If one believes the hot rod and custom car to be an art form (and just look at the publications, organizations, and institutions, like the Rod and Custom Car Hall of Fame museum, which support it), we must first, of necessity, consider the how and why of it all. The juxtaposition of professionals and amateurs in the field makes it, for lack of more sophisticated terminology, "a little bit country-a little bit rock 'n' roll."
It seems there has been a rush of late to bring books to print on the subject of both rodding and customizing. None of these books are actually bad, but just as in other forms of entertainment, some are obviously better than others because of the author's knowledge of the subject matter through actual hands-on experience, in-depth research (or both), and the quality of photography. I do feel it necessary to say something in defense of using sub-standard photography in some instances, if that's all there is. It must be pointed out that to adequately illustrate our hobby's history, it is oftentimes necessary to use faded, torn, stained, and yes, even out-of-focus snapshots taken with simple box cameras years ago by those who actually participated and/or spectated at a given venue. In that unenlightened era before mainstream car magazines came to be, there were few to none among the ranks of professional photographers who considered our predecessors' automotive pursuits "worthy" subject matter, except possibly to illustrate exploitative newspaper accounts on the "evils of hot rodding."
So then, from the swelling ranks of books on our favorite subject matter, I'm going to review only four, both new and not so new, but all still readily available, even though there are many others I certainly consider worthy contenders and valuable additions to my personal library, as well. This selection, I feel, is an exceptionally good mix and includes the first museum catalog to explore the art of modified automobiles, including the car itself, the paint designs applied to it, and those who applied that decoration. There's also an in-depth sociological study of what was, until recently, a phenonom that lacked any importance and legitimacy within "established" fine art circles.
As far as styles of modified cars are concerned, we all have our favorites. I personally enjoy everything, from the rough welds of traditional hot rods cobbled together by hard-core traditionalists, to the sensuous curves of flowing chromed headers and highly polished coachwork found on professionally designed and fabricated cars at venues such as the Grand National Roadster Show. Now if some of these creations aren't examples of art, both Folk and Fine, I don't know what is. Well, actually I do know "what is" in the world of art, at least to some extent, and therein lies my dilemma. Consider, if you will, a megaton hunk of rusty steel installed at the entry of a government office building or perhaps the dissected and plasticized remains of what was once a living, breathing horse and rider actually considered as fine art. Can we all sing, "It's a Sick World After All?" With this said, I think I'll stick to the automobile as my art form of choice, thank you very much, as I know I'll sleep better tonight-plasticized people-ughhhhhh!