Ok, to be honest, while reading through the opening pages of this book, I thought I was going to have to put it down...there was so much whining about how 'east had the best cars and that the west got all the coverage! '… blah blah blah...BUT...I kept reading because I knew there had to be more ... and boy was there! Absolutely beautiful cars of all kinds, from all over, with interesting history and stories included! As a car girl, I just wanted to see and hear about the cars, which was provided in abundance! Of course for those of you that love a good argument, there's plenty of ego on both sides explaining why they're the “best”. But it's nice to see in the conclusion of the book an acknowledgement that the look and style of the cars are just different from place to place, not necessarily better or worse! These cars are a labor of love no matter where you happen to live...I know this, having a husband that is always wanting to fix up his '67 Camaro...and who can blame him ... she's a beauty! Anyway ... if you enjoy cars and some east vs. west rivalry ... then this is the perfect book for you!! ( )

Not just a picture book, though the pictures are marvelous, this is also a history of Hot Rod Culture, as well as American culture in the mid-20th century.

Lot's of info on "how they did it" and the evolution of hot-rodding is presented in very personable terms. These are the stories of the builders of these super cars, how they squeezed an extra few horses out of an engine, when gas was cheap.

This book is a must-have for anyone who loves those fast, rowdy rods. You'll also learn the differences in the approach to speed and design between the coasts, and among individuals. ( )