Cerbera - The Greatest Un-Told story

[rev-erend]

Well - it sure needs writing ..

Sadly not by me - as the quixotic art of gramatic prose is not my forte ..

Let's start the ball rolling here on possible chapters, content we would like to see and maybe even a few might like to step forward to write it..

A fellow Cerbera owner just started with this publishing company - hence the idea..

Very small volume publishing :
http://www.blurb.com/

Possible chapters and content :

1. The design and it's birth
Interviews with PW and John Ravenscroft .. any other designers (McTaggert ?) - gestation from the UP1 prototype (Chimaera) perhaps.. design brief - wider track and wheel base to handle more power etc..

2a. AJP 8 Engine
Interview with Al Melling - did engine exist before TVR approached MCD, unusual and radical design .. 22 inch cube, ultra low weight, power, unit cost, why dry sump was abandoned for the road cars etc..

2b. AJP 6 Engine
Perhaps not too much detail here .. don't want to loose your house via litigation

3. ECU
First TVR to have it's own bespoke ECU - interviews with Ravencroft or other and MBE

4. Chassis
Interview with Neil Anderson, wider track and wheel base to handle more power - developed after Tuscan race experience ?

4. Other electronics
Dropping windows etc

5. Interior design
Who ?

6. World class supercar
Top gear could not get enoght of it.. 'makes it's own weather' etc..

7. Moddified cars
LS engined conversions, AJP upgrades, Max power car

8. Cerbera race cars
Inter view with Martin Short and others..

Any more idea's ..

Who will write it ?

[BCA]

Sounds good to me, for point five, you may wish to talk to crazynick on here, its his creation.

I would be happy to write such a book, but doubt I could do the car justice - and to be honest, I wonder whether many could. Such incredible cars, its been amazing to have been in love with them for this many years.

[JensenA]

Sounds a great idea to me - Me and Brummie can do the Chapter on Engine conversions .

It's a great idea for a book, because the Cerbera is one of those cars that people just seem to have a great affection and respect for - even those who dont know what the fck it is, hope it gets off the ground.

[Timmy2TARs]

Came across this thread about the last Cerbera earlier, where Phil mentions something similar.

It really is a story that needs telling.

[900T-R]

On a similar note, I've had a casual thought about researching and writing a book that I would want to read - 'TVR - The Wheeler Years'. Whaddayathink? Would I be right in assuming that such a title - if done well - would have a potentially wider audience than just the TVR bo... erm, cognoscenti?

[TT Tim]

I'll happily design it - it's what I do, and have done for the last 19 years!

If you'd rather go the 'professional' route.

Tim

Edited by TT Tim on Thursday 14th August 08:44

[amazon]

900T-R said:

On a similar note, I've had a casual thought about researching and writing a book that I would want to read - 'TVR - The Wheeler Years'. Whaddayathink? Would I be right in assuming that such a title - if done well - would have a potentially wider audience than just the TVR bo... erm, cognoscenti?

You'd be a great person to do the book you suggest. I'd like to order one now please. Signed of course.

[rev-erend]

900T-R said:

On a similar note, I've had a casual thought about researching and writing a book that I would want to read - 'TVR - The Wheeler Years'. Whaddayathink? Would I be right in assuming that such a title - if done well - would have a potentially wider audience than just the TVR bo... erm, cognoscenti?

Well - it's a nice idea but I understand PW does not like being interviewed that much .. unless he has mellowed.

That's why I though of the Cerb book because it's just a part of his tenure are boss of TVR.

[rev-erend]

BCA / Jenson and others - yes why not do a colaboration .. several authors each taking a chapter.

[900T-R]

rev-erend said:

Well - it's a nice idea but I understand PW does not like being interviewed that much .. unless he has mellowed.

Ah yes, but then the line us journos tend to use is "We're going to do a story on you, either with or without your input... you decide."

disclaimer - the above has been stated for comedy value only and is in no way to be taken as representative in any way for the ethos and work procedures of yours truly and/or other journalists, your mileage may vary etc.

[rev-erend]

900T-R said:

rev-erend said:

Well - it's a nice idea but I understand PW does not like being interviewed that much .. unless he has mellowed.

Ah yes, but then the line us journos tend to use is "We're going to do a story on you, either with or without your input... you decide."

disclaimer - the above has been stated for comedy value only and is in no way to be taken as representative in any way for the ethos and work procedures of yours truly and/or other journalists, your mileage may vary etc.

[dean_ratpac]

rev-erend said:

Well - it sure needs writing ..

Sadly not by me - as the quixotic art of gramatic prose is not my forte ..

Let's start the ball rolling here on possible chapters, content we would like to see and maybe even a few might like to step forward to write it..

A fellow Cerbera owner just started with this publishing company - hence the idea..

Very small volume publishing :
http://www.blurb.com/

Alan, thanks for the post. I would just like to add i will cover the cost of the first book, if its good enough Blurb will use it (permission of course) as marketing material.

There's some great photo's on this forum, so if we could have a place to store/email so who ever puts it together can have a good selection of photos or to have a list of contributors? Also to add - you can invite contributors to the book itself whilst in initial stages.

What is also unique with blurb is that you can put it up for public view, and sale, where you set your own margins and you get to keep 100% of the profit - and yet we all can get a copy.

If there's more of you that want to attempt this please let me know via my PM, so i can track everything, and maybe we can vote on the best book?

I cannot wait to see what we get together!

just another point - I am doing my own book about my car, something probably I wont do is sell it, but if I did - its something that is nice as a piece of history with your own car!

Cheers
Dean

Edited by dean_ratpac on Thursday 14th August 19:01

[dean_ratpac]

TT Tim said:

I'll happily design it - it's what I do, and have done for the last 19 years!

If you'd rather go the 'professional' route.

Tim

Edited by TT Tim on Thursday 14th August 08:44

over 50% of our users are pro market, so i think i would like to see this professionally put together!

[rev-erend]

dean_ratpac said:

rev-erend said:

Well - it sure needs writing ..

Sadly not by me - as the quixotic art of gramatic prose is not my forte ..

Let's start the ball rolling here on possible chapters, content we would like to see and maybe even a few might like to step forward to write it..

A fellow Cerbera owner just started with this publishing company - hence the idea..

Very small volume publishing :
http://www.blurb.com/

Alan, thanks for the post. I would just like to add i will cover the cost of the first book, if its good enough Blurb will use it (permission of course) as marketing material.

There's some great photo's on this forum, so if we could have a place to store/email so who ever puts it together can have a good selection of photos or to have a list of contributors? Also to add - you can invite contributors to the book itself whilst in initial stages.

What is also unique with blurb is that you can put it up for public view, and sale, where you set your own margins and you get to keep 100% of the profit - and yet we all can get a copy.

If there's more of you that want to attempt this please let me know via my PM, so i can track everything, and maybe we can vote on the best book?

I cannot wait to see what we get together!

just another point - I am doing my own book about my car, something probably I wont do is sell it, but if I did - its something that is nice as a piece of history with your own car!

Cheers
Dean

Edited by dean_ratpac on Thursday 14th August 19:01

Dean

Glad you dropped in..

Nice idea that one. Hope it goes well.

[HarryW]

I'd buy a copy who's writing it

[TT Tim]

If you're serious I'll get some prices for printing from the far east, looking at the prices on that web site I'm sure we can do better.

Tim

[southendpier]

JensenA said:

Sounds a great idea to me - Me and Brummie can do the Chapter on Engine conversions .

[trackcar]

It's a story that needs telling .. surprised steve heath never came out with his book, but if there could be a customer-eye viewpoint book penned by several cerbie fans that would be something worth reading

[rev-erend]

trackcar said:

It's a story that needs telling .. surprised steve heath never came out with his book, but if there could be a customer-eye viewpoint book penned by several cerbie fans that would be something worth reading

Indeed it would ..

I'm surprised that a few like Steve Heath or Bosscerbera have not stepped forward ..

Edited by rev-erend on Friday 15th August 12:10

[dean_ratpac]

TT Tim said:

If you're serious I'll get some prices for printing from the far east, looking at the prices on that web site I'm sure we can do better.

Tim

this is true, you could, but then you've got to get the book made, signed off, collaborated on, compiled, then order a specific amount of books, (which you could end up with excess stock - and people last minute changing their minds - imagine chasing all those orders!) no doubt the printers will ask for an upfront fee.

With Blurb you only have to print ONE book, Blurb manages all the order processing, fulfillment, customer support, shipping and transaction processing at no additional cost. In this way, Blurb book makers can make money on each and every book with no cash outlay other than the cost of the first book. Setting your own margins and u keep 100% of the profits when you put it in the bookstore, let people preview digitally before they buy! will the far east do all this?

So I'm sure you could put a great deal together, but then once you've sold them all - and you say needed 10 more... will that offset printer do a small run? All anyone has to do here is order through the bookstore however many they want, this could also include an updated book?

Tim, would you be able to put this book together for the community through blurb?

YHM