Synopses & Reviews
As solid and dependable as the man himself, Dads car was often almost a member of the family, whisking you to exciting days out, or just to visit relatives to the chant of "Are we there yet?" Maybe in an idle moment Dad dreamed of driving something fast, but the demands of family life meant hard tops and firm suspensionanything less than four doors would have been wildly hedonistic. Even though the family car may not have been the very essence of rock n roll, Dad was proud of it. Spanning the 1950s to the 1980s, this is a celebration of the heyday of the Dad car. From beloved family workhorses like the Ford Cortina and Vauxhall Viva to the rakish excitement of the Rover 3500 and Citroen CX, 60 of the best-known and best-loved family cars of all time are organized into categories such as Sporty Dad, Frugal Dad, and Compact Dad, with an affectionate and witty article dedicated to each car. Reflecting on a time when the nearest thing to an airbag was hiding behind your brother, this is a celebration of cars that were as flawed and as loveable as Dad himself.
Synopsis
Good old Dad and his good old Dad's car. As solid and dependable as the man himself, if a little less balding, Dad's car was almost a member of the family, whisking you to exciting days out, or just to visit boring relatives in distant parts of the country to the chant of 'are we nearly there yet?' Like the man behind the wheel, Dad's car made you feel safe and secure, because it was as reassuring and sensible as he was. Maybe in an idle moment Dad dreamt of driving something rakish and fast, just like in idle moments he dreamt that your Mum was Twiggy, but the demands of family life meant soft tops, hard suspension and anything even remotely sporty were off the cards. Even anything less than four doors would have been wildly hedonistic. But although the family car may not have been the very essence of rock 'n' roll, Dad was proud of it.
Spanning the 1950s to the '80s, this is a celebration of the heyday of the Dad car. From much loved family workhorses like the Ford Cortina and Vauxhall Viva to the rakish excitement and playground kudos of the Rover 3500 and Citroen CX, all the great Dad cars are here. Reflecting a time before people carriers and lifestyle off roaders, when the nearest thing to an airbag was hiding behind your fat brother, this is a celebration of simple, honest cars that were as flawed and as loveable as your Dad himself.
About the Author
Giles Chapman's writing on cars has appeared in such publications as Auto Express, Classic & Sports Car, Condé Nast Traveller, and Top Gear magazine. His other titles include Chapman's Car Compendium, TV Cars, and Worst Cars Ever Sold. He was the 2006 Jeep Consumer Writer of the Year. Richard Porter is a contributing editor for Top Gear magazine and the author of Crap Cars.