Official book collectors thread

I'd be glad if someone would share his opinions about Scaletti's book "Le quattro cilindri". I found an used copy from an online seller but I've never seen the book in my hands.

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I agree. I stopped buy R&T in the 80s when they seemed to become obsessed with Japanese cars.
Nathan

 

I like this book. It's very comprehensive, covering sports and monoposto cars, and even experimental engines. I don't think you will be disappointed.
There is another 4-cylinder book in preparation, by IIRC Antoine Prunet.
Nathan

 

I have not seen any indication of this either from the publisher, or by doing a Google search, so I will not believe this unless it actually happens. I don't know how its current circulation of over 600,000 compares to the other U.S. car magazines, but that seems plenty for a "niche" publication.

I first got R&T in 1968 to read Grand Prix race reports and have been a subscriber ever since (50+ years). Of course the race reports have disappeared, but with all the other sources now of F1 news (including the ability to watch the races live on TV) the need went away, which I can understand. (Back then, there were GPs whose winners I did not even know until I got the R&T article, several months after the race had happened!)

I will admit I have not liked the magazine as much since their last re-make, though it's better now than it was right after that re-make. I subscribe to the other U.S. car magazines and still don't like any of them as much as R&T, although they all have their high points; I particularly like Car & Driver's "10 Best" issue every January. And Autoweek is better as a biweekly than they were as a weekly; even with the extensive coverage of racing available now on TV, the racing coverage in Autoweek is still welcome.

 

Ironically, I started getting Autoweek the first time, in 1972, after Auto Racing magazine went belly up; years later I had my subscription extended when Racecar magazine (which had previously been called Formula) folded. I disliked the old newspaper format because it was so bulky, and was glad when it changed to a magazine in 1986. I eventually dropped it because I had too much else to read, but renewed my subscription about a year ago after looking through a few issues on the newsstand.

Does anyone here remember Auto Racing or Formula/Racecar magazines?

 

No, but I do remember On Track.

My parents used to send R&T and Competition Press (as it was known then) to me when I was in Vietnam. I figured it would have been too much of a burden to ask them to send all the others!

 

I do. I used to wait impatiently for Pete Lyon's F1 race reports in Autoweek--usually 2-3 weeks after the race.

 

I distinctly remember buying that issue at the newsstand. I then scraped together $ for a subscription from my paper route money. From Road & Tracks best days, an issue I cherish to this day.

 

I've been subscribing to MT, C&D and R&T for over 50 years, and for many years to Autoweek.
Why is it that the British can publish Autocar weekly, and do a better job than all 3 of the US monthly's?
One of life's mysteries I guess.

 

At one time, Henry Manney III, and occasionally Phil Hill, would do race reports. Manney took no prisoners and was hilarious to boot! Those were golden days of GP/sports car racing and magazine circulation.

Yr. fthfl svrt R.I.P

 

Best automobile writing team ever, from the glory days of Car and Driver:

David E. Davis, Jr.
Brock Yates
Warren Weith
Jean Shepherd
Jan P. Norbye
Charles Fox

And the incomparable Bruce McCall.

All were authentic car guys who could write. They came at the right time. They were irreverent, daring, zany and couldn't be bullied by advertisers. They didn't take anything too seriously, even themselves.

 

They were the best, and Jean Shepard and P.J. O'Rorke were my faves.

 

Thanks Nathan, I really appreciate your opinion

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Along with every other major US car mag. I used to get the big four in the '90s and '00s and the downfall has just been sad.

Does this mean CaD's done, too? I suppose I'll go back to Automobile.

 

me too.
the other thing i loved about AW was the classified ads,
so many cars back then, i remember two specifically from around 1981 or 82:
1 - a 1966 ferrari 330 for $6,500 but ''needs a ring job',
2 - mark donohue 1971 lola t-192 for i think less than $8,000

 

A friend (met in later years) bought a non-running California Spyder and a Mercedes 280 SE from a single seller in the early 1970's. $5000 for the pair.

 

Rob Walker did pretty well with race reports, too, but Manney was the best. And occasionally, R&T would parody itself with a section called "Rod & Truck", which was generally hilarious from start to finish!

 

Hello Nathan, Can you confirm your presence in Paris with your book, next week ? Thank you.

 

Patrick
I will be at Retromobile from Wednesday to Friday. The book - The Ferrari 550 & 575 Road & Race Legends - will be available on Horton's Books stand, and a few others if I can arrange it. If you want your book signed please go to Horton's. If I'm not there please ask them to phone me. I'll probably be wandering around.
Nathan

 

The Ferrari 550 & 575 Road & Race Legends book
UPDATE - The standard editions are now printed, and will be available at Retromobile. As I will also be at Retromobile I will not be able to start shipping books until Feb 11th. So here are the options;
Standard edition - only 1200 copies printed - 550 or 575 cover - £99 + £25 shipping to USA
Blue leather edition - 150 copies only -120 more pages - detailed chassis listing - leather cover, so no 550 or 575 option - £295 + £25 shipping to USA
red leather "Racing" edition - 50 numbered copies only - 120 more pages - detailed chassis listing - leather cover, so no 550 or 575 option - signed by Frederic Dor and Stephane Ratel - £495 + £25 shipping to USA
leather editions will be ready to ship in about a month.
Payment via Paypal - [email protected] - PLEASE put your email address and phone number in the Comments section of Paypal! This is for the delivery.

Special for FerrariChat users: I can sign all books, and can put a personalised message if you tell me what it should say.

I appreciate all of you who have indicated an interest in these books. Can you please confirm which edition you want, via email - [email protected]. Thank you all

Nathan

 

Thank you Nathan.
I will be there on Wednesday.

 

Email just sent.

Thanks

 

A shame if true on the R&T rumors.....I would say that newsstand distribution here in Texas is nill……

None of the Drug Store majors will have it, and even Barnes and Noble visit is a dry run.
New format was PC based obviously as the print got SO small as to be unreadable, colored page backgrounds also seems to be "a trend"....

Makes Peter Egan the Last Man Standing, with Willie Nelson!
He would like that, sad as it is......

 

I don't know about drugstores, but the Publix supermarkets and B&N stores here always have it.

Maybe they need to resurrect Stan Mott's Cyclops stories.

 

Anyone with a sliver of interest in F1 should read: 'The Perfect Car', The Story of John Barnard. A very well written book, that is worth far more than the paper it was printed on!