I met a new friend during the recent National Acura Legend Meet in Kansas City, and it just so happened that he’s a published author. Aaron Smead stopped by Quivira Park during our car show in his 1985 Honda Prelude — a highly original, 94,000-mile survivor. Aaron (pictured at right below) told me that back in the day, his family owned a first-generation Acura Legend, so when we learned that NALM was going to be in his area, he marked his calendar to come check us out. While there, Aaron gave me a copy of his book “The Car Spotter’s Guide.”
The foreword says, “Welcome to my little collection of automotive art and history. This book has been a labor of love over the past seven years. I want more people who love cars to have a tool to appreciate the cars they see.”
The guide contains 452 pages of excruciating details and over 6,000 hand-drawn vehicle silhouettes. They range in chronological order by manufacturer name all the way from a late-1800s Benz Patent-Motorwagen to current-model-year vehicles.
Along with each vehicle’s profile are its chassis code, powertrain details, production numbers (if known), fuel type, engine layout, awards, races, and one-off author notes. It’s a lot to digest! The book is labeled as a first edition, so Aaron will without a doubt keep the updates coming as the automotive landscape evolves.
Just for kicks, I decided to spot-check a few vehicles. My most obscure car by a long shot is a 1996 Acura SLX (a rebadged Isuzu Trooper), and I found it on page 15, right where I expected to see it.
Whether you’re a seasoned auto enthusiast or a newbie to the scene, “The Car Spotter’s Guide” will keep you both entertained and informed. The book is available for purchase via Aaron’s official website.
Now I regret not having him autograph my copy!
