In 1923, the wealthy scion of an automotive powerhouse set out to conquer a whole new industry — and for a fleeting moment, he did. Dodge Boats tells the complete story of Horace Elgin Dodge Jr., whose short-lived Dodge Boat Works rivaled the likes of Gar Wood and Chris-Craft until the Great Depression snuffed out Dodge's dream and turned the mahogany speedboats he manufactured into rare collectibles.

In Dodge Boats, author Anthony S. Mollica compiles research data and rare photos of Dodge Boat Works from its inception in Detroit in 1923 through its relocation to Newport News, Va. and up through its eventual demise in 1936. 

The book abounds with full-color photos of beautifully restored Dodge boats, brought back to life by their caretakers and the Antique Boat Museum of Clayton, N.Y.  It's a must-read for anyone who has an interest in the historic and classic boats of a bygone era.

Gar Wood, a name synonymous with speed, gets a detailed treatment by author Anthony S. Mollica in Gar Wood Boats: Classics of a Golden Era. Through a compilation of facts and photos, Mollica tells the story of the man behind the brand, Garfield Arthur Wood, and his pursuit of speed over water, which led to his quest for the ultimate goal: the right to be called the Speedboat King.  Gar Wood Boats explores how the Midwest-born Woods turned his passion into a thriving business during the first half of the 20th century, manufacturing the finest mahogany-finished watercraft of the era and setting the standard to which all others are still compared.

This is a must-have book, if not for Wood's story alone, then for the endless reference material and vintage photography, which includes an abundance of restored Gar Wood speedboats rendered in full-color pictures.