Ferrari 288 GTO book

Yes.

In fact, Veloce UK's entire description is both honest & accurate:

"The Book of the Ferrari 288 GTO

By Joe Sackey

Hardback • 272 pages • 250 tall x 250mm • 326 mainly colour pictures

ISBN: 978-1-845842-73-4

£ 50.00 (for eBooks this varies and delivery is free)

Features
- The complete chassis register of every 288 GTO built (all 284 of them)
- The background, conception, design, production and aftermath of the Ferrari 288 GTO
- Images, detailed illustrations and foreword from the designer of the car, Leonardo Fioravanti
- Another foreword by the chief development engineer, Nicola Materazzi, known as ‘the father of the 288 GTO’
- All publicity and press coverage assembled in one chapter
- Period production images as well as current salon and action images
- Factory production approval sheets as filed with the Italian government
- Previously unpublished FIA homologation papers
- Resource guide to specialists, clubs, parts sources and archives

Description
Covers the background, conception, design, production and aftermath of the iconic Ferrari 288 GTO, including the prototypes, the early production cars, the mainstream production cars in their various specification guises, and the Evolution cars planned for the aborted Group B FIA race series.
A comprehensive and beautifully illustrated look at a unique sports car.

Synopsis
This book covers the background, conception, design, production and aftermath of the iconic Ferrari 288 GTO, including the prototypes, the early production cars, the mainstream production cars in their various specification guises, and the Evolution cars planned for the aborted Group B FIA race series.
It features over 400 relevant photographs, from original production images to the cars as they are today, including the 1984 Geneva Salon where the car debuted, the first ever GTO Reunion in 1985, current salon and action images, right up to the 25th Anniversary Ferrari 288 GTO Reunion held in America in 2009. Also featured are the actual factory production approval sheets, as filed with the Italian government, in an illustrated technical drawing form, along with a chassis by chassis register of every 288 GTO built, including destroyed prototypes, production cars, and GTO Evoluziones – in fact all 284 cars ever built.
This book contains essential resources covering all aspects of the car, including archives, maintenance specialists, restoration specialists, worldwide clubs, parts sources, etc. A comprehensive, beautifully illustrated look at a unique sports car, and a must-have for Ferrari fans.

Additional Information
Period covered: 1984-1986"

Veloce Publishing - Automotive stuff: MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM VELOCE PUBLISHING!
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It is a shame that the "look inside" feature on Amazon is half dedicated to promoting other books, because reviews are all over the place on this book. Some like it here. Some hate it. A couple of people on Atlas TNF (see posts 7435-6 at the link below) had nothing good to say. What's a buyer to do? It might be nice if Joe were to post pictures of a few page spreads to give people a better idea of the nature of the book.

The book thread: In memory of Pete Fenelon - Page 149 - The Nostalgia Forum - The AUTOSPORT Forums

 

Sorry, the one on the left is my "reading book",
right of that is one without number and a personal dedication
and the two wrapped are new and one is still sealed.

For reading is one enough but for my collection i want to keep all four.

And Joe is right, the one in the pic is my "reading book"
and on the bookshelf i laying a new one in foil.

Merry Christmas to all!

Greetings Christian

 

Speaking of Amazon, Joe is 'reviewing' his own book as follows: 'Its probably the best car book of any kind in many years, long overdue'. Oh, and rewarding himself with a five star rating.

 

314 colour pics plus a lot of technical pics out of the handbooks!

Geneva pic i didn´t found but that
isn´t important because with Joes book we
have an 272 page book which is larger than ca. 80% of all Ferrari books
in the market and by comparsion with ca. 98% of these books,
which shown often near all models
the 288 GTO book given a lecture about only ONE model!

So the input given by this book i just superb and
it is a shame how you try to bash this work.

 

You write a book you leave yourself open for criticism.

I have both applauded and criticised this book for what it is (as Joe is aware).
This book, like so many recent books that have had Ferrari in the title should have been so much better. Nothing since the Lewandowski book has covered this topic and it is still the Lewandowski book that holds the title of the definitive book on the subject.
I think many people expected so much more from this book but you would gain greater knowledge from just reading the 288 GTO thread in the supercar Section in which Sackey has posted greatly.
The Sackey book is a nice coffee table book, nice pictures but little new is printed with regards to technical, development or historical information.
I do not own the Miura book but understand Joe was criticised for being over technical in that book so can understand his reversal in this effort.
Each and every reader is different, what joe has done is appeal to the masses, not to the limited few (me included) who want that something extra.
I do not like the book at all, but it is the only book that complements the Lewandowski edition and therefore has a place in my library.
Personally, I can only give credit to any title Massini produces which have been all too scarce in recent years. (Eagerly awaiting the 250 Mille Miglia book).

Paul

 

This book was (I think) 4-5 years in the making, the authors research becomes dated the moment it is executed, the internet is current and relevant, as a result the information factually contained with a book (chassis/ownership chains as well as other areas) are incorrect. This left me disappointed but I am very much aware for the reasons.

Paul

 

Well said Joe. I finally had a chance to flip through it and as a 328 owner and long time lover of the GTO, I think the book is great.

How about this, "It's the best book on the GTO for under $2000."

-F

 

+1 Furman.

As Ferrari enthusiast we are all critical, too a certain extent, because we were expecting more than a certain book offers. For myself I fell in love with the 288GTO the first time I saw one in the magazines and then on the road, circa 1985-1986. I already have a 'semi-firm grip' on its technical aspects so for myself more pictures than script is a good thing and Joes book will be a highly coveted addition to my Ferrari collection. As others have mentioned I will also have two copies when I purchase, one for thumbing and the autographed copy to be kept sealed.

I am just happy that Joe took on the tedious task of writing another book for a car we all covet in some form or fashion.

All the best,
Gregg

 

I forgot to mention, the Homologation Papers were obtained from the FIA after much effort, and are a highlight of the book, not featured in any other. The magazine covers have been personally collected for 27 years!
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Perfectly stated! Perhaps other had expectations even greater than mine, for which I can only be flattered. That some are disappointed by the book is ok, nothing produced satisfies everyone. Clearly most love the book, and its selling well.

 

Happy to do that, although at this point pics of the book are all over the web.
Veloce Publishing - Automotive stuff: FIRST LOOK! ADVANCE COPIES OF THE BOOK OF THE FERRARI 288 GTO BY JOE SACKEY

One comment I should make: as a photographer myself, the images in this book are by far the best GTO images published anywhere (if I may humbly say so myself). I am known for having a critical eye, and when it was suggested the images were mediocre, I smiled, because that is when I knew that there is nothing more amiss than blatant book-bashing. As I said in the review, I'd buy the book for its photography alone, and I have! Putting together a book like this is hardly a profitable commercial enterprise, in fact its simply a distraction from mainstay business. Accordingly it was simply done to share the info/illustrations/images I have, purely as a labor of love.

There will be a 2nd 3rd & 4th printing of the book, so any mistakes will be rectified...
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I, like many others, found the 288 GTO book by Mr. Sackey to be a great piece.
To each their own.

 

Thanks Carlo!

I appreciate all the chatter about the book, because most realize that negativity on the web is often unfair, and will buy the book just to see what all the fuss is about! Its all good.
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Thanks Gregg.

I wonder how many posting here have published a book, or two, that has sold successfully?

Its an arduous mostly thankless and time-consuming task. Having said that, I am extremely proud of both the Lamborghini Miura Book and the Ferrari 288 GTO book. My suggestion to anyone who finds that either of them does not meet expectations, is to wait for another more satisfying book, or, start writing one themselves! Having said all that, most people can read between the lines, and despite the book-bashing by a few, its selling well in the market for this dying format..

 

Nothing but respect from me Joe! You have given more than you have taken. In all fairness I understand both sides of the coin and in reality there is no bad press as it stokes the fire. In the years/decades to come I have no doubt that this book will be a prized possession.

 

I'm amazed that none of us who have criticised the book have not been banned yet. After all, Joe is a sponsor...

Paul

 

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/142813065-post18.html

"I welcome the critical acclaim, good, bad, or indifferent, its all part of the process. But its also important that criticism be constructive, or else it becomes irrelevant"

That's my position, and I'm sticking with it. Sorry, client or otherwise, the criticism should be constructive, or it becomes irrelevant (and is ignored by most). It is clear in this thread & elsewhere, as pointed out by others, that there has been some book-bashing by a few, and as we can see, it has little to no effect. How many times has history shown us that a little criticism can actually be good for business?

Having said all that, I think that your main issue about the text on the rear jacket is a valid one, which I welcome and I think there is also a resolution for. Why not write to the publisher, Veloce UK, and tell them how you feel about the synopsis? If they agree with you, I bet they will change it. If you have published a book before, you'll know that certain things are at the discretion of the publisher, and the synopsis is one of them.

I welcome you starting this thread, and clearly, I have no hard feelings about any comments, good, bad or indifferent.

 

I do agree the Miura book set expectations in a certain way

However, I deliberately set out to do something different with the GTO book, and whilst most welcome it, I'm totally cool that some might not.

 

Come now Paul, you belie your true intentions, surely you know that Sponsors do not have the power to ban? Even if I did, I would not consider it. Why? http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/142814304-post40.html "I appreciate all the chatter about the book, because most realize that negativity on the web is often unfair, and will buy the book just to see what all the fuss is about! Its all good."

I think any discussion is good for the book, one way or another.
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Wow, 288 GTO's are so common, people park them in rows, out in the snow! Joe, great shot of them in the winter time shot,when & where was those pictures taken? And as far as your detractors go, next they will want a PPI, on the book before they buy it. Yikes!

 

If you PM me, I will give you an address to send your 288 GTO book and I will personally sign & dedicate it however you wish. That's a promise!

F40 book like the Miura book? Let me think about that for a little while!