Category: Can I get there from here?

All the automotive and transportation related posts.

The feminine fix-it Auto Handbook cover page

Car Repair for the Ladies

Can I get there from here? 2 comments

Feminine Fix-it Auto Handbook
Ward
1974

I’m actually kind of a fan of this book. Aside from the dated advice, it is actually a pretty good book. It’s written without any cutesy condescending language.The advice is competent and not overly technical. It would be a good car book regardless of gender. The rather girly title isn’t my favorite, but for 1974 it probably worked pretty well.

I really do think the landscape for women having to talk to mechanics and car sales people is different. Granted, I have a built in shield with a automotive engineer husband. Back in the day (the 1980s) when we were car shopping, I was ignored, except when talking about colors. Same with mechanics. I was sure I would be taken to the cleaners with up-selling and unnecessary repairs.

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sell your car for more than it's worth

Selling your 1970s Auto Gems

Can I get there from here? 9 comments

How To Sell Your Car for More Than It’s Worth
Hill
1977

Not a bad book for the times. The advice is pretty basic and sensible from what I can see. Advice on cleaning, detailing and minor repairs is probably still relevant but selling cars on your own is quite different with the advent of the Internet. I kept thinking that no amount of help from this book would be able to get you anything on some of the those spectacular examples of automotive design, such as the AMC Pacer, Chevy Vega and the Ford Pinto. One of my pals from college had a “lovely” Ford Pinto that was on its last legs and she insisted it was not going to explode. I think this particular car died sometime around 1983 and is probably a hunk of rust in a landfill in central Illinois.

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