Vans and the Truckin’ Life

A double feature of biline faces, Yagi Link Double and Oxford, for Vans and the Truckin’ Life, published by Harry N. Abrams in 1977. Text by Terry Cook, photographs by Jim Williams. Edited and with a foreword by Mark Gabor.

With its winding double line, Yagi Link Double references the road, obviously. The caps-only face is used for the title page, for drop caps, page numbers, and the opening pages to the two main parts. Christine Lord’s lowercase-only Oxford was chosen for chapter headings. The two similar typefaces are paired for the title on the interactive cover, which features a die-cut window and a fold-out flap. Both originated at phototype manufacturers, Yagi at FotoStar/Facsimile Fonts in 1968 and Oxford at Face Photosetting in 1970, and were later adopted by Letraset for dry-transfer lettering.

Nai Chang provided the book design. Born in 1933 in Shanghai, China, he came to New York in 1939. “After taking evening art classes at Cooper Union, he found work as a designer at Harry N. Abrams, a prominent publisher of art books, and remained at that company from 1965 to 1981 as art director and, eventually, vice president.” [obituary] Chang died on January 17, 2019.

From Goodreads:

This book is a fascinating look at the Van Movement that sprang up with the first hippies in early Volkswagen Transporters, and then spread to other auto enthusiasts like some muscle car guys, and also included some outdoor types. There are photos and descriptions of the vans themselves (trucks, as they were called by vanners in the know), from the beginning up to that time and including all major makes. […]