Porsche books for the truly Obsessed....
Discussion
The Porsche books in my library continue to accumulate, so thought it would be good if you are among the truly deluded Porsche lovers for whom nothing is too trivial.There had been a massive amount written about Porsche ( and Ferrari of course), and over the years I have come across some good ones.
Porsche Early History
Ferdinand Porsche was designing cars from the end of the 19th century so most of his personal achievements occurred before the found go Porsche in 1948m, and he would die in 1950
The Best book on his history is Porsche Genesis of Genius ( Ludvigsen) which covers all of his work from the beginning up to the Auto Union days
Things get a little sensitive during the Nazi era, but there are some books ti be found:
Professor Porsche’s War Machines ( Ludvigsen) describes well his military escapades:
A little more pointed information can be found in Hitler’s Motor Racing Battles that covers the Porsche-Designed Auto Unions
Also a small book on VW of the era is useful:
Porsche from 1948
The most essential single publication on Porsches is “Porsche- excellence was expected”…(Ludvigsen) 3 vols…very well written.
The second essential is the Porsche Book ( Barth) which exhaustively covers productions details for every car…
For early history of the Gmund days “ Porsche - Origin of the Species” is very good
The Prototype era: excellent photographs
The Ultimate Book of the Aircooled 911 is outstanding but expensive ( 911 copies made)
Porsche and me ( Hans Mezger)
One of the greatest of all engineers has written an entertaining book.
Porsche Early History
Ferdinand Porsche was designing cars from the end of the 19th century so most of his personal achievements occurred before the found go Porsche in 1948m, and he would die in 1950
The Best book on his history is Porsche Genesis of Genius ( Ludvigsen) which covers all of his work from the beginning up to the Auto Union days
Things get a little sensitive during the Nazi era, but there are some books ti be found:
Professor Porsche’s War Machines ( Ludvigsen) describes well his military escapades:
A little more pointed information can be found in Hitler’s Motor Racing Battles that covers the Porsche-Designed Auto Unions
Also a small book on VW of the era is useful:
Porsche from 1948
The most essential single publication on Porsches is “Porsche- excellence was expected”…(Ludvigsen) 3 vols…very well written.
The second essential is the Porsche Book ( Barth) which exhaustively covers productions details for every car…
For early history of the Gmund days “ Porsche - Origin of the Species” is very good
The Prototype era: excellent photographs
The Ultimate Book of the Aircooled 911 is outstanding but expensive ( 911 copies made)
Porsche and me ( Hans Mezger)
One of the greatest of all engineers has written an entertaining book.
Model specific books:
A very limited edition about the 356SL..” The last eleven”
The Porsche 917:
The. official Porsche publication on the 917 is comprehensive:
Porsche 917 Photographic History is good ( Smale)
Porsche 917 The undercover story ( Wingrove ) is just superb
Porsche Carrera 2.7 ( Snodgrass) covers the model in exhaustive detail..( 2500 copies)
911RS covers all of the RS cars up to the 991.1
Porsche Advertising:
Die Rennkplate ( large format) has a good selection of 911 racing posters:
Porsche Showroom posters is good for the early road cars;
Porsche Driving
The old book by Vic Elford is a great guide to handing a Porsche on a track (not expensive)
. ( I actually had Vic sign one of my cars recently)
Not sure why these books are specifically about Porsche but they are superb guides if you are planning a drive through the Alps are around Stelvio:
General Interest:
These are much more in the coffee table/visual level and tend to cover the same ground;
The Porsche Book is huge and has wonderful photography but little technical detail:
For the truly obsessed Porsche Sounds come with a CD of a variety of engines running….
General histories are for a casual read:
A very limited edition about the 356SL..” The last eleven”
The Porsche 917:
The. official Porsche publication on the 917 is comprehensive:
Porsche 917 Photographic History is good ( Smale)
Porsche 917 The undercover story ( Wingrove ) is just superb
Porsche Carrera 2.7 ( Snodgrass) covers the model in exhaustive detail..( 2500 copies)
911RS covers all of the RS cars up to the 991.1
Porsche Advertising:
Die Rennkplate ( large format) has a good selection of 911 racing posters:
Porsche Showroom posters is good for the early road cars;
Porsche Driving
The old book by Vic Elford is a great guide to handing a Porsche on a track (not expensive)
. ( I actually had Vic sign one of my cars recently)
Not sure why these books are specifically about Porsche but they are superb guides if you are planning a drive through the Alps are around Stelvio:
General Interest:
These are much more in the coffee table/visual level and tend to cover the same ground;
The Porsche Book is huge and has wonderful photography but little technical detail:
For the truly obsessed Porsche Sounds come with a CD of a variety of engines running….
General histories are for a casual read:
And finally if you want to know the exact material was used in different seats, or specific light lenses or some fascinating and unpublished histories then 000 Magazine is brilliant. Published quarterly, virtually no advertising ,outstanding production quality. I doubt it any back issues are available ,sadly:
TDT said:
Some nice ones in the collection there.
I have 911 LoveRS, and just ordered the Vic Elford book from your recommendation.
I badly want the first issue of 000 however… I believe it has a feature on the GT4 and how the Clubsport was derived.
No idea what the used market for them is..maybe AbeBooks or the like. the first issue was called prototype ( that's it in the pic), and the second issue was called the first issueI have 911 LoveRS, and just ordered the Vic Elford book from your recommendation.
I badly want the first issue of 000 however… I believe it has a feature on the GT4 and how the Clubsport was derived.
...RDMcG said:
TDT said:
Some nice ones in the collection there.
I have 911 LoveRS, and just ordered the Vic Elford book from your recommendation.
I badly want the first issue of 000 however… I believe it has a feature on the GT4 and how the Clubsport was derived.
No idea what the used market for them is..maybe AbeBooks or the like. the first issue was called prototype ( that's it in the pic), and the second issue was called the first issueI have 911 LoveRS, and just ordered the Vic Elford book from your recommendation.
I badly want the first issue of 000 however… I believe it has a feature on the GT4 and how the Clubsport was derived.
...Is that the one with the GT4 feature?... in fact I’ve just been to the website... it’s issue 002 and they have back issues.... ordered!
Edited by TDT on Sunday 4th November 19:48
Edited by TDT on Sunday 4th November 19:49
There are sizeable bits of Porsche interest in John Wyer's autobiography The Certain Sound. It is very well written and utterly absorbing. After his successes with Aston Martin and Ford, Wyer was invited to discreetly visit Porsche with a view to working with or for them.
"How many cars and engines did you use when Aston Martin won the World Sportscar Championship in 1959?"
"We had three cars and two spare engines and we didn't use the spare engines."
"Do you know how many cars we used last season?"
"I would guess about two dozen."
"Thirty one."
"How many cars and engines did you use when Aston Martin won the World Sportscar Championship in 1959?"
"We had three cars and two spare engines and we didn't use the spare engines."
"Do you know how many cars we used last season?"
"I would guess about two dozen."
"Thirty one."
DickyC said:
There are sizeable bits of Porsche interest in John Wyer's autobiography The Certain Sound. It is very well written and utterly absorbing. After his successes with Aston Martin and Ford, Wyer was invited to discreetly visit Porsche with a view to working with or for them.
"How many cars and engines did you use when Aston Martin won the World Sportscar Championship in 1959?"
"We had three cars and two spare engines and we didn't use the spare engines."
"Do you know how many cars we used last season?"
"I would guess about two dozen."
"Thirty one."
Definitely worth a read..will order it!."How many cars and engines did you use when Aston Martin won the World Sportscar Championship in 1959?"
"We had three cars and two spare engines and we didn't use the spare engines."
"Do you know how many cars we used last season?"
"I would guess about two dozen."
"Thirty one."
May I recommend 'Secrets of the Inner Circle' by the Maestro himself, Harry Pellow.
Rare now but essential if you want to take your 356 to bits or put it back together again so it works.
Then you'll be needing the 'ABC's (and 912's) of Porsche Engines' so your engine will work too.
Also, 'Buying, Driving and Enjoying the Porsche 356' by James E Schrager is a very informative, easy to read book that makes you want to buy a 356.
Rare now but essential if you want to take your 356 to bits or put it back together again so it works.
Then you'll be needing the 'ABC's (and 912's) of Porsche Engines' so your engine will work too.
Also, 'Buying, Driving and Enjoying the Porsche 356' by James E Schrager is a very informative, easy to read book that makes you want to buy a 356.
Porsche Data Book by Marc Bongers.
A deeply geeky guide to all models up to about 2005.
A deeply geeky guide to all models up to about 2005.
Summary said:
This one-stop expert reference book is packed with data covering each permutation of Porsche ever built, from 1948 through to the present day. Compiled with privileged access to the Porsche archives, and providing just about every fact and figure ever issued by the factory, it is an invaluable addition to Haynes's stable of successful books about the marque. Each type has an introduction, followed by model-by-model information including a reference colour photograph and highly detailed specification.
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