The Giant’s dream
If you’re expecting yet another roundup of cars inspired by postwar American style, you might be disappointed—at least at first. But if what you’re looking for is a perspective that’s not exactly new but certainly a little different, Designing Dreams might offer you a welcome surprise.
Because those years and that style are told by Dick Ruzzin—a veteran designer with some 40 years of experience at General Motors—from a privileged point of view, with a strong focus on context and the people behind the scenes. Chief among them, of course, is the histrionic Harley Earl, whose presence lights up like a beacon the book like he illuminated the very idea of American automotive design—and, to some extent, beyond.
While the cover prominently features the silhouette of the 1951 Buick Le Sabre concept—one of Earl’s signature creations—the real hero of the book is the 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado, a front-wheel-drive sports car that stands as a milestone between the opulence of the ’50s and the muscle car era that occupies much of the narrative.
Perhaps the least “American” trait of this book—also available as an eBook on major platforms—is its format: compact, yet rich in content. Across 176 pages densely packed with text and accompanied by an unspecified number of color and black-and-white photos, as well as sketches, the book unfolds over 26 chapters, offering few preambles and many fresh angles. It’s ideal for those who think you can’t build a compelling story around a single car.
Datasheet
Designing Dreams
Publisher: Veloce Publishing
Author: Dick Ruzzin
Size: bound volume measuring 21 x 25 x 2 cm with hard cover
Pages: 176
Text: English
Photographs: various in color and b/w
Price: 29,99 usd
