American 1/2-Ton Pickup Trucks of the 1950s - (Those Were the Days) by Norm Mort (Paperback)

About the Book

Examining the evolution of the popular 1/2-ton American pickup truck, from a basic utility vehicle, to stylish icon and North America's best selling vehicle, this volume focuses on specifications, rarer makes and models, industry facts and figures, and optional equipment, via detailed text and previously unpublished images.

Book Synopsis

American 1/2-ton Pickup Trucks of the 1950s reveals the important role played by the lightweight, high-production, and basic 1/2-ton pickup truck in American post-war society, a role often overshadowed by its innate ruggedness, reliability and utilitarian nature.

As the 1950s progressed, so did the evolution of the pickup truck, which added more and more style, greater comfort, and ever increasing equipment options to its burgeoning model range. After the few drab colours first offered at the start of the decade, the pickup truck would assume similar styling and tri-coloured pastel paint finishes to its flashy sibling car versions.

Focussing on truck specifications, optional equipment, and industry facts and figures, this book also highlights some of the rarer makes and models, includes never before published images, and a dedicated profile chapter detailing five different design approaches from the decade.

With original advertising material, vintage images, and new photographs taken by Norm's son Andrew Mort, this book is also a visual treat for fans of the 1950s pickup truck.

About the Author

Canadian Norm Mort has had a lifelong interest in historic vehicles, and by the age of 10 was photographing old vehicles parked by the side of the road; by the age of 12 he was the youngest member on the executive of the Antique and Classic Car Club of Canada.
After graduating from the University of Toronto, Norm became a teacher and librarian in the public school system. However, it was not long before his love of old cars and trucks led him to become a freelance automotive writer for magazines and newspapers in the field of transport, which he has now done for over 30 years. Norm has written over a dozen books about historic vehicles, and has become Canada's most prolific writer on old cars and trucks. Norm is also an animal lover, and has written books about travelling with pets (combining both of his passions) and about living with a pet menagerie. Norm lives in Canada with Scottish wife, Sandy, and a variety of pets. Their son Andrew has been the photographer for all of Norm's books.