TITLE         Porsche 917 Zuffenhausen's LeMans & Can-Am Champion

AUTHOR    Ludvigsen

   ENGLISH

ISBN 10     1583881808

ISBN 13      9781583881804

PRICE             $28.00

LIST PRICE     $36.95

NOT IN STOCK @ BLOCKS BOOKS

A very nicely presented series of (currently) five books , covering the initial 550 Spyder, the 550A-RSK-RS 60 Spyders, the “white” racers, 917, 956/962.  All books are essentially similar, composed of several introduction pages and 132 pages of black and white photographs, most previously unpublished, from the Ludvigsen library -- which consists of the libraries of photographers from the 50s through the 80s.

TITLE         Porsche Spyders Type 550 1953-1956

AUTHOR     Ludvigsen

   ENGLISH

ISBN 10     1583880925

ISBN 13     9781583882009

NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE @ BLOCKS BOOKS

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FROM MY REVIEWS IN THE 356 REGISTRY:

PORSCHE SPYDERS 550 1953-1956.  Precisely as titled PORSCHE SPYDERS 550 covers only the earliest 550 Spyders (leaving hope for additional books covering the later 550A, 645 Mickey Mouse, RSK, RS 60-62 Spyders). It is in one sense a typical Iconographix published book (a couple pages of words by way of explanation and the rest of the book one/page black and white photographs with captions); in another way it is atypical -- you may rely on the facts.  This, unlike a prior Iconographic effort, Porsche 356 1948-1965 Photo Album by Wyss, which consisted of about 100 photos from Herr Parr’s Porsche AG Arkivs and a fanciful history; PORSCHE SPYDERS 550 is primarily composed of contemporary photos taken by photojournalist Rudy Mailander, now part of the Ludvigsen library.  Thus most the photographs are new; not the usual recycled fare.  I can hardly get enough photographs of 550s, but the first pages on the 550-05 are amazing.  Certainly, given the period is makes sense, but who would have thought: a 550 with early (Veigle like) VDO gauges.  Photos of the wooden aerodynamic 1/5th scale model of the Buckelwagen (550-07) are juxtaposed to photos of the real cars.  Rare, more precisely never before seen photos include the plastic tops on 550-07 and –08 –, which are almost targa, like.  All of us know what Huschke von Hanstein looked like, but titled PORSCHE SPYDERS 550 identifies in multiple photographs Wilhelm Hild (the designer of the 550), Ernst Fuhrmann (the designer of the 547 motor) in plus fours, and even Hubert Mimler (550 mechanic and test driver).  I had read about the seats on the first pre-production Spyders but had never seen photographs.  The drivers seat looks like a Speedster bucket (don’t forget the 550 was designed contemporaneously with the Speedster) including square weave carpet back and twin vents, but with a significantly lengthened squab; while the passenger seat was a frame with wicker seating surfaces.  Soft bound and at $24.95 list, as inexpensive as a current day book gets, PORSCHE SPYDERS 550 1953-1965 is a necessity for any Porsche book self.

TITLE         Porsche Spyders 1956-1964 Type 550A, RSK & 718

AUTHOR     Ludvigsen

   ENGLISH

ISBN 10     NO ISBN 10

ISBN 13     9781583880920

NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE @ BLOCKS BOOKS

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FROM MY REVIEWS IN THE 356 REGISTRY:

Karl Ludvigsen’s series of photographic books continues.  Joining his 125 page Porsche Spyder Type 550 53-56 is his 125 page Porsche Spyders 550A, RSK, 718 1956-1964.  The format of the two books, indeed of the hundreds of books in the Iconografix series, is identical: a couple page of introduction, 120 pages of contemporary black & white pages with captions.  The photos are all from the Ludvigsen library.  They are split between action shots and detail shots, mainly taken at the factory.  Fascinating is the shoot of the of the RSK “surface cooling” hood with its welded oil serpentine on the underside.  It didn’t work very well – there is also a shot of the air scoop in the sill (seen only on the factory cars) for the supplementary oil cooler.  It’s absolutely amazing how many detail changes the Spyders underwent.  Porsche Spyders 550A, RSK, 718 1956-1964, lists for $29.95.  It deserves a place, on your book shelf, next to his Porsche Spyders Type 550 1953-1956.

TITLE         White Racers From Zuffenhausen Porsche 904, 906, 907, 908, 909, 910

AUTHOR     Ludvigsen

       ENGLISH

ISBN 10     1583882189

ISBN 13     9781583882184

PRICE             $25.00

LIST PRICE     $29.95

STOCKED @ BLOCKS BOOKS

TITLE         Porsche 956 & 962 Immortal Endurance Racers

1982-1994

AUTHOR    Ludvigsen

    ENGLISH

ISBN 10     NO ISBN 10

ISBN 13     9781583882696

PRICE             $27.00

LIST PRICE     $32.95

STOCKED @ BLOCKS BOOKS