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Overview
“The result of a prodigious amount of research and admirably organized, this is the fullest and most detailed account of the Studebaker automobile.”—James A. Ward, University of Tennessee“Many books have chronicled the Studebaker story, but this one by noted automotive historian Thomas Bonsall is undoubtedly the definitive work. . . . More Than They Promised: The Studebaker Story is a worthy investment for anyone who wants a complete and highly accurate history of one of America’s longest lasting industrial giants.”—Old Cars Weekly
Synopsis
This lavishly illustrated book (86 integrated illustrations) is the complete story of the Studebaker company from its beginnings to its end in 1966.
Library Journal
The venerable Studebaker family was noted for its popular wagons and carriages in the 19th century. The company was able to make the transition from wagon manufacture to automobiles in the early 20th century, the first motor car rolling off the line in 1902. Author Bonsall (The Lincoln Motorcar) reveals these and other facts in his workmanlike rendition of the Studebaker story, which ended with its precipitous decline in the 1960s. Along the way, the company managed to acquire the Pierce-Arrow and Packard, and teamed with Mercedes-Benz in the 1950s as distributor of their products in America. But nothing could help Studebaker against the increasing size of the "Big Three" American auto manufacturers and the startling popularity of imports, beginning with the Volkswagon Beetle in the 1950s. Chapters follow a rather formulaic approach of history punctuated by quotes from company documents. Certainly, the book is well researched and the subject interesting, but the less-than-compelling narrative leaves the reader feeling that a Studebaker is just another extinct automotive brand. For transportation collections only. Eric C. Shoaf, Brown Univ. Lib., Providence, RI Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.
Editorials
From the Publisher
"The result of a prodigious amount of research and admirably organized, this is the fullest and most detailed account of the Studebaker automobile."—James A. Ward, University of Tennessee"Many books have chronicled the Studebaker story, but this one by noted automotive historian Thomas Bonsall is undoubtedly the definitive work. . . . More Than They Promised: The Studebaker Story is a worthy investment for anyone who wants a complete and highly accurate history of one of America's longest lasting industrial giants."—Old Cars Weekly
"Bonsall has not only found new approaches to the subject, but sheds fresh light on the oft-rehearsed reasons for the Edsel's death. The book is well written, flows nicely, and artfully mixes personalities and corporate policies. It adds a great deal to our understanding of one of the 20th century's biggest corporate disasters."—James A. Ward, University of Tennessee at Chatanooga
"This is a carefully researched and detailed overview of what might be termed the "Studebaker Empire". . .a story dating from Studebaker's first wagons of 1852 to its cars built through 1966, to the last cars assembled in Hamilton, Ontario. . . . You may already have one or more books on Studebaker. . .there have been several. But More Than They Promised is another story. And it's a good one."—Antique Automobile
"As we face another round of consolidation in the global automobile industry, the story of Studebaker and its exit from vehicle assembly in the 1960s is of particular interest. . . . Bonsall has produced a readable history of the company. Organised around the 'great' men who ran Studebaker, the volume's strength is its discussion of product design and philosophy. . . . [The] volume is a useful addition to the business history literature. . . ." —Business History Review