The Big Book of Car Culture: The Armchair Guide to Automotive Americana [Paperback]

Jim Hinckley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 6, 2005

While countless books have been devoted to single roadside-culture and car-related subjects, none have addressed in one volume American pop culture's love affair with the automobile. But what is that love affair, if not an expanse of fond memories and compelling kitsch as vast as the nation itself? This smorgasbord offers discriminating readers a tasty A-Z assortment of entries and accompanying images touching upon all the old chestnuts (Route 66, drive-in restaurants, filling stations, et al) as well as some edgier topics to appeal to younger generations interested in the seedier and/or more whimsical sides of roadside America (i.e, Earl Scheib, the Chicago entrepreneur who promised to paint any car for $99, or 1950s juvenile-delinquent hot rod films

Editorial Reviews

Review

Road & Track, May 2006

“Satisfyingly more than a pictorial pot-boiler, these 320 oversized pages show signs of thoughtful research on everything from the Lincoln Highway (Route 66 for an earlier generation) to Earl Scheib (‘I’ll paint any car any color for only $29.95’).”

Hemmings Classic Car, June 2006 (circ.: 36,000)

“More than a few books chronicling the American road have passed through our inbox and been reviewed in these pages. When this one arrived, we groaned reflexively, figuring we’d found yet another volume joyously recounting the kitschy glories of Route 66. We were pleased, however, to learn that in this large-format paperback … the authors fire a quick-shot series of features at literally all things automotive, or at least auto-related.

 

“The brisk writing and reader-friendly style make this a good one-shot volume of what our hobby’s all about.”

Auto Aficionado, March/ April 2007

“The Big Book of Car Culture: The Armchair Guide to Automotive America turned out to be thoroughly engrossing and entertaining. It is well researched, unearthing some information that is usually not found in print, and delightfully illustrated.” 

Classic American (UK), Winter 2006

“If you’re looking for a good all-around book about American car culture, then this is it! Beautifully illustrated with period color (where possible) pictures.”

About the Author

Jon Robinson and Jim Hinckley are veteran writers who specialize in topics related to the American automobile and roadside culture. Robinson is the author of MBI titles such as Route 66: Lives on the Road and Classic Chevrolet Dealerships. Hinckley is the author of an exhaustive history of the Checker Cab Company and a forthcoming travel book on his native Arizona. Both authors live in iconic Route 66 towns: Robinson in Victorville, California, and Hinckley in Kingman, Arizona.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Motorbooks; 1st edition (October 6, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0760319650
• ISBN-13: 978-0760319659
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 8.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,124,496 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

For years friends and associates have said that I was blessed with a gift for telling folks where to go. So, with support from my loving wife I began writing books that told folks where to go and shared my passion for the road less traveled. Then I began adding my fascination for vintage trucks and automobiles, their history, and the history of the societal evolution they reflected. To date this grand adventure has manifested in the form of seven books, more than one thousand feature articles for a wide array of publications including Old Cars Weekly, Classic Auto Restorer, Hemmings Classic Car, The Kingman Daily Miner and American Road, and even an interview with Jay Leno. In addition I write a daily blog chronicling the life of a starving artist on Route 66 and wrote a monthly column profiling the independent thinkers of the American auto industry for Cars & Parts magazine. It is my sincere hope that you find my books and articles an inspiration for over coming obstacles, discovering the joy that comes from seeking the road less traveled, and are inspired to make a road trip or two.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating, November 10, 2005

By 

Billy "Billy" (Detroit) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Big Book of Car Culture: The Armchair Guide to Automotive Americana (Paperback)

This has to be the ultimate bathroom reader or coffee table book for the trivia buff. Quick, fact filled reads on topics as diverse as Model T Fords, crash test dummies, Route 66, Rock City, Mustangs, GTO's and the evolution of the gas gauge plus fantastic vintage advertisements, colorful pictures equals 315 pages of never put down, water cooler conversation starting fun.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars FABULOUS, October 11, 2005

By 

Jacquelyn West "jackieo_imeanwest" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Big Book of Car Culture: The Armchair Guide to Automotive Americana (Paperback)

I just received my copy of this book and have found that it far exceeds my expectations. It is not just a sit down and read a bunch of boring history about cars book. It is loaded with short and interesting factoids on all sorts of miscellaneous auto-related subjects. I'm not a huge fan of classic cars but I am a fan of trivia and "useless knowledge" and I am just thoroughly enjoying this book!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Fun Book, February 5, 2008

By 

azwildbill2 (Phoenix, AZ United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Big Book of Car Culture: The Armchair Guide to Automotive Americana (Paperback)

I loved this book. It is fun for those who like to go done Memory Lane.