Art & Inspiration Hot Rod and Custom Books: The Essentials

[Jive-Bomber]

If your a hot rod nut, chances are your a bit of a collector, too: Vintage parts, black t shirts, and old stuff in general. How about books? Me too. For car book geeks, Amazon.com is a dangerous place...

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[Yaril]

here are some that i own. i am always buying more books. its great reference...

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...0049&showall=1

[Nads]

My Tex Smith how to books are worn out. All the Andy Southard books are essential reading. My copy of Grease Machines cover has disappeared.

[Steve-Cook]

Here is a good list

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...d.php?t=398808

[mrpontiac]

I got the Spotter's Guide in Jr. High, and like you Ryan, I wore mine out. It's still taped together with clear packing tape, but sections fall out. I always wanted the earlier version that covers 1920-1939 also, but have never found it for a price cheap enough for me. Amazon has one now for just under $30 it looks like.

Everyone who gives me car books always seems to either give me books on stock cars like "Cadillacs" or "Convertables" which are nice, but I prefer the customs and hot rods. That or they try to give me NASCAR junk.

[sxdxmike]

http://www.amazon.com/Muroc-Where-Ho...5011890&sr=8-1

don't forget this one!

[SAVAGE]

I can't really say I have a favorite book. I have soooo many. I usually have about 10 to 20 books just stacked around my bed. Reading vintage car books and magazines is nearly a daily for me. It gives me tons of inspiration and Ideas.
Aaron V

[Steves32]

I scored 4 good ones on EBAY in last couple of days for cheap. I'm watching several others as we type.


The 1962 hardcover edition of Hot Rod It--and Run for Fun!, the 8th edition of the classic rodder's how-to book by Fred Horsley, published by Prentice-Hall, Inc. This 264-page, literal nuts-and-bolts guide to customizing old Detroit heaps into roadsters and dragsters is illustrated with detailed diagrams and photos.


The hot rod resurection of a legend by Brock Yates
Recounts the saga of the Eliminator, a race car built from used parts by a Pasadena mechanic that achieved legendary hot rod status, and details the rediscovery and restoration of the vehicle forty years later.


SO-CAL Speed Shop: The Fast Tale of the California Racers Who Made Hot Rod History


THE AMERICAN HOT ROD. Batchelor, Dean. Osceola, WI: Motorbooks International, 1995.

[RPW]

When it comes to the "new" books: Brought my American Car Spotters Guide at the age of 14 in 1978, yes its worn out and held togeter with tape. So is "Ecyclopedia of American Cars 1930-1980", a book from the early or mid 80's (thinking about it: There is really of need for a 20 volume hard bound real encyclopedia of American cars...).
Got my Barris Kustom Techniques of the 50's Vol 1-4 when they first was published and they are of course my favorites. Also, the books Andy Southard done, I really admire them (I also have his VHS tape with old rod and kustom photos, the one he did put together in the late 80's). Another great and often used book is "The V8 Album", published in 1985 by the The Early V8 Ford Club of America. Pat Ganahl's book the American Custom Car is great too of course, his writing is always first class.

[JeffreyJames]

I try to pick up anything I possibly can when I have the scratch. The Birth Of Hot Rodding is my favorite and the AHRF book Hot Rod Roots is really good too.



I really love anything I can get my hands on and consider them to be my most valuable treasures.

[Labold]

I dig the old magazines as much as the books, probably cause they are cheaper (some anyway). I have been hoarding hot rod books and mags for years -just like the rest of you.

[Slim Pickens]

A few I just picked up.
Offenhauser by Gordon Eliot White
Kurtis-Kraft: Masterworks of Speed and Style by Gordon White

[LOWCAB]

Looks like my book shelf. The new Throttle book is one to have also. Another great one is the book by Dick Martin of the California Timing News. Goes from Vol1#1 to Vol2 #24, 328 pages. Anybody else have that last one? I've never seen another. Anyone have the 1930 Winfield catalog?

[oneratfink57]

Whats the best Chassis/suspension books or hot rod engineering/ automotive math books? just trying to get into specifics seeing how im looking for a few books linked more to the complicated side of things

[Hot Rods Ta Hell]

Looks a lot like my book shelf too.

Some other suggested reading;

"Street was fun in 51" by Albert Drake (early days in the N west)

"Hot Rods By Pete and Jake"- Great read and has a ton of (mostly color) photos including Barris, Roth, and a great look at late 60's-early 70's Rodding scene.

1950's Custom and Hot Rod annuals (I have thousands of early magazines, however the annuals are some of my fav's).

I have 5 Don Montgomery books. Were there any others?

[Labold]

You guys are spouting off some great books I have never even heard of.
...wish I would have learned to read.

[Steves32]

Originally Posted by Slim Pickens

A few I just picked up.
Offenhauser by Gordon Eliot White
Kurtis-Kraft: Masterworks of Speed and Style by Gordon White

Ahhhh, 2 more books I need.

[HellsHotRods]

Don Montgomery's Books are a treasure! You will KNOW traditional hot rods if you have those books. There is no greater resource or collection to help one understand what "period correct" is all about. I've heard some are out of print?

[Rolleiflex]

Besides various book I have from the '50s and '60s, here are a few more.

This one by Peter Vincent


and Gasser Wars by Larry Davis


This is a great read by Brock Yates

[chucklz]

abebook.com is another great source to find out of print, signed firsts, etc.