Classic American Limousines 1955-2000 Photo Archive (Paperback)

~ Richard Conjalka (Author) "The "standard of the world" for 1955, Cadillac Fleetwood "75" sedans and limousines were known as "the Flagships of the Fleet..." (more)
Key Phrases: formal limousine, folding jump seats, family limousine, Cadillac Fleetwood, Secret Service, Lincoln Town Car (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Whether you've never been in a limo, or even if a limo takes you to work each day, you will be fascinated by this comprehensive history. High-quality photos of American limousines take you on a luxurious tour from the development of the limousine in the 1950s to today. In days past, the limousine belonged only to the elite, the wealthy, and the dead on their way to the cemetery. Now anyone with a little extra spending cash can rent one and be the mystery rider behind the tinted glass. Includes Cadillac, Lincoln and Chrysler limousines, as well as Secret Service and Presidential limos. A great buy for professional car buffs, auto lovers, and anyone fascinated by this luxurious mode of transportation and the people who use it.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Iconografix, Inc.; First Paperback Edition edition (May 20, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1583880410
• ISBN-13: 978-1583880418
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #806,846 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Classic American Limousines, July 22, 2001

By	"1bigracingfan" (Reston, VA United States) - See all my reviews

An outstanding photographic archive on this niche enthusiast topic--perhaps the only one available in print--poorly-edited captions significantly weaken Conjalka's effort. The uniformly-high quality black and white photos (virtually all exteriors) are a mix of snapshots from the author's collection and period publicity pictures. While Conjalka does justice to the more common variants from both Cadillac and Lincoln, he also includes the less-well known, such as the Chrysler Imperial Ghia line. He also has ferreted out several good pictures of numerous Presidential limousines from the past four decades. Unfortunately, the author fails to take good advantage of the book's "white space" to illuminate the reader. The captions rarely provide more than the barest essential details (e.g., year, make, and estimated cost), shedding little light on the manufacturer, coachbuilder, or the market/styling trends at the time. Strangely, the author opted to list all prices to two decimal places--despite the fact none of those decimal places were used. Moreover, the captions tend to be poorly-edited, and in some cases appear not to have been proofread: "Very few of these were ever produced in mass quantities."

While Classic American Limousines... probably has set the standard for limousine photo books, a thoughtful revision could raise "the bar" significantly.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars THIS BOOK IS S * * T, April 28, 2007

By	TEX "MEAN TEXAN" (TEXAS) - See all my reviews

This book is a total waste of money and paper.

3.0 out of 5 stars Attractive, December 3, 2008

By	R. C. Bell - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Built around a wealth of rare and high quality photographs, the editorial content is intentionally limited to what amount to biographies of the individual cars showcased, with some brief background on production dates and costs. Those interested in more detail about the particular coach manufacturers will be well served by referring to works by authors like Walt McCall, or the numerous websites devoted to particular coach builders.

For those interested in beautifully reproduced images of these glamorous vehicles the book will be a welcome addition to their collection.