"The definitive, fully illustrated celebration of an auto manufacturer that paved its own way by going off-road. Few American vehicles, or vehicles made anywhere else in the world for that matter, are as universally iconic as the Jeep. From olive drab WWII military relics to the beloved Wrangler with its rear-mounted spare tire, open-air design, and telltale roll cage, the Jeep is a true classic. In Jeep: The History of America's Greatest Vehicle, automotive writer Patrick R. Foster chronicles over 70 years of Jeep vehicle design and production. Beginning with the Jeep as a crucial component of the American World War II fleet, Foster expertly recounts the corporate shifts, financial struggles and successes, close calls, and--above all--the enduring machines that have carried Jeep from the early 1940s to its triumphant role as a modern-day embodiment of American perseverance. Three hundred color and black-and-white historical photos complement his expertly written narrative of Jeep's entire history, reminding us that sometimes, the road less traveled was just waiting for the right truck"--
"Jeep chronicles the history of this uniquely American brand, starting with its wartime inception and moving through the 20th century, fully illustrated throughout and loaded with facts and sidebars"--
Jeep: The History of America's Greatest Vehicle is an updated edition of the history and models of the iconic brand. Originally released in 2014, this reformat and re-release due out 14th Jan 2020 from Quarto on their Motorbooks imprint is 192 pages and will be available in paperback format.
Author Pat Foster is an automotive journalist and one of the foremost authorities on Jeep, AMC, and related brands. In other words, he knows what he's talking about. His engagement with the subject shines through in the prose. The story begins with a number of exciting tales from WW2 and continues through the next 80 years of developmental history.
The chapters are arranged chronologically from WW2 to 2019. There's a cross referenced index and the book is peppered throughout with sidebar info and annotations for further reading. I was maybe most impressed with the scope of this book. This is a comprehensive history and retrospective full of information and trivia and lavishly illustrated.
Five stars. This would make a superlative gift for car enthusiasts and especially for fans of the brand.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
