Harrah’s Automobile Collection: One Man’s Tribute to the Great Automobiles of the World (1984)
This lavish coffee-table book documents Bill Harrah’s legendary automobile collection, once the world’s largest (over 1,400 vehicles) before its partial dispersal after his death. Published in collaboration with the Nevada State Museum, it showcases 200+ meticulously restored cars, from brass-era rarities to 1950s chrome icons, with scholarly essays and studio-quality photography.
For Fans of Automotive History:
- The Classic Car – Beverly Rae Kimes (1986) – Another encyclopedic ode to prewar masterpieces.
- Ferrari: The Man and His Machines – Brock Yates (1991) – Contrasts Enzo’s factory with Harrah’s collector-kingdom.
- The Stewardship of Historically Important Automobiles – Fred Simeone – Modern take on preservation ethics.
“Where every headlamp hides a fortune, and every grille guards a saga.”
Note: Post-1984, Holiday Inn sold much of the collection—seek the 1989 Sotheby’s auction catalog for its tragic dispersal.
