{"product_id":"historys-greatest-automotive-mysteries-myths-and-rumors-revealed-james-deans-killer-porsche-nascars-fastest-monkey-bonnie-and-clydes-getaway-9780760347140","title":"History's Greatest Automotive Mysteries, Myths, and Rumors Revealed: James Dean's Killer Porsche, NASCAR's Fastest Monkey, Bonnie and Clyde's Getaway","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eExplore the origins of some of the automotive world's most intriguing stories, mysteries, myths, rumors, and legends.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Fantastic stories have swirled around the automobile since the first car appeared over 100 years ago.\u003ci\u003e History's Greatest Automotive Mysteries, Myths, and Rumors Revealed\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003ecompiles a juicy selection\u003c\/b\u003e covering subjects from racing to automakers, crime to pop culture, and historical to modern day. With \u003cb\u003eengaging text\u003c\/b\u003e from veteran automotive journalists Matt Stone and Preston Lerner accompanied by \u003cb\u003econtemporary and historic photographs\u003c\/b\u003e of vehicles and their famous drivers, discover the fascinating truth behind a host of mysteries. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Did you know that after \u003cb\u003eJames Dean's death behind the wheel of his Porsche 550 Spyder\u003c\/b\u003e, parts of the car were sold off, and said parts then cursed their new owners? Or did they? \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Did you know \u003cb\u003eBonnie and Clyde stole Ford V-8s\u003c\/b\u003e almost exclusively as getaway cars because they were the fastest cars of their day? Or that Clyde Barrow wrote Henry Ford a \"thank-you\" note for building the cars that made escaping his bank heists so successful? \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e NASCAR has been the source of countless myths and legends. Did you know, for example, that a monkey by the name of Jocko Flocko once won a Grand National race? (Hall of Fame driver Tim Flock helped.) Or that one of the most famous stock cars in \u003cb\u003eNASCAR lore\u003c\/b\u003e--a Chevelle built by legendary rules-bender Smokey Yunick--never actually turned a lap on a racetrack? \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Did you ever hear the one about the \u003cb\u003e1964 Impala that flew into a cliff\u003c\/b\u003e--at 350 miles per hour--in the Arizona desert, thereby winning the inaugural Darwin Award? How about the \u003cb\u003eFord Pinto that flew like a bird\u003c\/b\u003e? Or the 68-horsepower \u003cb\u003eHyundai Excel that maxed out at 115 miles per hour\u003c\/b\u003e while speeding Rodney King to a rendezvous that would eventually lead to the L.A. Riots? \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e What was the \u003cb\u003efirst car to break the sound barrier\u003c\/b\u003e? Who won the \u003cb\u003efirst Indy 500\u003c\/b\u003e? What kind of car was dancer Isadora Duncan in when she was killed? What car performed the \u003cb\u003emost spectacular stunt\u003c\/b\u003e in the James Bond movie oeuvre? \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e In all of these cases, the answers may not be what you think. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e These are just a few of the automotive world's crazy stories, mysteries, myths, and legends. \u003cb\u003eRead it and be amazed!\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMatt Stone\u003c\/b\u003e (Camarillo, CA), former executive editor of \u003ci\u003eMotor Trend\u003c\/i\u003e magazine, has been a professional automotive journalist and photographer since 1985. He is the award-winning author and photographer of several books, including Motorbooks' best-selling \u003ci\u003e365 Cars You Must Drive\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eMcQueen's Machines\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eMcQueen's Motorcycles\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eHot Rod Empire\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eThe IROC Porsches\u003c\/i\u003e. He is the co-author, with Preston Lerner of \u003ci\u003eWinning: The Racing Life of Paul Newman\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eHistory's Greatest Automotive Mysteries, Myths, and Rumors Revealed\u003c\/i\u003e. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePreston Lerner\u003c\/b\u003e, a regular contributor to \u003ci\u003eAutomobile\u003c\/i\u003e magazine, has written about motorsports for publications ranging from \u003ci\u003eSports Illustrated\u003c\/i\u003e to the \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e. Lerner has co-authored Motorbooks titles \u003ci\u003eWinning: The Racing Life of Paul Newman\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eHistory's Greatest Automotive Mysteries, Myths, and Rumors Revealed\u003c\/i\u003e with Matt Stone. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Motorbooks International","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52160209879314,"sku":"9780760347140","price":21.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_a2304916-7557-4c8b-9179-e3e0284e7565.jpg?v=1775040837","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/historys-greatest-automotive-mysteries-myths-and-rumors-revealed-james-deans-killer-porsche-nascars-fastest-monkey-bonnie-and-clydes-getaway-9780760347140","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}