Freshly Pressed: Joseph P. Cabadas

Freshly Pressed highlights books written or edited by members of the University of Michigan-Dearborn community. Faculty, staff, alumni and students are welcome to submit their recently published titles to this column by e-mailing Reporter editor Jennifer Thelen at [email protected] with a summary of the book, a high-resolution JPEG of the book’s cover and a URL where readers can purchase the title, if applicable.

Alumnus and auto historian Joseph P. Cabadas will visit campus to discuss his book, ‘40 Ford: Evolution, Design, Racing, Hot Rodding. Cabadas will be speaking on the second floor of the Mardigian Library from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 16.

His book examines the creation of the popular, streamlined 1937-1940 Ford cars, which received critical acclaim back in the 1930s and are still popular today with collectors and hot rod enthusiasts. Delving into the Henry Ford archives, Cabadas will offer a look into the history of the design and production process as well as some of the labor and social issues affecting Ford in the 1930s.

Also, on display will be rare photos and illustrations from the archive and from photographers around the country that illustrate this iconic automobile. Cabadas will sign his books, which will be available for purchase, at this event. Light refreshments will be served.

Cabadas, graduated from UM-Dearborn in 1990 with a bachelor’s degree in political science. He has been a staff writer for several publications including The News-Herald of Southgate and has authored two other award-winning books on auto history: River Rouge: Ford’s Industrial Collossus (2005) and The American Auto Factory (2003).