Americans define themselves by their cars. The auto industry touches Americans in a way nothing else does--and more than any other invention, the car altered the contours of modern-day life. Right from the start, when the first Ford vehicle rolled onto the road, everyone wanted to own one. And, the best dream-mobiles came from Detroit, "Motor City," USA. This is the business that became the pillar of America's economy and a national symbol. As you pore through superb illustrations of the greatest cars that ever came off the production line--from the Model-T right through the Chevies, GTOs, Corvettes, Mustangs, and Thunderbirds of the 1950s and 60s, up to today's icons--you'll also get an overview of the industry, and its history, birth, growth, and position in the present-day marketplace. A chapter on each decade, starting at day one and projecting into a fantastic future, shows the changing design and the magnificence of these classic autos.