The first book to tell the early history of cars in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles's car culture has shaped the nation's preferences in
transportation, architecture, leisure, and even dining. The story of the
automobile and that of Los Angeles have been entwined for more than a
century. Driving Force: How Los Angeles Put People in Cars and Cars on
the Road explores how the explosive growth of Los Angeles's passion for
automobiles was ignited by an unlikely, visionary mix of entrepreneurs
and risk-takers. It owed its inception to the bicycle shop owners who
began repairing and selling cars, carriage retailers, and automobile
aficionados who ventured into unknown territory to sell a product
regarded by nearly all banks and most businesses as a fad at best. These
early adopters learned how to broaden the market for automobiles and
convince the public that the car was no longer a luxury but a necessity.