TGR StaffIf cars could whisper, this book would put you inside their soul. In A Man & His Car, Matt Hranek curates over 80 personal narratives paired with gallery‑worthy photography, binding each man to his car with affection that eclipses horsepower numbers. This isn’t about torque curves; it’s about torque in the heart.
Here, the stories glide from silver‑screen icon Ed Burns recounting how a 1969 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme lived in his dreams before it lived in his garage, to Shaquille O’Neal confessing his love for the “wow” of an International CV Series 6.6 truck, to Jay Leno’s Buick Roadmaster, a car so generous, it doubled as his first LA home.
But the roster goes much deeper: Kevin Costner, attached to his Shelby Mustang from Bull Durham; Tesla’s chief designer Franz von Holzhausen, who was sketching cars at age two; and even Elvis’s bullet‑scarred 1971 DeTomaso Pantera, still bearing its altercation marks, symbolic of more than nostalgia. There’s a 24k gold‑plated DeLorean sold only via American Express catalog, entire surrealism wrapped in automotive form.
Why It Matters
- Heart over Horsepower
This is storytelling dressed in automotive flair. No chassis diagrams. Just oversized pages packed with beautiful cars and the men whose stories make them icons as told by Matt Hranek. - A Coffee‑Table Classic with Soul
Hranek follows up his hits from A Man & His Watch with this volume, and the result earned accolades from Robb Report, Hollywood Reporter, and Fortune for making aficionados feel seen on a soul‑level. - Cultural Capsule and Curiosity
Each car stands not only for speed, but for memory, identity, and culture, whether that’s Snoop Dogg’s flamboyant “Snoop DeVille” or Ralph Lauren’s stylistically perfect 280SE convertible.
Who Will Treasure It
- Design‑savvy collectors who worship cars not as tools but as aesthetic statements.
- Car lovers grounded in narrative, not just numbers, those who find the romance in driving.
- Gift‑seekers, hunting for something that feels both intimate and indulgent. With its embossed hardcover and storytelling luxe, this one’s unforgettable.
Where Matt Hranek Runs Out of Gas
Don’t expect appendices on engine builds, market values, or vehicle restoration. There are no performance profiles or spec sheets; this is auto‑chap‑ter, not auto‑tech. If your heart races for carburetor diagrams, this might feel light, but run it alongside a technical tome, and still, this holds its own for charm alone. Matt Hranek isn’t know for historical breakdowns or production numbers; this is a book about the special relationship car lovers have with their vehicles.
Final Lap
A Man & His Car isn’t just a book. It’s a joyride through nostalgia, celebrity, and that timeless bond we share with machines. It captures the romance of four wheels and the men who preserve their stories. Whether you’re scribbling through New Yorker musings or pondering your next classic purchase, this volume reminds you why the engine revs more than metal.
Verdict: 9/10
An heirloom for every racing‑story lover. Perfect for the shelf, still perfect for the soul.
Why does it have to be “A Man & His Car” the sexism and misogyny in the car world isn’t enough so we have to publish books propping it up!
A sad comment. Perhaps you would have preferred A Person and their Car.
Anyway, I was very lucky to receive this book as a gift from my son. It’s extremely good, with interesting stories and brilliant quality photographs on beautiful paper.
I imagine it might even interest some ladies.
One of my all time favorite books, I got it for Christmas last year.
Such great photos in the this book, it sits on my coffee table