A century ago the motorcar was still in its infancy, a cantankerous, frail device that was difficult for all but a few visionaries to perceive as practical. In only 20 years, that picture had changed dramatically, and the automobile was well on its way to becoming the dominant transportation device in this country. But the evolution of practical automobiles was only part of the story. In order to take advantage of mass production, there had to be mass markets. And that meant advertising. Cruising through Retro Ride, you\'ll see how automobile advertising both created needs for the American consumer as well as purveying hard information, and conceptualized and sold the idea that what you drive defines who you are. Retro Ride traces the simultaneous evolution of the automobile and the marketing messages that helped it flower across five decades-the Roaring Twenties through the Go-Go Sixties. Beautifully illustrated with original advertising, Retro Ride revels in the heyday of American print advertising. Before TV reached its full potential, magazines had no rival as a medium for bright, imaginative, and compelling presentation of automobiles. The images in this anthology reflect not only the products, but the times in which they flourished. Thus it provides a unique look at an America that was. It\'s a ride well worth the taking.Hardcover, 10\' x 13\', 176 pp, 500 color