orphanbabycars.com

ROBERT D. CUNNINGHAM has studied automotive history
since his childhood in the 1960s with a keen interest in
America's pioneer "orphan babies"--very small cars built by
independent domestic manufacturers. After earning his
degree in commercial art, Cunningham specialized in
automotive advertising and illustration. Several years ago, he
was commissioned to facilitate a creativity workshop for a
leading international graphic design conference. Of course,
he developed the workshop around an automotive industry
theme.

In addition to editing the news magazine of the American
Austin Bantam Club for more than a dozen years,
Cunningham has written, "The New American Bantam
Owner's Manual;" a Bantam chapter for the "Heavyweight
Book of Light Duty Trucks," by Tom Brownell; and small-car
articles for This Old Truck. His work has received nine
consecutive Golden Quill Awards from Old Cars Weekly.

In 1994, Cunningham published Too Little Too Soon:
America's Early Economy Cars. The limited edition 146-page
book chronicled the development of American Austin,
Bantam and Crosley automobiles. Reviews were highly
complimentary. "This is the most accurate portrait of my
father (Powel Crosley, Jr.) that I have ever read, " wrote
Lewis Crosley, who purchased several copies before asking
the author to collaborate with him on a Crosley family
biography. However, Cunningham was in the midst of a
project that would consume his spare time for the next
decade. He was determined to fill a void in automotive
literature.

By 2008, Cunningham's newest manuscript had grown to
nearly 1,200 pages--enough to fill three volumes with detailed
text and rare photographs. Today, he proudly presents the
fruits of his labor, "ORPHAN BABIES: America's Forgotten
Economy Cars." This valuable collection may be the most
extensive documentation of pioneer economy cars from
independent domestic manufacturers ever published for the
automotive hobbyist.