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The American Speed Shop: Birth and Evolution of Hot Rodding
The local speed shop is an important element of the nostalgic feeling that people have when fondly remembering their hot rodding youth. Speed shops were not just parts stores, they were a communal gathering place for car guys wanting to talk smart, bench race, and catch up on the local scene, as well as to solicit the expert advice from the owner or staff behind the counter.
Here, longtime hot rodder and industry veteran Bob McClurg brings you the story of the era and the culture of speed shops as told through individual shop's histories and compelling vintage photography. He covers the birth of the industry, racing versus hot rodding, mail-order, and advertising wars. You learn about the performance boom of the 1960s and 1970s, lost speed shops as well as survivors, and a overview of the giant mail-order speed shops of today.
Dedication 6
Foreword by Tom Madigan 7
Acknowledgments 9
Chapter 1: Birth of a Seedling Industry 10
Chapter 2: Flathead Fever 24
Chapter 3: The OHV Wars: The King Is Dead; Long Live the King 36
Chapter 4: The Boom Years: 1940–1970 53
Chapter 5: SEMA and the SEMA Show 74
Chapter 6: Mass Marketing 84
Chapter 7: Lost Speed Shops: Pioneers in High Performance 100
Chapter 8: Speed Shop Survivors 153
APPENDIX: Speed Shops Past and Present 185
The local speed shop is an important element of the nostalgic feeling that people have when fondly remembering their hot rodding youth. Speed shops were not just parts stores, they were a communal gathering place for car guys wanting to talk smart, bench race, and catch up on the local scene, as well as to solicit the expert advice from the owner or staff behind the counter.
Here, longtime hot rodder and industry veteran Bob McClurg brings you the story of the era and the culture of speed shops as told through individual shop's histories and compelling vintage photography. He covers the birth of the industry, racing versus hot rodding, mail-order, and advertising wars. You learn about the performance boom of the 1960s and 1970s, lost speed shops as well as survivors, and a overview of the giant mail-order speed shops of today.
Dedication 6
Foreword by Tom Madigan 7
Acknowledgments 9
Chapter 1: Birth of a Seedling Industry 10
Chapter 2: Flathead Fever 24
Chapter 3: The OHV Wars: The King Is Dead; Long Live the King 36
Chapter 4: The Boom Years: 1940–1970 53
Chapter 5: SEMA and the SEMA Show 74
Chapter 6: Mass Marketing 84
Chapter 7: Lost Speed Shops: Pioneers in High Performance 100
Chapter 8: Speed Shop Survivors 153
APPENDIX: Speed Shops Past and Present 185
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