Illustrated Dictionary of Automobile Body Styles (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Bertil Nyden (Illustrator), Karl Ludvigsen (Foreword)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

As the preface states, "Few things have been subject to so many confusing type names and designations as automobile models and body styles." Where did the terms station wagon, sedan, or spider originate, and how have they come to be used? This dictionary is intended for students of automotive history and other car buffs to help them sort out this confusion. Both modern terms (All wheel drive, Flattop, Hatchback) and those inherited from the horse-and-buggy era (Brougham, Cabriolet, Landau) are included. More coverage is given to innovations and developments in auto body styles in the early twentieth century.

Entries include one- or two-paragraph descriptions of the term, including the period of usage, origins and history, variations, and language varieties. American, British, French, German, and Italian varieties are given, but there is no mention of Japanese, Korean, or other designs. Trucks are excluded, but SUVs and minivans are included. Cross-references include backward and forward pointing arrows for earlier and later usages. Terms in all capital letters have their own entries. Some entries illustrate body styles with generic-looking line drawings.

There are many car books, but no other source provides definitions of body styles. Recommended for libraries with specialized automobile collections. RBB
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

Most important and comprehensive...neat line drawings...a superb reference work...thoroughly researched...excellent and strongly recommended. --SAH Journal

The perfect reference book...comprehensive. --I>The Automobile

Unusual and very useful reference book...a must. --I>Old Autos --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 175 pages
• Publisher: McFarland & Company; illustrated edition edition (January 28, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786412763
• ISBN-13: 978-0786412761
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,238,183 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A very handy reference guide, October 28, 2006

By	Chris Sterling "Castle maven" (Annandale, VA USA) - See all my reviews

This is a most useful book to keep by your side as you read automobile history. The author provides a clear and concise directory of changing body styles through the ages, from coach days through the most modern cars. The drawings are clear line depictions designed to emphasize the varied shapes and features of the many body styls discussed. As different nations apply varied terminology, much of that is included here as well. Some terms (such as "victoria") are given a number of definitions which vary by time and place. Indeed, there are numerous terms that over time have been given a wide variety of applications, and this guide helps to sort them out. Haajanen's book is easy to use given both its alphabetical arrangement and a good index.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Primitive illustrations, May 2, 2003

By	John Chevedden (CA United States) - See all my reviews

Primitive illustrations.
Only for the hard-core auto enthusiast.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Primitive illustrations, May 6, 2003

By	John Chevedden (CA United States) - See all my reviews

Primitive illustrations.
For the hard-core auto enthusiast only.