Now in a hardcover edition, this book of enchanting vintage drawings showcases the beauty and ingenuity of American automobile design in the landmark period from the 1940s to the 1960s. The work ranges from rough, revealing preliminary sketches to carefully drafted, full-color illustrations, which were the presentation drawings auto makers used to showcase concepts, present new design ideals and act as selling tools. Many of these images have never before been published, and each offers a rare glimpse into the thinking of premier Detroit automakers. Includes an informative text on auto styling, the demands and expectations of the major manufacturers, and the ways in which airplanes, rockets, emerging technologies, and popular media influenced postwar car design. Just in time for Father's Day.