The Americans beautiful machines: the most iconic U.S. cars and their era

Abstract

The automobile has been the backbone of American society over the last 100 years. The likes of Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors defined a new era for the USA, from transcontinental travel and suburban transportation to the great American road trip. But these cars were never just practical machines; they were part of the great American experiment and their citizens' pursuit of happiness. They represented a way of life, an expression of personality, and a means of making a living. Each era of American car culture spawned models that were perfect statements of their time. The Art-Deco-inspired airstream designs of the 1920s and '30s preceded the postwar optimism of road cruisers, while muscle cars of the 1960s characterized U.S. power on the world stage. The Americans--Beautiful Machines celebrates the likes of the Mustang, Gran Torino, Corvette, and many other classic models that put American cars firmly into the zeitgeist. From Model T all the way to the electric age of Tesla, automobiles have remained icons of American culture.--Back Cover.