Pat Braden

Titles by the Author

Pat Braden came by his interest in automobiles naturally. The son of an automobile factory worker in Flint, Michigan, Pat was born in 1934.

Pat was an accomplished author, internationally recognized for his knowledge and love of automobiles. He held bachelor's and master's degrees, and had completed the coursework for his Ph.D.

While living in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Pat first began to collect and to write about cars, helping to found the Alfa Romeo Owners Club of America and regularly contributing to many related publications. Pat took his family to Europe for several years in the late 1960s while working for the United Serviceman's Organization in Naples, Italy, and Rota, Spain. It was here that Pat became fluent in both Italian and Spanish. Upon their return to Michigan they lived in Dexter, finally buying a small farm where they remained until wife Marie died in 1978.

Pat moved to California in 1979 and was made an honorary life member of the Alfa Owners club the same year. He married Cheryl Lee in 1980. It was here that Pat's prolific career as a writer was established. He authored seven books (The Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona, Abarth, Weber Carburetors, Toyota Performance Handbook, Alfa Romeo Giulia, Alfa Romeo Owner's Bible) as well as the Alfa Romeo All-Alloy Twin Cam Companion. He wrote countless magazine and journal articles about an amazing variety of automotive subjects and served as editor for four magazines. He self-published a pocket history of Alfa Romeo entitled span From Portello to Arese.

Pat was an avid collector who had owned scores of exotic automobiles and motorcycles during his lifetime, including over 50 vintage and modern Alfa Romeos, Fiats, Lancias, a Maserati, a Moretti, BMWs, Mercedes, Abarths, Ducatis and a BSA. At his death he owned 40 cars and motorcycles. He also collected cameras (he was an accomplished photographer), clocks and computers. His expansive automotive library is widely known.

The professional positions Pat held during his 40-plus-year career were wide-ranging and demonstrated his immense talent. These included corrections work, teaching, writing, technical editing, marketing and advertising, creative direction, management and administration. At the time of his death in August 2002 he was writing training materials for Hyundai.

Pat was the proud father of five children, born over a period of 34 years. Four children (Mark, Leslie, Kay, and Patty), one grandchild (Sarah) and wife Cheryl survive him.