AUTHOR    Upietz

    ENGLISH/GERMAN

ISBN 10     3928540017

ISBN 13     no ISBN 13

PRICE           $300.00 

   

OUT OF PRINT AVAILABLE @ BLOCKS BOOKS

FROM MY REVIEWS IN THE 356 REGISTRY:

PORSCHE TOYS AND MINIATURES -- DESIGN STUDIES AND WIND TUNNEL MODELS is finally available. PT & MDSAWTM - I suppose we shall end up calling this book PORSCHE TOYS - is a gigantic, all inclusive, definitive even, collection of every known model.  PORSCHE TOYS also includes 27 factory design models. Fittingly, the factory models start with type 114, the mid-engine V-10 which was never built, but which externally

resembles the type 64 Rome-Berlin-Rome car. Unfortunately the book misidentifies the type 114 as the Rome-Berlin-Rome car. Does any one know why this design's type number is so far out of sequence?

Everything you expect in a hysterically expensive book is here: it's printed in Germany, it's all color - magnificently reproduced, it's a limited edition (2500 numbered copies), it's complete (over 7,000 different models on the master list), it's in English and German (learn to read German in about 319 easy lessons), it lists at around $250.00 (but with the dollar dropping against the Mark again I wouldn't count on it) and it has 356 pages.  Other than the master list, reproduced in red so you and your Xerox can't, the book has two major sections. The first are the the previously unpublished factory models, some of which are on display in the Zuffenhausen Museum. Most of the models, if previously unpublished, represent cars which have been seen; including the four passenger type 530 and the type 695 which was the four-passenger predecessor to the 2+2 901/911. But wait; there is an

interim type 695 which looks more like a 530 - complete with BIC style chrome bumpers - than the later "definitive" 695. Unfortunately the factory section is weak on 356 era cars.

Several Spyders are shown, including a 1:5 scale car from 1954/55 which cannot be further identified; but which looks very much like von

Frankenburg's type 645, a.k.a. Mickey Mouse.

The mid portion of the book is composed of hundreds of magnificent photographs of Porsche models. Sometimes the models are by themselves, sometimes they are grouped

to show variations, such as the Tomy Speedsters or the Solido Spyders, or in a truly like-like grouping, or just page filling to boggle your mind. Some of the cars are so realistic and

the camera lens focal lengths and angles so carefully selected that it is virtually impossible to tell if a car is real or a model. The general feel of "realistic" photographs is identical to the factory calendars.

A portion of this section is devoted to the spectacular Henry Hammer collection, complete with pictures of Hank holding favorite models - looking for all the world like one of those fishermen on Saturday morning fishing shows who has just landed a 7 pound Bass.  Among the more interesting models is one of five 1:11 scale, ceramic split window coupes that the factory gave to rally drivers in 1952. However Tony Singer reminded me that there were also Sterling Silver coupes, apparently given to race drivers.  A high point is the hours of fun spent playing "I have one of those." If you have the money and are interested in Porsche models or want a magnificent Porsche book: go for it!  But why does the back cover have

what is a clearly front-engined, tintype model which in no way resembles a Porsche other than having the word "Porsche" across it's front, Mercedes-like engine hood?