The Driving Machine: A Design History of the Car
In this lively and entertaining work, Witold Rybczynski--hailed as "one of the best writers on design working today" by Publishers Weekly--tells the story of the most distinctive cars in history and the artists, engineers, dreamers, and gearheads who created them. Delving into more than 170 years of ingenuity in design, technology, and engineering, he takes us from Carl Benz's three-wheel motorcar in 1855 to the present-day shift to electric cars. Along the way, he looks at the emergence of mass production with Henry Ford's Model T; the Golden Age of American car design and the rise of car culture; postwar European subcompacts typified by the Mini Cooper; and the long tradition of the streamlined and elegant sports car.
Rybczynski explores how cars have been reflections of national character (the charming Italian Fiat Cinquecento), icons of a subculture (the VW bus for American hippies), and even emblems of an era (the practical Chrysler minivan). He explains key developments in automotive technology, including the electric starter, rack-and-pinion steering, and disc brakes, bringing to light how the modern automobile is the result of more than a century of trial and error. And he weaves in charming accounts of the many cars he's owned and driven, starting with his first--the iconic Volkswagen Beetle.
The Driving Machine is a breezy and fascinating history of design, illustrated with the author's delightful drawings.
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[An] affectionate history.--Brendan Driscoll "Booklist"
An architect with a fascination for design, Rybczynski here turns his attention to automotive history, from the technology under the hood to what a car's appearance tells us about the consumer--and society--it belongs to. Even if you don't know a VW from a V8, this book will fascinate.--Kate Tuttle "Boston Globe"
Alluring...The Driving Machine serves up bite-sized anecdotes, some sweet, some savory, like a tasting menu...Rybczynski sustains our curiosity until the last page. The author's signature delight and insight grace this breezy study.--Hamilton Cain "Minnesota Star Tribune"
With exuberant insight, Rybczynski offers an intriguing, cross-continental history of the evolution of automobile design over 150 years....The lively charm of this accessible, enjoyably mapped-out narrative is further enriched by [his] well-crafted drawings of referenced cars....Automotive enthusiasts and general readers alike will be equally enthralled.--Kathleen Gerard "Shelf Awareness"
[A] compact epic ... Spirited ... [The Driving Machine] is brisk, lucid and enjoyable.--Richard Snow "Wall Street Journal"
Rybczynski skitters conversationally and conversantly through the automobile's nearly 150-year timeline, often from behind the wheel, veering into milestones, both well-worn and obscure, as if they were roadside attractions that could be narrated past, or pulled into and toured.--Brett Berk "Car and Driver"
