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What are the most significant books every hot rodder should own?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Steves32, Sep 16, 2009.

  1. Steves32
    Joined: Aug 28, 2007
    Posts: 1,280

    Steves32
    Member
    from So Cal

    What are the most important books from each period. Hotrods, race cars, etc.
    I have over 200 mostly hard cover books but it doesn't seem to be enough.

    So- list the important books to have- title, author & year. New- old, don't matter.

    I can't search books that I don't know about if I don't know what to look for. ;)

    Lets say racing- Drag racing, LSR, Indy, etc
    Hot rods pre-war- post war
    Famous builders, famous drivers, skys the limit.
     
  2. The Brudwich
    Joined: Oct 3, 2005
    Posts: 788

    The Brudwich
    Member

    All of the Don Montgomery books.
     
  3. A MOTORS manual covering anything you have or want to have,,,,
     
  4. Steves32
    Joined: Aug 28, 2007
    Posts: 1,280

    Steves32
    Member
    from So Cal

    Agreed! I have all of his (I think)- signed too, thanks to his LA Roadster show apearances over the years..
     

  5. lostforawhile
    Joined: Mar 23, 2008
    Posts: 4,160

    lostforawhile
    Member

    The engine builders handbook from Tom Monroe, one of the better books i've seen,lots of info in there.
     
  6. SUHRsc
    Joined: Sep 27, 2005
    Posts: 5,093

    SUHRsc
    Member

    Albert Drake - Flat Out
     
  7. banjorear
    Joined: Jul 30, 2004
    Posts: 4,479

    banjorear
    Member

    Two books that I have on heavy rotation as of late:

    Dean Batcherlor's The Amercian Hot Rod

    So-Cal Speed Shop history (I don't know the correct title)
    ** I know, I know... but the history part leading up the present day stuff is truly amazing. Remember, Alex X. was friends with all of the guys we all know and love. The stories about and quotes from guys like Ak Miller, Kong Jackson, Bill Burke, Dean Batcherlor and Ray Brown are worth the cost of the book.
     
  8. oldebob
    Joined: Oct 21, 2008
    Posts: 782

    oldebob
    Member
    from Spokane WA

    Guess I would say the Veda Orr "Dry Lakes Pictorial". Second would be a '50's/'60's Motors Manual. Not very glamorous but it answers a heck of a lot of questions. Indy racing would be "History of the Indianapolis 500" by Fox. 60's Sprint Car racing, "Stand on the gas" by Joe Scalzo. MC racing, "Motorcycle Ace" by Dick Mann/ Joe Scalzo. Technical, "Speed and How To Obtain It", by Phil Irving.
     
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  9. bluardun
    Joined: Aug 26, 2008
    Posts: 18

    bluardun
    Member
    from tucson az.

    Buy and own any hot rod books by "CALIFORNIA BILL" or FISHER BOOKS.
    They are very informative. No Bull.
     
  10. six pack to go
    Joined: Aug 2, 2008
    Posts: 1,938

    six pack to go
    Member
    from new jersey

    Cool cars, Square roll bars!
     
  11. DocWatson
    Joined: Mar 24, 2006
    Posts: 10,273

    DocWatson
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Do you want 'how too' books or history/picture type books?

    I agree with the Don Montgomery books, everyone of them is brilliant and the reason I found my way to the HAMB.

    Modern books,
    The Electroline Diary's.

    Doc.
     
  12. Bruce Lancaster
    Joined: Oct 9, 2001
    Posts: 21,681

    Bruce Lancaster
    Member Emeritus

    Caroll (sp??) Smith nuts&bolts book and "Prepare" book
    All the first series, roughly 1954--1960, HRM yearbooks and the 2 books that preceded them
    Albert Drakes '50's rodder book
    All the magazines you can find from your time period of interest
    All the Petersen Spotlite series booklets and the several bigger tech books they produced, including the "How to build a Hot Rod", at about the same time, ~1960...
    Speed equipment catalogs from the period you like
    Everything Ford Motor Co published up to 1948...
     
  13. T-Time
    Joined: Jan 5, 2007
    Posts: 1,627

    T-Time
    Member
    from USA

    I consider Peterson's "Complete Ford Book" series essential, if you're into Ford bodies and/or engines.

    Also, essential for the Ford guys is "Ford, The Dust and the Glory: A Racing History, 1901-1967", by Leo Levine.
     
    Last edited: Sep 16, 2009
  14. skullhat
    Joined: May 30, 2009
    Posts: 892

    skullhat
    Member

    malicious resplendence

    from robert williams



    skull
     
  15. 1950ChevySuburban
    Joined: Dec 20, 2006
    Posts: 6,187

    1950ChevySuburban
    Member Emeritus
    from Tucson AZ

    Leo Santucci's How to hot rod a Chevy Six manual.

    (I may have the spelling or the title not exact.)
     
  16. Bruce Lancaster
    Joined: Oct 9, 2001
    Posts: 21,681

    Bruce Lancaster
    Member Emeritus

    Seek out the stuff by Navarro, Francisco, Browns, etc. in old magazines...
    And read up on Roth, including the Roth fiction in the old R&C; you cannot do rodding or customizing right til you begin to grasp the surreal. American Zen.
     
  17. Little Wing
    Joined: Nov 25, 2005
    Posts: 7,505

    Little Wing
    Member
    from Northeast

    The ones you need
     
  18. wvenfield
    Joined: Nov 23, 2006
    Posts: 5,580

    wvenfield
    Member

  19. [​IMG]
    This book is great for identification.
    Has many obscure models and some interior shots.

    [​IMG]
    This is a good one for production #'s
    There's also a sister to this for pre-war models.
     

    Attached Files:

  20. ALL of the Albert Drake books!!!!
     
  21. Little Wing
    Joined: Nov 25, 2005
    Posts: 7,505

    Little Wing
    Member
    from Northeast

    Great book from 1964,,Hydros,,B&M,,Hurst,,, Ansen Direct Drive....etc
    [​IMG]
     
  22. Bruce Lancaster
    Joined: Oct 9, 2001
    Posts: 21,681

    Bruce Lancaster
    Member Emeritus

    That is the one! Note the X-shift box on the cover!
     
  23. Bruce Lancaster
    Joined: Oct 9, 2001
    Posts: 21,681

    Bruce Lancaster
    Member Emeritus

    The one discussed in your other post, that is...
     
  24. B.A.KING
    Joined: Apr 6, 2005
    Posts: 4,039

    B.A.KING
    Member

    yep that pretty much covers it:D:cool:
     
  25. brad2v
    Joined: Jun 29, 2009
    Posts: 1,652

    brad2v
    Member

    Dykes Automotive Encyclopedia 'bout a 20th edition (1940 ish)
    google it. Very good info
     
  26. bscottstudio
    Joined: May 19, 2005
    Posts: 222

    bscottstudio
    Member
    from Kansas

    I'll second that one
     
  27. Justin B
    Joined: Oct 11, 2003
    Posts: 2,256

    Justin B
    Member

    i really like alot of floyd clymers books, i've got a few about bonneville that were published in the 30's that are really interesting. all his old race stuff is good and he did alot of motor manuals that come in handy too
     
  28. need louvers ?
    Joined: Nov 20, 2008
    Posts: 12,903

    need louvers ?
    Member

    It's already been said but the Don Montgomery books, all of them are essential. I have a magazine collection that has damn near everything in print as per hot rods from 1948 to yesterday afternoon. Something is out being researched every day. More specifically, any of the early hot rod annuals from '61 on. Dean Bahelors American Hot Rod, Offenhauser, by White, Any and all of the Peterson HowTo publications from the sixties. Hell, just buy anything that is printed and old about old cars, race cars, and hot rods! Oh ya- a complete collection of Rodders Journal. Did I mention my house is basically a library?
     
  29. Steves32
    Joined: Aug 28, 2007
    Posts: 1,280

    Steves32
    Member
    from So Cal

    I have about 200 books but there's a shitload mentioned I don't have!

    I'd bet Bruce Lancaster has quite the library.

    Picked up the book over the weekend, like new condition.
    "A Month At The Brickyard" - The Incredible Indy 500 by Sonny Kleinfield dated 1977, 1st edition. Lots of reading & a few B&W photos in back. 50 cents at a used book store. I'm about 1/4 the way through it & it's a very good read! About 230 pages.


    I have nearly all the TRJ's, except 1-5.
     
  30. Ebert
    Joined: Feb 13, 2006
    Posts: 1,920

    Ebert
    Member


    ditto!!!!!!
     

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