| Happy
50th Birthday Corvair! |
Diamond
T |
Rolls-Royce
for India's royalty |
 The
first Corvair came to our home in 1967. For many years
Corvairs were my only transport and main passion in life.
I've owned more Corvairs than any sane human should. My
lifetime count hovers around 200... |
 In
the last fifteen years or so I have discovered truck literature
and it is fascinating. Today's trucks are not boring...
but those 1930s, 1940s and 1950s truck catalogs are very
interesting! |
 India
was a significant market for Rolls-Royce in the early
years. By 1947, over 900 RR cars had made it to Indian
shores. Coachbuilders went to great lengths to please
their Indian customers... |
 |
| Original
Paint Chips |
Pontiac
Dream Cars of 1953, 1954 & 1955 |
 For
restorers and car owners who are diehard originalists,
finding a set of paint chips for the year and model
of car that is being restored is equivalent to finding
a gold mine. These sets show the exact colors along
with mixing info, color combinations, code numbers...
|
 Rather
than talk about all the gloom and doom surrounding
America's automobile industry, Larry Kummer takes
a look at three of Pontiac's "dream cars"
— the 1953 Parisienne, the 1954 Strato Streak,
and the 1955 Strato Star... |
|
| Wallace
Wyss - Artist Profile |
America's
Packard Museum |
For almost four decades until 2007, Wallace Alfred
Wyss was a magazine writer and book author when
he made his first oil painting. That started his
move into the fine arts world. We caught up with
him at a concours and asked him about his new direction.
|
 Did
you know that 'America's Packard Museum' is the
world's only restored Packard dealership operating
as a museum, and only full-time museum dedicated
exclusively to the Packard Motor Car Company, its
products and philosophies. |
|
|
| Ford's
Road Leads To Mustang |
My
Super Beetle |
Citroen
SM (1970) |
 In
1960 I thought Ford literature was too commonplace to
be considered 'collectible'. It was true that Ford, Chevrolet,
Plymouth, etc were neither luxurious nor sporty. Then,
as if on cue, Mustang, Corvette, Camaro and Barracuda
came along to change that! |
 Wayne
Dean's life is closely woven around the automobile and
has been witness to many an adventure — the most
enduring one being the 'Super Beetle'. No dalliance, this
one. Wayne's life seems dedicated to the Beetle. Read
his story in his own words. |
 Launched
in 1970, the SM was an even more ambitious project than
the DS. Regardless of cost, Citroen wanted to show the
world it could better the offerings from Jaguar, Porsche
and others. In the end, this state-of-the-art coupe was
a commercial failure. |
|
| Unanticipated
Investment |
Quality
Control |
How
To Decide Which Car You Should Restore |
 John
did invest for the future. He just didn't realize that
was what he was doing. Literature can be a money machine.
The older it gets, the more valuable it becomes.
|
 Most
collectors prefer the literature they acquire to be in
very good condition. Some demand it. Few sources are as
consistent in their quality as MAH, the largest &
oldest... |
 Once
you’ve decided that you’re ready to buy and
restore an older car, the next decision is 'which car'
would be the best restoration project for you. Not an
easy one! |
|
| The
End of the Affair |
Printed
brochures soon to be a memory? |
Don't
Forget Dealer Literature |
 The
recent newspaper headline "Bankrupt General Motors"
wasn’t a matter of economics. It was the story of
a tragic romance whose magic was killed by bureaucrats,
bad taste and busybodies. P.J. O’Rourke on why Americans
fell out of love with the automobile... |
 All
auto literature collectors should know that several car
manufacturers are doing away with printed brochures under
the guise of being "green", but take heart —
dealerships will be handing out brochures for a long time... |
 Collecting
literature for any make seems to begin with brochures.
But it should not end there. How about Dealer Literature?
Real leather samples, original paint chips, technical
drawings, and more — all found in a dealer's album
or data book... |
|
| Automotive
Books |
The
Fisher Body Craftsman's Guild — An Illustrated History |
GM
Concepts |
Collecting books about automobiles was very straightforward
in the 1950s. A few small specialty book shops in California,
New York and London would advertise in car magazines such
as "Road & Track", "Motor Trend"
and "The Motor". |
 The
Fisher Body Division of GM began in 1930 to encourage
teenagers to compete for college scholarships by building
Napoleonic coach models. Great as the new cars were, the
concepts or experimental cars were better. |
 For
the past few years we have been gathering up photos of
mid-1930s to early-1940s General Motors concept renderings
that apparently were collected by GM designer, William
L. Mitchell... Here is the grand finale... |
|
| Change
Creates Nostalgia |
Racing
(Part 1) |
Collecting
Automotive Literature |
Every time there are significant changes in automotive
design or engineering, the old car hobby grows several
notches in stature. This is about to happen again as the
"green car" unfolds before our eyes...
|
 Cars
with a reputation for performance stoke in us the fierce
competitive spirit and the secret longing to be behind
the wheel as a race car ace... "Racing improves the
breed" is a slogan often heard. And it does. |
 If
collecting real cars is simply too impractical, then hunting
down transport-related literature is the thing to do.
But the first thing to consider is what 'type' of literature
to collect... |
|
| Investing
in Literature |
Pre-World
War II Brochures |
Showroom
Postcards — 1930s through 1950s |
 Literature
collectors have reasons to rejoice. While the stock market
and real estate have been sinking, auto literature remains
an excellent investment. But then, it has always increased
in value. |
 As
a kid in the late forties and early fifties, I was more
impressed with the few pre-war cars on the streets, parked
at the back of service stations and owned by collectors
than a new 1949 Ford or 1951 Cadillac. |
 Showroom
dealers have been mailing postcards to prospective customers
for over 100 years, but it was not until the 1930s that
salesmen began passing them out in their showrooms. |
|
Ferrari
SP1.
More Than Unique |
Fiat |
The
Making of Shelby Cars in Detail |
 Junichiro
Hiramatsu of Japan has more than just imagination. After
decades of amassing an impressive collection of Ferrari
literature and collecting several classic Ferraris, topping
it all off with a fabulous Enzo, what was left to do?
Find out... |
The new Fiat 500 has caught the attention of Europeans
and now a possible merger of Chrysler and Fiat could bring
Fiat to America. Welcome back to America, Fiat. My 'chance'
introduction to Fiat was with a Fiat 501 racer in 1980... |
 When
Frank Barrett's Cobra-driving buddy Eddie O'Brien suggested
a book on the cars in the Shelby American Collection,
Frank jumped at the idea, contacted publisher David Bull,
and got the green light. Shelby Cars in Detail
was off to the races... |
|
| Unusual
Postcards |
German
Press Kits |
Everything
Cadillac |
 Truly
rare are those postcards that are released by museums;
and even more collectible are the ones released by the
automakers themselves. Look at this sampling of manufacturer-published
postcards some of which are over 100 years old.
|
 Beginning
in the 1990s, press kits became more and more spectacular
until the mid-2000s. Innovative packaging and elaborate
on-stage presentations at auto shows were the norm as
each company tried to upstage its competitors. |
 Cadillac
literature is some of the most treasured literature, and
is the focal point in thousands of private collections
throughout the world. If for some strange reason, an interest
in Cadillac literature has eluded you, read on... |
|
| Plymouth
Nostalgia |
Loving
Mercedes-Benz Quality |
Dealer
Posters |
 Back
in the 1950s most all American cars had excellent styling,
but the outrageous fins of the 1957 Plymouth were more
than a showstopper. People simply stopped and stared at
the car in disbelief... The loss of Plymouth was a sad
event... |
 For
most Americans just after World War II, Mercedes-Benz
was associated with the enemy — Germany. However,
a couple of dealers in the USA began importing the 300S
model, and car magazines began touting the engineering
and quality... |
 Large-sized
automotive visuals lining the office or garage walls can
instantly transform the space into an impressive arena.
But most collectors cringe at the prohibitive cost of
dealer posters. But there is good news... |
|
| Mercury's
Glory Years |
Racing
& Show Programs |
Buyer's
Guide To Brochures |
 Recently
a Dodge dealer jokingly said, "Do they still make
Mercurys?" You almost have to stop and think before
you answer. Ford Motor Company has repeatedly stated that
Mercury will make a comeback as a solid Ford division.
I hope so as it was an impressive car in the past. |
 Going
to auto races, auto shows and concours are always memorable
events, especially if you participate in them. In the
1950s and 1960s I attended sport car races. They were
mostly regional events, but the desire to go to Sebring
or LeMans was a dream. |
 Why
should you have to guess at what you are purchasing? At
McLellan's Automotive History we are proud of our 48 years
of providing you with as complete a description as possible
and with taking all the guesswork out of purchasing brochures. |
|
| 356
Porsche Literature FAKES! |
Ford
Trucks |
Books
And Magazines |
 A
recent auction listing on the Ebay Auction Site prompted
me to put together this article to warn 356 Porsche literature
collectors, and those just acquiring a brochure for their
car, of known literature "FAKES". |
 It
may be a surprise to many that Ford dominated the collector
car hobby in the 1950s and 1960s. The first issue of "Hemmings
Motor News" that I saw was in the early 1960s and
cars, parts and... |
 What
got you started collecting automotive literature? I began
with sales brochures as a child - even before I could
read. Obviously it was the colorful pictures of cars that
caught my attention. |
|
| The
Best Increase in Value the Most |
The
Making of a Ford
Collection |
Austins |
 If
you have a nice collection of hundreds or thousands of
brochures, books, magazines, memorabilia, dealers albums,
etc., your collection increases significantly in value
each year assuming you keep them in good condition and
they are popular items that many collectors would like
to own. |
 I'm
only 27, and got into collecting this stuff recently.
I am a manager at a Ford store and in 2005 decided to
bring home one of each brochure from the 2005 model year.
As with many things people (men) do, it was actually to
impress a girl. She was my neighbor and was interested... |
 In
the 1960s I discovered "The Autocar" and "The
Motor" magazines on a newsstand. Here in the U.S.A.
issues were quite expensive and a quick read without being
told, "Are you going to read it, or buy it?"
was a challenge. If I could find some of the more exotic
marques... |
|
| Cars
and Literature of the 1970s |
First
Impressions |
Electric
Vehicles |
 Thirty
years seems like a long time to those youthful 30 and
40 year olds who admire the cars of the 1980s and 90s.
Those of us who are 60+ think of the cars of the 1950s
and 60s in the same way. |
 Pontiac
was exceptionally good at providing renderings for brochures
that were specifically aimed at potential customers. Notice
that the cars all appear lower, longer and wider than
they actually were. |
 The
high cost of gasoline and its' scarcity gave the other
sources of power an advantage that they quickly lost.
Now, here we are again with those advantages and an additional
reason save the environment. |
|
| Goodbye
Viper |
Land
Rover |
Collectibles
vs. Recession |
 Many
of us worry that Chrysler Corporation could disappear
all together. Becoming owned by Nissan or a Chinese company
would not be much of a relief. Maybe Tata will buy it
and add it to Jaguar and Rover... |
 My
introduction to Land Rover was in England in the 1970s
where wealthy farmers used them as gentleman's transportation.
One such farmer kept a Rolls-Royce in his garage along
with the Land Rover... |
 It
happens every time we have a recession. The stock market
and housing prices go down. As people get out of those
markets they need to put their money into something safe.
Yes, old car literature is a good option... |
|
| See
a Classic Car Show, Take a Nostalgia Trip |
Times
Are Changing... |
Lamborghini's |
 "People
always smile at my car and tell me their own Gremlin stories,"
says Mr. Nagle of Sylvania, Ohio. "One woman proudly
told me she was conceived in the back seat of a Gremlin." |
 Over
the last 48 years your needs have changed and we will
change with you. Soon you will see website improvements
at McLellan's Automotive History that will provide you
with an even more pleasurable buying experience, plus
more inventory. |
 When
I discovered sports cars in the early 1950s I immersed
myself in learning about the best the world had to offer.
"Road & Track", "Motor Trend",
Fawcett and Trend Books guided me to Ferrari, Maserati,
Mercedes-Benz and Aston Martin. |
|
| From
Boxy to Fins |
One
Historian Mourns the Passing of the Black and White Glossy |
Collectible
Tractors |
 Memories
from the late 1940s and early 1950s produce images of
aunts, uncles and grandparents driving bland, conservative
Dodges, Plymouths and DeSotos. They all looked alike to
a youngster like me.
|
 Horror
of horrors, the black and white glossies have disappeared
from automaker press kits. Why? Because it costs an automaker
far less to reproduce a digital CD ROM with hundreds of
pictures, all on one disc. |
 An
auctioneer barks out numbers in rapid-fire rhythm. In
a standing-room-only crowd, proxy bidders hunch over their
mobile phones and cover their ears. Auction-house assistants
fan out and move close to bidders who seem most intent
on winning. |
|
| How
I Met John Conlon |
Review:
Two Press booklets on the Rolls Phantom Drophead coupe |
Thanks
Dad! |
 When
the time came to purchase the family's first automobile,
John really did his research. He wrote to every company
that even thought about manufacturing an automobile before
he chose his new Hudson. |
 When
RR and Bentley split, Volkswagen bought Bentley, and BMW
bought the RR nameplate. Naturally, BMW takes a more modern
view of marketing reflected even in their brochures and
press kits. |
 I
owe my passion for classic cars and collecting literature
to my father, who would take me along on his literature
collecting jaunts, grabbing one or two copies of anything
he could get his hands on. |
|
| My
Story |
Rolls-Royce
and Bentley |
Collecting
for Fun and Relaxation |
 My
first inkling of interest in car literature occurred in
1957. My Dad ran a 1933 Chevy at the local dirt oval and
he received some minor sponsorship from the Chevrolet
/ Oldsmobile / Cadillac dealer in town. |
 Rolls-Royce
/ Bentley — "The Best Car in the World"...
Collectors hold tight to their Rolls-Royce / Bentley literature.
Scarcity makes for higher prices, so purchasing collections
has been difficult. |
 I
have re-kindled my childhood interest in automotive literature
and books... As a boy I was always fascinated by the brochures
and showroom sample books showing exterior and interior
trim, as well as the engineering features. |
|
| Your
Literature |
The
Family Station Wagon |
Packing
for Shipping |
 Whether
you collect flathead Ford literature, concept car brochures,
or are a restorer who hunts down dealer albums to use
in creating authentic restorations or anything in between
to something very strange, you have an audience here at
the "Automotive Chronicles" that wants to hear
about it. Don't be shy. |
 For
all of you who grew up with station wagons as a kid, or
as parents, or as someone who used them as work horses,
we present the second most popular body style of the 1940s
through the 1970s — the station wagon. Enjoy the
literature... |
 All
collectors know the condition of literature is important
and, if it lasted this long in good condition, it must
stay in good condition. The literature needs to arrive
in your hands in the same condition it is sent. |
|
| Dodge
Trucks |
Press
Kit Review |
Collecting
'Down Under' |
 As
a child I imagined myself becoming an archeologist and
joining a caravan of Dodge trucks across the desert. Fifteen
years later I found myself crossing the desert in Libya
as a geologist exploring for oil in a Dodge Power Wagon. |
 Frankfurt,
Tokyo, Los Angeles and now Detroit. Big auto shows around
the world show off their production and concept cars to
media and the public in hopes that the publicity will
increase their sales. |
 I
have collected automotive literature for most of my life
with the large amount of my collection being brochures,
and I enjoy a wide variety of makes and topics. My passion
is for literature from the 1960s and 1970s... |
|
| Owner's
Manuals |
MG
in America |
"Buy
Me a Ferrari" |
 Finding
the right brochures and books is the easy part of collecting
compared to finding all the miscellaneous literature such
as magazines with road tests, dealer albums for paint
and upholstery samples and memorabilia. |
 While
the British enjoyed MGs prior to World War II, and sports
cars were common throughout England and Europe, the newly
discovered MG was a novelty in the United States when
introduced just after the war. Even as popularity of the
MG grew, so grew the dissimilarity between American cars. |
 In
the early 1950s there were two places you might see a
Ferrari other than on a race track — Hollywood and
New York City... The actress sang "Buy Me a Ferrari",
to the man she was with in a movie from the 1950s... |
|
| International
Opportunities |
Ask
the Man Who Owns One |
Dealer
Stamps |
 With
the decline of the U. S. Dollar, the rest of the world
benefits from what can best be described as bargain prices
from McLellan's Automotive History (MAH). And, with newly
purchased collections, the MAH inventory is growing, giving
collectors more selection than ever. |
 Everyone
knows the name Packard — older readers identify with
their favorite 1930s classic, while younger readers will
envision a 1950s model. Packard was an outstanding automobile
from its beginning in 1899 and just continued to get better. |
 Does
that dealer stamp on the brochure cover bother you? How
about a well placed and attractive dealer stamp on a rare
brochure? The dealer stamp confirms the originality of
the literature. And some dealers are important enough
to give the brochure a "bloodline". Here are
a few examples of neatly applied dealership stamps... |
|
| Chevrolet
Literature |
Kaiser-Frazer |
Enhance
Your Collection |
 From
my mother's used 1952 Chevrolet to my used 1965 Corvair,
purchased when I got out of the Army, my path has been
laden with Chevys. All during those Chevrolet years I
pretty much took those cars for granted... |
 Without
WWII hero and shipmaker, Henry J. Kaiser, American troops
would have had nothing to fight with. At the end of the
war, Kaiser recognized the need to quickly convert the
military industrial back to private industry.
|
 Whether
you are interested in just one specific car, one make
of car, or have varied interests, programs and annual
reports contain numerous photographs of automobiles and
other vehicles that were being shown at show... |
|
| Commercial
Vehicles |
Triumph |
Coachbuilder's
Literature |
 Most
recently trucks and buses, and their literature, have
caught my attention. We have just added 1000+ truck &
bus brochures to our collection. You might want to take
a break from your current interest to browse through what
I find to be fascinating... |
 Triumph
was introduced to America as an affordable British sports
car. It was more than inexpensive fun around town. It
delivered the dream of becoming a race car driver. You
simply joined the Sports Car Club of America and raced
on one of the many abandoned World War II airbase in the
United States...
|
 Defining
a coachbuilder was simple prior to WW II. Luxurious bodies
were built on expensive chassis for wealthy customers.
Over the past 60 years we have seen two types of conversions
— replicas and custom bodies on mass-produced chassis
and cars with engine and/or body modifications. |
|
| The
Early Books |
Vintage
Bentleys |
The
Innovative Hudson |
 Prior
to 1960, twenty to thirty books constituted an impressive
automotive book collection. Naturally books that have
been written since then cover the makes and subjects that
readers are nostalgic for and pre-nostalgic (historical)
coverage has become less common. Look at these pre-1960
publications... |
 We
all have our favorite historical make. Having devoted
much time to so many prewar marques and owning several,
I have confirmed multiple times that Vintage Bentley is
my favorite. And my tribute is... |
 After
building airplanes and landing craft engines during World
War II, Hudson re-entered the auto market in 1946 with
essentially 1942 models. Then, in 1948, Hudson did what
it was best at — stepping out in front of the rest
of the industry with an innovative design. |
|
| Wolseley |
Buses/Engines/Fire
Trucks/Tractors/Trains... |
The
Schödel Collection |
 Few
Wolseley automobiles ever made it to America... After
years of acquiring Wolseley literature my curiosity got
the better of me when a literature collector, who had
spent many years in England in the 1950s through 1960s,
sold us his literature collection. |
 We
have recently acquired a large batch of literature that
goes under odd sections such as, 'Buses', 'Engines', 'Fire
Trucks', 'Tractors', 'Trains'... Vehicles you would not
have thought about for many years... |
 This
self-published book by Ulrich J. Schödel showcases
almost every piece of Aston Martin and Lagonda literature,
factory records, posters, manuals... This whole literature
collection (not the book) is for sale... |
|
| Jaguar
in the 1950s |
The
Beautiful Brute |
Sunbeam
& Sunbeam-Talbot |
 When
Jaguar entered the North American market after World War
II it had a good promotional program that sent their cars
to sports car hungry American. G.I.'s coming home from
Europe had discovered a new toy that was fast and fun
in the corners. |
 When
the Chrysler Letter Cars first appeared, the phrase "The
Beautiful Brute" suddenly emerged out of nowhere
-- but it fit. As the Paul Bunyan of cars, this Chrysler
created an image of big, powerful and fast, which set
it apart from sports cars and hot rods... |
 I
acquired a nice, used Sunbeam Alpine in 1968... there's
a story to it... The most memorable for sports car enthusiasts
was the Alpine that Carroll Shelby stuffed a V-8 in and
called it a Tiger. |
|
| Beyond
the Mustang II |
Taxi
Cabs, Police Cars & Emergency Vehicles |
U.S.
Postwar Econocars |
 From
the birth of the Mustang as a 1964 1/2 model, to its golden
age which ended with the high performance models in 1973,
Mustang was "The Pony Car"... Camaro, Firebird,
Barracuda and AMX were overnight rivals... |
 Nearly
any make of vehicle you can think of has been converted
at one time or another to a taxi, police or emergency
vehicle. Literature on these otherwise "plain Jane"
vehicles stands out... |
 WW
II set off a fuel shortage that produced the Austin Bantam
and Crosley. Once again the fear of expensive gasoline
has the auto industry second guessing our future with
several alternatives... |
|
| The
Dawn of the Auto |
Inquiring
Minds |
Exotic
Dropouts |
 Not
long ago we received a call from an over 100-year-old
Texas museum that had a room of literature... We have
acquired these impressively old catalogs in unbelievably
good condition... |
 How
to place a value on a collection... What you should be
collecting... Does the reduced price and wear and tear
imply that the item should be avoided... Ask us questions.
It is gratifying to be recognized for our 47 years of
experience. |
 Dream
cars turned into reality on a whim of the powerful...
Often driven by exotic designs and /or engineering, these
efforts frequently have limited longevity. A review of
exotic dropouts worth remembering and collecting. |
|
| Trucks
of the 1930s and 1940s |
Imperial
is Back |
Dune
Buggy/ATV Escapes |
 Most
automobile and literature collectors recognize trucks
as a small but growing part of the hobby. Truck literature
of the 1950s and 1960s is scarce, and prior to that extremely
rare. The trend to seek out the roots to the modern truck
is worth exploring. |
 DaimlerChrysler
has announced the return of the Imperial. Prior to World
War II, Imperial grew in status at Chrysler as a model
until it became an individual make after the war. It's
been a popular name... |
 With
names like Bandido, Boss Bug, Clodhopper, Custom Cougar,
Deserter, Dune Duster, Fun Buggy, Fun Hugger, Grasshopper,
Imp, Leap Frog, Minibug, Polywog, Desert Rat, how can
you keep but enjoying your weekends and vacations... |
|
| Rare
Maserati Find |
Original
Paint Chips |
Magazines
Are Literature Too |
 A
local retired gentleman had a few hundred brochures to
sell from the 1950s and early 1960s — his wife had
a use for the file cabinets and the brochures had to go...
half were foreign and, even better, many were rare makes.
The condition was immaculate... |
 For
restorers and car owners who are diehard originalists
finding a set of paint chips for the year and model of
car being restored is like finding a gold mine. I have
found a fabulous resource for those of you restoring a
car...
|
 Over
the years we have put together many sets of magazines
for our personal enjoyment usually as a result of owning
a specific make of car and wanting to learn everything
that we could about the car...
|
|
| Remembering
Oldsmobile |
BMW |
Collecting
Memories |
 I
dedicate this article to the people who were good enough
to own an Oldsmobile. You could revel in their glory as
you drove past lesser brands. But keep in mind —
those Buick and Cadillac owners were looking down at you.
|
 Are
BMWs collectible? Considering the popularity of the older
literature, and the increasing sales of the cars over
the last 50 years, there is a lot of enthusiasm for BMWs.
As these cars get older, interest always increases. |
 My
interest in things automotive began in toddlerhood if
not earlier. Family lore holds that the first identifiable
word out of my mouth was not mama or dada but "car";
I was pointing to my father's 1948 Nash at the time. |
|
| Toyota
Sports |
Automotive
Archeology |
Mitchel
DeFrancis: Automobilia Enthusiast |
 With
Toyota outselling all other makes of cars, it is not surprising
that old Toyota sports models are getting some attention.
Collectible? Well, the 2000GT certainly is, but few were
built. Maybe a review of the cars is in order.
|
 For
decades, auto literature collectors have sought information
on cars, usually from their youth. Now a new group of
collectors is emerging. The shift in interest to 'historical'
cars and literature from 'nostalgic' is important to the
growth of the hobby... |
 I
have been collecting literature since I was 12 years old.
My father, Paul, who is a big car enthusiast inspired
me... It was an insatiable addiction that fills my basement
at home... |
|
| Auto
Books - 50 Years |
The
Golden Age of Press Kits |
Iron
Curtain Literature |
 Autobooks
and Petersen Publishing out of California, Floyd Clymer
Publications in Washington, D.C., and Robert Bentley in
Massachusetts were gold mines for 'car nuts' in the 50s
and 60s... |
 As
vehicles improved, press kits developed a character of
their own. Many became very collectible as companies tried
to outdo each other with novel ways of getting the media's
attention... |
 Over
the years we have been fortunate in finding very rare
literature from countries throughout the world... Places
you might least expect — Russia, Czechoslovakia,
Poland... |
|
| Lincoln
As Art |
Planning
an Advertising Campaign |
Happy
Halloween |
 The
striking beauty of Lincoln auto art in brochures created
mental images that stirred emotional urges... The literature
of the 1930s through early 1960s can be quite artistic. |
 General
Motors decides it wants to focus its efforts on developing
customers for the Buick line of automobiles in 1963. How
does your local dealer know what to plan in the way of
promotionals for those cars?
|
 Halloween
is just around the corner... In keeping with the festive
spirit, we present to you a list of original Hearse literature.
Hearses by Lincoln, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Pontiac, Buick,
Oldsmobile, Dodge... |
|
| My
IHC Fever |
The
Popularity of AMC / Nash / Rambler |
Paint,
Upholstery, Data & More |
 My
IHC fever started over 25 years ago when I witnessed my
older brother, Ajah, restore an early 60s Jeep. The crew-cab
1973 4x4 Travelette was the first IHC baby that came home... |
 My
Rambler was a jewel which I remember fondly. I wish I
could say it was exciting — but it wasn't. What it
was was dependable and VERY economical. Apparently a lot
of nostalgia buffs share my sentiments... |
 If
you do not have an original dealer album to go with your
car or with your collection of literature on a specific
make/model of car your information is not complete. Let's
take a moment to examine everything that a typical dealer
album may contain...
|
|
| Styled
— For — Tomorrow |
Cadillac
Memories |
British
Luxury |
 First
built in 1929, the company sold 81,065 DeSoto cars in
its first 12 months! The public loved the car. But DeSoto
did not die a natural death in 1960. It was killed in
1960 by Chrysler Corp... If 1957 had been DeSoto's last
year they could have ended production with pride and glory... |
 As
a child in the late 1940s, identifying cars from the back
seat of our family car was a favorite pastime during trips
with my parents. The war was over and new cars, in general,
did not differ much from the early 1940s models but the
Cadillacs stood out... |
 With
all the famous marques built for the English masses long
gone — Austin, Wolseley, Riley, Morris, Triumph,
Singer, Hillman, Sunbeam (the list seems endless) —
Britain now concentrates on luxury cars that are appreciated... |
|
| 14
Steps: From Our Shop To Your Maildrop |
A
Collector's Story - Fifty Years and Counting |
1907
"Washington Times" Race |
 Do
you ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes before
you see the literature that we introduce you to through
our articles? Let's walk you through the process... And
you'll see, buying and selling literature isn't just a
business for us... |
 It
was 1957, I was ten years old and in Middle school when
my English teacher gave us a project that would spark
off my everlasting romance with automotive literature
collecting... |
 In
1907, "Washington Times" sponsored the "Sealed
Bonnet Contest". Only 12 contestants crossed the
finish line and one of them was John A Lutz... |
|
| Star
Cars — Year 2020 |
Australian
Auto Literature |
Mazda
Miata Memories |
 Where
will the old car hobby be in 2020? I can make predictions,
but so can most informed enthusiasts. Get ready for the
future now by doing the necessary research today. What
excited you in the past is the key to your future. |
 In
the 50s and 60s, the Australians seem to have got their
shipments of parts mixed up — or they were drinking
Foster's beer on the assembly line! The front of one car
was also the back of another!? |
 Historically,
Mazda recognized that an inexpensive sports car was needed
and, in 1990, they introduced the first Miata. It was
an overnight success and numerous articles have been written
on the subject. |
|
| Postwar
Studebaker |
Letteratura
Di Automobile Di Italiano |
Personal
Insights |
 Studebaker,
Raymond Loewy, Mercedes-Benz, Packard, Avanti... They
all connected in a way that got my attention during the
1950s and 1960s. The 1950 Studebaker really caught my
eye. It stood out among its competitors... |
 A
number of serious collectors of Ferrari literature began
their collections in the 50s which doubled when 'Ferrari
Brochures & Sales Literature' was published in 1977.
Prices began to rise and topped out by 1991... |
 Sure,
your house and stocks have gone up tremendously, but not
that much. Money can be made collecting automotive literature
and selling it later. It just keeps growing in value while
sitting there. An investment to enjoy... |
|
| GM
Concepts |
Camaro
Fever |
Grandad's
Cars |
 For
the past few years we have been gathering up photos of
mid-1930s to early-1940s General Motors concept renderings
that apparently were collected by GM designer, William
L. Mitchell... Here is the grand finale... |
 It
was in 1991 just after graduating from college that I
was romanced by a sleek red Camaro RS Coupe. In the first
two months that this beauty and I were a team... it made
me feel alive when I drove it... stood out in a crowd... |
 Do
historical cars just fade away? Today the majority of
collectors of literature and cars are caught up in nostalgia
for the dream machines of their youth. Anything older
than their teen years is historical... |
|
| Touring
India |
Auto
Shows |
Jeep
History |
 Exiting
the New Delhi airport and entering the traffic can be
an unnerving experience, but soon you see it's like a
waltz where you go across the ballroom in an indirect
path, dodging everyone else on the dance floor... takes
very alert and skilled driving! |
 I
have attended several of the Detroit Auto Shows and most
Houston Auto Shows since their inception. It was not until
the 1980s that press kits became very collectible. Today,
more and more new models are announced at remote private
showings, not at auto shows... |
 The
Jeep came into being in 1941 commissioned by the U.S.
Army. "The Jeep became a sign, the emblem, the alter
ego of the American fighting machine," said Col.
Conley... |
|
| Porsche
on Parade |
David
Greeney: Automobilia Collector |
Building
Dreams |
 Not
many automobile companies produce literature which is
as collectible as Porsche — all years and all models.
Porsche enthusiasts love anything Porsche related... |
 "I
was fortunate to have started my collecting career in
the 1950s thanks to an older cousin who was fanatical
about motor racing but not dedicated to 'hoarding'." |
 John
Jacobus' book has invigorated the memories of thousands
of former Guild participants and those who were associated
with the Guild. This our third article on the book. |
|
| Flathead
V-8 Fords |
Pre-War
Orphans |
The
Japanese Invasion |
 Ford
made the V-8 engine popular and those flathead Fords were
the basis of many 1950s hot rods. The literature for these
cars and trucks has become rare, especially for the trucks.
Ford's "Better Idea" today appears to be an
old idea... |
 Frequently
we have young collectors who are interested in pre-war
orphans — makes that were no longer built after World
War II. A lot of these orphans are only historical relics
of the past. What prompts interest in these cars which
are becoming increasingly forgotten? |
 The
Japanese, in need of cash to re-build their country after
WWII, went from exporting cheap household products to
heavy machinery and automobiles. The oil embargo of 1973
was the point at which Japanese automobiles began to make
their mark... |
|
| Swedish
Brothers |
French
Auto Literature |
The
Buick Flashback |
 If
you go to the Hershey or Carlisle swapmeets you will not
see many old Saabs and Volvos — cars, parts or literature.
I remember looking for foreign car parts and literature
in the 1960s and 1970s and getting blank stares when I
asked about Aston Martin and Jaguar. |
 Yes,
the French do make cars, although few come to the USA.
Europeans, South Americans and the Middle East have been
treated to a variety of French makes for over a century.
Renault, Citroen, Simca, Bugatti... |
 Buick
production for 1908 was 8,820 cars, second only to Ford.
During 1920, Buick production was 115,176, the highest
priced of which sold for $2,700. During the 30s and 40s
Buick was by far the car with the sharpest ornamentation
of all the GM vehicles. |
|
| Meeting
Tarun Thakral |
The
Mysterious Dale |
Ford
Overseas |
 India's
royal families are known to own the most envious collections
of antique cars. Tarun's collection is no less fascinating
— he is among India's prominent young car collectors... |
 Automotive
history was set to achieve a new landmark in 1974 —
newspapers reported the imminent launch of a two-seater
car called the Dale which would give 70 MPG and sell for
$2,000... |
 Henry
Ford wanted to promote affordable Ford cars and trucks
throughout the world. After his initial success in England,
Ford vehicles were produced and marketed in most of the
world... |
|
| Comments
on Packing Literature for Shipping |
Diamond
T |
Pinto
or Corvette? |
 Why
do you think we consider a $5.00 sheet as precious as
a $500.00 brochure? It is a piece of history and deserves
to be preserved, and passed down through generations... |
 In
the last ten years I have discovered truck literature
and it is fascinating. Today's trucks are not boring...
but those 30s, 40s and 50s truck catalogs are interesting! |
 The
literature is beginning to be collectible and often hard
to find. Remember, not many collectors thought about saving
it. For now it is relatively inexpensive, but as more
collectors look for it prices will rise. |
|
| Fisher
Body Craftsman's Guild |
Rick
Lenz - 10 Years Later |
Best
of Buick |
| The
Fisher Body Division of GM began in 1930 to encourage
teenagers to compete for college scholarships by building
Napoleonic coach models. Great as the new cars were, the
concepts or experimental cars were better. |
 Rick
Lenz wanted to acquire all the literature ever printed
from 1930 to the present — all makes, all countries,
all years — he had accumulated a tremendous collection
of literature. Rick traded with collectors throughout
the world... |
 1904
saw the first Buick motor car. Many Buick collectors concentrate
on the 1920 to World War II models because of the very
elaborate presentations of their catalogs... |
|
| Motorizing
The Army |
Posters
& Transparencies as Automotive Art |
1959+ |
 Book
review: To enjoy this saga you should have an appreciation
and knowledge of early automobiles and have traveled by
car across the U.S. in your youth... Going back almost
100 years and driving cross country on unpaved roads... |
 At
the turn-of-the century dealerships would commission artists
to do renderings of cars which could be built to a customer's
specifications. Upon receipt of a deposit, a framed rendering
was frequently presented to the customer. See examples
of this art... |
 He
remembered as a child looking out the car window and naming
all the makes and years of cars they passed. Now he wanted
to reinforce those memories through brochures... |
|
| The
Future: 70 years ago |
AC
In The News — AAA |
Getting
Home Alive! |
 These
70-year-old drawings hold clues to what future production
cars would look like. Enjoy these drawings and, do write
if you have additional information about them... |
 "Most
of us have drooled over glossy new-car brochures, but
for some that passing fancy has become a lifelong fascination..."
Read this Westways 'Crazy for Catalogs' piece... |
 Book
review: My initial reaction was that it is a "how-not-to"
guide. But the more I read the more I remembered my early
experiences which occurred about the same time. By the
end of their story the boys and I had become fast friends... |
|
| Oddities |
Looking
Both Ways
|
Contemporary
Automotive Photographs |
 Literature
on popular makes and models covering the collectible years
satisfies most hobbyists, but some collectors are looking
for rare or unusual literature. |
 Most
collectors are only aware of what trends are occurring
around them at a specific time. Think about long term
trends and take a look over the broad range of cars built. |
 Over
the last few years Krause Publications, publishers of
"Old Cars Weekly" and automotive books, have
turned to us for sourcing contemporary photographs of
cars and brochures... |
|
| Convertible
Fever |
Golden
Eras |
MoPaR |
 Just
what is it about a convertible? It doesn't matter if you're
rich or poor... handsome or the ugly duckling... if you
own (or can beg, borrow or steal) a convertible you suddenly
become the most eligible guy in town. |
 The
Brass Era was a time of intense interest in the automobile.
The literature was most impressive, and is now very rare.
These cars and their literature are now in the museums...
rarely seen at auctions, swapmeets or club events. |
 From
the 1950s through the early 1970s Plymouth, Dodge and
Chrysler stood out as performance machines... Plymouth
began its magic in 1958 when it introduced its Fury... |
|
| Automobile
Quarterly Collections |
Literature
Life |
History
of the Ambulance |
 Each
issue of the Automobile Quarterly is composed of a dozen
or so top notch articles. The passion you will develop
for a multitude of makes will only be surpassed by your
knowledge of them... |
 After
50 years of collecting automotive literature, many trends
become crystal clear. Literature has a life of its own
and can be a great investment. |
 Throughout
history man has devised methods to transport the ill and
injured. The concept of ambulance service started in Europe
and the first ambulances were created. |
|
| International
Customers |
Good
Investment? - Yes! |
Press
Kits From The Detroit Auto Show 2005 |
 More
than ever we feel that it is very important to break down
communication barriers between countries. And a major
barrier is language. |
 Our
Nov 2004 article "Good Investment?", received
many comments... from praise to shock. Now, a sequel... |
 The
Detroit Auto Show 2005 is over. Journalists have their
press kits in hand. And we've been rounding them up from
all our sources to present them to our collectors. |
|
| Finnish
Brochures |
The
Traveling Salesman |
Ultra
Luxury |
 Finland
is one of those small European markets where American
cars have traditionally been quite popular. What kind
of sales brochures were used there? |
Marcus collected a brochure on every model of every make
for every year from 1946 to 1989. This traveling salesman
would approach every dealership on his extensive route
several times a year, amassing a tremendous collection
over the years.
|
 Limousines
have long been viewed as a pinnacle of success. Presidential
limousines with bullet-proof glass and numerous security
features are produced by automotive manufacturers and
presented to the sitting president. |
|
| Good
Investment? |
Buying
For Tomorrow |
Postcard
Paradise |
 Study
these figures! Automotive literature collection is a predictable,
desirable and risk-free investment. Good investment? It
is a great investment! |
 Buying
literature just because you think it is going to be valuable
in the future may be smart and worth doing... So what
do you look for in order to find the most impressive investments?
|
 Postcards
can be used to tell a story and nowhere is that story
more prominent than with the automotive industry. |
|
| Ford
Flower Power |
Datsun
Z Literature |
Limited
Editions |
 The
1970s youthful psychedelic art and carefree anti-establishment
attitude was replete with long hair, bell bottoms and
colorful dress... |
 As
speakers at the Houston "Z" Club, McLellan's
Automotive History reinforced the value and accessability
of literature available for members' cars... |
 First
and foremost, if a car is limited production we know that
the number of brochures printed to advertise the car will
also be limited. Therefore, there won't be enough brochures
to go around... |
|
| Them
VS. Us |
Auto
Galleria LUCE |
German
Thoroughbreds |
 The
preservation of literature for its historical significance
and as an art form is important and, considering that
it will increase in value with age... |
 Long
time friendships are treasured and most literature collectors
build up relationships with collectors who have similar
interests. |
 Does
the idea of vacationing in Germany sound like a dream
come true? Perhaps you've always wanted to visit Stuttgardt
and visit one of many German automobile manufacturing
or conversion... |
|
|
Recreational
Vehicles |
The
Corvair Legend |
Fisher
Guild Reunion |
 From
the earliest days of motoring, cars and trucks have been
promoted as ways to escape from the routines of everyday
life... |
 Although
tagged 'Unsafe at Any Speed' by Ralph Nader, Corvair was
more collectible than other "compact" cars of
that period... |
 In
late June of 2004 a reunion of Fisher Body Craftsman's
Guild design competition contestants from 1930 to 1968
was held... |
|
| Adios
Cuba |
My
Beloved Hillman |
The
Best Car in the World |
 "I
would read American magazines and see all the new cars
available in America and that was reason enough to leave
Cuba..." |
 "The
1956 Hillman was the first family car I have memory of,
BMU 5452 was the registration number — it rings in
my heart like a chant — etched forever." |
 Rolls
and Royce built their first car in 1904 and soon it gained
a reputation for being, and was proclaimed, "The
Best Car in the World"... |
|
| Automotive
Books |
News
You Can Use |
Connoisseurs'
Choice |
 Collecting
books about automobiles was very straightforward in the
1950s... a book section at the local department store...
|
 At
MAH we don't offer discounts, just lots of good deals.
Preview new inventory before it is offered to the public...
|
 The
resurgence of interest in expensive, rare and prestigious
collectibles usually occurs when inflation is expected... |
|
| Profitable
Portfolio! |
Pate's
Hidden Treasure |
Literature
In Norway |
 Old
literature just sits there and gains in value as long
as it is kept in good condition. You do not have to monitor
your investment as you do with stock or real estate. |
 Harold
W. Schiff was a literature collector who lived in Austin
and, later, Fort Worth, Texas. But where his collection
resided for many years will surprise many Texas swapmeet
participants. |
 Automotive
literature can be found in some of the most far-reaching
places on earth... This is about Asbjorn Rolseth's collection
in Oslo, Norway... |
|
| Every
Boy's Dream |
GM
Probes The Future |
Jeep
Literature As Art |
 Dick
Nesbitt is a long time customer, friend and automotive
designer with whom I have shared many stimulating conversations
on design concepts. |
 GM's
designers had several different directions in which to
go and incorporated combinations of these themes into
their designs... |
 You
probably wouldn't think of Jeep vehicles as art forms,
but rather as rugged vehicles that are made to be covered
with mud and have battle scars... |
|
| Ed
Whitt |
Truck
Literature? |
Corvette:
A Legend |
 Dad
would bring me to have our 1967 Dodge Coronet serviced
at Ethington Brother's in Nicholasville, Kentucky... |
 Over
the last ten or so years there has been a noticeable increase
in the number of truck literature collectors... |
 Possibly
no other car has been so romanticized for both men and
women — women looking for the "perfect"
guy in a red Corvette and men trying to be that perfect
guy. |
|
| British
Sports Cars |
Unanticipated
Investment |
Reprint
News |
 The
1946 MG TC introduced Americans to the British sports
car. British sports cars dominated sports car events throughout
the 50s and the 60s. |
John
did invest for the future. Literature can be a money machine.
The older it gets, the more valuable it becomes... |
 Hemmings
Motor News reports that several literature dealers are
turning to reprint literature to boost customer sales. |
|
| Automotology |
Original
or Fake? |
Volkswagen
As Art |
 When
you are a 10-year-old "automaniac", model cars
are about as close as most kids get to making decisions
on what cars they would like to own... |
 You
will not come across counterfeit literature very often,
but the brochures that are faked are ones that are rare,
expensive desirable and simple. |
 The
strange looking miniature German car arrived in America
in 1949... Company ads pushed the 'Beetle' name poking
fun at themselves... |
|
| Salvage
Literature |
Z.
Taylor Vinson |
Junichiro
Hiramatsu |
 "I
am looking at your ad in an old 'Hemmings Motor News'.
Do you buy literature?" The collector began just
after World War II... |
 In
1938 my father was about to buy a brand new Ford and he
gave me this folder to look at. I was 4½ years
then... |
 Mr.
Hiramatsu's 40-year Ferrari collection includes over 10,000
literature items, 20,000 Ferrari model cars... |
|
| Pontiacs
as Art |
The
Exotics |
Brass
Era Literature |
 Most
makes used art to forcefully create an impression that
a photograph could not project. In the 1960s Pontiac relied
almost exclusively on renderings. |
 You
are not likely to have forgotten the sight of the first
car that stirred your blood. As it drove past you may
not have known what it was, but you wanted to find out... |
 I
remember the new cars just after WW II... For most of
our readers, car nostalgia begins with the 1960s.. |
|
| Pontiac
Art: Insights |
Dealer
Stamps |
Bentley |
 I
was working as a copywriter at J Walter Thompson on the
Ford business at the time the wide-track Pontiacs advertising
was introduced... |
 "Do
you have a sales brochure that doesn't have a dealer stamp
on it?" is probably one of the most frequent questions
that we get... |
 Of
the world's three most luxurious and expensive cars ever
built and introduced in 2003, only Bentley's Continental
GT is a sporty touring car, if not an outright sportscar. |
|
| Society:
Auto Historians |
High
Speed Pursuits |
Honest
Reprint Literature |
 Most
literature collectors began by gathering up brochures
because they are available for free at auto dealerships... |
 You,
a Houston, Texas, police officer, and the Sheriff's patrolman
are in a select group which includes the FBI in their
unmarked cars... |
 Prior
to the 1960's reprint literature was very rare because
prewar literature collecting was not widespread and communication
among those hobbyists was limited... |
|
| Annual
Concepts |
Quality
Control |
Fisher
Body Craftsman |
 Auto
shows throughout the world have but one mission —
to put you behind the steering wheel of a new car. They
want to "psyche" you... |
Most
collectors prefer the literature they acquire to be in
very good condition. Some demand it. Few sources are consistent
in their quality... |
 Book
is 336 pages and has 212 photographs showing the models
and the people who made them. Showing the models and the
people... |
|
| World
of Auto Literature |
The
Rolls-Royce |
Kit
Cars & Replica Cars |
 Though
there are as many reasons for collecting literature as
there are individual collectors, there is only one reason
for the production of the brochures — the sale of
cars. |
 It
is a beautiful spring day many years ago and I am off
on one of the adventures of my life — my first ride
in a Rolls-Royce... |
 You
glance in the rearview mirror and realize that you are
being overtaken by an elegant old car... Kit cars might
look like vintage classic cars... |
|
| Robert's
Tips |
Literature
on Lincoln |
Concepts
from the 1930s |
 Literature
is to be enjoyed. Show it to a friend by having them looking
over your shoulder. Even best friends rarely know how
to handle a brochure... |
 Lincoln
automotive literature has always been synonymous with
glamour, and the glamour is reflected in all its literature... |
 Back
in the 1950s, when chrome and tail fins were the rage
and annual model changes were very distinctive, school
boys were inspired to sketch dream cars... |
|
| Counterfeit
Literature |
What
is it Worth? |
Tomorrow's
Treasure |
 Don't
panic! Fakes are very rare and most are very obvious to
experienced collectors. Dealers won't touch them because
their reputation is at stake and yet... |
 There
are collectors and dealers who can tell you to the dollar
what any brochure is worth. Of course among themselves
they all disagree. It has a lot to do with their own personal
interests and experience. |
 Nostalgia
is emotional and it's money in the bank. Lost youth is
always stirred by memories of those cars you would have
loved to have owned... |
|
