Google Books has scans of Popular Science magazines all the way back to the '20s. The old stuff is AMAZING.
http://books.google.com/books/serial/CzwEAAAAMBAJ?rview=1&lr=&sa=N&start=960
Starting from the oldest issues, I just blew two hours checking them out, and I'm only at the early '70s. There is TONS of car stuff, especially once you get into the '50s:
An "amazing new auto engine" -- the Wankel (1960);
late-50s VW Beetle and Saab reviews;
Pegasos (what the hell is a Pegaso??);
fiberglass Kaisers; Corvair extended tests;
Dan Gurney tests the "new" Mustang (May 1964);
rich guys racing Ferraris;
electric cars with cobalt batteries and regenerative braking (1971!);
AMC Pacer ad! (1976);
an article on turbos, with quotes from Smokey Yunick (1984);
an article about how high octane fuel may not necessarily be what you need (some things never change);
how to drive in the snow; how to drive fast, etc.
Oh, and articles on tools (electric jigsaw -- Tool of the Year!!).
Beyond the car stuff, the ads, language and artwork make it a cool way to "flip through" 20th century American history via the popular technology of the times.
Luke
SuperDork
2/2/10 2:06 a.m.
Excellent stuff.
From a 1930s Camel ad - "If you haven't smoked a Camel recently, switch over for just one day, then quit them - if you can." :D
An "Auto Hint" from 1954 suggests mounting a kitchen towel holder under the "deck lid" to ease in cleanup after making roadside repairs. Brilliant.
Luke wrote:
An "Auto Hint" from 1954 suggests mounting a kitchen towel holder under the "deck lid" to ease in cleanup after making roadside repairs. Brilliant.
...In your suit 
I inherited all of my Grandfathers issues of popular mechanics from 39-69, when I was about 10.
I've read every one at least 6 times.
A Pegaso is a super sweet Spanish built car built along the lines of a Ferrari. A fellow I once knew in Elliots, SC was going to restore one for a client. It had been blasted and primed and then sat on the spit for years. The lines on that car were remarkable. They needed an engine and could not find one, but that was pre-internet.
Another time I went by their shop, opened the door and lo and behold there was a Ferrari 275 GTB.
They have all the Popular Mechanics magazines on Google Books as well.
the old pop mech mags always had guys welding in a suit with no eye protection, or using acid or blacksmithing or some other hazardously fun activity with their sleeves rolled up, tie dangling and soft fleshy eyeballs exposed...Makes OSHA people cry in their sleep
When visiting an uncle we kids slept in the basement with his collection of National Geographics, Popular Science and Popular Mechanics magazines.
I remember the amazement I felt when I realized the yard tractor that we loved to drive around was homebuilt from plans from the 40's.
His welder (which still works) has a kick starter!
Grassroots tech has always been around, grassroots attitude just needs us to keep booting it in the ass.
EricM
Dork
2/2/10 10:31 a.m.
Damn! Well there goes my Tuesday. I will check back with you all in about two days.
EricM
Dork
2/2/10 10:32 a.m.
egnorant wrote:
When visiting an uncle we kids slept in the basement with his collection of National Geographic
Now we have the internet for that. :-)
Duke
SuperDork
2/2/10 11:20 a.m.
procainestart wrote:
Beyond the car stuff, the ads, language and artwork make it a cool way to "flip through" 20th century American history via the popular technology of the times.
And the same ad for plans to a 100 mpg carburetor in every issue from 1947 through 1989...
egnorant wrote:
When visiting an uncle we kids slept in the basement with his collection of...
no offense, thats a great story, but as I read this line, I was preparing myself for a very different end to that sentence
Those magazines actually catered to home mechanics the BUILT things - something that's lost on most readers today. In a very real way, GRM carries that torch now
