This study, covering 200 years, takes a look at transport past and present. It examines current European and American transport structures and policies in the light of sustainability and the environment and the social and economic consequences of the prese

The twentieth-century American experience with the automobile has much to tell us about the relationship between consumer capitalism and the environment, Tom McCarthy contends. In Auto Mania he presents the first environmental history of the automobile that shows how consumer desire (and manufacturer decisions) created impacts across the product lifecycle--from raw material extraction to manufacturing to consumer use to disposal. From the provocative public antics of young millionaires who owned the first cars early in the twentieth century to the SUV craze of the 1990s, Auto Mania explores developments that touched the environment. Along the way McCarthy examines how Henry Ford’s fetish for waste reduction tempered the environmental impacts of Model T mass production; how Elvis Presley’s widely shared postwar desire for Cadillacs made matters worse; how the 1970s energy crisis hurt small cars; and why baby boomers ignored worries about global warming. McCarthy shows that problems were recognized early. The difficulty was addressing them, a matter less of doing scientific research and educating the public than implementing solutions through America’s market economy and democratic government. Consumer and producer interests have rarely aligned in helpful ways, and automakers and consumers have made powerful opponents of regulation. The result has been a mixed record of environmental reform with troubling prospects for the future.

People customize their cars to look cool, go fast or both. To their owners, custom cars are more than just vehicles. They are a hobby, a passion, even a way of life. From high-powered hot rods and street rods, to fast and colorful tuner cars, each type of custom has a unique culture and community surrounding it. That's because car lovers like nothing better than to hang out together and share their love of cars. In this book, you will learn about everything from cool classic customs to the hottest new custom machines, the names of some of the most famous car customizers, and where car lovers gather to show off their machines. Photographs by Chuck Vranas.

Speed, danger, and intense competition-these are just a few elements that make stock car racing such a popular sport. See powerful stock cars close up and learn how racing teams build them for speed and safety.

Hit the road with some of the world's fastest cars in Auto-Mania. Learn about the incredible McLaren F[subscript 1] and the superfast Porsche 911 GT[subscript 2]. Find out the best way to back up a Lamborghini Murcielago and how the Pagani Zonda got its name. Featuring thirteen of the world's hottest automobiles, this book is a must for all young car lovers! Book jacket.

Describes what sports cars are and introduces classic models of this type of car, including the Porsche 356, the Mercedes-Benz 300SL, and the Jaguar XK 120.