FROM MY REVIEWS IN THE 356 REGISTRY:

Up to the last moment every issue I worry that there will be no book worthy of your attention. Luckily, I managed to go to the East Coast for a Pathology Course, courtesy of the US Navy - my wife says she sleeps better knowing that I am (away) defending us from the Godless Communists - and ran into Gary Gold, who was selling a new Porsche book. Not just any new Porsche book, but a new 356 book: The Best of Christophorus 1956-1962, edited by Michael Cotton. The dates reflect the first English issues starting with 1956

(December '55 if memory serves me) to the last issue prior to the switch to a horizontal format.  A large portion of the book consists of reprint of the founding editor Richard von Frankenburg's homilies; generally written as a "tu-toi" style letter. Surprise of surprises, he comes to the conclusion that fast cars are not dangerous.  Peculiarly enough, he comes out against signals, with "idiot stick," on the basis that signaling tends to make you less apt

to check your rearview mirror, “a Porsche standard feature.”  Suffice it to say that RvF embodied all of the Porsche quirks we hold so dear.  If you want to know the "true story" of

James Dean's Spyder crash as related by Rolf Wuetherich, it's here and not just the unauthorized statements of his ex-wife either.  The parts I found most enjoyable were several articles by Eberhard Seifert, titled "I Was Present", showing assembly photographs of body building at Reutter and d’lteteren, mechanical work at

Porsche and RvF's articles with Weittmann photographs of roller bearing 4-cam engine construction. I dote on the racing coverage and love the article on correct sitting and steer-

ing wheel grasping; if only for the picture of an obvious war profiteer sitting in a Buick Roadmaster convertible doing everything wrong.  The photograph reproduction, while

definitely inferior to the originals, is really pretty good; certainly better than the average reprint series. The book, other than the cover, has no color - but then neither did Christophorus back then.  Now the trick news. The book slipcover and all, is available from Porsche Cars North America, at a list of $30.00.  Astoundingly, it is part of a serialized

series of 5000. If you remember what happened to the 959 book, also a series of 5000 but costing, initially $200.00; you should immediately get in touch with your nearest dealer or Stoddard Imported Cars, to whom I am indebted for this review copy.

TITLE           Porsche 911 & Derivatives A Collector's Guide vol. 2 1981-1994

AUTHOR     Cotton

                    ENGLISH 

                    Hard

ISBN 10        0947981918

ISBN 13        9780947981914

Price            $25.00

OUT OF PRINT -- AVAILABLE @ BLOCKS BOOKS