While I don't have much to add to the commentary of the other reviewers, the GM "dream" cars ran the gambit from almost viable prototypes to total flights of fancy, with the sky being the limit. Admittedly, some of these machines are easy to parody; I personally find it hard to get over a particular machine from 1950, the Cadillac Débutante, a convertible that featured such details as gold-plated interior fittings and leopard-skin upholstery trim! The author notes that it probably didn't provide the inspiration for the play and movie "The Solid Gold Cadillac," but myth is sometimes more fun than reality. Besides that the particular charm of this book for me is the color photography of the show cars that still exist. ( )

THE SUBJECT:
Motorama: GM's Legendary Show and Concept Cars captures the history of GM's traveling auto show of the 1950's and 1960's and the beautiful dream cars showcased during this period.

THE SCRIBE:
An automotive historian, David Temple has authored numerous articles in automobile magazines and has written several books, including Full-Size Fords: 1955-1970, GM's Motorama: The Glamorous Show Cars of a Cultural Phenomenon, and The Cars of Harley Earl.

THE STYLE:
Each chapter delves into the Motorama show from a particular year, highlighting the dream cars that made each event famous. The concluding chapter shifts to present-day concept cars (the personal favorites of the current head of GM Global Design).

THE SUBSTANCE:
In truth, it is hard for Temple's prose to compete with the extravagant photographs contained his his book: one picture of the 1954 Buick Wildcat II--or the 1956 Pontiac Club de Mer, or the 1956 Oldsmobile Golden Rocket, or the 1953 Cadillac Le Mans---is worth a thousand words. Event photographs, Motorama posters, before/after renovation pictures, and concept clay model depictions all unite to transport the reader back into the golden age of concept cars.

THE SPECIFICS:
Temple traces the rise of the modern concept car through the personalities that brought them to life. The father of the concept car, Harley Earl, once explained his method: "I often act as a prompter. If a particular group appears to be bogging down over a new fender or grille or interior trim, I sometimes wander into their quarter, make some irrelevant or even zany observation, and then leave. It is surprising what effect a bit of peculiar behavior will have. First class minds will seize on anything out of the ordinary." Temple's book is littered with similar anecdotes, resurrecting the minds that gave birth to GM's legendary show cars.

THE SCOOP:
The cars are exquisite and the details are meticulously curated to take the reader back into the Motorama age. But my words fail to do justice to the beauty of the photographs found within this delightful book. ( )

At least at some level, I've been a car enthusiast since I was a kid ... there's something magical about great automotive styling, and something uniquely American about our fondness for distinctive automobiles. That sort of affection is a little harder to maintain today, in an era of global designs and stalling that focuses more on fuel economy than on flair -- but it was really something back in the 1950s, an era when Detroit Iron was at its peak, and when over-the-top car concepts were arguably at their most-daring best.

This book is a great homage to that era, filled with detailed descriptions and publicity shots of the greatest GM concept cars of that era. It's a fascinating look at the mid-century American auto industry, and a tremendously fun read for anyone who loves cars ... or anyone who loves that era, for that matter. Highly recommended, and it left me wishing that I had a 4,000-pound car with tail fins in my driveway. ( )

Photos, technical details and write-ups of concept cars by GM from the 1950s. It was fascinating to see the concept cars that never made it to production. And the prototypes of ones that did go into production: Corvette, Nomad, etc. My dad drove several Buicks such as Skylark and LeSabre in the 1960s so it is well after the time range of this book. But every photograph is of interest. I recommend this book to anybody interested in history and in GM

Temple sets out to present a comprehensive, detailed overview of the GM Motorama traveling car shows from 1949--1961. Additionally, his intent is to address misconceptions, present new information and photos, and bring us ". . . the next best thing to actually stepping back in time to attend the GM Motorama." On all counts, he succeeds.

Growing up during that era in Detroit, meant that most of the adults in my life had a connection to the auto industry. Many families made an event out of waiting outside the dealer's downtown showroom to watch the curtains being drawn back to reveal the newest models. Car shows were standard entertainment, with beautiful women, music, rotating platforms, and visions of the future. For the rest of the country, from New York to San Francisco, it was the GM Motorama that brought the magic of the Motor City to them.

A friend who worked for GM at the time (and recalls driving the original Firebird II) says the Motorama "showcased innovative concept cars, including experimental gas turbine driven models, and advances in component technology in a futuristic setting . . . reflecting an era when automotive sheet metal design was a real art form, unfettered by Federal standards for safety and fuel economy." He agrees this book is exceptionally well illustrated. Temple documents this travel back in time with original photographs (interior and exterior), stylist renderings, and advertising materials. He also presents a bit of GM history, biographies of important innovators, and some modern concept cars from 2003--2015.

Temple's MOTORAMA is an important historical record and a delightful book for older folks who want to reminisce and younger folks who want to see what they missed. ( )