3 comments about Chevrolet SS Muscle Car Red Book.

1. This is a fantastic guide that compares well with Michael Antonick's "Camaro White Book" and "Corvette Black Book." Very informative.



2. This is a very informative book with loads of information. Many people who are restoring cars, classic car shows, building factory-stock models of those powerful muscle cars, etc., this guide contains much of the information needed to bring that classic muscle car (or even daily driver) to 100-point show condition. Hey, even a classic game show fan might enjoy this book (e.g., trying to guess how much that 1972 Chevrolet Malibu hardtop coupe costs with certain options, and playing along with that episode of "Let's Make a Deal"). Yes, there are some minor omissions that, while not detracting from the usefulness of this book, they do need addressing. For example, the content of many option packages -- whether trim, convenience, or more importantly performance-oriented -- aren't listed. And, it would have also been nice to list special-order options, Custom Accessories and at least a listing of dealer install-only options. Still, a very useful book and one that will be used and appreciated by all.



3. Good book with lots of information but the Camaro Section lacks any info on the Z28 and Rs camaros just covers SS

5 comments about Muscle Car Confidential: Confessions of a Muscle Car Test Driver.

1. This is a great book, full of interesting insights and funny stories. The inside scoop about some highly overrated or uderrated muscle cars. The author tells it like it was, and some legends get knocked off their pedestals in the process. Lots of good stories told by the guy who had the job we all wanted!



2. I bought this book as a gift for a friend that is really into the old muscle cars. I knew that I had made the right choice by the way his eyes popped as he started reading. Now nearly everytime I see him, he is telling me something different that he has read in this book. In the United States, we are seeing the growth of interest in these older cars. Our "baby-boomers" are at the age when we can afford to relive our youth. Automobiles were such a large part of our lives they dominated our culture. So now, we are flooded with books by writers who really should not. Muscle Car Confidential is an exception. This well written motor-memour hits our "button" like a ice-cold beer on a hot day in the driveway. We are taken back to the days when the old U.S.A. automobile was the baddest dog on the block. However this writer does not gloss over the faults he found. So that our own memories and feelings about our cars are sharpened, either by being validated or confronted. What better way to spend our few resting hours than by a combination of affermations and challenges. Bottom line, buy the book!



3. If you are wanting an encyclopedia regurgitating facts and stats, this isn't where you will find it. If however, you want an entertaining read chronicaling what it was like to experience these cars in their heyday, this book is a must have. It was hard to put down, and it was honest. Most books tell you how wonderful every car between the covers is. This book gives the good and the bad, and debunks a lot of myths (the history of these cars is usually remembered through rose colored glasses).
   
   Being a former muscle car owner, and a current enthusiast, I appreciated the frankness of the author, and enjoyed the tales. The only downside of the book is a dearth of color photography. There are some color pics, but not many. In defense of the author, most of the pics used were probably black and white since they were of the cars during their heyday, not modern restorations.
   
   Worth every penny. This book is a must have.



4. If you like Muscle Cars or even interested in American automobiles, please buy this book. You can tell Oldham has fully lived the Muscle Car era and he tells it like it is. This book is well worth the money.



5. Muscle Car Confidential was just a GREAT book... If you were around during this time, you HAVE to get this book... Enjoy !!!!

2 comments about Chevelle SS 1964-1972, A Muscle Car Source Book, Second Edition.

1. It will help you identify option codes, date codes, VIN information, and much more. Many photos and copies of original documents. If you are looking for information about Chevelles, this is the book to buy.



2. Now in a newly updated and expanded second edition, "Chevelle SS 1964-1972: A Muscle Car Source Book" by Chevy authority Jeffrey Steffes is profusely illustrated in both color and black/white photography. An essential and comprehensive guide for the Chevelle, this 'muscle car' descriptive history is an ideal guide for anyone considering purchasing and/or restoring a Chevelle as Steffess expertly takes the reader through the process of identifying options and features for their 1964-1972 Chevelle. Of special note are the chapters on 'Decoding VIN Plates and Body Tags'; 'Option and Color Codes'; 'Engine Identification', and 'Transmission Identification'. Chevelle enthusiasts are also provided with information on the various Chevelle Clubs around the country. Recommended for personal, professional, and community library Automotive Reference collections, if you own (or are contemplating owning) a Chevelle, then Jeffrey Steffes' "Chevelle SS 1964-1972" should be considered a 'must' read title.

5 comments about Pontiac GTO.

1. Great book for the goat owner. Learn about your vehicle and it's brothers. Great pictures, great info. Sure brings back memories.



2. I've just purchaed a 1973 GTO and bought 5 books on the subject. This is by far the best one. The pictures are wonderful and the analysis is both insightful and inspirational in an entrepreneurial sense (getting the GTO done over GM's massive corporate bureaucracy.) A must-read for the true GTO or musclecar fan.



3. This book is definitely one of the best books written on the Pontiac GTO. It combines great photography with a good chronological story on all the GTO's from 1964 to 1974. Excellent read! Caution to other buyers: the recently released paperback titled Pontiac GTO: Four Decades of Muscle by Steve Statham (published May 2003) has exactly the same content as this book. So if you own this book already, don't bother buying Four Decades of Muscle



4. Decent coverage and review of the GTO for most enthusiasts. Background information and pictures are clear and well presented. Another great addition to my collection.



5. First, you need to know that I owned two new GTO's. I absolutely loved them. Especially the first one, a 1966 GTO Convertible; the first year the GTO was its own car.
   This book is great. It has great pictures of all of the different GTO's. Even the '73 which few people even know existed. It actually had some information I did not know!
   Good history of how the legend started and how GM reacted to it both before and after the totally unexpected popularity.
   This car is considered the definitive muscle can. It was new, fast and a looker to boot. It lead the way for all of the other muscle cars.
   If you were (are) into cars of the late 60's and early 70's you will like this book.

5 comments about Muscle: America's Legendary Performance Cars.

1. The book is very much GM, and to a lesser degree, Mopar-oriented. With a couple exceptions, Ford muscle cars are generally dismissed. Even the 80's Fox body Mustang, generally regarded as the car most responsible for re-igniting the horsepower wars we see today, is given only begrudging recognition.
   
   The photography is great, especially of stripper, dog-dish-hubcapped examples of classic muscle cars.



2. the best muscle car book which focusses mostly on the background and the mood of this great car-area with lots of insights



3. It cannot be overemphasized that this book is different from all the Auto books that have come before. It doesn't only talk about the cars, but puts it in the context of the popular culture of the times. But you can't just flip the pages, you have to dig right in, and start reading to realize this. You can read the whole book, or upon seeing a muscle car you like, just start reading anywhere.
   
   This book is FUN! This book will help you to relive memories. This book will take you back, in a good way. You remember the 60's and 70's, the heady joyful times they were in terms of cars. It tells the big stories of the GTO, Mustang, Charger, Camaro-Firebird , and `Cuda-Challenger. Less popular cars are covered, not in depth-i. e. Ford Falcon, Dodge Coronet, and Chevy Nova.
   
   When reading, I remember what I knew about the cars at the time, but I am given new behind the scenes information. It is like going back to an old hobby, and finding out secrets you never knew. It takes me back to my youth, my teens and twenties, and it's not that easy to get there anymore.
   
   One disagreement I have is the term 'wretched excess'. I don't think we thought of it as wretched excess at the time, we were just having fun. As far as free love, drugs, and of rock'n'roll partying without much limit-it was only later that we learned the consequences, through bitter experience. Yet in a way we knew, but didn't want to know. Isn't that's what late adolescence is all about?
   
   So maybe now we can call it wretched excess, but it is like a married man looking back at his crazy college years. We didn't really know much about the environment, cocaine, marijuana, or STD's then. You have to remember, there weren't any pollution controls on cars in the 60's, and it wasn't really until the 80's they started to get controls that worked without draining the engine.
   
   A guy commented that Ford is under-represented. Even if that is true, the Mustang is over-represented. Yet that is true to the time. Back in the day Ford WAS the rock and roll Mustang. Everything else was your parent's car. All other muscle cars have bit the dust-Mustang the sole survivor, is maybe even better today. My only disappointment, Mercury Cougar isn't covered.
   
   This book is unlike any car book you have read before, it is breaking new ground. It is a good read. It isn't just specs and numbers, this book has heart. You will feel you are getting to know the movers and shakers of the automotive world of the time, as well as getting the popular view.
   
   I thought `if there is one thing I don`t need it`s another muscle-car book`, now it is my favorite.



4. Excellant pictures. Very good content. Brings back a lot of fond memories. Great edition to the coffee table and helpful with the restoration of my 1968 Firebird convertible



5. We received the book on time and in very good condition. I am enjoying reading it. It was just what I expected.

4 comments about Dodge & Plymouth Muscle Car Red Book, 2nd Ed..

1. The one thing that this book is lacking is a chapter that explains how to read the fender tag, as most of the cars built from 1960 to 1970 no longer have the build sheet or it can no longer be read.



2. By and large, "Dodge & Plymouth Muscle Car Red Book" is a very useful tool for those involved with restoring classic cars, classic car shows, scale-model car enthusiasts, etc. Even classic game show fans can find this book helpful when playing along with those merchandise giveaway shows from the 1960s and 1970s (e.g., "Let's Make a Deal"). Yes, there are some omissions that some might find irritating, or might even detract from its usefulness. I would have considered this book even more helpful had it listed the contents of option packages; it does give some listings for the performance packages (what most people are interested in, I'm sure), but many people I'm sure are also interested in the contents of the trim, convenience and Quick Order (i.e., Basic Group and Basic Radio Group) packages as well. And, unlike Sessler's "Red Book" for Chevrolet Super Sport models, this book does not list installation rates or options for a particular model or its sister lines; e.g., in the section for the 1970 Plymouth Fury GT, there's no listings for the Plymouth I, II, III and Sport Fury or Suburban station wagon models (the Chevrolet book lists options, prices and installation rates for all Super Sport models and their more conservative family car bretheren). Some people who are restoring the family car members of a line might find this book helpful, too. Also, I also think the omission of year-by-year listings, VINs, prices, weights, etc., for the 1956-1971 Plymouth Sport Fury serves as a turn-off to fans of this model. Also, some people might be interested in special order, Mopar custom accessory and dealer-installed option lists, too (for that finishing touch to that 100-point show car). Hopefully, some or all of these issues will be addressed in a revised edition of "Dodge & Plymouth Muscle Car Red Book." Still, a very useful book for many Mopar muscle car fans that will be used and appreciated by all.



3. Every self respecting mopar tire kicker has a copy of this. Its the broadest reference guide for identifying option codes, VINs, and select serial numbers on mopar muscle. Production totals and option prices are included as well. It lists cars by year and model with a decent breakdown for each.



4. This book is an informative must have read for anyone interested or restoring and or purchasing any mopar muscle car.

1 comments about Ultimate Muscle Cars (Five-View).

1. This was purchased for my 13 yr old son who is absolutely classic muscle car CRAZY! He has poured over it day after day since receiving it as a gift! It has beautiful pictures of the cars from several angles and good information about them. It's a GREAT gift for anyone who loves muscle cars!

2 comments about Standard Catalog of American Muscle Cars 1960-1972 (Gunner's Guide).

1. I find myself being "out classed" by my friends and acquaintances that know eveything there is to know about 'muscle cars'. Although my personal interest lies in the antique automobile hobby
   (that means automobiles from before WWII)
   no matter where I go (whether it is a car show, a car auction or a car museum) the current craze and fascination in with the big engine cars of the late 60's and 70's. Well this is the Bible when it comes to a treasure trove of important detailed and comprehensively presented information. You might find it handy and useful to have this authoritative book at you finger tips when the argument comes up as to what size engine was in a thus and such or how many hardtops were manufactured in a certain year. Moreover, if you have a bucket full of cash and you find yourself seated at one of them fancy televised auto auctions bidding on a million dollar muscle car, this would be a fine book to research as to the details and specifics of the make and model in question. It has great color photographs and I have yet to be disappointed in failing to find an American made muscle car presented in its pages. This book is a sure fire way to "win a bet" if you've got the Bible tucked under your car seat while the work bench "experts" argue the finer points of muscle car power, style and history. You'll need to store it under the car seat...I just won't fit in the glove compartment. My only complaint...(what would a book criticism be without at least one complaint...) the editor and the publisher mite hav benifited from a secund or thud proff reed befour they wint to printt!



2. This is a great overall, but at the same time very detailed, guide to the Muscle Car era. Never saw before an all-in-one book where you can browse each major model and year. Great book for the colletion of car fanatics and amateurs.

No comments about The Complete Book of Classic GM Muscle (The Complete Book Series).

5 comments about Chrysler Muscle Parts Interchange Manual, 1968-1974 (Motorbooks Workshop).

1. The book is very helpful for parts you don't have and need. It's great to look up the part I need for my Challengers and find other cars that have the exact same thing. Some of the things I have needed I have found on up to 15 different cars. I have used it faithfully since I've purchased it. The only downfall is that it isn't 100% complete. There was a few items I needed that had no listing for the interchange when there should have been. Regardless of that one problem the book is still well worth the money. Now they need a book to cover my 66 Charger.



2. This is a great source of information on which parts are the original and interchangeable parts for the different product lines of the Chrysler muscle cars. This could save someone some money by asking for the same part(and cheaper) from a different model.



3. If you see a part at a swap meet, auction or garage sale you want to know if it will work with your motor. This Parts Interchange Manual won't help! Take carbs, for example. This manual lists 141 interchange numbers with NO REVERSE INDEX. Want to know if you should bid on that 4671A for your six pack? Scan every one of 141 listings until you come to 4671A at number 124. Now all you know is it was stock on eight models and which ones those are. Will it work on that Mopar Performance intake you just bought? Who knows? Will it bolt onto anything other than the eight listed models? Who knows?

   If someone is buying a "right", frame off restoration or trying to complete one then this book has a purpose for them. If, like me, you want to turn your stock Mopars into Stage III or Stage IV performers, this book is useless.




4. I purchased the Interchange Manual plus the Restoration Guide for our 1970 Super Bee and they immediately became an outstanding reference source for our MOPAR muscle car. Information is indexed in such a way that it is easy to find what you are looking for in the book. Pictures and diagrams are clear and easy to see. Information is easy to understand.



5. Awesome reference via part numbers of all things Chrysler muscle, but ONLY by part number. There are lots of parts that interchange between years or models that this book does not reference, presumably because they are the wrong part number for whatever year. If you are building a "numbers matching" car - you NEED this book. Trying to fix up a driver or complete a project or build a clone? This may be of little or no use to you (and me).