orphanbabycars

IN THE BEGINNING, gasoline was a disposable byproduct; we
had no use for the stuff. However, our individual worlds
expanded forever when the automobile chugged into town. It
transported us into a gilded universe of power and speed. We
built it bigger and better. Before long, we became so
dependent upon the automobile that fossil fuels became vital
to our national security.

With each passing decade, we missed opportunities to make
wiser choices as automotive entrepreneurs offered up big ideas
about small cars.

Before World War I, hundreds of backyard auto barons built
lightweight "cyclecars" that carried two or three passengers
while achieving fuel economy of 50 miles per gallon. But "baby
cars" were born prematurely--gasoline was cheap and roads
were poor.

We paid premium prices for lightweight American Austin,
Bantam and Crosley economy cars when gasoline was
rationed during World War II. The thrifty rascals traveled three
times farther per ration than a Ford or Chevrolet. After the war,
we returned to the portly products of "The Big Three."

In the summer of 1969, the muscle car had been crowned King
of the Concrete. Young boys became men behind the wheels
of charging Mustangs, roaring Camaros and menacing
Barracudas. Author Robert D. Cunningham was too young to
drive. But he knew what he liked. He marveled at a BMW
Isetta bubblecar that darted around his hometown of Manson,
Iowa. His own parents had abandoned their red and white 1958
Ford Fairlane in favor of a green Morris Minor "woody" station
wagon and a white Volkswagen cabriolet.

As far as Cunningham was concerned, the most interesting
automobiles ever built came from overseas.

He was wrong.

AN HISTORICAL REFERENCE NOVEL
ORPHAN BABIES, America's Forgotten Economy Cars is a
true story--mostly. A few of the characters in this landmark
1200-page, three-volume historical reference novel--particularly
Zeke Zehr, Johnathan Yancy and their families--are fictitious
However, the content of their conversations was gleaned and
adapted from vintage periodicals, sales brochures, memoirs,
personal correspondence and encounters with American
automotive pioneers, scalawags, hobbyists and mentors. This
is the true story of their little cars--their orphan
babies--America's forgotten economy cars. (Continue)

ORPHAN BABIES
America's Forgotten Economy Cars
is a new three-volume, softcover historical reference
novel. It tells the tales of American cars and trucks that
might have made us independent of foreign oil many
years ago.

ORPHAN BABIES Volume 1, 1887-1927
ORPHAN BABIES Volume 2, 1927-1943
ORPHAN BABIES Volume 3, 1943-1969

4 out of 4 stars: Absolute Must. Reviewed by
Hemmings Classic Car, March 2009

"I THOROUGHLY enjoyed your book. The
writing is fantastic, as are the photos. Your
research has paid off!! This will be a
reference that I will call upon as I (now) do
with the Complete Encyclopedia of Motors
Cars by Georganio."
--Jolly M., California

"I just finished your book and all I can say is
that it is FANTASTIC. It was very
entertaining and informative. It was great how
you intertwined the cars' history with the
story and it was a very enjoyable read. The
pictures were fantastic and I can't wait for
Volumes 2 and 3 to be printed."
--David K., Buffalo, NY