HOT OFF THE PRESS: THE LEGENDS IN PRINT !

IF YOU HAVEN'T BUILT-UP A PRIVATE LIBRARY OF YOUR OWN YET, you'd better get started !

One of the easiest ways to reference information, documentation, statistics, pictures, step-by-step build-ups, historical facts & figures, and almost anything you want, is to have and update a personal library.

   I've collected & saved books and magazines since I was a kid back in the 50's, and it's always helpful and fun to lookup info on the builders, owners, designers, and, artists, that were involved in some of the neatest Rods & Customs ever put on this Planet.

That's the very first car mag I ever bought pictured here: the October, 1953 Issue of  HONK ! with DON FERRARA's '49 Ford Custom on the cover, and awhile back I was trying to figure out some info on Buster Litton's '49 Ford because the January, 2010 Issue of Rod & Custom had a car done by Dave York of British Columbia, Canada, with a similar build.

  AND THERE IT WAS !  In my December, 1953, Car Craft in "living black & white" !   

Now, again, for Historians, this is the Issue that changed "HONK !" magazine into "CAR CRAFT"...it is the very first Issue of Car Craft.  The story on Buster's Shoebox began on Page 28, and I was able to reference the  Stude-Style front fenders &  '51 Oldsmobile rear fenders on Buster's car to the great job done on the one in the January, 2010 R & C story.

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WITH ALL OF THAT IN MIND, I thought it was necessary to dedicate a Special Page here on the Hall Of Fame Legends WebSite to give you an idea about some of the truly fantastic books on the Rod & Custom Industry and its' Legends that are available today.  PLUS, Videos, DVD's, and other related material that's important. And, yes, I read & view each and every item I list, giving you my honest opinion of why I've selected them, and my assessement as to their importance.  

SO, take your time, scroll down the Page, read the Reviews, and, I know you'll definitely find a few of these you need for YOUR Library !   

Jonnie King

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 "HOT ROD ROOTS...A TRIBUTE TO THE PIONEERS", Edited by, Dain Gingerelli.  Foreword by Alex Xydias. Motorbooks, Pub.

Hot Rods aren't anything new.  Almost as soon as the automobile was invented, whomever built one, or owned one, probably tried to see how fast this new-fangled piece of machinery would go.   And, if he ran into someone else who was driving one, you can bet they both might have wanted to find out whose was fastest !

Eventually, after the initial "shakedown cruise" of his purchase, said owner may have wanted to find out how he could make his go faster...especially if that other driver he raced had bested him. Thus was born the first "hot rod"...and the earliest of the "pioneers of hot rodding".

This book, "HOT ROD ROOTS...A TRIBUTE TO THE PIONEERS", was put together by the American Hot Rod Foundation which, like our Hall Of Fame Legends Series Site, is dedicated to preserving the history and the stories of our industries pioneers.  It focuses on those who built & raced those early hot rods, as well as those who created the equipment to make those GOW jobs run as fast as they could, the magazines & books that were created to "feed the beast" of information and get it to the masses, the places they raced, and, what they raced.

Dain Gingerelli, one of the industries most-respected writers/editors/authors, edited this compilation.  Included in book are chapters by Robert Genat, Pat Ganahl, Greg Sharp, Ken Gross, A.B. Shuman, and, Dain.  With a Foreword by the legendary Alex Xydias, and, an Introduction by Steve Memishian, the Founder of the AHRF.

Each chapter is loaded with rare, mostly never-seen-before photos, and encompasses every facet of hot rodding from Pre-WW II to Today.  I'm especially pleased to see the rare pix from my earliest R&C Hero, DON FERRARA, that are used.   Many are featured in Mark Morton's "Hot Rod Heritage" story in Chapter 7.  

Don Ferrara built one of the most-famous Model A Roadsters to ever hit the street, strip,and, the lakes.  Plus, a spectacular '49 Ford custom.  If he hadn't built that Ford you might not be reading my words today !  To see why that statement it true, and my Tribute To Don Ferrara simply click-on this link: 

All-in-all, "Hot Rod Roots" is a worthy effort that succeeds on all counts.  And, if you want to better understand why we do what we do today, this look into our cultural history of hot rodding will definitely help fill-in the blanks.  

(NOTE:  You can access much information from the American Hot Rod Foundation's website:  www.ahrf.com  )

 "GREETINGS FROM ROUTE 66...THE ULTIMATE ROAD TRIP", Edited by Michael Dregni. Voyageur Press (MBI Publishing Co.)

LIVING IN ST. LOUIS I use portions of Route 66 almost weekly. And, I drove "The Mother Road" myself from St. Louis to California many years ago when I moved to there to study at the Pasadena Playhouse. Drove it back to St. Louis when I returned home later.  I did it both ways in my '57 Dodge Royal mild custom, and it was something I'll never forget.

But, no matter when, or what era, you traveled Route 66, this excellent book "Greetings From Route 66: The Ultimate Road Trip..." will reaffirm your love for the Mother Road. AND, if you NEVER experienced the journey, the book will transport you back there to a much simpler, unique, time-period in our culture when America was a little younger...and so were we.

When Dinah Shore sang "See The U.S.A. In Your Chevrolet" she could have been pointing you directly toward Route 66 !

All of those connected with this beautiful volume are to be complimented ! The b&w, as well as colour photos, the information, the fun-facts, the superb layout & design of the book, the chapter-by-chapter chronology of the Road, and everything about this homage to Route 66 is quality workmanship from start to finish.  It's a large, 240 page edition that you'll use for info & reference time-after-time.

Material, Photos, and, Stories from Michael Karl Witzel, Kathy Weiser, Jim Hinckley, and,  Russell A. Olsen, are among those that flow easily through this book.  And, their eye-popping visuals are wonderfully placed and make the "look" of this magnificent volume stand-out on each & every page !  And, to top it off, the chronological order of the format let's you follow the "Route" the way you should...from the beginning !

If, like me, you're a car buff of the highest ranking, I know that you either have -or want to - drive that Special Ride of yours along the remains of "66" and re-create what the drive would have been like when that car was new !  And, if you just want to take the "modern day" family sedan on the trip...well, that's okay too, I'm sure you'll enjoy every mile of it, and this volume will help make the experience better in either case.

But, if you're an Armchair Adventurer and just want to curl-up, relax, and be transported back to that time and those places...well, this special "Greetings From Route 66" book will definitely serve the purpose !

Buy it, read it, travel and enjoy every exciting, colorful, stretch of that legendary highway through the vision of those that created this wonderful book. Once you do that, you'll feel like you've ACTUALLY been there...without even having to fasten your seatbelt !!

    "BARRIS KUSTOM TECHNIQUES OF THE 50's", By George Barris, Wolfgang Publications,Inc., Pub. (Available from Motorbooks, Pub.)

EVER WISH YOU HAD A TIME MACHINE so that you could zoom-back into History and see how some of the most beautiful kustoms on the Planet were created ?  Have you ??

Okay, here's your chance !   The Legendary "King Of The Kustomizers", GEORGE BARRIS, has gone deep into his Personal Archives of photos & info to assemble these remarkable volumes which are exactly like a trip back-in-time, stepping into the shops where he, and his brother SAM, worked their "kustom magic" on countless numbers of  Award Winning cars.

George was an excellent photographer, so most of the photos shown are the ones he took of the original builds on these beautiful creations.  But, although most of the kustoms shown are "Barris Built", George pays due respect to his peers: Larry Watson, Dean Jefferies, George Cerney, Bob Metz, Bill Hines, and many others.  Also, both books have a number of "memories" shared from those who worked with, and had cars built by, the Barris Shop.

The volume shown ABOVE LEFT focuses on body work: Grilles, Scoops, Fins & Frenching.  The volume shown ABOVE RIGHT hones in on painting: Flames, Scallops, Paneling and Striping....and it also includes a Tribute to the iconic Von Dutch.  BOTH books show many step-by-step photos & info on how these unique rides were put together.

If you're a student of Rods & Kustoms on any level, these are definitely two books that belong in your permanent library.  You'll go back to them time and time again for the info, the photos, and, the atmosphere.   What do I mean by that ?  It's simple:  With these books, George Barris has shown how he, his brother Sam, and all of those who pioneered the creation of the "kustom car", did it...at a time when there were no "how to" books, there was no Internet, no texting, no cell phone pix, no fax machines, no computers.  It was a time when they had to figure it out on their own; a time when they worked day-by-day to create some of the most beautiful masterpieces ever imagined.  

BTW: Be sure to see my Review of George's DVD further down on this Page.  AND, to hear George's story about one of the most-famous kustoms ever built, "THE AZTEC" (pictured on the Cover of the volume shown Above on the Left), simply click-on right here !  You'll find out some very interesting info...especially concerning the paint used on the car !!  

  "CUSTOM CARS 2012 ANNUAL", by Justin Kudolla. Trend Books, Pub

 BACK IN THE  LATE-50's & EARLY-60's the Trend Custom Books Series was one of the coolest connections you could have to the R&C Industry.  I know:  I have a complete collection of my own that I still have packed away in my Archives that I got off the newstands when they were NEW !  All of us gearheads looked forward to those great, picture-packed, informative issues...usually put out on a yearly basis.

WELL, if you're new to the R&C scene, or, too young to have been around at that time, I have news for you:  a BRAND NEW series of Trend Custom Car Annuals has been launched by an enterprising, and talented young man named JUSTIN KUDOLLA.  The first book that went to press was the "Custom Cars 2009 Annual", and if you haven't seen it yet, or read my previous Review of it, please do yourself a favor and get one before copies of this first series run out.

Justin has not only revived the "Trend Books" label, but is faithful to the style and content of the original books.  Now, he's just released CUSTOM CARS 2012 ANNUAL...and it is a knockout !    The Top 10 Customs, Twenty Pages of Featurettes, Sketchpad Restyling,  Custom Car Models, and, one of my favorite features: an Interview with Johnny Zaro...plus a look at Johnny's Photo Album !

It's all packed into 128 Pages,  with no Ads !   Personally, I can't wait for the next Issues that Justin and the new Trend Books will be cranking-out in the future !    Here's the Trend Books WebSite where you can order your copy: http://www.trendcustomcars.com/home

 "THE BOOK OF THE FORD THUNDERBIRD FROM 1954", By Brian Long. Veloce, Pub. (Available from Motorbooks, Pub.)

A BOOK FOR THE AUTOMOTIVE SECTION OF YOUR LIBRARY BY A BRITISH AUTHOR, living in Japan, and writing about an iconic, legendary, American automobile ?   Well, that's exactly what this is...and it works !

BRIAN LONG, details not only the history of the Thunderbird, but gives a touch of importance to the beginnings of the Ford Motor Company in the first part of the book to lay the foundation for the eventual birth of that legendary winged-nameplate.

This book is a large, hardcover volume produced with the full co-operation of Ford, consisting of 224 pages on good quality paper stock, with over 400 illustrations, ads, dealer brochures, Ford studio studies & mock-ups, and, photos in B&W and Color

From the first Thunderbird that rolled off the line on September 9, 1954,  to the last produced in July of 2005, there are year-by-year production figures, statistics, exterior/interior color charts, chassis & body codes, engine & transmission options...look at it this way: If you want to find out about any style of Thunderbird, any year, you'll probably find it here.  I'll tell you outright, this is one of the most comprehensive books on a single-make automobile that you'll ever own !

BTW, have you ever owned a Thunderbird ?  I've owned two: my very first car was a 1958 Thunderbird Hardtop.  A few years ago, I also owned a rare 1966 Q-Code Hardtop with the Landau Roof Option, but configured in the Standard Hardtop Roof style, not the elongated 3/4 c-pillar style .  An extremely rare 'Bird.  And, one of my cousin's currently owns one of the last 2005 'Birds, so you see, T-Birds' have been a part of my life for over 50 years, and this book is one I'd never part with !   

Buy the book...you won't be disappointed !

 "DEUCE OF SPADES" DVD. A Faith Granger Film. Written, Produced, and, Directed by Faith Granger.

"Do You Believe In Second Chances ?" is the guiding question of this film that propels it from today, to a time-warp that takes us back to the Golden Age of Rods & Customs in the '50s.

Have you ever had a "life changing event" take place in your life ?   Many years ago, on my birthday, I happened to be going through the closet in my room at the house I grew up in.  In the back of the closet I found a never-before-seen small, black, suitcase.  My curiosity got the best of me, I pulled it out, opened it up, and inside found pictures, mememtos, letters, and many other things that my Mother had packed away many years earlier.

Among those items was a small business card belonging to a modest, early-version of a "bed & breakfast" type home in New Jersey.  And, all of a sudden it came back to me: my Dad, my Mom, my Grandpa (Mom's Dad), and myself, had gone to New York to see my Uncle (Mom's Brother) who was a WW II Merchant Marine and had been sent home just after the War and hospitalized.  While we were there we stayed at that New Jersey home for a night or two since it was the only place available.

With all of the above information in mind, I wondered if that modest little place that we had stayed at in New Jersey all those years ago still existed. I had to find out, I had to know !  Through a quirk of fate and a call from an old friend my search paid off, and when it did it set me on a path that changed my life,,, forever.

That's a story for another time and place, but if you've followed me this far you'll understand the importance of Faith Granger's "DEUCE OF SPADES" wherein a Hot Rod Girl finds a  love letter from the Fifties hidden in her Deuce roadster...and proceeds to seek answers to many questions and find the subjects involved.

This film is rich in color, atmosphere, action, and, evokes those "hot rod" films of the Fifties that we all loved.  The scenery, the location shooting, the cars involved - both in the present-day, as well as the flashbacks - all show the quality of Faith's mission to tell her story in stunning fashion.

It has a touch of Henry Gregor Felsen's "Hot Rod" in it, a little"Rebel Without A Cause"...but it's ALL Faith Granger's vision, and the visual art-form that she's created that makes it a stellar production.  And cameo's by my old friends Bill Hines & Gene Winfield add to its authenticity.

If you know anything about film making you'll understand that financing, casting, scouting locations, set decoration, obtaining permits, film & sound design, editing, and, producing the "final cut" are NEVER easy to accomplish...even with a full crew to do it.   Considering the fact that Faith did it almost all by herself and made it look so good is nothing short of a miracle !

Faith was on-the-road, but took the time to call me the day before I was headed for the 2011 KKOA Lead Sled in Salina. We talked at length about her putting "Deuce Of Spades" together.  Her passion, her excitement for the film, her artistic vision, and, her love of her craft & the cast she had assembled, all came through her voice during the entire conversation.   I would have expected nothing less: Faith Granger is a consumate pro, and it shows in every frame of this film !

TO GET YOUR COPY OF "DEUCE OF SPADES", simply go to Faith's website...here's the Link: http://www.deuceofspadesmovie.com/

  "HOT RODS-FIRST GEAR", By Alan Mayes. Motorbooks, Pub.

THIS IS ONE OF THOSE BOOKS that celebrates the All-American Hot Rod, not just in "words" but in Full Color pix !  It's a medium-size paperback, jam-packed with 240 pages & 124 color photographs. 

 Its author is no stranger to this Site or to this "Hot Off The Press" Page.  He's ALAN MAYES who's not only an established author, but is Managing Editor of Car Kulture DeLuxe & Ol' Skool Rodz magazines.  Alan's also an expert photographer and photographed many of the Rods that you'll see here.

"Hot Rods -First Gear" is divided into three sections:  Traditonal Hot Rods; Show Rods & Specials; Rat Rods.  Each section covers some of the most remarkable Hot Rods that you'll see like Bill Couch's historic '34 Ford Coupe, Voodoo Larry's '31 Ford Coupe ("Voodoo Psychosis"),  David Coker's '31 Ford Sedan,  John Cooper's '29 Ford Roadster ("El Tiki"), Mike Goodman's '39 Ford Sedan, and Larry Jordon's restored Bill Hines '34 Ford Cabriolet ("Golden Nugget").

Alan, always inquisitive, has added a "Did You Know ? " sidebar to each of the cars in the book which fills-in some info not covered in the main text...and gives fuller insight to both the car and its owner.  Plus, if you check-out the cars and the stories closely, you'll find pix & info on Alan's personal rod: a 1929 Ford Coupe built by Dave Kinnaman.  This car has a very interesting history behind it and is extremely well-done.

All-in-all "Hot Rods-First Gear" is a pleasure to read, a visual delight, reasonably priced, and is one book that you certainly should consider for your library !

(JUST FOR FUN, here's part of an Interview Alan & I did on the process used in publishing CKD & OSR.  Simply click-on here to listen ! )

  "CARS OF THE FABULOUS '50s: A DECADE OF HIGH STYLE AND GOOD TIMES", By James M. Flammang. Publications International, Ltd., Pub.

IF YOU LOVE "THE FABULOUS '50s", and, you love cars, then this is one book that you MUST own !   If you own, or have owned, a Rod or Custom based on a '50s car of any make,  then this is one book that you MUST own !   If you're reading this Review on my WebSite, and have any faith at all in my Reviews and Recommendations, then this is one book that you MUST own !    Get the picture ? 

This book is not just a fantastic look at the cars of the fabulous fifties: It is a Pop Culture lesson in the History of the American Automobile and how it linked to our daily lives in those Jet Age, Post-War, Boomer years of the '50s...giving us the freedom of the open road, the ability to 'Cruise to the newly-built Drive-Ins, and, eventually, drive back home to our recently-developed suburban neighborhoods. 

The author, JAMES M. FLAMMANG, has been writing & editing books about cars for years, and this magnificent volume has over 416 pages with more than 1,600 photos that include great reproductions of 1950's auto ads, plus it also covers the facts, events, and,  personalities of that dynamic time period.  Be careful though: This is a large, coffee table size book that - if you leave it out where anybody can see it - may be swiped by one of  your friends !

Everything in new cars that was the '50s is here for you to see & read about:  Soaring fins, "variable ratio" steering, "Dual Airliner Reclining Seats", "tip toe" braking, "Twin Turbine Dynaflow",  "Torsion-Aire" ride, quad headlights, the "Firedome 8",  the famous "Step-Down" design, the "Weather Eye" heating system, the "Breezeway" sliding rear window, "Teletouch Drive", "Twin H-Power", "Wide-Track" design, Tri-Tone Paint, the new "Flight Deck" / "Interceptor" instrument panel, deep-cushioned, foam rubber seats, the smart "Jet-Scoop" hood...they're all in there !   WoW !   How did we live for so many years without any of that stuff before the '50s ??

Each year is showcased chronologically in individual chapters from 1950 to 1959, and they are all  jam-packed with info on the cars from "The Big Three" - GM, Ford, Chrysler - and all of the independents made in the U.S.A:  Muntz Jet, Edwards, Crosley, Hudson, Studebaker, Packard, Kaiser, Frazier, Nash, Willys, and many other vanished makes that were produced during that time.

In addition, many celebrities of the fifties, as I mentioned above, are pictured including Jayne Mansfield,  Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, Hopalong Cassidy, Patti Page, Roy Rogers, Grouch Marx, Debbie Reynolds, and many others.

No, this is not a new book, I purchased (and still have) my original copy in 1995, and it has been re-issued since then.  My cousin gave me a copy of the first re-issue that I've pictured the cover of here, the latest re-issue is a leather-bound volume.  If it's not on sale at any of your local stores it's readily available on Amazon & eBay.  It is one of the Personal all-time favorite volumes in my Library, and I felt that it definitely needed to be featured here and brought to your attention.

This is truly a book that you will return to time-after-time,  just as I do, for research, information, and, just pure fun as you relive each exciting year-by-year look at one of the greatest periods in our history for the design, the art, and the power of the Amercan Automobile. 

The "Fabulous '50s" was a very special time that, like those vanished-makes listed above, will forever live in the hearts of those of us lucky enough to have lived then...and a time to learn from and appreciate if you didn't.

NOTE: James M. Flammang has had a long-time website "Tire Kicking Today" that you'll find very interesting.  Just click-on here: http://www.tirekick.com/tirekickinfo.htm

  "THE HOT ROD READER", Edited by Melinda Keefe & Peter Schletty. Motorbooks, Pub.

THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING BOOKS to come along in a long time.  I'm surprised someone hadn't thought of this before !

 No, you won't be dazzled by the photography or the layouts, but you will read some of the most interesting Hot Rod stories told by some of the most famous names in the Industry.  Accordingly, the colorful stories & memories of these Legends will bring to life vivid mental pictures that no photographer, or illustrator, could possibly re-create. "Bench Racing" has been done by all of us, but this volume gives new meaning to the words.

What MELINDA KEEFE & PETER SCHLETTY have accomplished here is a compilation of Hot Rod & Custom Car vignettes that have been published previously...but they've put 'em all in one book !   A total of thirty-eight different stories are featured, some you've heard about but never read, some that haven't seen the light of day since they were first published over 60 years ago.  But, each and every one is unique, fascinating, and told by the one who's "been there; done that".

The names are some of the most famous in Rod & Custom History:  Spence Murray, Robert E. Petersen, Gray Baskerville, Ed Roth, Von Dutch, Wally Parks, Henry Gregor Felsen, Jim "Jake" Jacobs, Peter Vincent, Jay Leno, Dean Batchelor...well, the list goes on !  

Great examples of the rarity of these memories are Spence Murray's "6,000 Miles In A Custom" done for "Hop Up" in September, 1952, and, Bob Hirohata's personally-penned "Kross Kountry In A Kustom" from the August, 1953 issue of Rod & Custom.  You may have read excerpts of these before, but this is your chance to read the entire, complete tale as told by the author.

The book is broken down into five different chapters, each with a special theme, and Keefe & Schletty, along with Motorbooks Publishers, are to be complimented on amassing all of these stories & memories into one 288 Page, Hardcover volume !

It's great for either yourself, or, to give as a gift.  And, especially during the Fall & Winter Seasons, when you're not wrenching on your Rod, or on-the-road with your Custom, this is a book you can settle back, relax, and read anytime !  Because of the layout, you can read just one story or section at a time...and get back to the rest when you want !

In short, the way this book is put together it's "timeless". The stories here are vintage, historical, snapshots of  Car Culture journalism at its best, and will give you a clearer view of the thought process that made Hot Rodding what it is today...by learning from those who started it !

 "THE LEGENDARY CUSTOM CARS AND HOT RODS OF GENE WINFIELD",  by David Grant, Foreword by Spence Murray. Motorbooks, Pub.

GENE WINFIELD and I have known each other for many years.  My Invicta was built by Manuel Arteche', and Gene did the later-Candy Gold paint job on Manuel's '41 Ford.  In fact, when I started doing the Interviews for this HOF Legends WebSite, Gene Winfield was the first one that got together with me for an Interview back in July, 2006, at the KKOA Lead Sled in Salina.   So, I was really glad to see this book hit the stands chronicling his History.

Gene Winfield has done it ALL !  He's built rods, customs, race cars, Bonneville-worthy machines, raced his own cars, worked in the corporate world, created models, built TV & Movie cars...there is almost no facet of the Automotive World that Gene hasn't been a part of.   He is a true Industry legend, and one of the early pioneers. And he's still working today !

DAVID GRANT, did an excellent job on the book and assembling the photos, AND, old friend, SPENCE MURRAY, contributed the Foreword...'nuff said ? 

If you've enjoyed some of the great stories that you've heard Gene and I talk about here on the WebSite, you will definitely love reading this book !   Gene is a Master Craftsman, is still building cars today, and, the pictures and info in this book are "top rate".   I hope there's a second volume to follow !! 

(TO HEAR Gene's story about his early days and first shop, just click-on here:  Gene Winfield  )

  "TV" TOMMY IVO: DRAG RACING'S MASTER SHOWMAN, By Tom Cotter.  Foreword by Don "The Snake" Purdhomme. Motorbooks, Pub.

MOTORBOOKS, PUBLISHERS IS CELEBRATING ITS 45th ANNIVERSARY...and its pulled out all the stops in its releasing of some its most fantastic books to help in the Celebration.   This new TOM COTTER biography of the Legendary "TV" Tommy Ivo is a great example of what I'm talking about.

If Cotter's name seems familiar to you it should:  He's responsible for Motorbooks best-selling "...In The Barn" Series, and the excellent biography of  Rod & Custom Legend Dean Jefferies also reviewed on this Page.  In creating this particular volume, he spent many days and hours in personal Interviews with Tommy at Tommy's home in California, and put together a superb look into the life & times of the man himself.  In addition, within its Hardcover 240 Pages, it contains 151 Color & 109 B&W Photos, most of which came from Tommy's personal collection.

Accordingly, since it is a biography, the book works in chronological order...from Tommy's early years as a 6 or 7 year old performer, and follows his progression through the years working in Radio, Stage, Films, and, TV.   And, after about twenty years in that form of show business, Tommy segued into another form he helped create using his TV stardom as a perfect "recognition factor" with fans all-over the Country: The Ultra Showbiz Phenomenon of "Drag Racing Showmanship"...burning up the quarter mile with more style, charisma, and, dynamite machinery than had EVER been seen before !

I was exceptionally impressed with the fact that Tommy Ivo who was, in reality, short of stature and had a slight build,  actually built all of his cars in his humble garage at his house in California !   Also, I was blown away by his taking his first car - a beautiful, brand new,  '52 Buick Super Hardtop purchased when he was 16 years old - tearing it apart, repainting it (this story you have to read !), turning it into a custom car, and drag racing it !

Later stories of Don Purdhomme (who worked for years with Tommy), Don Garlits, Shirley Muldowney, and others, are fascinating.  Devastating, life-threating crashes, a broken back, and, a penchant for practical jokes (which sometimes backfired !) were all a part of Tommy's long career as a drag racer.  Twin-engine dragsters ?  Tommy  Ivo said "Why not a FOUR-ENGINE dragster ?!"  In addition, the reason he turned his back on Hollywood to move into racing fulltime to begin with is explained here.

The writing of the book is honest and straight-forward.  It includes documentation & photos of all of the 31 cars, in order, that Tommy built,  plus the trailers that were put together to transport some of these exotic rarities.  And, once you read this book - especially if you're not familiar with everything Tommy accomplished - you'll come away with a new-found admiration for this ground-breaking Pioneer...the man who showed others, and a worldwide audience of fans, how the flash & flare of what he did on the dragstrip every time he lined-up to run, paved the way for others to follow.   To put it mildy: this is truly a worthy addition to your library !

 " '40 FORD: EVOLUTION . DESIGN . RACING . HOT RODDING", By  Joseph P. Cabadas, In Cooperation With The Henry Ford. Motorbooks, Pub.

DON'T LET THE TITLE FOOL YOU this book isn't just about 1940 Fords, it's about the Company itself:  Henry Ford,  Edsel Ford, their personal & business problems, the Unions involved,  the Ford managers, and the progression of how the Ford Designers, and the Design Team, did their magic during the years to eventually create that iconic '40 Ford.  It also covers the evolution of the entire Ford Product Line:  Ford, Ford Trucks, Mercury, Lincoln, and, their Foreign counterparts.  PLUS, it covers Ford's Racing & Hot Rodding History.

" '40 Ford" takes you through the year-by-year, day-to-day struggles that went on inside the Company, how Henry Ford handled the business, how Edsel was forced to endure many conflicts with his father and his father's allies...even though Edsel was an artistic & talented creator on his own.  It covers Henry's stubborn ideas as to the mechanics & components of his cars, and his iron-willed approach to keeping his cars from being changed, even though his competitors' were gaining on him.

Accordingly, it also covers Edsel's early death at only 49 years of age, an 80 year old Henry Ford taking over again as head of the Company after Edsel died , and Henry Ford II being discharged from the Service in WWII so that he could succeed his grandfather and put Ford back-on-track.  SO, as you can see, this well-researched volume isn't just about the cars...it's about the entire atmosphere that they were created in, and their creators'.

Many experts were interviewed in the course of putting this book together, among those were the legendary Gene Winfield,  along with Larry Erickson, Greg Sharp, Tom Tjaarda, Peter Vincent, Keith Crain, Herb Branham, and a host of others.  And, in getting his reference & research material, JOSEPH P. CABADAS had full access to the archives & research center at The Henry Ford itself.  

This volume is literally loaded with photos, advertisements, and information that could have only been obtained with the permission of the Ford Motor Company, and The Henry Ford (Museum)...and though it is not licensed by the Ford Motor Company, it pays a fitting tribute to the Company and all of those who worked in all phases of that organization at the time.  In addition,  it's a testament to the men & women who labored in the factories everyday to bring to life these beautiful automobiles that we still hold in the highest regard...decades after they were originally built.

I cannot give you any higher recommendation than to say this 160 Page Hardcover, that contains 163 Black & White Photos & 26 Color Photos, is one that you'll consider a "keeper" ! 

SPECIAL NOTE:  My thanks to my friend NICHOLE SCHIELE at Motorbooks, Pub., for sending me a Preview Copy of this book  before it hit the racks.  She said she "...knew it was one that I'd really want for my library." And, "...one that was right on-target for the Hall Of Fame Legends WebSite."  Nichole, you were right on BOTH counts !   Thanks again !!  JK

  "HOT ROD", By Henry Gregor Felsen.  Foreword & Photography By Holly Felsen Welch.  Iowan Books, Pub.

BEFORE THERE WAS JAMES DEAN IN "REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE",  BEFORE THERE WAS JOHN MILNER IN "AMERICAN GRAFITTI", THERE WAS BUD CRAYNE...

HENRY GREGOR FELSEN'S book, HOT ROD, was born just before his daughter Holly arrived in December of 1948.  Its theme, its message, its pulse pounding imagery and timeless era-based concept hit home to generations of Hot Rodders not just in America, but Worldwide.   And, after all these years it still does.  In fact, the book has become such a cult classic that Felsen has been dubbed the "Granddaddy Of Street Rodding" by many.

Like Holly, I had never read "Hot Rod" before.  Simply put, I wasn't old enough at the time.  But I am now, so I asked Holly to send me a copy and she graciously sent one of the early releases of her Dad's long out of print, re-published novel.  How that came about in itself is a story, and Holly explains the complete scenario that brought about her quest to honor her Dad and put this important piece of Hot Rod Americana back in the hands of eager readers.

Holly's foreword, complete with rare family photographs & info, is a pure tribute to her Dad and her family, and sets the perfect tone for this story of post-WWII youth culture,  small town America, and how the roots of hot rodding seeped into fabric of our lives...and never left.

I won't spoil your reading of this true classic by giving away too much information about the plot.  I'll just say that Felsen's writing is vivid & true, and it keeps you involved with Bud Crayne and his friends from start to finish.  Some of the imagery is harsh, jarring, and eye-opening...but that's just the way it's supposed to be.  It's a wakeup call to reckless rodders everywhere who have more on their minds than concentrating on their driving,  are demonized by speed...and the carnage that can result from both.   I have to admit, I couldn't put the book down till I finished it.

Bud, Walt, Chuck, LaVerne, Mr. Cole, Ted O'Day, Jimmy & Kenny, Jake Clymer...all come to life through the words of Henry Gregor Felsen.  (Of all the characters, I suppose I felt the most empathy for Marge, LaVerne's friend. )  The dusty, rutted roads, the whining gears, the resonant sounds of a flathead-eight blaring from a set of twin-pipes, and the restless generation of would-be teen rebels trying to find their own identities, rings just as true today as when it was first published over 60 years ago.

Somewhere, Bud Crayne lives.   And somewhere, Henry Gregor Felsen is looking down lovingly on his daughter Holly, smiling, and thanking her for once again giving new life to both Bud & himself. 

[SPECIAL NOTE: "HOT ROD" is a  208 page, large format paperback, and you can order it,  read much more about the author, and contact Holly Felsen Welch directly from the Henry Gregor Felsen Website: http://www.henrygregorfelsen.com/Henry_Gregor_Felsen/Welcome.html ]

 "GM's MOTORAMA: THE GLAMOUROUS SHOW CARS OF A CULTURAL PHENOMENON", By David W. Temple.  Foreword by Chuck Jordan. Introduction by David E. Davis, Jr.  Motorbooks, Pub.

I could begin and end this Review by simply saying: "BUY THIS BOOK !"  However, that would be the easy way out, because once you pick it up, hold it in your hands, and browse through its pages, you won't want to put it down.  So what I'll just try to do here is put it all in perspective: this will be one of the most important books you'll EVER have in your collection.

From the days of horse-drawn carriages there were always those that wanted "special" bodies built for their own individual purposes.  Harley Jefferson Earl knew this well as he'd been the chief designer for his father's California coach-work firm and after he was hired by GM in 1926, he created and was made head of GM's Art & Colour Section.  Consequently, by 1938 Earl wanted a very special car that would be his "rolling laboratory" of future ideas & designs that could eventually show up on the cars GM produced.  That car was code-named the  "Y-Job"...a Buick like none ever seen before.

The Y-Job became so famous that in late-1946, with that car aging, Earl, along with Buick's Chief Engineer Charles Chayne, launched the idea for two new projects to be produced simultainiously: The LeSabre, and the XP-300.  And, to give not only Buick but also the other GM Divisions a national showcase of bringing future designs and ideas to the public, the GM Motorama was conceived and begun in 1949: a traveling caravan of Dream Cars touring around the country.   It would continue, in varying degrees, until 1961.

These were the "Dream Cars" of the future !  They showed the public many ideas that would eventually make their way into the GM lineup: wraparound windshields, hooded headlights, bucket seats, swivel seats, full-length  consoles, cars with rocket/jet plane styling, tailpipes exiting through rear bumpers, cars made of fibreglass, 4-door hardtop sedans, the world's first back-up camera with an in-dash monitor...the lists were endless, and YES, some of these modifications would make it to the new cars available at the GM Dealer of your choice: Chevrolet, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Buick, and, Cadillac.

No matter what your favorite is, it's in this book:  Wildcat, Corvette, Bonneville Special, Strato-Star, Eldorado Brougham, Firebird, Biscayne, Orleans, LaSalle II, Golden Rocket, Parisienne, F-88...they are all in there !  My favorites ?   If I could have only two they would be the XP-300 (a car I have loved since I first saw it while in grade school), and the Cadillac "Sixteen"...one Classic, one New Wave.  There are others, like the Buick Wildcat Hardtop on Page 165, and Harley Earl's personal 1954 F-88 Mk.II on Page 168, but let's not be greedy !

DAVID W. TEMPLE has done an admirable job of condensing all of the Motorama History into one book; CHUCK JORDAN -one of GM's chief designers- was there at the time and presents a Historical Forward;  DAVID E. DAVIS, Jr., well-known writer, editor, publisher, gives his perspective in the Introduction.  PLUS, the book gives a complete rundown of all the cars created by each GM line, and the ending chapters deal with what happened to the cars, the pure tragedy of many that were destroyed, cars that were found, and the "new wave" of  GM Concepts as of the timeline in the writing of the  book.

This is a 192 Page, hard cover volume that you must have in your collection.  Re-read the first paragraph of this review, the part where it says: "BUY THIS BOOK" !

[SPECIAL NOTE:  GM's Chuck Jordan passed away December 9, 2010 at the age of 83.  Among just some of the designs that had his imprint on them were the 1955 Chevy Cameo truck & 1956 Buick Centurion Dream Cars,  and two everlasting Super Classics: the 1959 Cadillac, and, the 1963 Buick Riviera. His talents were among the ultimate best to ever create the truly remarkable styles that eminated from Detroit.]

 "BUILD BOOK: FROM CONCEPT TO REALITY", Published byTeam Killeen

SCOTT KILLEEN is unquestionably one of the best Automotive Photographers in the business.   I always enjoyed his work, seeing it in Hot Rod, Car Craft, American Rodder, Street Rod Builder, and many other publications through the years.  We finally met in 2004 at Darryl Starbird's Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies at the Museum in Oklahoma, and I was able to compliment him in person.  That same year, Scott and his wife, BJ - herself a respected automotive journalist - formed Team Killeen and began publication of a new "serialized format" dedicated to Rods & Customs entitled "Build Book: From Concept To Reality". 

Book #1 was published in 2005 and featured the build of  comedian/tv personality Joe Rogan's 1970 'Cuda "Sick Fish", designed by Chip Foose and built by Rad Rods By Troy.  Successive volumes have included builds by Posies, the late-Boyd Coddington, Pro Rides, and, Ring Brothers. 

 As you can tell from the list of builders involved, these are precision-built cars that are not only beautiful by the time they hit the streets, but are fully-driveable machines of the highest caliber.  And, as the title says, these spectacular machines are followed from when the "initial thought of the build" takes place, to the time when the last polishing rag leaves the surface:  the importance of the shop owners, fabricators, body men, wiring experts, painters, upholsterers, car owners, and, parts manufacturers, are all focused on in each book of the series.

There are five books currently available, and a sixth on the way. With, from hundreds, to over a thousand pictures shown in every book, these are visually stunning volumes.  And, any advertisements seen in the books are DIRECTLY tied-in to the build itself and used with the featured car.  The Build Books are large format paperbacks, in full color, reasonably priced, and are definitely a GREAT addition to any library !  

THE BUILD BOOK SERIES is available directly from Team Killeen on their Website:  http://www.buildbookusa.com/

(To Listen To POSIES Interview Covering "The Aeroliner" (Build Book #2), and, Scott Killeen Just click-on here ! )

  "THE LINCOLN HIGHWAY: THE GREAT AMERICAN ROAD TRIP", By Michael Wallis & Michael S. Williamson. W.W. Norton, Pub.

If the names MICHAEL WALLIS, and, MICHAEL S. WILLIAMSON seem familiar to you they should.  Michael Wallis is the best-selling author of "Route 66: The Mother Road", and also hosted and was featured in "Route 66" documentaries, Plus: if you've seen the great & very funny movie "CARS", you've heard Michael's voice as the Sheriff Of Radiator Springs !  Michael S. Williamson is a Pulitzer Prize Winning photographer for the Washington Post.  Together they have assembled & documented the sometimes long-forgotten history of our Nation's first coast-to-coast highway.

The Lincoln Highway was begun in 1913, at a time when both cars & drivers were in the early stages of exploring the "open road".   For comparison, imagine the difference of driving from New York to California in your enclosed 2010 Ford Fusion with  air, ps, pb, pw & Bluetooth equipped,  as opposed to taking that same journey in a 1910 Ford  Open Air Model T traversing all of the elements: dust, heat, cold, rain, snow, etc., while having to wear caps, goggles & dusters for protection, and making sure you had extra spare tires, or at least some inner tubes & inner tube patches with you...along with a well-equipped tool kit.  Well, that's how our early-road pioneers had to make the trip.

Exploring America opened up a whole new vista for the owners of those "new fangled" horseless carriages.  They had just come into this new Century after decades of tramping through the wilderness by foot,  fighting off Indian raids, gunfights in the streets of dusty towns, riding in wagons and on horseback to get to their destination, or boarding busses or trains to get to where they wanted to go.  The automobile then, was freedom to travel "at will" with a capitol "F" !

The brainchild of Carl Fischer, founder of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and, joined in by Henry B. Joy, President of Packard, the highway covered thirteen states that started in New York and extended to California.  However, by tthe mid-1920's the newness had worn off, and problems for this unique icon manifested themselves.  All of the info you need to know about this special destination is contained in this beautiful, 294 page,  hardcover volume which explores the culture , the historical icons & the road that's still available to travel on to this very day.

Mike Wallis' text is superb and spot-on every step of the way, and Mike Williamson's photos, combined with archived pix, are the perfect compliment to this addition to your library.  In fact, a beautiful, longtime friend sent me this book as a gift, and after I read it I was ready to packup the car,  pick her up, and head out for our own personal Road Trip of the Lincoln Highway !  

NOTE:  Michael Wallis' Website is one place that you can order this book if your local store doesn't have it, plus you'll learn more about his long career, and see other great books by this acclaimed author: http://www.michaelwallis.com/  

INFO on Michael S. Williamson can be found at the W.W. Norton, Pub. Website: http://books.wwnorton.com/books/Author.aspx?id=5735

 "THE ULTIMATE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF AMERICAN CARS", By Peter Henshaw. Available from Motorbooks Inc., Publshers.

IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A "CRASH COURSE" IN the History of cars built in the U.S.A., from A to Z, this is the book for you.  The author, PETER HENSHAW, has written books on almost everything that's equipped with a motor and wheels: Airplanes, Motorcycles, Fire Engines, Pickups, and even Tractors !

Henshaw is a Brit that comes from Weymouth, Dorset on the Southern Coast of England, and his love for all forms of transportation shows in this volume.  It's an inexpensive, chunky, 458 page look at  the History of American classics & daily drivers,  and covers the various makes alphabetically, from American Austin/Bantam to Zimmer.  The photos are in both black & white, and, colour, and the cars shown are mostly original, with some modifieds being used when the originals weren't available.  That's actually okay if you're reading the Reviews on this Site anyway...we're all used to modifieds, no surprises here !

When was the last time you saw a '31 Auburn, '27 LaSalle, '40 Graham-Paige, '36 Packard, 1903 White Steamer, or, a 1903 Winton ?  Well, they're all in there.  I will warn you ahead of time, there are some mislabeled captions throughout the book, and a few makes left out.  The Moon and the Dorris, two St. Louis-based cars, weren't in the book, and I'm sure a number of other makes weren't on his radar when Henshaw did his research, but that shouldn't deter you from putting the book in your collection. 

Plus, with it's small size - 6 1/2" h X 8 1/2 w -  it won't take up much space on your bookshelf, and you'll probably refer to it often.  At just $12.99 it's a good buy, and a make-by-make look at the History of each company, how it began & ended, and the years it produced cars.  Cars that were ultimately designed, built, and "Made In The U.S.A." !

 "IDEA BOOK: CUSTOM CARS, COUPES, SEDANS, PICKUPS", by Alan Mayes. Motorbooks, Pub.

ALAN MAYES must never sleep very much.  I've known him for many years and he's almost always on his way to a R&C event, working on CKD/OSR mags & projects, or contemplating another new book to work on.  His latest is a great "idea" book...the kind that used to be published back in the 50's & 60's. 

Alan, like myself and most of you reading this, has been an authentic Card Carrying Car Buff since he was about as tall as a hubcap, and when you go through the photos & info in  this book you'll understand how that's helped him put this package together.

"Custom Cars" are the focus of this 160 page paperback volume in full color, and it's a part of the Motorbooks "Idea Book" Series.  And, no matter if you're looking for the best type of grille, taillights, interior, paint, engine, wheels, or, almost anything else you'd need an idea for to build your custom...you'll probably find it here.   Buicks, Oldsmobiles, Fords, Cads, Pontiacs, Chevs, and any other makes he could point his lense at were all fair game for Alan, and he's got so many ideas packed into this book that you won't be able to use 'em all on one car...you'll have to  archive some for the future !

Great ideas, great pix, cool info... all in one book that you're sure to use for reference time and time again !

(To hear Alan's classic story about the Legendary CKD "Death Issue" just click-on here !   )

 "THE KUSTOM PHOTOGRAPHY OF GEORGE BARRIS" DVD, Mad Fabricators Society & Barris Kustom, Producers.

THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I THINK GEORGE BARRIS cloned himself many years ago, or, was replaced by a life-like Automaton !  The reason is that as long as I've known him I've never seen George stand still for more than a few minutes at a time...he is ALWAYS in motion, seeming to be everywhere at once !   But then, for over 6 decades he's been so multi-talented that he obtained the title "The King Of The Kustomizers", and once you view this special  2 DVD Set you'll see the proof of that.

George not only built & promoted  - along with his extremely talented brother, SAM BARRIS -  some of the most iconic Kustoms of all-time, but he became a self-taught photographer documenting the builds from start-to-finish.  He worked with Petersen Publishing having many features & how-to articles published, and even those special Trend Books turned-out in the  50's & 60's.  (Incidentally, I still have my collection of those safely packed away ! See my "Trend Books" Review below.)

Which brings us to this Special DVD:  George's son, Brett Barris, Creative Director for Barris Kustom City, was going through George's personal archives of material a few years ago and saw the "treasure trove" of photos & photographic layouts that had been done decades earlier...a true photographic history of the early days of Rods & Kustoms that needed to be seen and shared with car buffs the World over.   It was then that Brett assembled the project and enlisted the very able help of PIERO DeLUCA of Mad Fabricators to solidify the production. The results are a stunning trip back in time with George Barris, himself, as your host.

George travels to his old haunts & locations, riding along with Brad Masterson in Brad's chopped Chevy.  Adding to the mix, a last look at the late, legendary, LARRY WATSON, as he and George go over some of the photos together. (This alone may be a great reason to own this DVD...it's a touching tribute to Larry in its own way.)  Also featured are Greg Sharp, Jay Mason, and, the aforementioned Brad Masterson...who now resides in Barris' old shop.  And, of course, there's a soundtrack by the Dynotones to keep the whole thing moving along.  Also, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the hours-and-hours worth of work that Piero DeLuca put into the editing, compostion, and, photographing of the material for this DVD.  Just a FANTASTIC job !

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME we've featured a DVD on the HOF Legends Site, but I felt that it was an important part of our R&C History & Culture that needed to be included.  I've talked with both George & Brett about it, and Brett was kind enough to forward a copy to me for this Review.  I have to admit I was amazed at the amount of work that went into it...and, love.  Once you experience the passion that George has always had for this Industry, you respect him that much more.  And, with Brett behind the project you can see & feel the love he has for both his father & his father's talent, and keeping that alive for all to see.

GEORGE BARRIS was one of the VERY first to encourage me when I explained what the concept of this WebSite was all about, and readily agreed to be one of the first that I Interviewed  when I put the HOF Legends Series OnLine.  I will always remember his kindness and availability whenever I want to update & record more of his history to be featured here.   So, if you're looking for the perfect gift for someone for ANY occasion - "The Kustom Photography Of George Barris" DVD  is a 2 DVD Set, and would be a sure winner !  I guarantee it will be one of the most treasured items in any collection.

TO ORDER YOUR COPY Simply Go To: www.barris.com      PS: Be sure to mention that you heard about here on the Hall Of Fame Legends Site.

(Wanna hear BRAD MASTERSON'S story about moving into George's old shop in  Lynwood ?  Justclick-on here and listen !)

 "HOT ROD MAGAZINE: ALL THE COVERS", by Drew Hardin & The Editors Of Hot Rod.  Foreword by David Freiburger.  Motorbooks, Pub.

CAR MAGAZINES HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED ALMOST since the birth of the automobile itself.  But, it was THROTTLE that was the first to feature lakes & track racers for about a year, prior to WWII.  However, in the post-War years when hot rodding was "back on track", it was Robert E. Petersen and Wally Parks who put a magazine together called, simply: HOT ROD...a title that has been in existence monthly since 1948.  If you've come to this Site and are reading these words, I really don't need to tell you much more about Hot Rod, so I'll focus on the importance of this book.

The objective was to showcase & feature EVERY COVER of Hot Rod from January, 1948 through December, 2009...a celebration of  over 60 years of  the longest-running magazine of its kind in history.  Believe me, this "objective" was reached !  It's a hardcover format with 256 Pages, and if you've ever picked up a copy off the newstand or had a subscription to it, you can re-live those copies all over again.  Conversely, if you missed some copies or only bought it occasionally, you can see what you missed !

DREW HARDIN has had a 30 year + career as an automotive journalist, was Editor of HR from 1994-1996,  and has had the full co-operation of  his previous/past colleagues' in bringing this spectacular volume to Hot Rod followers the world over.  For personal reasons, my two favorite covers are August, 1951, which features DON FERRARA's  '29 Model A (See the Tribute PageTo "The Pioneer Who Changed My Life" ), and July, 1989, with ZZ TOPS's "Cadzzilla" (The one that brought me back...more on that later.) AND, the April, 1959 & March, 1960 Issues that featured DARRYL STARBIRD's craftsmanship.

This volume had to be a massive undertaking to produce, and I genuinely respect all of the hard work that went into it.  Black-and-White, Full-Colour Covers are used on a year-by-year basis, and if you take off the books dust-jacket, you'll see as many covers as they could fit imprinted in full-colour on the hard cover itself !   A stroke of genius !

If you're looking for a gift for yourself or for a friend, be it birthday, Holiday, any occasion, get this book !   You won't go wrong !!   

 "WATSON'S CUSTOM CAR CONFESSIONS...WITH COOL CHICKS AND JOHN LAW", by Thom Taylor & Larry Watson. Foreword by Pete Santini. Pub. By Thom Taylor.

THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST UNUSUAL & IMPORTANT BOOKS on the vibrant, pulsating, Custom Car Scene that went on in Southern California in the 50's, & 60's, that you'll EVER have a chance to read.  It was a time when soon-to-be Legendary Builders & Owners were laying a foundation for the History that we revere today  That's what makes it "important".  What makes it "unusual" is the way it is written.  Why ?  Well, it's just like you were having a  face-to-face, one-on-one conversation with LARRY WATSON & THOM TAYLOR...and it doesn't get any better than that !

I grew up following the work of Watson and his contemporaries, and was always amazed at how much effort he put into each and every car that he did.  But, what I didn't know was that Larry remembered almost everything about all the cars he worked on...and (he must have learned this from his good friend ,George Barris) he photographed almost all of his jobs too.  If he didn't, then James Potter & George would do the honors, because, as Thom Taylor wrote me, Larry had literally thousands of pics filed away !   The cars featured in this volume are Larry's personal rides...and, yes, each one is documented thoroughly from start-to-finish.

From his humble beginnings in Bellflower, California, to superstardom in the R&C field, Watson held his own.  He created the art form of "panel painting", he did scallops, flames, striping,  cobwebbing, and anything else you could accomplish with brushes, paint, spray guns, and, tape.   He was self-taught, and he learned to do it all almost better than anybody.  Period.   And, after he'd phased out that part of his career, he began a new one:  Acting in Movies & TV.   For Larry, being Hollywood-based, the move was a smooth one.

As you can glean from the title of the book, you'll also find within its pages, pix of many of those "cool chicks"...and I DO mean COOL !  You'll also learn in-depth about how Larry was hounded by various members of the police in those days; days when a radically lowered "custom car" was sometimes an invitation to be followed by a vehicle which had flashing red lights attached its roof.

Watson speaks through this book, I heard him as if he were sitting next to me in an Interview session.  And, I'm so sorry that I never got to California to record him myself.  When Larry's voice ends, Thom Taylor fills in the rest...and doesn't miss a beat.  I've always respected Thom's art & his writing and, thank God, Larry had him as a friend, for everything that Thom has done by being involved in this project has been with honesty, feeling, compassion, and, respect to bring Larry's life, his work, and his art, together in the fitting showcase for him that this book really is.   

I would be remiss if I didn't mention the foreword by another close friend of Larry's:  PETE SANTINI.  It's a professional, heartfelt entrance to this look into Larry Watson's life, his cars and his career...and Pete nails it with dignity & grace. 

ALL-IN-ALL,  the fact that he died the night Thom finished this book, it's as if Larry was closing his life by looking back on his legendary career one final time.  His aura permeates the book... as I found out when I held it in my hands to read.  And, I'm sure it will have the same effect on you, but I wouldn't wait.  Only 1,000 copies of the book were printed, I doubt it will be reprinted, and I sincerely thank Thom for sending me a copy so that we could feature it here. 

NOTE: According to the latest information since I originally posted this Review, the book, as I forecasted,  SOLD OUT !  BUT there is information from Thom on the Website about a future book jam-packed with photos of cars Larry painted, and with many other features, that he's going to be putting together.   To find out all about that simply go to  this link: www.watsonswildest.com  

(I'VE SET-UP A very Special Tribute Page for Larry Watson.  To view it, and hear comments from GEORGE BARRIS & JOHN D'AGOSTINO about their friend Larry,  simply click-on this link:  http://www.legends.thewwbc.net/gpage142.html  )

  "STYLINE CUSTOMS...CHUCK MILLER", by Tony Swan.  Foreword by Bob Larivee. Chuck Miller Studio, Pub.

CHUCK MILLER IS ONE OF THE MOST talented & creative persons I have ever met !  For over five-decades he's been building some of the coolest - sometimes, most outrageous - cars on the Planet.  Chuck is a Ridler Award Winner, a Hall Of Fame Member (Starbird's Rod & Custom Hall Of Fame/K.K.O.A. Hall Of Fame), and one of the most respected individuals in the R&C Industry.   With all of these credentials in place, he added to the list in 2010 when he was named the Detroit Autorama " 2010 Builder Of The Year" !

So it was only fitting that the time was right for putting his personal & professional history together in a book that would encompass Chuck's life from the early years, to his model building phase, to building his first custom, to his starting Styline Customs, to his winning the 1968 Ridler Award for the ground-breaking "Fire Truck", to his...well, you get the idea.  AND,  there are SO many ideas !   It's like Chuck was never without a new idea !  

The book covers Chuck's early designs, drawings & models,  customs he built for customers, goes into his Award Winning & Specialty Cars like the Red Baron, the Zingers, Corvette "Hot Hauler" conversions, the Hurst Olds, Rambler Scramblers,  Chrysler RTS & Sonic Cuda, and many others,  including the work he's done for Jack Walker by refreshing the "Hirohata Merc" clone...which is a project you'd only give to a Super-Pro !

One of my favorite parts of the book is a look at the Retro Village that Chuck has hand-built on the property at his Michigan home.  It is just a visual delight, highlighted by a dazzling display of  neon and fond memories of a simpler time that a lot of us grew up in.

Along with Chuck's personal pictures, memorablia, and input, TONY SWAN (Car & Driver Senior Editor) has done a fantastic job of putting it altogether...including sidebars that pay tribute to some of Chuck's friends & helpers through the years and their thoughts on Chuck .  The Foreword by his friend the Legendary BOB LARIVEE, is a fitting honor to the craftsman that Chuck has always been.

This is a beautiful hardcover volume, filled with great color photographs, containing 135 Pages, and,  I can't think of anything better to read, or to give for a present,  than the book I'm holding right now: "STYLINE CUSTOMS...CHUCK MILLER"...and this book was proudly made & printed right here in the U.S.A.  !  

The book is available at this time directly from Chuck.  TO ORDER GO TO CHUCK'S WEBSITE:

http://chuckmillerstyline.com/index.php

(CHUCK & I  DID A GREAT INTERVIEW about the book, and in it Chuck talks about one of the main features he's proud of in getting the book published .  You can hear the complete story RIGHT NOW !  Just follow this link:  gpage141.html )

    "BARRIS CARS OF THE STARS" by George Barris and David Fetherston. Motorbooks, Pub.

YOU'VE PROBABLY HEARD GEORGE BARRIS' STORIES about many of the cars he's built right here on the HOF Legends WebSite.  George was one of the VERY first to graciously join in the Interviews with me when I began this Site.  I've always admired his work, and George, along with his late brother, SAM BARRIS, set the world of Kustomizing (with a "K") in motion all the way back in the 1940's.  By the 50's they were one of the premiere shops that turned out some of the most memorable Rods & Customs of that decade.  Along the way, they also were called upon to turn out many cars for various Movies & TV Shows.

The Barris' Lynwood, California location was the scene of their early triumphs in the "Hollywood Scene" BUT, in 1961, when George moved the shop to North Hollywood to be closer to the Industry, that's when things REALLY began to happen !   Because, by then, the word of the terrific cars produced at the Barris Shop spread to not just Movie & TV Production companies, but to the Stars that were in those "on screen" productions...and,  in addition, to those in the Recording Industry.

What you have here in the "Barris Cars Of The Stars" volume is a definitive look at not only the importance of  George's work, but of the vast scope and range of the different types of cars his shop produced.

The list of Stars is a veritible "who's who" of the Entertainment Industry !   Elvis, the late-Farah Fawcett, Sonny & Cher, The "Rat Pack" Crew (Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr.), Neil Diamond, The Beach Boys, Clint Eastwood, John Wayne, Ann-Margaret, James Brown, Dick Clark, to name just a few. And, yes, even Racing Legend ROGER PENSKE ! Plus, there's a Foreword by George's friend, the ever-beautiful BO DEREK...who was, and still is, a "10".

Do yourself, or a good friend, a favor...get this book while it's still available.  Get it before they run out of copies everywhere in the Universe !  You NEED this book in your Library !

(TO HEAR GEORGE'S STORY about how the legendary "Batmobile" was created just click-on here: SPECIAL: "THE BATMOBILE" ! )

 "BILLY F GIBB ONS: ROCK + ROLL GEARHEAD", by Billy F Gibbons with Tom Vickers. Motorbooks, Pub.

WAIT A MINUTE !   I know what you're saying: "Hey, that book's been out for awhile. Think I've seen it before."  Okay, BUT do you actually have the book in your collection ? Did you put it in your library...OR, did you say: "Yes, one of these days I've gotta get it !", and just put it off ?  

Well, let me tell you from personal experience:  I've been in Radio since 1967, as many of you know, and I've played ZZ TOP's Chart Toppers since they began.  And, when the Reverend Billy started cranking out some "chart topping" Rods & Customs, I was with those from the beginning too.

This book is a combination of ALL of the above:  Music, Cars, and, Guitars.  Billy covers the entire History:  his, the groups, the cars, the guitars, and, even takes time to give  out the recipe for his "Killadilla Renegade Guacamole' " !   What more could you ask for in a book ??   In addition, the Photography by David Perry is superb.  Pick-up a copy as soon as you can...before they're gone forever  !   

(BILLY'S "KOPPERHED" IS FEATURED in this book.  The Original Design came from STEVE STANFORD, and you can hear Steve's story about it in our Interview !   Justclick-on here !)

  "DARRYL STARBIRD: THE BUBBLE TOP KING ", by Darryl Starbird and Brice Bledsoe. NR&CCHOF, Pub.

 DARRYL STARBIRD is one of the longest-running Legends & Builders in the Rod & Custom Industry.  Darryl's been a friend for many years, BUT this book speaks for itself...I'd recommend it even if I'd never met the man !  It covers his ENTIRE life & career, never-before-seen family pictures, early cars of his and his clients, ALL of his personally-built creations, the National Rod & Custom Hall Of Fame Museum, and much, much more.

This is a massive book !  It's a  beautifully hard-bound volume that contains over 1,000 photos, has over 240 color pages, and is SO big that it should probably be sold by the pound ! 

 The book was written with the help of Darryl's grandson, Brice Bledsoe, AND YOU CAN HEAR DARRYL EXPLAIN how it all came together by clicking-on this link: Darryl Starbird.

To find out how you can get your personal copy of "THE BUBBLE TOP KING", go to Darryl's WebSite: www.darrylstarbird.com/giftshop.htm

 "THE HOT ROD WORLD OF ROBT. WILLIAMS", By Robt. Williams, with Mike LaVella. Foreword by Pete Chapouris. Motobooks, Pub.

THE HOT ROD CULTURE, AND THOSE THAT LIVE IT & LOVE IT, can sometimes be broken down into these parts: those that drive Hot Rods, those that build Hot Rods; those that draw Hot Rods relating to the various  art forms of both the machine & its culture; those that write about Hot Rods.  BUT, rarely do you find one individual who encompasses ALL of the aforementioned...and does them all successfully.  Well meet, if you already haven't,  ROBERT WILLIAMS.

Williams' life has taken him from his early years in Alabama, to New Mexico, and finally, California.   His "Hot Rod" life has been immersed in the culture, like many of us, since the 50's.     His friends have included a veritable "who's who" list of R&C Legends:  Ed "Big Daddy" Roth, Von Dutch, Jim "Jake" Jacobs, Pete Chapouris, Pete Eastwood,  Dan Woods, and, the one-and-only Gray Baskerville.   He, along with Robert Crumb, is also one of the founders of the legendary underground Zap Comix.

But, more importantly, Williams' life has been intertwined with that of  his wife and fellow artist, Suzanne.  Alhough his early experiences were with fellow Hot Rodders, since the mid-60's Suzanne has been right by his side driving, helping, photographing, and sharing some of the most unique times that anyone could imagine.  In fact, both Williams & Suzanne use their Rods as daily drivers, and wouldn't have it any other way !

This book is more than an "addition" to your Library or Book Shelf.  It's a well-written, well-documented history from one who has been there since the formative years, and is able to transfer that history and his experiences vividly onto  the printed page.  No one but Robert Williams could have put down in print the amazing life he's lived.  And, this 176 Page volume is complete with reams of b&w and colour photos showing Williams, his cars, and his legendary friends, in rare photos from his & Suzanne's collection. 

Pete Chapouris' Foreword puts it all in perspective when he says: "The Williams body of work has grown to immense proportions...get ready for a little enlightenment as you take a ride into The Hot Rod World Of Robt. Williams."

 "KUSTOMLAND: THE CUSTOM CAR PHOTOGRAPHY OF JAMES POTTER, 1955-1959", by Thom Taylor.  Motorbooks, Pub.

My old pal, Jerry Weesner, alerted me to this book back at the beginning of 2009.  Told me I needed to get it...if it was just to look at the pix !  Needless to say, I was on my that afternoon to find my copy, AND it is everything Jerry said, and more !

JAMES POTTER was a freelance photographer of the car scene in L.A. and the surrounding area during the 50's.   Most of the work that is in the book came from Larry Watson's shop. Also featured are cars from  the Renegades car club, and all of the material was culled from Potter's private archives.  The photography is SPECTACULAR !   Many, if not all, of the cars pictured were not only Award Winner's, but also Cover Cars & Feature Cars throughout their history.  

THOM TAYLOR, in case you just landed from Mars, is a long-time Artist that has designed many, many fantastic Rods & Customs during his career.  SO, if Thom puts his "seal of approval" and hard work into a volume of this nature, you know it's one that belongs in your collection !   

The title alone says it all: the place was called "KUSTOMLAND"...and you can travel back in time to get there with this book !

 "AMERICAN HOT ROD: HOW TO BUILD A HOT ROD, With Boyd Coddington."  By Dennis Parks. Motorbooks, Pub.

FOR ALMOST THREE DECADES he produced cars like The Lead Zephyr, CheZoom, The Boydster, The Alumacoupe, The Whatthehaye, and many, many others, including my personal favorite: CadZilla.  His name was BOYD CODDINGTON, and before his untimely death in 2008, his string of Award-Winning rods & customs was enough to assure his permanent place in every Hall Of Fame imaginable.   But his legendary history was even further assured by his realitiy-based TV Series "AMERICAN HOT ROD" which ran for Five Seasons on the Discovery Channel.

Beginning in 2004, and contiuning until the time of his death, American Hot Rod broke new ground and solidified Boyd's image as both an expert builder, AND, a perfectionist concerning every ride he put on the road.

In this superb volume, helmed by DENNIS PARKS, it takes you behind the scenes in Boyd's shop to put together a hot rod that both you and Boyd would be proud of !  With 176 Pages, and over 350 Photos, it takes you step-by-step in the process of building a ride that you could drive anywhere when you were finished: From your intial plan, to getting the parts, to putting the frame, suspension, and, drivetrain in place, getting the body on the frame, the paint, the upholstery...nothing has been left out.  It's as if Boyd & his crew were with you every step of the way.  How cool is that ?   PLUS, you'll see ride, after ride, that 's already been finished and hit the streets that you can use for ideas.

This book is a fitting Tribute  to the work of Boyd, his crew, and, the American Hot Rod Series.  I sincerely suggest that you add it to your personal library.

(To read the Special "Boyd Coddington Tribute Page" here on the HOF Legends WebSite, just click-on  here.

 " DEAN JEFFRIES: 50 FABULOUS YEARS IN HOT RODS, RACING & FILM", by Tom Cotter, Foreward by Bruce Meyer. Motorbooks, Pub.

DEAN JEFFRIES, like many of the true Legends of the Rod & Custom Industry, was there almost from the beginning.  Some of his early work was with Von Dutch, and George Barris, but Dean's pretty much self-sustaining so he's been a "solo act" for most of the time.  The  "Mantaray", "Monkeemobile",  Green Hornet's "Black Beauty", The "Ala Kart", and many others had Dean's craftsmanship in them.

I met Dean in 2001 when I drove the Invicta down to Darryl Starbird's Annual Induction Ceremonies in Oklahoma.  Dean was being inducted that year.  It was a few  years after his terrible accident in his shop...and he was truly lucky to be alive.   But you can read about the accident, his dedication to his beloved wife, Row, and his entire career in this book. It's done in chronological order and covers  not only his cars,  but his Indy 500 connection, his movie & film career, and many facets of his life you've never known before.

This is fitting tribute to a man who might not have gotten a lot of public recognition for his work before, but was always respected by his peers.  With this book, all will learn of his importance to the History of the Rod & Custom Industry.  It's a book you really should own.

 "ALL-AMERICAN HOT ROD: THE CARS, THE LEGENDS, THE PASSIONS", By Michael Dregni. Motorbooks, Pub.

IF YOU WERE ALIVE & INVOLVED IN THE BIRTH OF HOT RODDING during the 40's, 50's, and, 60's like a lot of us were, MICHAEL DREGNI'S "All-American Hot Rod" will be like a refresher course in Hot Rodding 101.  If you came to the scene later, then this is an all-purpose read that you better put on your "Personal Library" List right away !

The cars, the stories, the pix, the art renderings, the Drag Strip Posters, the Hot Rod movies, the music, the Hot Rod posters, the Hot Rod album covers, the Hot Rod comic books (yes, they do exist), the Hot Rod novels, the car club memorabilia...I could go on and on with this list, but I'll save you (and, me) the trouble, by telling you once again that you'd best just GET THIS BOOK !

If rods like The Little Deuce Coupe, Grabowski's Kookie Kar, The California Kid, Tom McMullen's Roadster, and, Ed Roth's Beatnik Bandit, OR, names like Jim "Jake" Jacobs, Wally Parks, Tex Smith, and, Doane Spencer ring a bell...well, you know you're on the right track.  PLUS, here's a list of some of the contributer's:  David Fetherston, Robert Williams, Steve Hendrickson, Pat Ganahl, Gale Banks, Kent Bash, Dale Klee & Albert Drake.  They've all added on-the-scene color & commentary to Michael Dregni's work.

I'm not  gonna say any more, except if you want to smile from page-to-page as you thumb through this book, and say to yourself: "I can't believe someone actually took the time to put ALL of this information in one 200 Page book ! "  OR, "Each of the stories in this book is so cool it could have almost been a book on its own !", then far be it from me to stop you ...'cause I said the exact same thing ! 

  "OLD SCHOOL CUSTOMS, TOP TRADITIONAL CUSTOM CAR BUILDERS",  by Alan Mayes. Motorbooks, Pub.

ALAN MAYES and I see each other about once a year, and I'm always amazed at how much energy, talent, and, hard work he puts into all of his projects.  He's the Managing Editor of Old Skool Rodz & Car Kulture DeLuxe, but always finds time to crank out some very cool books on his own.  This one is what's known as a "keeper" ! 

It encompasses 13 Custom Car Builders...old & new.  Darryl Starbird, Gene Winfield, Bill Hines, Bo Huff, Tom Culbertson, Gary "Chopit" Fioto, Brad Masterson, Gary Brown, and 5 others, each have a Chapter devoted to them. 

The photos, the information, the quality of the book itself, are all of the highest standards. This is one book you'll go back to revisit over and over again...unearthing something you missed everytime.  

 (HEAR ALAN and BO HUFF, talk about how the book was put together by clicking-on here: Alan Mayes, Old School Customs   )

 'ROY BRIZIO STREET RODS: MODERN HOT RODS DEFINED", by Bo Bertilsson. Motorbooks, Pub.

A NUMBER OF YEARS BACK I was privileged to meet Andy Brizio a couple of times at Darryl Starbird's National Rod & Custom Hall Of Fame Museum.  Andy was Inducted to the HOF and he, and a great group of Street Rodders, drove their Rods from California to Oklahoma.   Andy is a veritable font of knowledge on R&C's and he passed on that wisdom to his son, Roy.

ROY BRIZIO, learned much from his Dad, working with Jim "Jake" Jacobs as a youngster, and from his Dad's friends in L.A.  Over 30 years ago Roy opened his own shop and never looked back.

He's had AMBR Winners, built cars for Rocker's Eric Clapton, Neil Young, and Jeff Beck, restored legendary cars like "The Ala Kart", and Sam Barris' Merc...well, you get the picture.  AND, the one thing that ALL cars that leave Roy Brizio's Shop are capable of is BEING DRIVEN !   Always have been, always will be: DRIVERS .  

Bo Bertillson, the writer/photographer of the book has been around a long time, and treats his subjects with respect.  He's done well by Roy Brizio for sure. Buy the book. I guarantee you will not be disappointed.

(IN ONE OF MY INTERVIEWS WITH the legendary pioneer-builder GEORGE BARRIS I asked him about, both, his brother Sam building the very first chopped '49 Merc, AND, his opinion of  the restoration done by Roy Brizio's Shop.  To hear the interview on this truly Historic build, and George's thoughts on his wonderful brother, Sam Barris, just click-on here.)

  "HOW TO PAINT YOUR SHOW CAR", By Stefan R. Gesterkamp, Foreword by Jay Leno. Motorbooks, Pub.

BACK IN THE 50'S & 60'S SOME OF THE MOST FAMOUS T.V. COMMERCIALS, and, Ads that ran in newspapers across the Country, were from Earl Scheib Auto Paint & Body with Earl announcing: "We'll paint ANY car for $29.95 !".  And they did.   In fact, the company which Earl founded in 1937 is still in business today...but the price isn't $29.95 anymore.

Now through the years, Earl Sceib, Maaco, and many other "quick trip" type facilities have painted literally thousands of cars, BUT what we're talking about here in this superb volume from STEFAN R. GESTERKAMP is NOT one of those jobs !

Stefan is a true Master Craftsman who was schooled and earned his Degree in his native Germany, arrived in Los Angeles in 1994 to work with BASF in their Automotive Refinish Division,  and has become one of the best-known professionals/painters/advisors in the Country.  Painting has been his career for over 30 years, and it shows on every page of this book. "How To Paint Your Show Car" is broken down into 11 Chapters that give you the full scope of what to expect if you hire someone to do the paint on your ride for you, or, if you decide to try it yourself.

From what type of job you want (restoration, original, custom), to body work, preping, masking,chosing your paint, priming,painting,detailing, finishing...it's all  covered.  And, after that, he proceeds to show you how you MUST "blow the car apart", detail every inch of it, then put it all back together for TRUE Show Rod participation ...to win with the Big Dogs !   Stefan even includes a special chapter on the "EcoJet" Carbon Fiber concept that he was asked to work on for Jay Leno.  Stefan's also friends with Chip Foose, and many other great professionals, and that adds an extra cache' to this whole Super-Pro project.

As I read through the book, three thoughts hit me head-on:  1.  If  I was ever going to have my car painted by a Pro, I'd need to read this to help the project along; 2.  If I ever thought about painting a car myself I'd definetly need this book to figure out the RIGHT way to get it done.  Oh, and then there's #3: If I didn't have the skills to do either of those other two things...I'd run fast as I could to get the book to find out how to accomplish ANYTHING having to do with painting my car !

Congrats, Stefan, this book is a WINNER all the way through !   JK

 "MERCHANTS OF SPEED: The Men Who Built America's Performance Industry", By Paul D. Smith. Foreword by Barney Navarro. Motorbooks,Pub.

THEY WERE FROM CALIFORNIA,  young, loved cars, and drove fast.  But, they wanted to drive faster...and herein lies the tale.

Their names are legendary and would make the average street rod builder of the 40's, and, 50's, salivate at the mere thought of wrenching the equipment they created onto his ride: Navarro, Edlebrock, Spalding, Weber, Weiand, Offenhauser, Iskenderian, Potvin. Thickston...well, you get the picture. You know what - and who- I mean.

In his first published book, Canadian PAUL D. SMITH,  "gets it right"  from the Introduction by the late Barney Navarro, to the very last page.  His chronicles of men who built the SoCal Speed & Racing Industry, which took off like a rocket after WWII and wrote history at the same  time, could not have been better accomplished.  ALL of the stories, and all of the men who achieved dreams & goals that would become known worldwide, are honored tastefully and honestly.

Two of my personal favorites concern men who rose from what could have been insurmountable odds to crowning achievments:  CHET HERBERT, and, PHIL WEIAND. Both were destined by fate to live out most of their lives by being confined to wheel chairs. But it NEVER stopped them from building their careers or their companies.

If you REALLY want to know the story of where all that fantastic equipment you've heard about for decades came from, this is a book you've got to have.  And, if you're using some of that same equipment from these legends that's still being produced today, you definitely need the book to find out where those "roots" began !    JK

  "THE VINCENT IN THE BARN:  GREAT STORIES OF MOTORCYCLE ARCHEOLOGY", By Tom Cotter, Foreword by David Edwards. Motorbooks, Pub.

I'LL ADMIT RIGHT AT THE OUTSET THAT I've pretty much been a "lifelong collector".   My Mother used to say that I had the inability to throw anything away. Cars, antiques, comic character memorabila & toys, golden age radio shows & premiums, antique toys, Art Deco items, petroliana, R&C books & mags...well, you get the picture.   Always "on the search" for something rare,  different, and that I previously had on a "want list". 

Well, many times those sought-after items finally came into my possession by rummaging through musty old antique shops, going to flea markets, and going to old houses where someone said: "I just may have something you're looking for.  It's...."  And, suddenly, you were on your way to the Treasure Hunt....sometimes coming back with "gold", other times "striking out" altogether.

In his "...In The Barn" Series, TOM COTTER again scores one-hundred-percent,  this time with Bike lovers everywhere in "The Vincent In The Barn" !   Name your bike: Indian, Ducati, Harley-Davidson, Crocker, Brough, Ariel, BMW,  BSA, Triumph, et al, and, of course, the legendary Vincent, and someone has searched high-and-low to find one to put in their collection, swap, or, sell.  And, you guessed it: sometimes coming back with a prize, other times empty-handed.

  BUT, the "finding" is only part of the story, the REAL story is in "how" it was found. And, in this book Cotter's contributor's have plenty of stories to tell !  A couple of my favorites are by Ken Gross, first on Page153, and later on Page 188.  To put it midly, all of the stories contained in this volume are interesting, special, unique, and, at times, mind-blowing to say the least.   So if you're into bikes, bobbers, choppers, road racers, factory one-offs, in any way, this is one you have to put in your collection.  If you're not, buy it anyway !  It's a great read and you'll learn something of the culture it represents.

(HALL OF FAME ARTIST, M.K. JOHN, has been life-long friends with JOHN PARHAM of J&P Cycles.  John Parham is featured in a story that begins on PAGE 26 of Tom Cotter's book, and to hear M.K.'s story about his love of Cycles, and, his friendship with John just click-on here !  )

 "THE ART OF THE HOT ROD", By Ken Gross with Photography By Peter Harholdt, Foreword by Alex Xydias.  Motorbooks, Pub.

"THE ART OF THE HOT ROD" was an Award Winner from the time it first hit book stores.  It is one of the most physically-imposing volumes you'll ever add to your library.  It is large (10.5" x  12"), 240 pages, hardbound, and weighs a few pounds.   Be Warned: when you put it out where others can see it, make sure they've used a shop rag or towel before they handle it.  This is one book you don't want to get fingerprints on !

You may be familiar with KEN GROSS' work: he was Executive Director of the Petersen Automotive Museum in L.A., has written for The Rodders Journal, Road & Track, and others, and has been a car buff-owner for decades.  PETER HARHOLDT also has "oil" in his veins as proven by his cars, racing ability, and, photography.  He raises the bar every time he points the lense at anything with four wheels.

Twenty Master Builders are profiled in this massive work.  Among them are a few I've been privileged to spend some time with like Ken "Posies" Fenical, Steve Moal, Steve Frisbie, and, Rick Dore.  Some of the other sixteen builders include: Troy Trepanier, Barry Lobeck, Zane Cullen, Alan Johnson, Bobby Alloway, and, Dave Simard.  Each  one a "sculpter in steel" of the highest quality.

The Foreword by the Legendary ALEX XYDIAS introduces you to a book you'll come back to view time & time again.  Ken Gross' text sets the pace,  the impact of Peter Harholdt's photography jars the senses making you see - if you haven't already done so - the "automobile" as done by these twenty builders as a true "art form" all on its own.

( "THE EXTREMELINER" built by my old friend, KEN "POSIES" FENICAL,  is featured in "The Art Of The Hot Rod".  In our Interview, Ken told me how it all came together...you can hear the whole story right now by just clicking-on here:   "POSIES" EXTREMELINER STORY !  )

 "HOT ROD GARAGES', by Peter Vincent. Motorbooks, Pub.

THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST SPECTACULAR, VISUALLY STUNNING BOOKS on Rod & Custom Builders that you will ever see.  It chronicles the garages of 18 of the best builders in the Industry.  Many are well known to you, others will be after you read this book.  The stunning works of "Rolling Sculpture" that they produce have to start somewhere...and, their garages are where it all begins. This is an "inside look" into the places where these superb machines that you see in mags, and at shows, are built.

PETER VINCENT is no stranger to the R&C world, and he was given access to the workspaces of these fantastic builders.  Vern & Keith Tardel,  Pete Eastwood, Terry Hegman, Roy Brizio, Cole & Pat Foster are all in there.  Special sections are devoted to Steve Moal (who I had the pleasure of meeting at his Induction into Darryl Starbird's National R&C Hall Of Fame), and, The Rolling Bones (Ken Schmidt & Keith Cornell).  Then, you can't forget Dick Page, Cal Tanaka, Bob Lick, Gary Harms, and the rest that make up the 18 covered in this book.

The die-cut cover of the book is unique in and of itself, and shows you  that the book  your holding is VERY special.  Vincent's photography is "state of the art"...in fact it IS art !   The warm, full-bodied color pix, the subtle black & white shots, the photographic composition, all add up to make the viewing of this book truly an iconic look at the Rod & Custom Culture.   Almost any of the photos in here could be framed and exhibited on their own.  But, don't you dare tear-out any of the pages !

All-in-all,  Peter Vincent's "Hot Rod Garages" is definetly a "keeper", and should be in your personal R&C library.  Period.

 "SO-CAL SPEED SHOP", by Mark Christensen, Foreword by Alex Xydias, Epilogue by Tony Thacker. Motorbooks, Pub.

Living in Southern California in the early-60's I truly enjoyed the sun, the surf, the palm trees, the cool drive-ins where I could cruise in my '57 Dodge, and the entire experience of just BEING THERE !  But, I often wondered how it was many years earlier, before the real estate began to get gobbled up...and when the R & C Industry was in its formative stages. The book "SO-CAL SPEED SHOP" not only answers any questions you might have about that era but, with page-after-page of rare photos,  and personal information from those "who were there", graphically illustrates how "early" So-Cal looked every step of the way.

ALEX XYDIAS, was an ex-army airman, son of a Greek immigrant and a beautiful girl from Mississippi, who helped change the face of the world of auto racing in the post-WWII years. He, and his team of racers,  set records, produced equipment still sought after today, helped bring professionalism to a once-feared-by-laymen term "Hot Rodder", and explored building machines that to this day are revered by all who fasten a seatbelt, and don a helmet.

MARK CHRISTENSEN'S work on this book is nothing short of phenominal.  He nails-it on every page.  He vividly reminds me of the questions I asked myself all those many years ago, and answers each and every one with a clarity that can't be matched.    The Legendary ALEX XYDIAS' insight & info on both his personal life and the company he founded are priceless.   TONY THACKER'S take on the re-born So-Cal Speed Shop, headed by another Industry Legend, PETE CHAPOURIS, infuses a current-day look at a company that is just as important in this Century as it was when Alex founded it on March 3, 1946.

 "ROD & CUSTOM IN THE 1950'S", by The Editors Of R&C (Tim Bernsau & Damon Lee). Motorbooks, Pub.

If you've read my introduction to this page, you'll understand that my personal collection of "the  little pages" books is pretty comprehensive.  That's because I was there to buy 'em to begin  with !   However, there are many, many issues from those halcyon days of the  50's that I missed.  Well, "ROD & CUSTOM IN THE 1950'S" has pretty much solved that problem for me...AND, for Y-O-U !

TIM BERNSAU (still with R&C), and, DAMON LEE (now with Speedway Motors), have assembled key issues of R&C that cover that era perfectly:  Look for a young Gene Winfield on the cover of the June, 1953 issue; Bob Hirohata's personal story of going cross country in his Barris' built-Merc is one I've waited for decades to read in its entireity and it's there; the August, 1957 issue has Darryl Starbird's first feature...it's on his personal '47 Caddy custom; Dean Moon does a story on his '34 Ford in R&C's November, 1955 copy, with the gorgeous actress/beauty queen, Ruth Hampton, perched on a fender on Page 115 in one of the most iconic R&C "mild cheesecake" photos ever.  (Please don't drool on that page !)

Plus there's the first coverage of Sam Barris' Chopped '50 Buick; Spence Murray's  R & C Dream Truck, and its accident pictures; Honest Charley's ads (wonder if I could still get a set of duals & mufflers from him for $23.95 to fit my '57 Dodge ?); cool taillight ideas for your '56 Chevy (instead of a set of '56 Packard lenses, Page 240 will show you how neat a set of  '56 Chryler units look.),  Well, you get the picture...and, if you REALLY want to know "how it was back in the day" this is the book that will let you find out.  I'm glad I was able to get my copy...you need one for your library too !

(TO HEAR R&C's founding Editor, SPENCE MURRAY, tell how it was created in 1953.  Just click-on here, listen, enjoy !    THE ORIGIN OF ROD & CUSTOM MAGAZINE )

  " COLE FOSTER AND THE SALINAS BOYS",  by Cole Foster with Mike LaVella. Motorbooks, Pub.

 COLE FOSTER is among the very best of the new breed of builders that have surfaced in the last two decades.  I've always liked Cole's work and, a few years ago when I was putting this WebSite together,  I eMailed the info to Cole and he sent me back a note saying he'd be glad to help in anyway he could.  So when this book arrived I was really glad that his craftsmanship could be seen by the masses.

Cole's cars have been magazine features, show winners, and, been "daily drivers" to some who own 'em.  His work is impeccable, his attention to the smallest detail echoes "perfection", and, seen in person, his cars will flat-out blow you away !   They are truly "state-of-the-art" .

Cole learned from one of the best: his dad, the late Pat Foster, and he not only builds dynamite cars...he puts together some super cool bikes as well. But, I'm getting ahead of the story !   Check-it out for yourself, you will be amazed at some of the pics...many from Cole's personal collection !! 

  "HOW TO  BUILD A TRADITONAL FORD HOT ROD", By Mike Bishop & Vern Tardel. Motorbooks, Pub.

SO YOU'VE BEEN TELLING YOURSELF FOR YEARS: "One of these days, I gotta put together a REAL Ford "Hot Rod !"  But, you don't want to commit to just "any" type of Rod...you want an in-your-face, drive-down-the-road kind of machine you saw (and, see) in all of those black & white,  or, sepia-toned, pix from the "Golden Age" of Hot Rodding.

Well, friends, step right up and listen closely: "How To Build A Traditional Ford Hot Rod", written by MIKE BISHOP, and, constructed along the way by VERN TARDEL, IS the answer to your prayers !   It will not only show you how to accomplish your dream but, in addition, will guide you step-by-step through the ENTIRE process...explaining how to do it THE RIGHT WAY !

I would have recommended this book to begin with but, more importantly, the book's writer, Mike Bishop (a California native) and I have a bond/connection neither one of us was aware of until now:  Mike was inspired to build an Model A-based rod  when he was about 12 years old, after seeing a beautiful version of that car built by DON FERRARA !  WELL, if you read my "Tribute Page To Don Ferrara" on this WebSite,  or my Info on the top of this Page, you know that, growing up in St. Louis, at the age of 13, my interest in Customs began by seeing Don's '49 Ford on the cover of "HONK!" !   So though we were miles apart, both Mike & I were influenced in our choices by one man: Don Ferrara !

Throughout this book you will learn that Mike's "Bluey" Hot Rod Ford was based on Don's Model A.  You will also learn that, when it comes to building & re-building Ford Flathead's, Vern Tardel is an expert in all phases of working with that motor.   And, on Page 149, you'll even see "the man" himself, Don Ferrara, behind the wheel of Mike's "A", giving the final approval to the build of a car he inspired so many years earlier.   It truly doesn't get any better than that.    

(TO  READ MY TRIBUTE to Don Ferrara , just click-on here ...and thanks in advance.   Don was one of the "real" Pioneers who could do it all, and do it well, in BOTH Rods & Customs.)

 "ED 'BIG DADDY' ROTH: HIS LIFE, TIMES, CARS, AND ART", by Pat Ganahl, Foreword by Robert Williams.  Contact: Motorbooks, Pub.

AFTER MANY YEARS OF FOLLOWING HIS WORK in Rod & Custom, Custom Rodder, Street Rodder, etc., I finally met PAT GANAHL at the 29th Annual KKOA Lead Sled Spectacular in Salina, Kansas.  Pat's been a recognized figure in the Rod & Custom Industry for decades and has written many books during that time.  Being based in California, he's also met most of the great, and near-great, in his various capacities as editor, writer,  photographer.

One of those most-memorable characters that Pat met and knew was the "one-and-only" Ed "Big Daddy" Roth.  He's put together an inside-look at Ed's life in this unique book that involved the help of Ed's family,  friends,  former co-workers, et al.   Nothing is left out, everything is covered.  The amount of rare, personal photos,  and information, PLUS, a complete chronology of Ed's cars, restored cars,personal rides, and his art itself,  is worth the price of admission alone.

No, this book isn't new, but that's not the point. It's a hardcover volume, slickly produced, and if you want to know almost ANYTHING about Ed Roth...you'll probably find it between these pages.

SPECIAL NOTE:  A fascinating tale of Ed's "ROTAR" starts on PAGE 74 of the book.  Old friend, MARK MORIARITY  helped with info & pix on Roth, and to hear Mark's story about meeting Ed and restoring that infamous machine, just click-on here: Restoring Ed Roth's "Rotar" !    This is one you MUST hear !!

  "VIRGIL EXNER: VISIONEER", by Peter Grist. Veloce Books, Dist. By Motorbooks, Pub.

This is the official biography of one of the Automotive Industries most creative Designers.  Ever own a 50's-60's MoPar ?  I have: two sleek '57 Dodge Hardtops. This is the man who created  those and the rest of  "The Forward Look". 

But many forget that Exner spent time at Studebaker, and GM, before he ever got to Chrysler.  In fact, check-out pages 15 & 17 of this book for some of my favorite Studebaker illustrations by "Ex",  as he liked to be called.   He worked on the '36 Buicks, and the '35-'36 Ponitiacs for GM. He also worked on the designs for the late-30's Studes, my Dad owned a new '39 Champion...Ex was in on those.  In addition, he created the landmark, post-war designed 1947 Studebaker.  And, yes, years later, his Chrysler 300 Series would be one of the most legendary of all !  However, don't blame Exner for the 1962 MoPars that hit the streets...someone else was responsible for shrinking his original, really beautiful designs.

Most remember his as "The Fin Man" , BUT, VIRGIL EXNER, did much more than design "fins".  He really envisioned where not only cars, but boats too could be taken into the future. And, if you've ever thought of moving to Detroit and seeking a job as a designer, you need to read Exner's story on Pages 88 & 89.   It's truly an eye-opener. I learned much that I never would have without his professional input on the subject of "Corporate Designing In Detroit".

This is one of the most comprehensive books of its kind you'll ever find, and it also covers the career of Exner's son: Virgil Exner, Jr.  His story alone could be the subject of a book on its own.  The many never-before-seen pictures, artwork, designs, and family pictures that are in this book, plus, the meticulous research done to put this book on your shelf, are all A+, so don't hesitate to get it for yourself, OR, give it as a gift.

  "HOT ROD KINGS: TOP TRADITIONAL ROD AND CUSTOM BUILDERS", by David Perry & Kevin Thompson, Foreword by Billy F Gibbons.  Motorbooks, Pub.

If you've read my above review for Alan Mayes' "Old School Customs" book, then you'll understand it when I say that you need to pick-up this volume also. "HOT ROD KINGS" covers 11 truly gifted builders:  KeithTardel, Sean Johnston, Mike Smith, Rudy Rodriguez,  Mercury Charlie, and six others including Cole Foster, and my old friend Gary Howard.

KEVIN THOMPSON'S writing chronicles each of these superb craftsmen, and DAVID PERRY'S  photography is simply awesome.   You not only get a history of each of these artists, but a look at their shops, garages, finished, and, unfinished projects.  There are cool stories about Joe & Jason (the Kennedy Brothers), Jimmy White (Circle City Hot Rods), and,  Scott Mugford (Blue Collar Customs).  All-in-all, I can't say enough good things about this book !  

"HOT ROD KINGS" is a MUST for your library-collection of Rod & Custom books.  David Perry's inspired, on-location pix are justification enough to bring this one home as soon as possible ! (In case his name sounds familiar, David Perry also did the magnificent photography in Billy Gibbons'  book...a review on that book is on this page too.)

(HEAR GARY HOWARD's story about building JIMMY VAUGHAN's  '61 "Hot Rod" Caddy !  Simply click-on here to listen. )

 "GO THE GREYHOUND WAY: THE ROMANCE OF THE ROAD", By Robert Gabrick.  Dist. by Motorbooks,

SINCE THE WHEEL WAS INVENTED, we've always tried to figure out how to move groups of people to their destinations.  On land,  frst there were carts, then wagons, coaches,  buck boards, and, stage coahes.   Later, trains did the job.  But trains couldn't always traverse "inland" areas, so in the early part of the 20th Century - continuing motorized transportation after the birth of the automobile - busses were invented.   And, with its humble beginnings in 1914, The Greyhound Bus Company, eventually became the countries largest bus-oriented "people mover".

You might think it's funny to have a review of  book about a bus company on an R&C car Site, BUT how many of you,  at one time or another, HAVE ridden on a Greyhound ?  I know I sure have !   Many years ago, when I was still in High School, I went with a buddy of mine to visit a former classmate of his...in Monterey, Mexico !!   Yep, we took a bus from St. Louis, Missouri  to Monterey, Mexico, and back.   And it was an adventure I'll never forget.  (Remind me to tell you some stories from that trip one of these days ! )

Well, that's what ROBERTY GABRICK has created with this book:  a look back at the "romance of the road", the excitement of sharing a road trip with a group of people...some who may become friends after your journey, no matter how long.

Great pictures, a fantastic chronology of  EACH AND EVERY BUS BUILT for and used by Greyhound, and, superb coverage of the ads that were placed in magazines for many decades by the company.   All aluding to the company's later-trademark phrase:  "Go Greyhound, and leave the driving to us ! "    This is a book well worth your time, with reams of information about a time period that existed when America, and Greyhound, both ran at a simpler pace.

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  "DARRYL STARBIRD: THE BUBBLE TOP KING ", by Darryl Starbird and Brice Bledsoe

 DARRYL STARBIRD is one of the longest-running Legends & Builders in the Rod & Custom Industry.  Darryl's been a friend for many years, BUT this book speaks for itself...I'd recommend it even if I'd never met the man !  It covers his ENTIRE life & career, never-before-seen family pictures, early cars of his and his clients, ALL of his personally-built creations, the National Rod & Custom Hall Of Fame Museum, and much, much more.

This beautifully hard-bound volume contains over 1,000 photos, has over 240 color pages, and is so big that it should probably be sold by the pound !  It was written with the help of Darryl's grandson, Brice Bledsoe, AND YOU CAN HEAR DARRYL EXPLAIN how it all came together by clicking-on this link: Darryl Starbird

To find out how you can get your personal copy of "THE BUBBLE TOP KING", go to Darryl's WebSite: www.darrylstarbird.com/giftshop.htm

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ITEMS ARE ALWAYS ADDED TO THE LIST AS I GET A CHANCE TO GO OVER THEM,  but if you don't have these they're a GREAT start !   I've gone over all of  'em all, they're in my library, and they need to be in yours !!    JK

Many thanks to NICHOLE SCHIELE at MOTORBOOKS for her help and support !

THE MOTORBOOKS WEBSITE ! To get more info & see more of any of the books listed here, simply click-on here: http://www.motorbooks.com/

OR, Call Them At:  1- 800-458-0454