My home town of Milford is just a few miles from the GM Proving Grounds. Many was the time when my friends and family would ride by the site and see new cars being driven and tested. I remember seeing an atomic powered car!
In Auto America Car Culture 1950s-1970s, from Rizzoli New York, with photos by John G. Zimmerman and written by Linda Zimmerman and Greg Zimmerman and Darryl Zimmerman, readers are treated to photos from the three decades showcasing cars, locations, behind-the-scenes, car shows, domestic gatherings and more.
The book is truly a trip down Memory Lane for me. So much looks familiar. I can practically smell the leather, oil, gas and accompanying scents and feel the air and locations pictured.
During The Golden Era of car design and culture (the 1950s to the 1970s) it was easy to identify one car manufacturer’s car from other manufacturers.
Cars had personalities, allure, offered unique experiences and the promise of the open road. America was on the move and Detroit’s cars fit the bill.
Forget self-driving vehicles, autos that are more computer than machine and mini-environments.
Back then cars were raw, powerful, easy to work on, parts were readily available and back yard mechanics flourished.
Included in the book are examples of car ephemera, advertisements, designs and so much more.
Cars were more than a mere form of transportation. They were a reflection of the times and society of their time. Cars were America from their flashy chrome bumpers right down to their custom hubcaps.
America ruled the auto industry and like its citizens American cars were diverse, came in all sizes and fit every budget-big or small.
"Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it." — Luke 17:33
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