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Auto Biography: A Classic Car, an Outlaw Motorhead, and 57 Years of the American Dream
A brilliant blend of Shop Class as Soulcraft and The Orchid Thief, Earl Swift's wise, funny, and captivating Auto Biography follows an outlaw-genius auto mechanic as he painstakingly attempts to restores a classic 1957 Chevy to its former glory-all while the FBI and local law enforcement close in
"Swift makes for an ideal traveling companion." -Tom Vanderbilt, New York Times Book Review on Big Roads
To Tommy Arney, the old cars at Moyock Muscle are archeological artifacts, twentieth-century fossils that represent a place and a people utterly devoted to the automobile and transformed by it. But to his rural North Carolina town, they're not history; they're junk. When Tommy acquires a rusted out wreck of an old Chevy and promises to return it to a shiny, chromed work of American art, he sees one last chance to salvage his respect, keep himself out of jail, and save his business. But for this folk hero who is often on the wrong side of the law, the odds of success are long, especially when the FBI, local authorities, and the bank are closing in.
Written for motor heads and automotive novices alike, Auto biography interweaves this improbable hero's journey with the story of one iconic car to chart the rise, fall, and rebirth of the American Dream. Told in words and eight pages of photos, this wise, charming, and heartbreaking true story is an indelible portrait of a man, a machine, and a nation on the road from a glorious past into an unknown future.
"Swift makes for an ideal traveling companion." -Tom Vanderbilt, New York Times Book Review on Big Roads
To Tommy Arney, the old cars at Moyock Muscle are archeological artifacts, twentieth-century fossils that represent a place and a people utterly devoted to the automobile and transformed by it. But to his rural North Carolina town, they're not history; they're junk. When Tommy acquires a rusted out wreck of an old Chevy and promises to return it to a shiny, chromed work of American art, he sees one last chance to salvage his respect, keep himself out of jail, and save his business. But for this folk hero who is often on the wrong side of the law, the odds of success are long, especially when the FBI, local authorities, and the bank are closing in.
Written for motor heads and automotive novices alike, Auto biography interweaves this improbable hero's journey with the story of one iconic car to chart the rise, fall, and rebirth of the American Dream. Told in words and eight pages of photos, this wise, charming, and heartbreaking true story is an indelible portrait of a man, a machine, and a nation on the road from a glorious past into an unknown future.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 6, 2014
56 people are currently reading
474 people want to read
About the author
Earl Swift
14 books175 followersLongtime journalist Earl Swift is the author of the forthcoming ACROSS THE AIRLESS WILDS: THE LUNAR ROVER AND THE TRIUMPH OF THE FINAL MOON LANDINGS, due from HarperCollins in July 2021.
He is also the author of seven other books, among them the New York Times best seller CHESAPEAKE REQUIEM (HarperCollins, 2018), the story of an island town threatened with extinction by the very water that has sustained it for 240 years; AUTO BIOGRAPHY (HarperCollins, 2014), a narrative journey through postwar America told through a single old car and the fourteen people who've owned it; THE BIG ROADS (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2011), an armchair history of the U.S. highway system and its effects, physical and cultural, on the nation it binds; JOURNEY ON THE JAMES (University of Virginia Press, 2001), about a great American river and the largely untold history that has unfolded in and around it; WHERE THEY LAY (Houghton Mifflin, 2003), for which he accompanied an Army archaeological team into the jungles of Laos in search of a helicopter crew shot down thirty years before; and a 2007 collection of his stories, THE TANGIERMAN'S LAMENT (UVa Press). He also co-authored, with Macon Brock, ONE BUCK AT A TIME (Beachnut/John F. Blair, 2017), an insider's account of Dollar Tree's rise from loopy idea to retail juggernaut.
Since 2012 he's been a fellow of Virginia Humanities at the University of Virginia. He lives in the Blue Ridge mountains west of Charlottesville.
He is also the author of seven other books, among them the New York Times best seller CHESAPEAKE REQUIEM (HarperCollins, 2018), the story of an island town threatened with extinction by the very water that has sustained it for 240 years; AUTO BIOGRAPHY (HarperCollins, 2014), a narrative journey through postwar America told through a single old car and the fourteen people who've owned it; THE BIG ROADS (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2011), an armchair history of the U.S. highway system and its effects, physical and cultural, on the nation it binds; JOURNEY ON THE JAMES (University of Virginia Press, 2001), about a great American river and the largely untold history that has unfolded in and around it; WHERE THEY LAY (Houghton Mifflin, 2003), for which he accompanied an Army archaeological team into the jungles of Laos in search of a helicopter crew shot down thirty years before; and a 2007 collection of his stories, THE TANGIERMAN'S LAMENT (UVa Press). He also co-authored, with Macon Brock, ONE BUCK AT A TIME (Beachnut/John F. Blair, 2017), an insider's account of Dollar Tree's rise from loopy idea to retail juggernaut.
Since 2012 he's been a fellow of Virginia Humanities at the University of Virginia. He lives in the Blue Ridge mountains west of Charlottesville.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
November 2, 2014
I never thought I would be so interested in a book about cars, but Swift is always able to spin his tales in such in an engaging way. In particular, I enjoyed the colorful dialogue and descriptions that made Tommy Arney and his band of merry men come alive on the pages.
April 27, 2014
When I saw the description of Auto Biography, I thought it would be something like an American Chopper episode, but with car restoration. There is a little of that kind of feel, but not until the second half of the book. The first half starts with an interesting idea – tracing the ownership of a 57 Chevy wagon through a dozen former owners, including stories about the car, how it was bought and sold, and some biography about the owners and their city, Norfolk. Added to the mix was the life story of one Tommy Arney, outlaw motorhead of the title, and to-be restorer of the auto in question. You really got the feel for the people and the times and about how cars fare as they age. With Arney, you got the idea that he’s quite often been an out of control thug, but he had his moments when he comes across as an almost normal guy obsessively driven by his work. And his work is all over the place – he has his hands in everything from strip clubs to restaurants to real estate to classic cars, and doesn’t appear to keep focus on anything for very long.
The book takes a major left turn in the second half. This part of the story details the restoration of the car at the same time as Arney is facing criminal charges and various other governmental entanglements. His violent past is downplayed here, but you get the impression that Arney will finally have to pay for his past transgressions, even as the dilapidated Chevy gets a new chance to become a car that is desired. The part that I was most interested in, the restoration, is described in a level of detail that I appreciated, the grinding and cutting, the painting, the research, the re-evaluations, the donors, even the moving of the car during the process is chronicled, and the description was unexpectedly absorbing.
The characters in this book are real characters, funny and interesting, but they did feel a bit too much like they were in a reality show, especially in their conversations. The writing overall was funny in a fresh way, and kept the interest up throughout the different phases of the book. I liked the way the author contrasted the car and Arney’s life. I would read more by Swift.
I won a copy of this book in ARC format from Goodreads First Reads program.
The book takes a major left turn in the second half. This part of the story details the restoration of the car at the same time as Arney is facing criminal charges and various other governmental entanglements. His violent past is downplayed here, but you get the impression that Arney will finally have to pay for his past transgressions, even as the dilapidated Chevy gets a new chance to become a car that is desired. The part that I was most interested in, the restoration, is described in a level of detail that I appreciated, the grinding and cutting, the painting, the research, the re-evaluations, the donors, even the moving of the car during the process is chronicled, and the description was unexpectedly absorbing.
The characters in this book are real characters, funny and interesting, but they did feel a bit too much like they were in a reality show, especially in their conversations. The writing overall was funny in a fresh way, and kept the interest up throughout the different phases of the book. I liked the way the author contrasted the car and Arney’s life. I would read more by Swift.
I won a copy of this book in ARC format from Goodreads First Reads program.
August 22, 2015
Very entertaining book. Combines elements of fiction and non-fiction in a way that give you an idea of what can happen in the lifetime of a car and various people who own it.
The language is very colorful in regards to some characters, and may be objectionable to some, but in reality it's accurate for a character who has a fifth grade education, and who is a hooligan.
Fascinating stuff, in regards to how old cars get restored. Also, the book educates you as to how cars used to be built, as opposed to how they are today. Very different building processes.
Loved the book.
The language is very colorful in regards to some characters, and may be objectionable to some, but in reality it's accurate for a character who has a fifth grade education, and who is a hooligan.
Fascinating stuff, in regards to how old cars get restored. Also, the book educates you as to how cars used to be built, as opposed to how they are today. Very different building processes.
Loved the book.
May 28, 2023
I wanted something different to listen to as I drove to work, different from the usual memoirs and biographies of famous writers or Jewish families.
I love a bit of contemporary history, especially history that I can touch easily in my own memory banks and this memoir of the 1957 Chevy, the American car culture, and a foul-mouthed, self-proclaimed car guy with a penchant for fighting, felt like a good diversion. And for much of the book, it was exactly that.
There was a lot of nostalgia evoked. I saw my father and his Dad, both 'car guys', who would have been able to easily visualize every gear, strut, and nuanced curve of the '57 Chevy. It evoked memories of my maternal grandfather, who owned a towing company and had a junk yard full of wrecked cars, rusting and wondrous, and the perfect place for a kid to run around exploring (Tommy Arney, the subject of this book, would have throat-punched anyone who called his business a junk yard).
I want to thank the author for taking a bit of time in the book to describe his own investigative work. Not only is this book about the '57 Chevy, but it about a specific '57 Chevy wagon, and the author tracked the car through 12 owners and in doing so created another character who gleams off the showroom floor in 1957 and then ages through the years, and the author gives us a lifeline of an automobile.
As I have indicated, for much of the book, there is great nostalgia. A yearning for the simpler times of the 1950s and the following two or three decades. One third of the book, the ending third, is dedicated to the rebuilding of this 1957 Chevy wagon and it is definitely detailed and overly so, and for those of us who aren't motorheads, it's a drag. It also goes in depth on the trials and tribulations of Mr. Arney, who built up an empire of go-go clubs, rental properties, and his classic auto business, but drew the attention of city inspectors and the IRS and ultimately would lose much of his personal worth before being sent to prison.
I will add a caveat for readers, Mr. Arney is the possessor of a very foul mouth and at times I found it distracting to hear. I have nothing against swearing, my own grandfather cussed in a similarly relentless manner, but to hear it as frequently in the audiobook was very off-putting. Maybe it reads easier in the book form.
I love a bit of contemporary history, especially history that I can touch easily in my own memory banks and this memoir of the 1957 Chevy, the American car culture, and a foul-mouthed, self-proclaimed car guy with a penchant for fighting, felt like a good diversion. And for much of the book, it was exactly that.
There was a lot of nostalgia evoked. I saw my father and his Dad, both 'car guys', who would have been able to easily visualize every gear, strut, and nuanced curve of the '57 Chevy. It evoked memories of my maternal grandfather, who owned a towing company and had a junk yard full of wrecked cars, rusting and wondrous, and the perfect place for a kid to run around exploring (Tommy Arney, the subject of this book, would have throat-punched anyone who called his business a junk yard).
I want to thank the author for taking a bit of time in the book to describe his own investigative work. Not only is this book about the '57 Chevy, but it about a specific '57 Chevy wagon, and the author tracked the car through 12 owners and in doing so created another character who gleams off the showroom floor in 1957 and then ages through the years, and the author gives us a lifeline of an automobile.
As I have indicated, for much of the book, there is great nostalgia. A yearning for the simpler times of the 1950s and the following two or three decades. One third of the book, the ending third, is dedicated to the rebuilding of this 1957 Chevy wagon and it is definitely detailed and overly so, and for those of us who aren't motorheads, it's a drag. It also goes in depth on the trials and tribulations of Mr. Arney, who built up an empire of go-go clubs, rental properties, and his classic auto business, but drew the attention of city inspectors and the IRS and ultimately would lose much of his personal worth before being sent to prison.
I will add a caveat for readers, Mr. Arney is the possessor of a very foul mouth and at times I found it distracting to hear. I have nothing against swearing, my own grandfather cussed in a similarly relentless manner, but to hear it as frequently in the audiobook was very off-putting. Maybe it reads easier in the book form.
August 24, 2018
An Ode to a Man and a Machine
Auto Biography is a wonderful portrait of Tom Armey, the man and his time. This story draws you in with colorful characters, language, and funny stories. Buried in this well-done story we also have brilliant depictions of the state of the blue collar working class in our country. The accumulated toll of the factory closings, abandoned stores, and homes paints a picture of the decline of core central cities in our country. The despair is palpable as they suffer from bouts of unemployment, underemployment and the lack of hope. We know that these people decided an election.
In a brilliant bit of dogged research and determination, he traces the story of an old 57 Chevy. The story is full of the hopes and dreams of all of the Chevy’s owners as the Chevy moves from various owners, declining condition to its final resting place in Tommy Armey's junkyard.
In the end, when the Chevy is rebuilt, reborn in the junkyard, most of the old owners return for one last visit. But, at that end, Tommy’s past has caught up with him and now he has to pay for the price for his misdeeds. We can only hope that Tommy Armey can emerge, like the Chevy, reborn and reunited with his classic car.
Auto Biography is a wonderful portrait of Tom Armey, the man and his time. This story draws you in with colorful characters, language, and funny stories. Buried in this well-done story we also have brilliant depictions of the state of the blue collar working class in our country. The accumulated toll of the factory closings, abandoned stores, and homes paints a picture of the decline of core central cities in our country. The despair is palpable as they suffer from bouts of unemployment, underemployment and the lack of hope. We know that these people decided an election.
In a brilliant bit of dogged research and determination, he traces the story of an old 57 Chevy. The story is full of the hopes and dreams of all of the Chevy’s owners as the Chevy moves from various owners, declining condition to its final resting place in Tommy Armey's junkyard.
In the end, when the Chevy is rebuilt, reborn in the junkyard, most of the old owners return for one last visit. But, at that end, Tommy’s past has caught up with him and now he has to pay for the price for his misdeeds. We can only hope that Tommy Armey can emerge, like the Chevy, reborn and reunited with his classic car.
February 23, 2021
This book is about a 57 Chevy and it's owners from its purchase as a new car until 2012 when the book was finished. The interesting part of the book is about the numerous owners through the years, especially the man who eventually restored the car.
I read Chesapeake Requiem by Earl Swift. He's a good writer and an excellent reporter. He doesn't let his opinions become part of the story. He lets each character speak for themselves. Tommy Arney, who restored the car and is the main character in the book, brought himself up from a challenging childhood. He only finished the fifth grade. But he's not what I would consider the usual success story. He's violent, profane and intimidates even those close to him. Yet he works hard and builds a successful business.
I read Chesapeake Requiem by Earl Swift. He's a good writer and an excellent reporter. He doesn't let his opinions become part of the story. He lets each character speak for themselves. Tommy Arney, who restored the car and is the main character in the book, brought himself up from a challenging childhood. He only finished the fifth grade. But he's not what I would consider the usual success story. He's violent, profane and intimidates even those close to him. Yet he works hard and builds a successful business.
February 6, 2018
This was a very interesting book. Not one but two biographies. the one of the outlaw motorhead Tommy Arney and the other a 1957 Chevrolet four-door wagon and how these two lives became intertwined. Tracing Arneys' tumultuous life from a nowhere, nothing kid to millionaire and back to next to nothing as well as following the Chevy from first buyer progressing through the stages of it's life and owners to near death and then rebirth. A very well researched story that is fascinating and very hard to put down!
September 26, 2019
This book is very interesting thoroughly describes the life of a car through the hands of many different owners. The attention to detail with specific dates and history of not only the car but the owners as well is fascinating. This attention to detail throughout Ear Swifts research is why this book definitely deserves 4 stars. If you have a passion for cars then this book would be a great read for you.
Read
June 7, 2020I enjoyed reading this book, the author did a good job of bringing together the story of a particular car, the auto industry and the man who was rebuilding the car and his own history. I passed this on to a friend who I think will enjoy it also.
Read
December 5, 2022Fascinating story about the life of a car and the 13 individuals that owned it. It includes an overview of the American auto industry, criminal justice, and everyday people trying to follow the American Dream
March 19, 2018
Earl is a phenomenal reporter, wordsmith and storyteller. I read everything he writes and can't wait for the next one.
July 16, 2019
Great snapshot of mid-century America to present, even for those who aren't motorheads.
June 9, 2020
It was a pretty good book. The description of the car's owners was more interesting than the description of its restoration.
August 14, 2021
Better than Big Roads and Across the Airless Wilds. Almost as good as Chesapeake Requiem. I especially enjoyed the writing in the first half of the book. By then, the story took over.
September 16, 2021
1.5 of 5 stars
November 18, 2023
The history of one car and all the people who have owned it, and its rescue from the scrap heap. Great idea and well-executed. Rated R for language and adult situations.
June 10, 2025
A Tidewater read. Saw the old cars on the way to Nags Head for many years -interesting characters and an old car found
March 29, 2015
I have absolutely no idea how this book crossed my path, but I'm so glad it did. And I love it when that happens, a specific story finds its way to you just at the right time.
Being the only child of a "fix-it" father, I've picked up a few traits along the way. One of them is the ability to appreciate a "nice car". I love cars. I love everything about them. My favorite toys as a child were my "hot rod" matchbox cars. I would make roads in the gravel in my driveway for them. I had a plastic replica of the "General Lee" the Dodge Charger driven by the Dukes of Hazzard. I wore the plastic tires off that thing. I remember every car in my life, and I have so many stories of each one. They are in fact, important characters in the story of my life.
I remember my first time driving. I don't ever really remember getting driving lessons, my parents claim that I never needed it, I just naturally knew how to drive. My dad and I watched car shows together. I like going to Carlisle. I love watching guys work on cars, handing over the appropriate tool or part, often before they ask for it, listening to them drone on and on over a broken rod or missing valve. I'm handy enough, I can identify enough parts and understand enough systems to give obnoxious mechanics a run for their money. Which makes this such an amazing book for me.
And much like this 1957 Chevy, this book meandered it's way right where it needed to be.
I've been looking to take a break from my typical reading habits and something about this story, the fact that its about a local guy, that he's described as an "outlaw" (as in a law breaker, not a member of the motorcycle club of the same name, important distinction, I discovered) the intense level of detail and the vivid and descriptive language, all spoke to me.
The 1957 Chevy is an American icon, recognized the world over even now, and the story of this particular vehicle spans some of the most important time in American history. This specific car's history covers the lives of 13 different owners, all of whom have an interesting part to play in it's narrative. But it's the last owner, Tommy Arney, that is the most amazing. While reading the text we wonder back and forth between the life of Tommy, the lives of the other owners, and the health and mechanical viability of the '57 and of car trends and the social fabric of the times. It's a fantastic time line to follow.
A matter of fact, well documented, and thoughtfully put together story, this title is mesmerizing. I've given only a few 5 star reviews, and this one truly delivers.
If you consider yourself a motor head, a car enthusiast, a rebel, a hard worker, a self made man, or a fighter; then this is your story. You know Tommy, or Mary, or the '57's original owner Nicholas Thornhill, they are your uncle, your brother, and old girlfriend, someone you used to drink with. And knowing them and people just like them make this story so marvelous. It's the story of people you care about, places you care about, and a car you care about.
Being the only child of a "fix-it" father, I've picked up a few traits along the way. One of them is the ability to appreciate a "nice car". I love cars. I love everything about them. My favorite toys as a child were my "hot rod" matchbox cars. I would make roads in the gravel in my driveway for them. I had a plastic replica of the "General Lee" the Dodge Charger driven by the Dukes of Hazzard. I wore the plastic tires off that thing. I remember every car in my life, and I have so many stories of each one. They are in fact, important characters in the story of my life.
I remember my first time driving. I don't ever really remember getting driving lessons, my parents claim that I never needed it, I just naturally knew how to drive. My dad and I watched car shows together. I like going to Carlisle. I love watching guys work on cars, handing over the appropriate tool or part, often before they ask for it, listening to them drone on and on over a broken rod or missing valve. I'm handy enough, I can identify enough parts and understand enough systems to give obnoxious mechanics a run for their money. Which makes this such an amazing book for me.
And much like this 1957 Chevy, this book meandered it's way right where it needed to be.
I've been looking to take a break from my typical reading habits and something about this story, the fact that its about a local guy, that he's described as an "outlaw" (as in a law breaker, not a member of the motorcycle club of the same name, important distinction, I discovered) the intense level of detail and the vivid and descriptive language, all spoke to me.
The 1957 Chevy is an American icon, recognized the world over even now, and the story of this particular vehicle spans some of the most important time in American history. This specific car's history covers the lives of 13 different owners, all of whom have an interesting part to play in it's narrative. But it's the last owner, Tommy Arney, that is the most amazing. While reading the text we wonder back and forth between the life of Tommy, the lives of the other owners, and the health and mechanical viability of the '57 and of car trends and the social fabric of the times. It's a fantastic time line to follow.
A matter of fact, well documented, and thoughtfully put together story, this title is mesmerizing. I've given only a few 5 star reviews, and this one truly delivers.
If you consider yourself a motor head, a car enthusiast, a rebel, a hard worker, a self made man, or a fighter; then this is your story. You know Tommy, or Mary, or the '57's original owner Nicholas Thornhill, they are your uncle, your brother, and old girlfriend, someone you used to drink with. And knowing them and people just like them make this story so marvelous. It's the story of people you care about, places you care about, and a car you care about.
June 6, 2019
Entertainingly written parallel biographies about a car and a guy who had no hope of succeeding but did, sort of. Also good commentary on the “American Dream”.
April 9, 2014
Auto Biography is about a classic 1957 Chevy that is being rebuilt by the owner of a used car lot (don't dare call it a junkyard), one Tommy Arney, a violent, foul-mouthed, operator who deals in various businesses such as go-go bars and real estate. Author Earl Swift has managed to trace the ownership of the car in question all the way back to its original owner. He tells the story of the car through the people who have owned the car. It's a crazy idea, and you hope that a half a century of history as told through such a quirky lens will be revealing in some way, that it will be a slice of America.
But throughout, it's really the story of Tommy Arney, now in his late fifties, slightly less violent than he used to be, but still as menacing. The first story Swift tells about Arney is Arney's recollection of a long ago sailor bar melee in which he was approached by a cop with a K-9 growling and ready to rumble. Arney warned the cop not to set the dog on him or he would "[m]uck the dog up." The dog attacked, Arney grabbed the dog by the neck, choked it until it passed out, then beat the cop with his own German shepherd.
How can a car compete with a character like that? And yet, in Swift's telling, Arney is something of a charmer as well as a Tasmanian devil. Well, I'll have to take Swift's word for that. Arney's business dealings were so corrupt that during the course of the Chevy restoration, the FBI was preparing to indict Arney for bank fraud. Meanwhile, Arney, while not as crazy violent as he once was, still abused his friends, was cheating on his wife throughout their thirty year marriage, neglected his kids when they were children, and when they were adults, got them to co-sign fraudulent bank loans.
Really, I couldn't look away from this car wreck of a man. If you're a fan of classic cars, you'll also enjoy the details of how the '57 Chevy was restored. I especially liked the chapter in which Swift describes how he went about tracking down the previous owners of the car -- a real feat of detection and journalism.
But throughout, it's really the story of Tommy Arney, now in his late fifties, slightly less violent than he used to be, but still as menacing. The first story Swift tells about Arney is Arney's recollection of a long ago sailor bar melee in which he was approached by a cop with a K-9 growling and ready to rumble. Arney warned the cop not to set the dog on him or he would "[m]uck the dog up." The dog attacked, Arney grabbed the dog by the neck, choked it until it passed out, then beat the cop with his own German shepherd.
How can a car compete with a character like that? And yet, in Swift's telling, Arney is something of a charmer as well as a Tasmanian devil. Well, I'll have to take Swift's word for that. Arney's business dealings were so corrupt that during the course of the Chevy restoration, the FBI was preparing to indict Arney for bank fraud. Meanwhile, Arney, while not as crazy violent as he once was, still abused his friends, was cheating on his wife throughout their thirty year marriage, neglected his kids when they were children, and when they were adults, got them to co-sign fraudulent bank loans.
Really, I couldn't look away from this car wreck of a man. If you're a fan of classic cars, you'll also enjoy the details of how the '57 Chevy was restored. I especially liked the chapter in which Swift describes how he went about tracking down the previous owners of the car -- a real feat of detection and journalism.
July 1, 2015
Really liked this book alot! Reviewed at Writerscast: http://bit.ly/1BuBLPc
What a wonderful read this book is! The first thing you need to know is that I love old cars. I love stories about the people who love them, and rebuild them. But I also know that most old car stories are of limited interest to most people who don’t love old cars. Still – and yet – Auto Biography is much more than an old car story. Earl Swift is a terrific writer – trained as a journalist, which shows in his writing. He is clear and to the point. He never buries the lede. He gets close to the characters he writes about and portrays them brilliantly. And it’s impossible to put this book down once you get into the story, which just keeps going and going to a startling and rewarding end.
So yes, the book is about a car – a 1957 Chevrolet (one of the most iconic cars of our time) that Swift was able to trace from its first owner to its last. But it’s really about all the people who ever owned the car, and most crucially, it’s about Tommy Arney, the owner of the car when Swift begins his story. And Arney is a dream character for any writer, larger than life, complex and compelling. He is impossible to resist and Swift goes all the way in bringing us up close and personal with this incredible all-American character.
It was an incredible joy to read this book. As it happened, I was simultaneously reading a history of the automobile industry and for me, this book was by far the better book. It tells the story of what cars mean to our lives, how the cars we drive can capture our hearts and become our souls. I really enjoyed talking to Earl about this book and the story of how he came to write it is well worth listening to.
If you are interested in the way Americans live today, this book is one you must read. And if you just like a good story and you liked the way Hunter S. Thompson told them, this book ought to be perfect for you.
October 5, 2015
Auto Biography
This story is about a car. About a 1957 Chevrolet wagon. But it's more about the people who, over decades, brought one particular vehicle into their lives. And it's a story about Tommy Arney, the man who restored this storied auto, his own difficult life, perseverance and character. Oh he's a character!
Swift tells the story of the car, its history and its place in history beautifully as he weaves in the details of the owners and their lives. I feel like not only can I remember the smells, sounds and motions of this '57 Chevy, but am equally versed in the experiences and character of its many owners.
A very detailed non-fiction account of people and their car, this book is an easy and enjoyable read. Some language and descriptions taken from real life are harsh, but they are in context and are, well, real life.
Many of the places Swift includes in this book are familiar to me, having lived in the Norfolk, Virginia area for 10 years. His accurate and colorful descriptions brought back memories of the humidity, storms, green-ness and people.
Even if you are not a car person, I recommend this book. People rarely are what they appear to be. Those we may look down upon have a story, have parents, have experiences that have pointed them down a path. Of course their reactions to those inputs, and thus the choices they make, create the person. And that person changes. This book largely is a study of one man's journey -- filled with anger and hatred though it may be -- with seemingly nothing held back.
Read it.
This story is about a car. About a 1957 Chevrolet wagon. But it's more about the people who, over decades, brought one particular vehicle into their lives. And it's a story about Tommy Arney, the man who restored this storied auto, his own difficult life, perseverance and character. Oh he's a character!
Swift tells the story of the car, its history and its place in history beautifully as he weaves in the details of the owners and their lives. I feel like not only can I remember the smells, sounds and motions of this '57 Chevy, but am equally versed in the experiences and character of its many owners.
A very detailed non-fiction account of people and their car, this book is an easy and enjoyable read. Some language and descriptions taken from real life are harsh, but they are in context and are, well, real life.
Many of the places Swift includes in this book are familiar to me, having lived in the Norfolk, Virginia area for 10 years. His accurate and colorful descriptions brought back memories of the humidity, storms, green-ness and people.
Even if you are not a car person, I recommend this book. People rarely are what they appear to be. Those we may look down upon have a story, have parents, have experiences that have pointed them down a path. Of course their reactions to those inputs, and thus the choices they make, create the person. And that person changes. This book largely is a study of one man's journey -- filled with anger and hatred though it may be -- with seemingly nothing held back.
Read it.
June 7, 2015
Tommy Arney is not a nice man. A 57 Chevy is a classic car. What do the two have in common: this book (obviously).
Tommy has been arrested 70 times. He's a bit of a brawler. He's also a savvy investor in real estate: Go Go Bars and car restoration companies are his favorites. The book follows his life because his company is the one that restores the '57 Chevy in question.
Speaking of the Chevy, Mr. Swift found all 13 owners from factory floor to present day. He uses the first half of the book to give brief bios on them. It was a surprisingly hard feat because state laws don't require car records to be kept forever. And 57 was a long time ago.
The premise of a biography of an auto (see what he did there?) is a clever one. I'll be honest, though, some of the more technical parts of car restoration were beyond me. Those parts dragged. But the way second chances are the theme of the book kept me going. Tommy has a second chance after battling cancer and the car has a second chance as his company restores it.
Not a bad read. If you love classic cars, then I bet it'll be an even better one.
Tommy has been arrested 70 times. He's a bit of a brawler. He's also a savvy investor in real estate: Go Go Bars and car restoration companies are his favorites. The book follows his life because his company is the one that restores the '57 Chevy in question.
Speaking of the Chevy, Mr. Swift found all 13 owners from factory floor to present day. He uses the first half of the book to give brief bios on them. It was a surprisingly hard feat because state laws don't require car records to be kept forever. And 57 was a long time ago.
The premise of a biography of an auto (see what he did there?) is a clever one. I'll be honest, though, some of the more technical parts of car restoration were beyond me. Those parts dragged. But the way second chances are the theme of the book kept me going. Tommy has a second chance after battling cancer and the car has a second chance as his company restores it.
Not a bad read. If you love classic cars, then I bet it'll be an even better one.
February 11, 2017
Too much glorification of Tommy Arney mauling people and not enough on the history and the American Dream.
December 14, 2016
Earl Swift has written one of the most intriguing commentaries on the American Classic 1957 Chevrolet Wagon ever! His following of the life of an inanimate object through the eyes of the owners of the vehicle is both novel, entertaining and an American Masterpiece. The painstaking care that the owners of the vehicle exhibit followed by the tenacity of an Author on a mission makes this a story that everyone who remembers classic American cars can't miss. The narration is in the words of an honest American Success in Tommy Varney who ultimately pays the price for realizing the American Dream. This book was won in a Giveaway. I'm rarely disappointed in a Goodreads Giveaway and sometimes get lucky and get an really exceptional book. This is one of those. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Americana and our folklore.
August 6, 2014
The dual biography of a car and a guy, both born in the fifties, and the separate paths they traveled until joining with each other. Great, true story of a guy who overcame a (putting it mildly) tough childhood, to become a successful businessman, only to end up in federal prison at stories end, while the Chevy travels through its life as a suburban family hauler, then through a variety of colorful owners as it cycles into eventual rusted-out, non-running condition, and then finally restoration as a desirable classic car. Thoroughly enjoyed this, and recommend it!
August 5, 2014
I loved this book. Honestly, I opened it with no particular expectations -- the book was given to me, I'd never heard of it -- but I quickly found the story of the classic car and the outlaw restorer, both in need of complete overhauls and restoration, to be absolutely compelling. The portrayal of Tommy Arney, one of the great anti-hero heroes, is just captivating. You fall in love with and root for the guy, despite his thousands of obvious flaws and failures. Whether you're a car guy or gal or neither, this is a good story well told.
August 1, 2019
Very engaging story of the "life" of a classic 1957 Chevrolet station wagon and the 12 owners who love and eventually, for different reasons, have to sell. The 13th owner is a tough gear head with over 70 arrests in his past. The transformation of car and owner is incredibly engaging and I recommend it to anyone who loves a good story. Near the end, the description of the work done on the Chevy may get a bit tedious for those not interested in that kind of stuff, but I ate up every page.
July 24, 2014
57 Chevy
57 Chevy
I really liked this book. I am a car guy. I have a 57 Chevy that I have owned for years. It has sentimental value and I have stored it for about 35 years. This book really makes me want to get it done. I have never read anything like this. And it is all true.
57 Chevy
I really liked this book. I am a car guy. I have a 57 Chevy that I have owned for years. It has sentimental value and I have stored it for about 35 years. This book really makes me want to get it done. I have never read anything like this. And it is all true.
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