If you’re a car fanatic, it’s a safe bet you’ve got enough automotive interest books, repair manuals, and reference guides somewhere in your home to fill a whole shelf (two probably). A shelf that lurks in a back office room, garage, or basement – because choosing to display those favorites in a living room area over vases and leather-bound tomes would result in a lower spousal approval rating than greeting book club guests in an undershirt might.
(Photo slideshow of sample book page images is at end of article)
Car-related books that do make it to your coffee table probably contain heavy-gloss pages, write-ups of vintage sports cars, tales of Sir Stirling Moss racing a 1950s Mercedes 300SL Gullwing, and at least one picture of Ralph Lauren standing next to a Bugatti at a high-end car show like Amelia Island, Pebble Beach, or Watkins Glen. Excellently written, and historically significant to the subject at hand. But, like many books displayed for show, they may not actually be favorites…nor the most interesting read from cover to cover. They pass the snobby-guest-test, and that’s what matters to many.
So what’s a down-to-earth fanatic to do? I offer two classic car-related books that are a breath of fresh air for any coffee table, and have never failed to appeal to everyone I’ve ever entertained. “The American Car Spotter’s Bible 1940-80” and “American Car Spotters Guide 1981-90”, both by automotive historian Tad Burness. Both are excellent reference guides that are extremely enjoyable to browse through.
SELECT ANY OF THE PICTURES BELOW TO ENTER SLIDESHOW AND SEE FULL-SIZE IMAGES. CLICK ON ARROW BUTTONS UNDER EACH PICTURE TO SCROLL BACKWARD OR FORWARD
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- Now in its fifth printing, the American Car Spotter’s Bible 1940-80 by Tad Burness is guaranteed fun browsing.
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- If ’80s car subject matter is what you’re interested in browsing through, also pick up Tad Burness’s Car Spotter’s Guide 1981-1990. (Photo Credit: Tad Burness)
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- 1976 Cadillac Eldorado, Seville, Fleetwood, Calais, Coupe De Ville and Sedan de Ville models are covered. (Photo credit: Tad Burness)
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- 1955 through 1957 Ford Thunderbird 2-seaters are examined in depth on this page. (Photo credit: Tad Burness)
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- Packards from 1941 through 1947. (Photo credit: Tad Burness)
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- A red 1958 Plymouth Fury, similar to ones starring in Stephen King’s “Christine”, is covered along with Savoy, Belvedere, and Plaza models. (Photo: Tad Burness)
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- 1976 Lincoln Mark IV and 1977 Mark V “Designer Editions” are highlighted. (Photo credit: Tad Burness)
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- 1965 Pontiac Tempest, LeMans and GTO models are highlighted here. (Photo credit: Tad Burness)
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- The downsized 1980 Chrysler Cordoba and 1980 LeBaron coupe are detailed. (Photo credit: Tad Burness)
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- 1946 through 1948 Chrysler Town & Country “woodies”. (Photo credit: Tad Burness)
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- Final years of Corvette convertibles and big block models are covered. (Photo credit: Tad Burness)
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- Subtle differences between 1966 and 1967 Ford Mustangs can be seen on this page. (Photo credit: Tad Burness)
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- 1957 Chevrolet 150, 210, Bel Air and Nomad variations are focused on in-depth. (Photo credit: Tad Burness)
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- The new-for-1970 Dodge Challenger in all its glory. (Photo credit: Tad Burness)
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- 1960 Chevrolet Corvair models, in their first model year of production. (Photo credit: Tad Burness)
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- U.K.-built Nash Metropolitans from 1954 through 1961. (Photo credit: Tad Burness)
Authoring over twenty-five books, California native Burness began his career in the 1960s with simpler versions of these reference guides, where each car was painstakingly drawn (by him) along with facts and anecdotes, bringing to life many great classics. I remember many of them fondly growing up in the 1970s. In more recent works, he draws from a huge selection of original brochures, books, catalogs, and advertisements to provide visual sources for each year of make and model.
Burness is a master of detail, writing in interesting footnotes about original sticker prices and engine choices without becoming tedious or boring.
Both books are arranged in alphabetical order by make, and then by chronology. Any changes from year-to-year with hubcaps, grilles, headlights, trim pieces, and more are pointed out. Burness truly does not miss a trick.
First and last years of a design run are always pointed out, and all angles of each model are shown – making it extremely easy to give yourself a first course or refresher lesson in American automotive design. Accurately finding cars family members and neighbors had during years you were growing up is a breeze.
Once either of these books is picked up, it’s hard to put them down due to sheer nostalgia value. Both books are reasonably priced and available in current print (see the links further below). Your guests will thank and respect you.
-Sean
