From automobile designer Norman J. James comes a memoir that beautifully recaptures the odyssey of a maverick car maker, and presents a behind-the-scenes look at the evolution of one of the most memorable concept cars in automotive history --- the GM Firebird III.
Of Firebirds & Moonmen, James’s memoir, vividly captures the history of the design of the GM gas-turbine Firebird III, which first saw light some 50 years ago, yet is still considered as one of the most advanced concept cars ever built.
It is also a story of human drama and redemption as it touches on the life story of the author, the US design patent holder of the legendary car. James, afflicted by polio as a young boy, overcomes a string of obstacles on his journey that takes him through Industrial Design training at Pratt Institute, finally leading to the General Motors Technical Center in Detroit, to work under the legendary Harley Earl, the father of automotive styling.
This work deftly expounds on the design of the classic Firebird III gas-turbine car, and contains a secondary subplot about the author’s passion for astronomy and aerospace engineering, leading to the lunar rovers that rest on the moon today. Simply, this work is a fascinating read.You can order a copy of Of Firebirds & Moonmen at this online bookstore:
ISBN13 (TP) : 978-1-4257-7653-4
ISBN13 (HB) : 978-1-4257-7659-6
