When updating the Readings section I came across an Automobile magazine story by Rusty Blackwell (2010) that itemized the most important books in their reference library. The post is now a decade old but still offers a useful perspective.
Indie Auto’s library and theirs overlap at times, such as with the Standard catalogs. However, Automobile placed far more emphasis on books about racing and European brands. Author Karl Ludvigsen was singled out as an outstanding writer of automotive books. I agree but pay more attention to plebeian cars than the ones he has most focused on, which include Porsche, Mercedes-Benz and Corvette.
Book list hints at how publishing biz has changed
Automobile magazine’s library appeared to place less emphasis on corporate history and American independents, although they did offer a hat tip to Beverly Rae Kimes’ masterpiece on Packard (2002) and Patrick Foster’s book about American Motors (1993). I’d argue that Kimes’ book is still the all-time best Packard history. However, Foster (2013) has more recently come out with a new AMC history. His two books illustrate how much the publishing world has changed: Whereas the older one appears to have more information, the newer book is much more visually engaging.
Automobile Quarterly was pointed to as an important source of information, both because of the magazine as well as the books they published. Their Library Series and Magnificient Marques collections were described as “extremely well-done.” I agree — which is why it was so sad to see Automobile Quarterly die (go here for further discussion).
Of course, Automobile has also seen hard times. The magazine’s print edition was discontinued as of February 2020 (Wikipedia, 2020). Their website continues to post new material but is a shadow of its former self (go here for further discussion).
NOTES:
This is an updated version of a story originally posted May 5, 2014.
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RE:SOURCES
- Blackwell, Rusty; 2010. “For your reference: Some of the most frequently used books in our library.” Automobile. Posted October 1; accessed May 1, 2018.
- Foster, Patrick R.; 1993. American Motors: The Last Independent. Krause Publications, Iola, WI.
- ——–; 2013. American Motors Corporation: The Rise and Fall of America’s Last Independent Automaker. MBI Publishing Co., Minneapolis, MN.
- Kimes, Beverly Rae, ed.; 2002. Packard: A History of the Motor Car and the Company. Automobile Quarterly Publications.
- Wikipedia; 2020. “Automobile (magazine).” Page last edited September 25; accessed November 11.
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