine photographer and the man who built many of the cars shown in the book. This particular book, Volume 4, contains more than just the photos and words of George Barris. This volume contains first-person side-bars by legendary painters and builders like Dean Jeffries and Larry Watson, describing how they developed their talents and what it was like to customize cars in those days.

What do those numbers on the tire's sidewall mean? Which custom wheels will fit my new truck? Can I get historically correct tires for my vintage Mustang? &break;&break;The Complete Wheel and Tire Buyer's Guide is the definitive reference for car, truck, and SUV owners seeking new tires and/or wheels. Author Brad Bowling provides an entertaining education on the proper selection of tires and wheels for any vehicle. &break;&break;Chapters devoted to tire history, deciphering sidewall numbers, tire care and maintenance, wheel construction, and wheel types take away the mystery of purchasing new wheels and tires. The Tire Brand Directory and Wheel Brand Directory contain listings of all major tire and wheel manufacturers in the U.S., describe their products, and include Web site and contact information. &break;&break;This practical reference allows vehicle owners to make the best decision possible on the selection of new wheels and tires. Are you customizing a Mitsubishi Eclipse, looking for a set of Davin spinning wheels for your Cadillac Escalade, restoring a vintage vehicle, or buying a new set of tires for your family sedan? This guide is the place to start.