The open road is calling. Zephyr Used & Rare Books takes us on a journey through a century of auto travel. The catalogue is "On the Road Again" - Automobiles & More 2026. You will learn about automobile production, design, and journeys people took in what we would now consider primitive cars. You will also find much in the way of promotional materials for classic cars before they became classics. They were just what everyone (who could afford a car) drove at the time. Here are a few samples.

 

The Peerless Motor Car Company began production in the early days of automotive travel. Their first cars appeared in 1900, and they moved up the ladder to compete with luxury brands. They were one of the "Three P's" of luxury along with Packard and Pierce-Arrow. They introduced enclosed bodies and drum brakes. A redesign in 1929 increased sales, but the Great Depression, started later that year by the stock market collapse, was devastating to the upper end of the market. They hung on until 1932 when they ceased to make cars. Fortunately, Prohibition came to an end the following year and the Peerless factory was converted to make a product that could be sold no matter how bad the economy - Carling Black Label Beer. Item 94 is a 1925 brochure promoting The Powerful Peerless Six-72. It displays their various models. The brochure folds out to display a 23.75 x 18 color poster of a Peerless driving down a mountain road where you don't want to drive your Peerless or anything else. Priced at $125. Item 95 is a brochure from 1926 featuring new advancements in the cars. $125. Item 96 features The New 1929 Peerless Six-81. Looking to make sure its appeal was not limited to mechanical-oriented males, it points out, "Women with a natural appreciation of comfort, atmosphere and poise, will find the new Peerless Six-81 irresistible in its compelling color and fashion - and comfortable to a delightful degree." Nevertheless, they managed to resist, money to fund such luxury quickly becoming scarce. $100.

 

You may not know Peerless, but here's a name you will recognize, though you may not associate it with cars - Maytag. Item 86 is a dealer brochure promoting The Light Delivery Car from Maytag-Mason Motor Co. in 1911. Maytag, of course, is better known for its washing machines, but in 1909, bought a controlling interest in the Mason Automobile Company. It was then that they put their nameplate on some of the cars manufactured by Mason. It didn't turn out well. The company went into receivership in 1911, Maytag sold its interest, and the company reorganized as the Mason Motor Company. This version also went into receivership a few years later and that was the end of Mason and Maytag cars. Item 86. $200.

 

Of all the old U.S. highways in the pre-interstate highway system, the one that captured the nation's fancy was Route 66. It got a song and a TV program. It also has preservation efforts today like no other roads. Here is a look at a place to stop on 66 from the days it was just a road, before it became a song. It is a 32" x 10.25" panoramic view of Lilley's Tourist Camp two miles west of Springfield, MO, circa 1929. James Lilley ran a restaurant, grocery store, car repair, and Sinclair gas station. Maybe this is where you could get your "kicks."The structures were stucco in the Spanish-revival style. Of course, things became tough in 1929, and Lilley later had to abandon the business, taking employment with the railroad. This image may be all that is left of Lilley's Tourist Camp. Therefore, no Route 66 collection can be complete without it. Item 8. $350.

 

In 1960, the Big 3 U.S. automakers saw a couple of weaker manufacturers had found a niche with less expensive compact cars. American Motors' Rambler American and Studebaker's Lark kept those companies afloat. American Motors would also find success selling Jeeps, eventually merging with Chrysler in the 1980s. Studebaker was not so successful. It later merged with companies not in the auto business, and ceased all production of automobiles in 1966. However, it is now survived by STP oil and lubricants that was once owned by Studebaker. Item 64 is The Story of Valiant, promoting the 1960 compact built by Chrysler. What's there to say about Valiant? The Valiant, along with the Ford Falcon and the "unsafe at any speed" Chevrolet Corvair, were hardly the most desirable cars, but they were cheap, or to be more polite, affordable. And, while Ralph Nader tore apart the Corvair, he was much more positive about the Valiant. Nevertheless, the Corvair outsold the Valiant, though the Falcon outsold them both. Item 64. $125.

 

Do you know someone with a 1925 or 1926 Buick Standard Service Coupe they need to restore? Here are some mounted photographs that may help. Dr. Jerry Maurice Hyde of Athens, Ohio, had such a car, but he was not simply restoring a very old car. This was the car he used. His Buick was in an accident, so back in 1928, he undertook to restore it to full use. He took three photos of his restoration. The first showed the car after the accident, the second with the damaged parts torn off, and the final one a look at his restoration. It looks like he did a good job. As nice as it looked, it does not appear that it ended up in a museum or a notable collection. Not even Google could find out what happened to it. Item 29. $295.

 

Zephyr Used & Rare Books may be reached at 360-695-7767 or zephyrbook@gmail.com.