Are there any "must have" hot rodding history books out there? I'm not really looking for "how to" books more about the history and changes that took place from the very early days through the 60s and even the 70s. The more pictures the better. I did a couple of searches but didn't really come up with anything.
all 4 of don montgomery's books, albert drake "flat out" and his other books are ok too tex smith "hot rod history 1 &2" tex smith roaring roadsters 1 &2 muroc, when the hot rods ran dry lakes and drag strips so-cal the fast tale the edelbrock book the birth of hot rodding reprint of the first 12 hop-ups reprint of the first 12 hot rods also ALL magazines from the time period obviously throttle, hot rod, hop-up, honk, car craft, rod & custom thats all i can think of right now at work im probably missing some good luck Zach
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0896586545/qid=1094951821/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-6590995-2199867?v=glance&s=books
Also any of the Andy Southard books such as Hot Rods in the 50's, he also has some on the 60's and 70's. Some of the best photography you'll find and most pictures are in color. The Rod and Custom annuals from the late 60's and early 70's are an excellant compilation of the monthly magazine, along with the later 70" Annuals when Rod & Custom was no longer a monthly magazine.
HRM annuals are a good quick way to learn about the periods they cover. One series (which had a lot of material from Car Craft as well) ran from 1954-about 1961 in a size approximating National Geographic. There were also two very, very good HRM books, Hot Rods and Hot Rod Your Car, published right before those annuals. A new series of annuals appeared in the early sixties, larger size and less tech.
And...as you read you find more and more connections, and follow them... See the cover of thet All American Hot Rod book?? The picture was used as a cover in two forms by two early mags. It was the subject of an essay by historian/autobiographer Albert Drake, who was able to identify the specific roadster...I spent a couple of years hunting down the mags, paying several armas and legs for one and finding the other in a dollar pile... and the little widget where there should be a distributor--that's a little degree wheel identifying positions for valve lash adjustment...found one of them too. One dollar, from a Model T guy at Hershey...
Nice list, Zach......I have every one of those and many more.....almost sorry I sold my complete collection of Rodder's Journals! ....almost..... Brucie
The Jalopy Journal
