From AMC cars to the history of a fabled Canadian track, Greg Williams offers up his annual book suggestions
For those looking to give someone who is a fan of the printed word, interested in all things wheeled a gift this Christmas, here are three suggestions that could be wrapped up and stuffed in a stocking or placed under the tree.
The First Fifty Years: Shannonville Motorsport Park
Hagerty Drivers Club
The Complete Book of AMC Cars: American Motors Corporation 1954-1988
The Complete Book of AMC Cars: American Motors Corporation 1954-1988 will appeal to fans of products produced by independent automaker American Motors Corporation, or to anyone with a wider interest in the history of U.S.-built cars. Researched and written by AMC experts Patrick Foster and Tom Glatch, this book was recently released from Motorbooks and should be available at a local bookstore or online for $65. A quick search on Amazon.ca shows it is available there, too. Authors Foster and Glatch pick up telling AMC’s story as the company grew from two previously competing car manufacturers, Nash and Hudson. The two automakers needed to merge to survive, but AMC went on to become a rather successful tale of an underdog that made some innovative products.
For example, in the late 1970s the auto industry was cutting jobs and slashing production. However, the authors write, “Over its history, AMC had had a remarkable ability to introduce the right vehicles at the right time. Would American Motor’s uncanny luck continue into the 1980s?” Indeed, it did. With the introduction of the Eagle in 1980, AMC had “the first mass-produced four-wheel-drive passenger car, which added only $600 to the manufacturing cost of the Concord yet could be sold at a profitable premium.” The Eagle’s story and its success is told in detail, right to the end of the line in 1988 when new owners, Chrysler, quit AMC production. More than just the Eagle, Foster and Glatch guide readers through every production car AMC ever made. The Complete Book of AMC Cars spans 200 pages and is illustrated with 300 images, including archival and contemporary photographs together with period marketing materials.
Greg Williams is a member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). Have a column tip? Contact him at 403-287-1067 or [email protected]
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