AUTHOR         Jung

   German

ISBN 10          no ISBN 10

ISBN 13          978376883270

Out Print -- No Longer Available @ BLOCKS BOOKS

Spectacular book, but available only in German,

FROM MY REVIEWS FOR THE 356 REGISTRY:

The neatest book of the year is Frank Jung’s Porsche 356 made by Reutter – which, unfortunately, contrary to what the title suggest is written in German not English.  What you get is a comprehensive 296 pages, certainly concentrating on Porsche but with a fascinating 60 some pages of pre-Porsche the automobile manufacturer designs.  The first Porsche design bureau was the Typ 7 of 1932.  It was Reutter’s 3288 body design.  Since Reutter as a Karosserie was founded in 1906 that works out to around 125 body designs a year.  While the Typ 7 appears to have been a single basic body varied by 4 and 6 window four door sedans, a “limousine” and Ferry’s cabriolet; the Porsche Typ 8 was a streamlined coupe in several variants, each with a different Reutter number, starting with 3301.  Interestingly the Porsche Typ 12 Zundapp followed immediately with Reutter number 3306 through 3314.  The Porsche Typ 32 NSU of 1934 jumped to Reutter K 4360 – up to a 500 designs a year.  All of these Porsche designs, including the VW and its derivatives are covered with many fresh photographs.

A feature which adds immensely to the pleasure and usefulness of the book are maps of the ever expanding Reutter werks which are placed in the appropriate chapters by date.  An especially poignant blueprint is of the original assembly hall “kompletten Karosserien für Porsche – inclusive Rahmen und Innenausstattung.”  (inclusive of frame and interior decoration for Porsche); which appears smaller then a current dealership.  Many documents are reproduced.  Some are easy to figure out, such as the planned by month production of 356s, broken down by body types – others we shall have to take on faith when the English translation appears, as I am confident it must.  My the time Porsche took over, Reutter covers a large joined multi-building factory; with a separate build for large and small parts sourced  from Porsche and short walk past the Kantine (some canteen – the chefs wear toques) to the main building, starting with the Presserie – with several huge presses each bearing a cute name (Bambi, Mecki …).  The remaining chapters primarily photographic dealing with each of the remaining assembly sections.  The line seems to reverse itself a dozen times – ending with Auslieferung (Porsche) – delivery to (Porsche).

We are all aware of “numbers matching” Porsches.  Several photographs makes clear why this needed to happen – the cars are moving down the “assembly line” on four wheel trolleys (Porsche used three wheel trolleys) running on tracks, but the bumpers are hung on racks around the room and the doors are hung overhead on an endless chain, which is arraigned race track-like at right angles to the movement of the cars – as the car moved under the doors, the assembler would reach up and grab the correct doors (defined by the last 3 or 4 digits) and install them.  I suppose if he missed them, he would stop the line (not push his trolley forward) and wait for the doors to come back by.

Porsche 356 made by Reutter is filled with amazing little details – woman worked the line, not just upholstery in the 50s.  Many of the photographs are in color.  There is clearly a build sheet used by Reutter (not just the bound journal) with alle Ausstauttungsdetails (all equipment details) including Sonderwünsche (special wishes – options).  The form is translated: (at least to German):  on 19 April 1960 Reutter hergestellt (produced) coupe #111767, it was Komplettierung (completed) with Motornummer 86585 – clearly Porsche didn’t randomly stick engines in Reutter bodies -- on 20 April.  It was rubinrotes R702, dunklegau Kunstlederzitzen (light grey R3395 vinyl seats) mit schwarzen cord (black cord inserts), beigen Himmel (beige headliner R3203), schwarer Teppich (black carpet R3702).

I have no idea when/if Porsche 356 made by Reutter will appear in English.  However; the book is primarily photographs with captions.  As Sebastion Gaieta quoted me to 356 TALK – I love German picture books, my lips don’t get so tired.  The publisher does not currently have US representation so I am bringing the books over my self.  Unless I got my exchange rate wrong, they will go for $55.00 + shipping.