10 Fascinating Books About Car History You Need to Read

The best books about car history are appealing on several levels. They combine the history of a specific brand or construct of car with the history of the automotive industry as a whole, comparing the two against each other so that readers can develop a greater sense of what it took to cement each automobile's legacy in the general history of automobiles. Tracing different trends and designs over the years is eye-opening, especially for automotive experts, aspiring engineers, or the everyday mechanic. You can spot societal shifts in the designs of vehicles, as well as the cultural importance of owning and maintaining certain types of vehicles. Each piece of literature tells a captivating story, and anyone from hobbyists to professionals would be able to enjoy what's between the covers of these titles.

Let's be honest, it's definitely more entertaining to read books about car history if they have a visual element. Classic Car: The Definitive Visual History does just that. Realistic illustrations act as virtual tours of classic cars, ranging from the pre-war designs of the 1930s and 1940s to the flashy sports cars of the 1980s. A detailed automotive history follows every photo, and in addition to page-by-page pictures, readers can enjoy two-page spreads of the most popular models to hit the road. High quality visuals and comprehensive discussions about designers, manufacturers, and changes in the production process come together to create a must read history for all lovers of classic cars.

If you're looking for a good read, Drive: The Definitive History of Driving is one of the most comprehensive that you'll find. Beginning with horseless carriages, the book explores the first internal combustion engines, the prestige and glamour that used to accompany the very act of going for a drive, and how accessibility to cars drives the world today. It charts the popularity of luxurious cars during the golden age of the automobile, along with the world's fascination with muscle cars, race cars, and hot rods. Because it's a Smithsonian publication, you're guaranteed a detailed account of every changing trend in the automotive industry.

Plenty of books about car history focus on a single car. Such is the case with Keith Tanner's Mazda MX-5 Miata: Twenty-Five Years. The Mazda MX-5, known almost exclusively as the Miata in the United States and Canada, is a fan favorite because of the way it powered the market for lightweight roadsters. It combines the design of sporty cars from the UK and Italy with the functionality and reliability of Japanese vehicles. Fans have long considered the Miata to be the epitome of what a sports car is supposed to be.

People who are passionate about Porsches can't miss this 70 year retrospective. Randy Leffingwell did his due diligence in making sure to represent a Porsche for every fan. Regardless of if you're dead set on the sleek 911 or you love the first 356, they're all displayed in a mixture of written history and stunning photos, along with historical Porsche images that you'd be hard pressed to find anywhere else. Because Porsche worked with the author and cooperated with the writing of the book, readers also have access to the anecdotes and details associated with Stuttgart's most well-known designs, including the 904, the 928, and the 956.

Some books about car history have good book covers. The best books about classic cars ever written typically have fantastic ones. My Dad Had That Car falls into that category. Though simple, it has a nostalgic pull, just as the subtitle promises. Great books about cars are comprehensive. This behemoth boasts 1,300 pages, which includes information on over 10,000 American vehicles with 12,000 illustrations and revealing 70 years of automobile history. The commentary is informative but pithy, making this the perfect coffee table book.

If it's not apparent, Randy Leffingwell is appreciative of the Porsche, and understandably so. The Porsche 911 is an undeniably beautiful automobile. Released as something of a 50th anniversary celebration, Porsche 911: 50 Years traces the evolution of the car, beginning with the prototype (the 901) that started it all. You learn about the RS cars, the Turbo, and the 959, which is largely responsible for defining what a sports car truly is. The book also provides details about the men behind the 911, such as Ferry Porsche, Butzi Porsche, Peter W. Schutz, and engineer Dr. Helmuth Bott. If you're thinking about the things you need to know before buying a Porsche 911, you need this book.

Rather than just an anthology of classic cars, this book traces the evolution of automobiles from the initial prototypes through to today's sexy supercars. From a time when cars were little more than curiosities for the well-to-do to the accessibility of vehicles in the modern age, the book also charts the history of drivers. It consists of technicolor catalogs with an international slant, providing a wealth of eye-opening discoveries for genuine car enthusiasts.

Who doesn't love a Volkswagen? Because this book is a detailed collection of one of the quirkier car models around, this book makes for an amazing coffee table book for the VW fan in your life. The avid enthusiast can learn about a new VW model with each selection. That affords them the opportunity to find out why the Volkswagen Type 1, the classic Beetle with the air-cooling system, is widely considered to be one of the 20th century's most exceptionally engineered automobiles. They can also discover how a German car became one of the best classic cars of the 60s in North America.

Forget about Henry Ford II. The story of Harley Earl is much more interesting. For anyone interested in entertaining and informative books about car history, read no further. This is the story of a visionary as much as it is an examination of General Motors and its impact on Detroit. Harley Earl's story epitomizes the American dream, but it's interesting to read about his origins today, particularly given the state of the modern automotive industry. It's one of the great books about cars because of the way it reflects on current affairs.

Patrick Foster's book about the Jeep makes a bold claim right in the title, but he follows through with pages of illustrations and history detailing how the Jeep reached its iconic status. It's one of the most engaging books about car history ever written because the Jeep's existence is inextricably tied with the military, and with World War II specifically. It's unlike other car books in that way, since it appeals both to Jeep fanatics and fans of history, in general.