Storied Independent Automakers: Nash, Hudson, and American Motors (Great Lakes Books)

Incredibly presented and greatly researched history of those "other" automakers - those underdogs that helped keep GM and Ford on their toes!Not only talks about the companies, but also in depth backgrounds of those that ran them really sets this book apart!Enjoyable to read and the best, and possibly the only, historical account of the underdogs of the industry that had to merge and create AMC to survive after WWII.A MUST READ for every automotive enthusiast!

Thankfully the author cites sources, although these are mostly secondary.The differing ways in which these various manufacturers--and they were small only in comparison to the "Big Three"--conceived of product goals, integrating or outsourcing production, and corporate structure is well described and fascinating. Unfortunately, there is really not a great deal on individual vehicles or the engineering involved in designing and making them.

This is a very readable history of Hudson and Nash written by a talented historian.The author uses the careers of the company presidents to divide the book into chapters. Each chapter ends with an evaluation the job done by that company president during his tenure. A major strength of the book is the use of tables of data to support the text. Annual data on unit sales, $ sales, and profits are listed in every chapter. Adding a column on market share would have been a welcome addition but these few tables are a long overdue step in the right direction for books on the auto industry.The text is large and widely spaced so it is easy to read. Illustrations are limited to black and white photographs which is fine for this book's audience. The title of the book is strangely phrased and the cover art is amateurish. Both of these factors probably hurt sales. I know they made me hesitate to buy it.

Been a long time since I bought a real book. But I was so intrigued on finding the right source for learning more about how AMC was formed. Hyde does a great job packing the information in there, in a great format.

Car guy at heart; obviously I'd love to hear the beginnings of AMC since I'm a lifelong fan of Chrysler Products. A bit dry and needs a lot of HP to stay engaged sadly. I've read better written bios but the content in this book is hardly found in any other book--so for that it gets 4 stars.

This historical documentation provides an understandiing of how we have the current automobile manufacturers. It shows how that's manufacturers helped win the second world war.

Had Charlie Hyde in grad school auto history course and he is a great professor. His books on Chrysler, the Dodge Brothers and the Independents are fully researched and well written.

Good book. Wished it went into more detail.

Very in depth about the managers and personalities involved in these companies.If that's what you're interested in, a very well researched writeup.Not much about the cars however.......I was disappointed. I appreciate the products of these long forgotten automotive legends and don't really care much about the long dead rich people that ran the show.