Art of the Muscle Car

I have been waiting for this book for over a year since Peter Harholdt visited our garage and photographed three of our cars for the book. As soon as I heard it was out I literally raced to the book store to get my copy. They had one on the shelf, its mine now. My friends at Motorbooks said that the entire first printing was sold out prior to the official release date of October 28, 2009!

If you are at all into Muscle Cars and appreciate beauty you must put this book on your Christmas list, if you can wait that long. The author is David Newhardt, a great photographer in his own right but Peter Harholdt is a master of his craft. Check out our other web site page, Photo Shoot Behind the Scenes you will learn how Peter shot all those outstanding photos. It is a truly remarkable process. Even the forward is a must read. Who else but Mr. Cannoball himself, Brock Yates, could write the Forward for Art of the Muscle Car?

The book consists of three parts containing 47 Chapters. Each Chapter deals with one particular Muscle Car. Newhardt provides some historical background on each model as well base equipment power train, base price, curb weight and production numbers. When it comes to the photos this book is just plain over the top! I am extremely humbled to have been included in this piece of art.

Unless you are dead or financially destitute (in today’s economy that could very well be the case) this book will make you want to own a Muscle Car by spring!

Part 1: The Innocent Years

Chapter 1: 1964 Pontiac GTO

Chapter 2: 1965 Chevrolet Chevelle Z16

Chapter 3: 1965 Pontiac GTO

Chapter 4: 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396

Chapter 5: 1966 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 Convertible

Chapter 6: 1967 Dodge Charger Hemi

Chapter 7: 1967 Pontiac GTO Convertible

Chapter 8: 1968 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396

Chapter 9: 1968 Ford Shelby GT500KR Convertible

Part 2: The Excessive Years

Chapter 10: 1969 Chevrolet Camaro COPO #9561 427/425

Chapter 11: 1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS 396

Chapter 12: 1969 Chevrolet El Camino SS 396

Chapter 13: 1969 Charger 500

Chapter 14: 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona

Chapter 15: 1969 Dodge Super Bee

Chapter 16: 1969 Ford Mustang GT 428 SCJ

Chapter 17: 1969 Shelby GT500 Convertible

Chapter 18: 1969 Torino Talladega

Chapter 19: Mercury Cyclone Spoiler II Cale Yarborough Special

Chapter 20: 1969 Mercury Cyclone Spoiler Dan Gurney Edition

Chapter 21: 1970 AMC AMX

Chapter 22: 1970 Buick Gran Sport GSX

Chapter 23: 1970 1/2 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 RS

Chapter 24: 1970 Chevelle SS 454 LS6

Chapter 25: 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T Convertible

Chapter 26: 1970 Dodge Challenger T/A

Chapter 27: 1970 Dodge Charger R/T 440-6

Chapter 28: 1970 Mustang Boss 302

Chapter 29: 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 429

Chapter 30: 1970 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 W-30 Convertible

Chapter 31: 1970 Plymouth ‘Cuda Convertible 440

Chapter 32: 1970 Plymouth AAR ‘Cuda

Chapter 33: 1970 Plymouth Road Runner

Chapter 34: 1970 Plymouth Road Runner Superbird

Chapter 35: 1970 Pontiac GTO Judge Convertible Ram Air IV

Part 3: The Declining Years

Chapter 36: 1971 Javelin 401

Chapter 37: 1971 Chevrolet El Camino SS 454

Chapter 38: 1971 Dodge Challenger R/T 440-6 “Barn Find”

Chapter 39: 1971 Dodge Charger R/T 426 Hemi and 440 Magnum

Chapter 40: 1971 Dodge Charger Super Bee

Chapter 41: 1971 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 W-30

Chapter 42: 1971 Plymouth Hemi “Cuda

Chapter 43: 1971 Plymouth Road Runner Hemi

Chapter 44: 1971 Plymouth GTX 440

Chapter 45: 1972 Oldsmobile Hurst/Olds Convertible

Chapter 46: 1973 Pontiac Trans Am Super Duty

Chapter 47: 1974 Pontiac Trans Am Super Duty 455

The good news: there are 240 glorious color pages to drool over. The bad news; there are ONLY 240 glorious color pages to drool over. I hope that Newhardt and Harholdt team up again real soon and bring us more of the Muscle Cars they missed.

There certainly is a fine Camaro or two they missed. How about a Yenko or Motion Performance Camaro. Where is the Nova SS or the 1968 1/2 Mustang 428 CJ? How about a Hurst Olds or 1970 Pontiac Trans Am? Don’t forget the Scrambler from AMC or the Thunderbolt from Ford? How about a 428 CJ Mercury Cougar XR7 and I am sure they could find a lot more Mopar beasts. You wet are appetite, feed us more.