Pete Evanow

This is a unique and interesting book chronicling the Ford Bronco from its concept to the beautiful SUV it is today.
It was interested in reading this book because we bought a new Bronco Sport, Outer Banks in July 2923 right off the lot in our small Missouri town. We were immediately impressed with it.
I enjoyed learning about its beginnings. This book was quite nostalgic for me. I remember a trip to Dearborn as a young teen, where my family toured the Ford Assembly plant and the Famous Rotunda. Growing up we had a ‘49 Ford Woody Station Wagon. As a young married, we were given a Ford Falcon by my husband’s parents. As mature marrieds, we own an ‘07 Ranger and a brand new Bronco Sport.
It was fascinating to see how each of these older models had a part in the concept or realization of the Bronco. I especially liked the photos of the different models.
I recommend this book for owners of any Ford product because it is also a partial history of Ford and a glimpse into the workings of the automobile industry.
*I was able to read this ebook via NetGalley. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*… (meer)

Nissan Z: 50 Years of Exhilarating Performance is a wonderful history not only of the Z car but of Datsun/Nissan in the USA.

I never owned one of these cars but drove many of them. Between friends owning them and swapping cars for a day with other car owners at some of the tracks that allowed street cars to compete, I came to appreciate the 240 through the 300.

As someone who liked the cars but didn't really keep up with every nuance, this book was fascinating for me. I remember many of the older models mentioned here, models other than the Z cars, but did not fully grasp the many differences between them. This is definitely one of those histories that requires moving outside the direct line of Z cars since the success of various models in the US is what allowed Nissan to develop and expand their offerings. So even aside from any parts similarities these diverse models often depended on the success of each other to continue.

I found it interesting to look back on the 240Z styling after so long. I'm not sure I appreciated just how great those cars looked. As far as my personal tastes, I like the 240 exterior as well or better than many contemporary cars of today. But at the time and shortly after (through the 70s) I was mostly driving Chevrolets with a few Mopars thrown in and one Ford, so the styling that appealed to me at the time was the bigger muscle car look.

I highly recommend this to both fans of the Z cars and fans of automotive history. The writing and the images represent a wonderful nostalgic trip (for those around my age) or a great historical record (for all you young whippersnappers).

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.… (meer)