Taplinger Publishers

Two exceptional titles in Parkwest's "Design Heroes" series edited by Martin Pawley are highly recommended specialty picks for car history fans seeking depth and detail over glossy color photos. Paul Jodard's Raymond Loewy (0800866428) tells of a French-American auto designer known for designing everything from trains and lipstick commercials to cars. His reputation for 'vulgar taste' and 'knack' alike translated startlingly well into producing consumer products from Studebaker Starliners to consumer products, making Loewy a historic figure deserving of the depth Raymond Loewy provides. Stephen Bayley's Harley Earl (08-00838025) profiles the creator of such classics as the 1958 Cadillac Biarritz and the Buick. Earl gave the 1950s American car its distinctive flash, and Harley Earl profiles his achievements and memorable career. Packed with vintage black and white photos, Raymond Loewy and Harley Earl are exceptional biographies in and of themselves.