Classic Cars [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

Rob Leicester Wagner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 1996

150 color photos/illus. 14 x 11.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: MetroBooks (NY); illustrated edition edition (July 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1567992862
• ISBN-13: 978-1567992861
• Product Dimensions: 14.3 x 11 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,349,954 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding!, June 12, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Classic Cars (Hardcover)

This book has beautiful pictures, is a great gift for those who have a passion for classic cars. It is divided in cars from the United States, France, United Kingdom, Germany and Italy, is worth every cent!

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow, what a collection of photographs and information!, December 21, 2008

By 

Judy K. Polhemus "Book Collector" (Louisiana) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

As an "old" reviewer, I've been trying to play the new reviewer game and review only books available through Amazon. However, when I discovered "Classic Cars," written by Rob L. Wagner and photographed by Vince Manocchi, I said, "Wow, I must showcase this book." An original 1996 book, republished in 2000, "Classic Cars" focuses on the most gorgeous vintage cars from the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy.

Do you know why these luxurious classic cars met their demise? Simple: economic downturn, World War, a bit of socialism, postwar boom of mass-produced cars, cookie-cutter houses, and college education for veterans.
However, "their beauty...is unmatched. It's no wonder that the preservation of these examples of rich and stylish living continues to thrive today through the work of professional restorers and private collectors" (9).

In addition to the beauty of the car, Manocchi's photographs show the car in an elegant or natural setting. Mansions, elegant cottages, or gorgeous natural settings (seashores, manicured farm land, desert roadside, pristine woods, mountains) serve as backdrop to complement the beauty of the car, not outshine it.

As much as the photographs, the stories of the history of each classic car is truly fascinating. I am not a car buff, but, frankly, was amazed at the rapid--very rapid development of each car. The first is the Auburn, named after the town in Alabama, where production was originated. The zenith of the Auburn came with the V12 Boattail Speedster, which won the American Stock Car championships in 1932 and 1933, at speeds up to 117 mph! Did you know cars of that period could drive that fast?

Even early Cadillacs were noted for their "smoothness and quiet performance." They had 16 cylinders! How much gasoline would that size require today? Or should I say, how often would it require fill-up?

The Cord, the Duesenberg, the Lincoln, the Ford, the Packard, the Pierce-Arrow, the Stutz are the other American cars. Did you note how many still exist and how many faded out of existence? Their histories explain why.

The rest of the book repeats the pattern with the classic cars of other countries. This is not just a browsing book. One must stop and read the history to understand the creation. A fascinating study! A fascinating book!

Note: If you are interested in a book about classic cars, type "classic cars" in the subject bar and many titles will pop up, books that are actually affordable. I hadn't even noticed the prices for this book until after I wrote this review.)