I understand that it is close to being finished, ready for printing. The affair started back in 2003 when Frédéric Dor engaged Michael Cotton to celebrate the great season that the 550 had just enjoyed, including a class Le Mans win. He was to write a book on the Prodrive 550 and how the project came about. For obscure reasons the manuscript was completed but never published. At around that time Mr Dor became involved with Prodrive to form Aston Martin Racing, with the DBR9 as the first in a long line of GT racers. A few years back Dor commissioned Girardo and Keith Bluemel to produce the forthcoming book, which would bring the 550 international competition story up to its conclusion in 2008. Hopefully it will appear soon.
Is any of this topic covered in Nathan Beehl's 550 & 575 Road and Race Legends book. If so, worth getting both?
The two books answer different questions. Beehl's effort is a fine reference work if you wish to know about the 550/575 individual race chassis history. It also has plenty on the road cars. It is certainly a worthy addition to the library. Bluemel's task was to chronicle solely the 550 chassis produced by Prodrive. The last draft that I read had an account of how the project started and a series of chapters that ran year by year. Each race was described and illustrated with contemporary quotes and observations. There were interviews with the key players, drivers, engineers and management. I doubt that much has changed. It is likely to be better illustrated as Girardo now own Photo 4's archive, who covered the races at the time. Plus they are also using my material from the period as I was commissioned by Care Racing to produce press material. How much is in-house and how much is paid for will be the usual budgetary struggle that all books of this nature face.
I just finished reading this book and enjoyed it very much. Interesting how the business (and cars) have evolved over the years.
Not sure if it's allright to post about a Porsche book here. But this book was brought to my attention today. https://www.rpm-books.com/news/993-gt2-book Image Unavailable, Please Login
That looks like a very interesting book. Thanks. Will look nice next to the book about the 964 Carrera RS 3.8, which is another great story. Natan
Check the Porter Press website if you thought "Mmmmmm, I don't think I've really given them enough money for the Breadvan book as yet". https://porterpress.co.uk/search?type=article,page,product&q=breadvan*
I wasn't criticizing per se, just amused by the naming of the exclusive edition. Beyond that no one can blame publishers for creating the deluxe versions and no one is obliged to buy them. At least "Baker"s edition" shows a sense of humor and is much better than "Oligarch megayacht coffee table boastful item no one will ever properly read."
Probably trying to raise enough money to implement a minimum level of quality control.......... Marcel Massini
I'm OK with Limited/Owner/Exclusive Edition per se, but I think Porter Press doesn't understand very well how that game works and just want to milk the cow without other efforts.
Available at the end of the year, shaped as a three books box set, or separately (French language). Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Melbourne now has the unenviable record of having one of the harshest lockdowns that we are currently still in. Image Unavailable, Please Login Not much else to do but try and fill as many holes as possible in your Ferrari book library. While I have the time to research, happy to get any comments on any must have's I'm missing that you guys can recommend (sorry the picture is not of the highest resolution to see the details of every book but as they say... if you know, you know). Cheers Image Unavailable, Please Login