Engines Of Change: A History Of The American Dream In Fifteen Cars (2012) - Plot & Excerpts
I think this book was really informative about the past automotive manufacturers and how they got to where they are today by the cars they manufactured like how the Model T was revolutionary for the world in that it was the first car to be sold to the general public or how the Corvette helped chevy skyrocketed in sales which pushed ford to make the Shelby Cobra (One of my favorites) but overall this book was a Great read i would recommend it to anyone with a Passion for cool cars. EofC is a really good look at the Detroit Big Three back when they really were the Big Three. Ingrassia covers fifteen of what he sees as the cars that changed America. Included are Mustang, Corvette, the Corvair. It was fun and interesting to read about the luck, the mistakes, the changes over 40 years and since that's the same 40 to 50 years I've been driving I remember a lot of what he talks about. My favorite by far is the chapter on the Jeep which talks more about the changing tastes of American mainstream than anything else. I never thought of L.L. Bean and the Gremlin and Jeep brand as having something in common.If, on the other hand, you're not a car nut than this is probably not for you. But, tired of the van, then maybe it's time to look at the car culture. No new models here just good reading for us gearheads. My first car was a 1955 Bel-Air Chevy my dad bought for me to commute to school. It had a steering wheel that should have been on a riverboat, the gas cap was hidden behind the tail light, and I could probably sleep in the trunk if I had to. My first car I owned was a 1970 Pontiac LeMans. It was the last of the super cool Pontiac. I've only owned the Pontiac, a new VW, a used Tempo and a used '95 Ford Ranger. I had a pal who married the back of a '65 Vette with the front end of a '64 Vette. One evening, in the summer, we took it out on the US 45 south of Tolono, Illinois, and he lit her up! That baby could punch holes in the atmosphere.
What do You think about Engines Of Change: A History Of The American Dream In Fifteen Cars (2012)?
Fascinating link between cars, people and events in our history; I liked it very much!
—Nancyduran
Very good book, enjoyable read on a subject I now want to read about a little more
—Vivitheducki
Very good! made me understand the history of cars more.
—sar
