A world without cars would be unrecognizable. They have altered the shape of our cities, transformed our nations and landscapes, revolutionized the way we make and buy things, and profoundly influenced our relationship with speed itself.Presenting the car as the driving force that accelerated the twentieth century, this book considers topics such as the Ford Model T and the legacy of mass production; the GM LaSalle and the birth of style and obsolescence; the original Volkswagen and the expression of national identity; the GM Firebird and the desire for frictionless movement. It takes an in-depth look at the history of the automobile and its impact, to better understand where we might want to go in the future.