Fictionalized Account of Auto Industry in 1960s-1970s?

[Kathleen]

I checked Gale's Books & Authors database and found this description of Arthur Hailey's Wheels, which mentions the Orion car model:

As in his previous insider's look in Airport and Hotel, the author's subject is the complex working of the auto industry from the boardroom to the shopfloor, and the car dealer's showroom to the home life of the auto executives. The narrative concerns the launch of a new model, the Orion, which provides the occasion for an expose on the inner workings of the industry, including shady dealings, mafia involvement, worker corruption, and marital transgressions. A large cast, centered by a young senior executive Adam Trenton, and his unhappy and disturbed wife Erica illustrate the complexity of the auto industry.

[Sandhouse]

I remember that I liked Hailey's novels as a kid, until I read this one, which really sucked. I knew enough about Detroit and the auto industry to suspect that not many auto engineers were getting laid in the exotic fashions depicted in this book. But I can see how the vignette about the engineer working in his garage on devices to benefit the developing world could inspire someone to take up engineering. That was memorable, along with the riot-driven stereotypes and bad writing: "Curse this heartless city!"

[beachboy]

A big Thank You to DYers for recalling Wheels by Arthur Hailey!!
My memory is so far gone ...

I remember that I liked Hailey's novels as a kid, until I read this one, which really sucked. I knew enough about Detroit and the auto industry to suspect that not many auto engineers were getting laid in the exotic fashions depicted in this book.

Ah, but that's what motivated me to study engineering...

But I can see how the vignette about the engineer working in his garage on devices to benefit the developing world could inspire someone to take up engineering. That was memorable...

IIRC [[whatta stretch) that was based on John DeLorean's bailing out of GM to work on socially-oriented business projects.

Gotta get book @ Amazon ...

[Ltdave]

i read that book when i was in Cali in the Air Force...

it kept my attention...