"Ultimate Muscle Cars" coffee table book

[tirebird]

Picked up the Ultimate Muscle Cars coffee table sized book at a local books store yesterday. It looked intriguing with different views of several cars we all know and love. Then, I maded the mistake of actually reading the copy. It looks like it was written by a muscle head and not a muscle car guy.

For example, "automatic transmissions were standard in all first generation Z28's."

The 69 GS 400 had a "nasty nailhead" engine.

The Buick GNX had a "hydraulic brake system powered by the power steering pump".

Oh well, the at least the pictures are nice.

[@wot]

If its "The Ultimate Guide to Muscle Cars", it is riddled with inaccurate info. The person who wrote it had no idea what he was talking about.

[tirebird]

It looks like it was written in England, or somewhere in the British Isles. There's a lot of "colour" and "favourite",..instead of color and favorite. But, even if the author didn't know what he was writing about, you would think the editor would have employed a muscle car enthusiast to proof read the copy!

[427TJ]

[ QUOTE ]
you would think the editor would have employed a muscle car enthusiast to proof read the copy!

[/ QUOTE ]

Sounds like you judged the book by its cover! Been there, done that.

The publisher's mission was accomplished the moment you paid for the book. Besides, an edit by a musclecar specialist would add cost to the endeavor ( endeavour for our overseas friends) and add time to the process of getting the book in stores and thus getting your money.

[nuch_ss396]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
you would think the editor would have employed a muscle car enthusiast to proof read the copy!

[/ QUOTE ]

Sounds like you judged the book by its cover! Been there, done that.

The publisher's mission was accomplished the moment you paid for the book. Besides, an edit by a musclecar specialist would add cost to the endeavor ( endeavour for our overseas friends) and add time to the process of getting the book in stores and thus getting your money.

[/ QUOTE ]

Bill,

This may be true. However, it is unconscionable to call
any book the "ultimate" anything if it isn't factually correct.
BTW, someone bought me a copy of this
book for Christmas. Instead of a coffee table book, I have
it in the bathroom for light reading, or extra paper when needed

[tirebird]

I agree with both of you guys. It could have been a get rich quick publisher and writer who wanted to rush the publication to get the most money in the shortest amount of time.

My wife and a colleague of hers are currently writing a textbook. Besides double checking all her facts with other experts, the publisher will also fact check the book once the manuscripts are submitted. It's a long, involved process, that doesn't guarantee there won't be mistakes, but at least, it guarantees to catch most of them.

This book was plain sloppy and it looks like to me neither the publisher or the writer cared.

[427TJ]

[ QUOTE ]
I have it in the bathroom for light reading

[/ QUOTE ]

Been there, done that too!

[442w30]

As a rule of thumb, I don't buy Brit books on American cars. They have no clue.