Since 1977 Karl Ludvigsen's Porsche: Excellence Was Expected has been regarded as the definitive work on Porsche history. In this masterwork Ludvigsen presents the inner workings, masterpieces and failures of an independent automaker that has exerted a disproportionately powerful influence on the automotive industry. Remarkable both for its breadth of coverage and its technical depth, Excellence Was Expected covers every Porsche road and racing car from the company's beginnings through the development of the 2009 Panamera.In this first revision since 2003, Ludvigsen has updated the three-volume set through 2008, including five augmented chapters, five completely new chapters, and 230 new images. The five new chapters feature full-color artwork throughout and cover the RS Spyder, the Cayman, the Type 997, the 997-based GT racers and the Panamera. He also looks closely at Wendelin Wiedeking's financially savvy stewardship of the Porsche company through the first decade of the twenty-first century.With this new edition, Excellence Was Expected remains "the definitive archetypal marque history" (Autocar) that it was in its first edition. And Karl Ludvigsen continues to set the bar high for automotive historians, just as the company he chronicles continues to shape our very definition of the term "sports car."New for the 2008 edition * 257 new or revised pages and 230 new photos * Five new full color chapters covering the RS Spyder, the Cayman, the Type 997 production and GT cars, and the Panamera * Updated coverage of the Boxster, the Type 996, the Cayenne and the Carrera GT * Updated Competition Victories appendix

Porsche: Excellence Was Expected : the Complete History of the Sports and Racing Cars (Automobile Quarterly Library Series)

Science & Math

Ludvigsen, Karl

Technology

Century Hutchinson (A Division of Random House Group)

"The great cars, drivers and races from the top motor-sporting nations form the theme of this spectacular new series of magnificently illustrated volumes. Each country boasts its bloodlines, companies, engineers, executives and enthusiasts whose powerful competitive spirit and dauntless courage drives them to dominate in motor racing.Continuing in this incredible new series, Italian motor racing experts reveal the dramatic stories behind their successes and failures, the great classic endurance races and Grand Prix contests in which they dominated - or faced disaster. Motor racing, which has no equal in the ecstasy of victory and agony of defeat, comes vividly to life in the colorful pages of these magnificent books.Ferrari is the quintessential bearer of Rosso Corsa, Italian Racing Red, in the 21st Century. Rightly so, because Ferrari Grand Prix cars have represented Italy in Formula 1 racing since the World Championship was established in 1950. Ferrari sports cars too have carried the flag with eight victories at Le Mans. But as Karl Ludvigsen explains in his authoritative text, there is much more to Rosso Corsa than Ferrari. In the sport's early years the power to reckon with was Fiat, who also set the pace after World War I. Then a feisty newcomer, Alfa Romeo, carried the Italian flag alongside, into the 1930s, the Maserati brothers. Two racing drivers, Felice Nazzaro and Vincenzo Lancia, created their own car marques, one of which stormed into prominence in the 1950s.Italian drivers were to the fore with Tazio Nuvolari, Achille Varzi, Nino Farina, Gigi Villoresi and father and son Antonio and Alberto Ascari. Great races such as the Targo Florio and Mille Miglia, and the iconic circuit Monza, hosted many titanic battles. Shoals of creative specialists competed in smaller classes including Abarth, OSCA, Cisitalia, Nardi, Siata, Stanguellini and Bandini, many of whom backed Gianni Lurani's popular Formula Junior. Maserati, which scored two Indianapolis wins at the end of the 1930s, held epic contests with Ferrari through the 1960s. m Ferrari to Maserati, the Italians have certainly held a prime position in world motor racing. These colorful contestants and many others come to life in the pages of this volume, with rare images from the world-famous Ludvigsen Library and specially commissioned portraits of key racers."

ITALIAN RACING RED: Drivers, Cars and Triumphs of Italian Motor Racing (Racing Colours)

Sports & Outdoors

Miscellaneous

Ian Allan Publishing

The glistening silver centerpiece of this unique tribute to Germany's racing cars and drivers is the decade of the 1930s, when the Third Reich controversially backed motor sports to flaunt its skill and power. With its historic contests and sensational racing cars that decade is still classed as motor racing's Golden Age. This is one book that is certain to have motor racing experts and fans thoroughly exhilarated, enticed, and eager for the next installment.

German Racing Silver: Drivers, Cars and Triumphs of German Motor Racing (Racing Colours)

An illustrated history of the development of front-engined racing Formula 1 cars. The author builds from the technical evolution of the cars, era by era. He accompanies this with insights into the rise and fall of the famous manufacturers whose creations were the ultimate expression of the motoring know-how of their day. Ludvigsen takes the reader from the early days of the Formula 1 Grand Prix car through to the 1950s, giving a glimpse at drivers, managers and engineers who contributed to the classic era of Grand Prix racing.

Classic Grand Prix Cars: The Front-Engined Era Formula One 1906-1960

Engineering & Transportation

Automotive

Sutton Pub Ltd

Taking the racing world by storm, Dan Gurney and his All-American Racers combined innovation and engineering excellence to produce the bold Eagle cars. This illustrated history-a reprint of the original-follows Gurney, the team and their cars through several seasons of Formula 1, Can-Am and IndyCar competition.'

Gurney's Eagles: The Fascinating Story of the Aar Racing Cars

Motorbooks Intl

The Complete MG Guide Model by Model

Christy, John

Tab Books, Inc.

The Volkswagen was the showpiece of the achievements of Adolf Hitler's Third Reich. Backed by the Führer himself, it struck fear into the hearts of all who owned and managed Europe's car industry. Designed to "out-Ford Ford", the Beetle would dwarf their efforts with its low price and high production. After World War II what was to be the fate of this odd bug-shaped car and its colossal bomb-battered factory? View picture detail Legend has it that the victors underestimated the potential of the car that would become the automotive icon of several generations, indeed the world's most-famous and most-produced automobile. Karl Ludvigsen's interviews and researches in British, German, American, Australian and Belgian archives prove the contrary. His hitherto-untold story of why and how they didn't get the factory makes revealing and engrossing reading. History buffs and followers of World War II and its aftermath will relish the way Ludvigsen depicts afresh the creation of the VW by renowned and "untouchable" engineer Ferdinand Porsche, the building of its factory by Hitler crony Robert Ley, "a notorious womanizer who drank too much," and the wartime career of the huge Wolfsburg plant as the prime contractor for the jet-powered V-1 flying bomb, the world's first successful cruise missile. Car enthusiasts who consider themselves well-read will be absorbed by Ludvigsen's disclosures of the national and company mindsets that affected their respective attitudes toward the radical Volkswagen. Most astonishing are his revelations of the deep interest of Ford in the VW factory. Far from rejecting the VW plant, Ford proposed that it be merged with its existing German operations. But the executive charged with the mission (Ludvigsen reveals his identity) failed to follow through. Ludvigsen traces the Beetle's impact on the world of autos, from the Chevrolet Corvair and Hino Contessa to rear-engined Fiats, Skodas and Hillmans. We learn why the most startling decision made by VW chief Heinz Nordhoff was not to change his car's design. And we are brought right up to the 1998 launch of VW's New Beetle. For those who wish to comprehend its amazing impact on the auto market, Battle for the Beetle is the essential source.

Battle for the Beetle

Bentley Pub

New for the 2008 edition (first revision since 2003): 
<ul>
<li>257 new or revised pages and 230 new photos and illustrations </li> <li>Five new full color chapters covering the RS Spyder, the Cayman, the Type 997 production and GT cars, and the Panamera </li> <li>Updated to include model years through 2008 </li> <li>Updated coverage of the Boxster, the Type 996, the Cayenne and the Carerra GT </li>
</ul>
Updated Competition Victories appendix 
 When the first edition of Porsche: Excellence Was Expected was published in 1977, reviewers sang high praises for author Karl Ludvigsen and his monumental book. Now Ludvigsen surpasses these achievements with this fully updated edition of Porsche: Excellence Was Expected. This new edition includes augmented and edited versions of the 32 chapters from the 1977 book, as well as an additional 29 chapters that cover Porsche's history through 2002. This three-volume, 1,566-page set contains the photos and artwork from the original version, enhanced by over 742 new black and white photos and 50 new color drawings of Porsche production and racing cars which were commissioned specifically for this updated edition. Author Ludvigsen has outdone himself in presenting the inner workings, masterpieces and failures of an independent automaker that has exerted a disproportionately powerful influence on the automotive industry. If the first edition of Excellence Was Expected was "the definitive archetypal marque history, " (Michael Scarlett, Autocar) this revision and update is much more so. Ludvigsen's masterwork is once again set to achieve new milestones, just as the company it chronicles continues to shape our very definition of the term "sports car."'

Porsche: Excellence Was Expected: The Comprehensive History of the Company, its Cars and its Racing Heritage - 2008 Update

Robert Bentley, Inc.

new old stock from book store. VOlume 1 of three volume set. New. Very mark on one corner of pages, end. See photos.

Porsche: Excellence Was Expected: The Comprehensive History of the Company, Its Cars and Its Racing Heritage

Bentley Publishers

Winner of three International Automotive Media Awards, including:
<ul>
<li>2008 Best of the Year</li>
<li>2008 Best of Books</li>
<li>Best Design of 2008</li>
</ul>
In Ferdinand Porsche - Genesis of Genius, author Karl Ludvigsen reveals a dynamic young innovator who helped to chart the course of the automobile through the first decades of the twentieth century. As early as 1900, at the age of 25, Ferdinand Porsche pioneered hybrid technology to power his automobile designs. Once gasoline gained dominance as the power-source of choice, Porsche became relentless in his goal to design the fastest and most durable automobiles in Europe.
Porsche's engineering brilliance did not stop at the automobile. He also made significant contributions to the early development of airplane engines and military transport vehicles. And in addition to his hands-on style of engineering, Ferdinand Porsche was a tireless managing executive in the automotive industry.
Ferdinand Porsche - Genesis of Genius explores in depth the unique combination of ambition, determination and genius that were the genesis of an automotive dynasty which has continued to thrive and expand for over a century.

Ferdinand Porsche - Genesis of Genius: Road, Racing and Aviation Innovation 1900 to 1933

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