50 Automotive History Books Every Car Enthusiast Must Read

1. The Big Book of Barris by George Barris and David Fetherston - A celebration of the legendary custom car designer George Barris, featuring extensive photos and stories of his most famous creations. Click here to order the book from Amazon.com.

2. The Birth of Hot Rodding: The Dry Lakes Era by Robert Genat and Don Cox - The beautiful photography of Don Cox makes this book a winner. Crisp color photos that chronicle hot rodding and dry lakes racing in the 1940s. Click here to order the book from Amazon.com.

3. The American Custom Car by Pat Ganahl - This book delves into the history of custom car culture, exploring its roots, key players, and enduring appeal. For many, this book has become the bible when it comes to custom car history. Click here to order the book from Amazon.com.

4. Kustomland: The Custom Car Photography of James Potter, 1955-1959 by Thom Taylor - A stunning collection of custom car photography from the late 1950s, showcasing the creativity and artistry of this golden era. This book is a must for everyone addicted to 1950 custom paint jobs. Click here to order the book from Amazon.com.

5. My Life And Work by Henry Ford - The fascinating and disruptive story told by the man himself. Click here to order the book from Amazon.com.

6. The Legendary Custom Cars and Hot Rods of Gene Winfield by David Grant. A pioneer. A driving force, and a legend. One of the best known and most respected custom car builders in the industry. Click here to order the book from Amazon.com.

7. Custom Cars of the 1950s by Andy Southard and Tony Thacker - A visual celebration of 1950s custom car culture, featuring stunning photographs and profiles of the era's most influential designers and builders. Click here to order the book from Amazon.com.

8. Carroll Shelby: The Authorized Biography by Rinsey Mills - A definitive biography of automotive icon Carroll Shelby, detailing his life, racing career, and influential car designs. Click here to order the book from Amazon.com.

9. The American Hot Rod by Dean Batchelor - A definitive history of hot rods, detailing their evolution from the 1930s to present day and profiling the key players in the hot rod scene. Click here to order the book from Amazon.com.

10. Dean Jeffries 50 Fabulous Years in Hot Rods, Racing and Film by Tom Cotter. An unassuming craftsman, legendary car builder Dean Jeffries has always preferred to let his creations speak for themselves. This book provides a rare, close-up look at the man, and the life, behind the Mantaray, the Monkeemobile, the Green Hornet's Black Beauty, and James Bond's moon buggy, among countless others. Click here to order the book from Amazon.com.

11. Lost Hot Rods: Remarkable Stories of How They Were Found by Pat Ganahl - Fascinating stories of long-lost hot rods and custom cars, rediscovered and restored to their former glory. Click here to order the book from Amazon.com.

12. Art of the Hot Rod by Ken Gross - This book showcases the beauty and craftsmanship of hot rods, featuring stunning photography and in-depth profiles of iconic builders and their creations. Click here to order the book from Amazon.com.

13. The Hemi in the Barn: More Great Stories of Automotive Archaeology by Tom Cotter - A collection of true stories about the discovery and restoration of rare and valuable cars, including hot rods and customs. Click here to order the book from Amazon.com.

14. Hot Rod Gallery: A Nostalgic Look at Hot Rodding's Golden Years: 1930-1960" by Pat Ganahl - A nostalgic look at the golden years of hot rodding, featuring rare photographs and stories from the era. Click here to order the book from Amazon.com.

15. Darryl Starbird The Bubble Top King Custom Car Creations - The book about the Bubble Top King Darryl Starbird from Wichita, Kansas. Click here to order the book from Amazon.com.

16. Deuce: The Original Hot Rod: 32x32 by Mike Chase - A tribute to the iconic '32 Ford, this book explores the history, variations, and enduring appeal of this hot rod favorite. Click here to order the book from Amazon.com.

17. Ed "Big Daddy" Roth: His Life, Times, Cars, and Art by Pat Ganahl - A biography of the legendary hot rodder and artist Ed "Big Daddy" Roth, featuring photos and stories of his most famous creations. Click here to order the book from Amazon.com.

18. Custom Cars: Coupes, Sedans, Pickups by Alan Mayes - A showcase of custom car design, featuring a wide range of body styles, builders, and techniques. Click here to order the book from Amazon.com.

19. Barris Kustom Techniques of the '50s - Volume 4: Flames, Scallops, Paneling and Striping by George Barris and David Fetherston - A detailed look at the custom paint techniques popularized by George Barris in the 1950s, featuring step-by-step instructions and photographs. Click here to order the book from Amazon.com.

20. GO with MOON! - 1950-2010 by Laurent Bagnard - A fascinating story that starts in Minnesota and ends in Japan. A story about two men. Two men with a vision, passion and a dream. Filled with photos from the Moon archive, Dean Moon's career within hot-rodding is thoroughly documented in the book. Click here to check if the book is available for sale on eBay.

21. The Hot Rod World of Robert Williams by Robert Williams - A collection of artwork, stories, and photographs from the influential hot rod artist and hot rodder Robert Williams. Click here to order the book from Amazon.com.

22. The Art of Von Dutch by Aaron Kahan - More than 1000 photos and illustrations. A massive coffee-table book on the legendary pinstriper and lowbrow artist. Click here to order the book from Amazon.com.

23. Car Club Memories: Personal stories from three dynamic decades of Cruisin’ Competition and Cool Cars by Fred Thomas - A trip back down memory lane to the earlier days of hot rodding. Car Club Memories shares personal stories of young men and their car-related adventures. Click here to order the book from Amazon.com.

24. Hot Rods: Roadsters, Coupes, Customs by Dain Gingerelli - A visual history of hot rods, showcasing a variety of body styles, builders, and customizing techniques. Click here to order the book from Amazon.com.

25. The Complete Book of Classic Ford F-Series Pickups by Dan Sanchez - A comprehensive guide to the history, evolution, and restoration of Ford F-Series pickups, from the first model to modern iterations. Click here to order the book from Amazon.com.

26. Hot Rodding in Ventura County by Tony Baker - A regional look at the hot rod and custom car scene in Ventura County, California, featuring photographs, stories, and profiles of local builders. Click here to order the book from Amazon.com.

27. The Fast Lane: The History of NHRA Drag Racing - A comprehensive history of NHRA drag racing, featuring profiles of legendary racers, significant events, and memorable cars. Click here to order the book from Amazon.com.

28. Cool Cars, High Art: The Rise of Kustom Kulture by John DeWitt - An exploration of the intersection of automotive design and fine art, showcasing the work of influential artists and designers in the custom car world. Click here to order the book from Amazon.com.

29. Lowriders in Chicano Culture: From Low to Slow to Show by Charles M. Tatum - A cultural study of lowriders, detailing their history, symbolism, and role in Chicano culture. Click here to order the book from Amazon.com.

30. America's Wildest Show Rods of the 1960s and 1970s by Scotty Gosson - The history of some of the wildest show rods, told by some of the craziest customizers, collectors and enthusiasts. Click here to order the book from Amazon.com.

31. Tucker and His Battle to Build the Car of Tomorrow by Steve Lehto - Steve Lehto tackles the story of Tucker's amazing rise and tragic fall, relying on a huge trove of documents that has been used by no other writer to date. It is the first comprehensive, authoritative account of Tucker's magnificent car and his battles with the government. Click here to order the book from Amazon.com.

32. Lost Muscle Car Dealerships by Duncan Brown - The rise and fall of America's greatest high-performance automobile dealers. Click here to order the book from Amazon.com.

33. Northern California Drag Racing by Steve Reyes - The history of Northern California Drag Racing as told by photographer Steve Reyes. Click here to order the book from Amazon.com.

34. Terry Cook's I Was There! The Stories I Couldn't Tell at Hot Rod - Volume I - Bench racing tales from the 60's & 70's. Click here to order the book from www.tcookbookc.com.

35. Vintage Speed Parts The Equipment That Fueled the Industry by Tony Thacker - Published on October 10, 2022 this book follow the history of hot rodding through this nostalgic look at vintage speed equipment. Click here to order the book from Amazon.com.

36. Hot Rod Magazine: 75 Years by Drew Hardin - Published November 8, 2022, this book celebrates 75 years of Hot Rod Magazine. 208 pages filled with great photos and stories. Click here to order the book from Amazon.com.

37. Peter Sukalac: Photo Journalist - A book filled with interviews, essays, and a showcase of Peter Sukalac's photos into a fascinating snapshot of one photographer's career. Click here to order the book from Amazon.com.

38. The American Speed Shop: Birth and Evolution of Hot Rodding - The story of the era and the culture of speed shops as told through individual shop's histories and compelling vintage photography. Click here to check price and availability on Amazon.com.

39. Gene Winfield's Racing Days Scrapbook - A pictorial history of 75 years of hot rods, land speed racing, drag racing & oval track racing. Click here to order the book from winfieldcustomshop.com.

40. Engines of Change: A History of the American Dream in Fifteen Cars by Paul Ingrassia - Ingrassia explores the relationship between American culture and the automobile industry by examining fifteen iconic cars that have shaped the nation's history. The book offers valuable insights into how cars have defined and influenced American society. Click here to order the book from Amazon.com.

41. Isky: Ed Iskenderian and the History of Hot Rodding by Matt Stone - Delve into the life of Ed Iskenderian, a gifted machinist with a natural knack for promotion, who started a cam business from the ground up and became a leading cam authority and hot rodding icon. Click here to order the book from Amazon.com.

42. Mickey Thompson: The Lost Story of the Original Speed King in His Own Words by Tom Madigan - An amazing biographical artifact from what many consider the golden age of automotive racing. Click here to order the book from Amazon.com.

43. Roy Richter: Striving for Excellence by Art Bagnall - A comprehensive and highly illustrated book about the early days of Southern California hot-rodders: racing drivers, automotive engineers, and racing cars, centered around a man that was pivotal to the era: Roy Richter of Bell Auto Parts. Click here to order the book from Amazon.com.

44. Early Funny Cars: A History of Tech Evolution from Altered Wheelbase to Match Race Flip Tops 1964-1975 by Lout Hart - Blast through the evolving early years of Funny Car drag racing when doorslammers morphed into flip-top rail monsters. Click here to order the book from Amazon.com.

45. Hot Rods As They Were: Another Blast from the Past by Don Montgomery - This book shows the various types of hot rods being built over 50 years ago. There are chapters about Engines, Roadsters, Coupes and Sedans, Modifieds, Streamliners, Track Roadsters and the early Drag Racers. Click here to order the book from Amazon.com.

46. Creative Industries of Detroit: The Untold Story of Detroit's Secret Concept Car Builder by Leon Dixon - The most exhaustive and complete account of the Creative Industries‚ a 40-plus-year history of creating dream, prototype, concept, and one-off cars. Click here to order the book from Amazon.com.

47. Fins: Harley Earl, the Rise of General Motors, and the Glory Days of Detroit by William Knoedelseder - The New York Times bestselling author chronicles the birth and rise to greatness of the American auto industry through the remarkable life of Harley Earl, an eccentric six-foot-five, stuttering visionary who dropped out of college and went on to invent the profession of automobile styling, thereby revolutionized the way cars were made, marketed, and even imagined. Click here to order the book from Amazon.com.

48. Reflections in a Spinner Hubcap: Authentic Tales of Hot Rods, Custom Cars & Nostalgia - A selection of essays that celebrates the people who made hot rodding an American culture. Rediscover the fun of racing, hanging out, flirting, and driving from the voice of someone who experienced the 1950s and has a passion for telling the story of old metal. Click here to order the book from Amazon.com.

49. SO-CAL Speed Shop by Mark Christensen - The fast tale of the California racers who made hot rod history. Click here to order the book from Amazon.com.

50. Watson's Custom Car Confessions - An in-depth look at the personal custom cars of customizer and custom paint legend Larry Watson, the girls that went along for the rides and boulevard cruising, and the troubles with the police during those antagonistic times when custom cars and their owners were the focus of police scrutiny. Click here to see if the book is available on eBay.com.

Recommended Reading - Top Lists

Are you a gearhead or an automotive enthusiast looking to expand your knowledge on hot rods, custom cars, and the rich history of the automobile? Look no further! On this page we have carefully curated a list of the Top 50 Automotive History Books that every car lover must read. From the birth of the hot rod culture to the golden age of American muscle cars, these books offer a fascinating journey through time, showcasing the innovation, design, and passion that shaped the automotive world.

Imagine immersing yourself in the stories of legendary designers, engineers, and visionaries who revolutionized the industry, or diving into the world of custom car building and discovering the masterpieces that have left an indelible mark on car culture. With stunning photography, captivating narratives, and expert insights, these books will fuel your passion and broaden your understanding of the automobile's enduring legacy.

Don't miss out on these must-read books! Browse our list of the 50 best automotive history books and start building your ultimate car enthusiast's library today. Use the list to start collecting, or to fill some holes in your library. Happy reading!

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