orphanbabycars

4 out of 4 stars: Must read. Jammed with
photos...a library full of info in a single book.
This bright, huge work starts at the
beginning. Ads and diagrams galore festoon
its crowded pages. Get a copy.
--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

HISTORIANS have documented nearly every detail of
America's automotive successes and excesses. But,
according to author Robert D. Cunningham, they have
overlooked the lowly economy car. His exciting new book
series is the first solely dedicated to the pioneer economy
cars built in the United States before 1969.

"I wanted to publish a truckload of facts, figures and stories
about America's smallest cars," he says. "And I wanted
people to read it from cover to cover. But I knew nobody would
read an encyclopedia."

Cunningham's novel solution was to weave together 1,300
pages of facts and photos via the vivid recollections of "Crazy
Zeke," a reclusive car collector. ORPHAN BABIES, America's
Forgotten Economy Car is a true story--mostly. Although
Zeke is a fictional character, his conversations were adapted
from vintage periodicals, sales brochures, and the personal
memoirs of America's lesser-known automotive pioneers,
scalawags, hobbyists and mentors.

The work was so large, Cunningham divided it into three
volumes. Volumes 1 and 2 are now available and the third
book will be released in 2011.

ORPHAN BABIES, Volume 1, 1887-1927
Soft cover. 8.25"x10.75". 410 pages. Nearly 800 vintage photos & ads.
3 lb. shipping wt.

In the beginning, the most popular cars were steam- or
battery-powered. By 1908, gasoline buggies were kings of the
road. Zeke explains how the Ford Model T came to dominate
the low-price field. Five years later, Powel Crosley, Jr. and
other entrepreneurs boldly challenged Henry Ford with more
than 200 brands of cyclecars. For a while, our streets were
crawling with Crickets and Dudly Bugs, Imps and Vixens.
Read more about ORPHAN BABIES, Volume 1, 1887-1927.

ORPHAN BABIES, Volume 2, 1927-1943
Soft cover. 8.25"x10.75". 510 pages. Nearly 900 vintage photos & ads.
4 lb. shipping wt.

In the second book, news wires buzzed with reports of $200
Darts delivered in free garages; three-wheeled Martins that
turned on a dime; and amazing motorized tear drops. But
Herbert Austin, "the Henry Ford of Great Britain," dashed the
hopes of the would-be auto barons when he launched the first
successful "baby car" in America, the American Austin
dashed the hopes of Crosley and many other would-be auto
barons. As the world prepared for World War II, Powel Crosley
introduced a new light car based on his cyclecar principles.
And the American Bantam Car Company developed the first
"jeep" for the U.S. Army.
Read more about ORPHAN BABIES, Volume 2, 1927-1943.

ORPHAN BABIES, Volume 3, 1943-1969
is now in development for publication in 2011. To read an
excerpt of what's to come, go to
Read more about ORPHAN BABIES, Volume 3, 1943-1969.

Remember, Orphan Babies is not available in stores.
Your order is delivered exclusively from the author.