20th Century Classic Cars offers a lush visual history of the automobile, decade by decade, via 400 plus print advertisements from the Jim Heimann Collection. Using imagery culled from a century of auto advertising, this book traces the evolution of the auto from horseless carriage to rocket on wheels and beyond. With an introduction and chapter text by New York Times automotive writer Phil Patton, as well as an illustrated timeline, this volume highlights the technological innovations, major manufacturers and dealers, historical events, and influence of popular culture on car design. Time travel through the Automobile Age, with a collection that puts you in the drivers seat.

Introduction -- America in the Automobile age -- 1900-1909 -- The original SUVs -- 1910-1919 -- A care for every purse and purpose -- 1920-1929 -- You are what you drive -- 1930-1939 -- Streamlining hits the streets -- 1940-1949 -- Looking to the skies -- 1950-1959 -- Dreaming in chrome -- 1960-1969 -- The people's car and personal cars -- 1970-1979 -- Running on empty -- 1980-1989 -- Greed is good -- 1990-1999 -- Through the rearview mirror.