American Custom Car [Hardcover]

Pat Ganahl (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 10, 2001

Among the hardest core of American automotive enthusiasts there has always existed a desire to press automotive styling and performance a step further than the showroom floor -- a need to truly craft an automobile of one's own. This photographic and cultural history of the American custom car examines the evolution of this phenomenon from the 1930s to present, covering touchstone trends, influential builders (Barris, Roth, Coddington, et al), significant auto shows, vital enthusiast magazines and regional variations in styling. An expansive collection of rare period photography and exclusive modern shots also helps illustrate how Detroit influenced the styling of customs (and vice versa), the explosion of the custom car scene after World War II and the factors which led to the custom's near-death in the 1960s and its resurgence in the '80s. But most of all, this comprehensive chronicle is a showcase of the great cars and people who influenced the movement through the years.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 168 pages
• Publisher: Motorbooks; First edition (November 10, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0760309507
• ISBN-13: 978-0760309506
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 10.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,483,525 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As Close to Definitive as you'll likely get, April 8, 2002

By 

David W. Darby (Davenport, IA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: American Custom Car (Hardcover)

There was a time when the American male was a lot more involved with his automobile. In the old days, when cars, like life, were a lot simpler, men would not only perform their own repairs, they would personalize their vehicles to set them apart from their neighbor's cars. Utilizing sheetmetal, lead, and parts from other cars, they would lower and lengthen their cars sometimes until they were unrecognizable from what they started from.

The custom car era was not that long, but there are many chapters. So many players, so many cars, that any sort of attempt to really cover the bases is difficult at best. Not to mention that many of the pioneers of the field are either getting up there in age, or have passed on to that great custom shop in the sky.

Fortunately for us, we have Pat Ganahl. Pat has been around long enough to have met many of the important people involved.
Pat is not only a writer's writer, more importantly, he is a reader's writer. A professional in every sense of the word, Pat Ganahl not only can make you understand what he's writing about, he can even make the most technical subject INTERESTING.

Of course, this book would be interesting anyway, but Pat's knowledge and passion for the subject really shine here. As former editor of Street Rodder, Hot Rod, Rod & Custom, and former cohort of the excellent Rodder's Journal, Pat is not only infinitely qualified to discuss the subject, he also demonstrates great taste. You could hardly find a better curator for this museum between two covers.

The cars and people Pat discusses here are of great historical relevance. From the beginnings back in the 30's with the great coach builders, to Harry Westergard, the Barris brothers, and Ed Roth, on up to the modern customizers like Boyd Coddington, Pat Ganahl takes you on the tour, and shows you how we got where we are today.

This book is loaded with great color and black & white photos of classic customs (Kustoms?), such as the Hirohata Merc, and the Rod & Custom Dream Truck, leading up to modern day customs, like the ZZ-Top Cadzilla. Not only are there vintage photos, but Pat has even seen fit to include a "Where are they now" section, so we can see how some of the survivors look today, thanks in no small part to keepers of the flame like Kurt McCormick, who painstaking restore and preserve these pieces of rolling history.

While the history and state of the American Custom Car goes well beyond the scope of this book (Hey, you only get so many pages to work with!), you'd find it pretty difficult to top this veritable treasure trove, without going out and spending thousands of dollars on vintage magazines. (Which you may find yourself doing anyway, as this book will surely stir up your interest!)

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Raves galore, October 22, 2002

By 

James H. Sartor "Jim Sartor" (San Marcos, Ca United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: American Custom Car (Hardcover)

As an old time "car nut" I must say this is the best example of
reference material available today. The photography is absolutely first rate. I highly recommend this to all
"gear heads" out there.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great history of custom cars, September 30, 2005

By 

Fernan Castillo (Bogotá, Colombia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: American Custom Car (Hardcover)

If you are a car enthusiast, this book will show you a lot of things you'd like to know about custom cars, great pictures on the inside, and a lot of well organized information. This is the book I recommend the most to some of the students I have in a "custom car course" I teach.