This is another oversized coffee table book by Consumer Guide that emphasizes color photos and brief analysis. The editorial tone can at times be quite critical of the American automakers, as the quote below about the 1972-1979 period illustrates.
Over 100 Years has an odd quirk: Annual brand production listings switch from model year to calendar year in 1964, which makes them less useful as a reference.
An updated edition of this book was published in 2015 (go here).
Over 100 Years: The American Auto
- Auto editors of Consumer Guide; 2010
- Publications International, Lincolnwood, Ill
(1930-1941) “The number of significant makes slimmed from about 60 in 1929 to 18 in 1941. A brief stab at minicars started with the American Austin and its Bantam successor; the Crosley came later.” (p. 139)
(1972-1979) “. . . Detroit’s Seventies landscape was a mostly bleak vista of fuelish, poor-running dinosaurs with starchy stand-up grilles, ‘opera windows,’ and overstuffed velour interiors festooned with fake wood and fussy filigrees — all style passing for substance.” (p. 470)
(2000-2005) “It took 30 years, but Pontiac again struck the magic combination of elements worthy of the GTO badge. Based on Holden of Australia’s rear-drive Monaro coupe, the newest ‘Goat’ boasted subtle styling and Corvette-sourced power.” (p. 661)
Be the first to comment