3 comments about Ferrari F355 Buyer's Guide, Second Edition.

1. Wow am I glad I found this guide. Excellent photos, very informative and a great driving impression review. The guys at Ferrari Forum certainly know Ferraris through and through, The only thing I'd like to have seen covered in more detail is the differences across models. I would recommend this guide and ask questions on their website at www.ferrariforum.net.



2. Please stay as far away from this as possible, and save yourself a couple bucks in the process. You'll find only the most basic information in this "buyers guide," such as learning that there was an F1 transmission available for the 355. No kidding?!? If you didn't already know that, you're not really looking to buy a 355. They don't actually tell you any real information that a potentail buyer would want to know, such as problem areas, things to look for, options, etc. You can seriously find more and better information just by searching on the internet. BUYER BE WARNED!



3. If you are a first time Ferrari buyer you will find this guide helpful. The section I really enjoyed was the "Living With..." which gave me an idea of all the little quirks a owner will have to expect after purchase. I'd like to have seen more information on the actual cost of ownership rather than just a list of things that can go wrong. I also found William the author to be very reachable on Ferrari Life's website which is a huge plus.

1 comments about Ferrari: The Red Dream.

1. The cover of this book caught my eye. As much as I love the technologically advanced new era of Ferrari, I have a warm spot in my heart for the older cars, both race and road.
   
   The photographs in this book are outstanding. Many are from angles that catch the beautiful handiwork wrought by the craftsmen of these early machines. There is no effort to hide the effects of age on these great machines. On the contrary, there are photographs of the fuel tanks, filler caps, camshaft covers and suspensions with spots of rust and the dings of use evident in most of them.
   
   Rather than detracting from the cars, these photos add life to them. Most of the examples in this book are in lovely shape, but many have not been completely restored - actually a great thing.
   
   Two things may keep this from being your favorite Ferrari book. First, it contains mostly race or race/GT cars. It is not an exhaustive catalog of all Ferrari models from inception to date. Secondly, certain cars only have 1 or 2 pictures and these may not be from the most encompassing angle. Other have 6-8 photos including the classic side shot. This may be a bit frustrating for some readers, especially those not fully familiar with all the models.
   
   The models include 375 F1, 500 F2, 375 PLUS, 750 Monza, 250 GT Tour de France, 315S/335S, 250 GT California, 250 Testa Rossa/58, 250 Testa Rosse/59, 250 GT SWB, 196 SP/246 SP, 250 GTO, 250 LeMans, 275 GTB/GTC, Dino 206S, 330 P3/412 P, 512 S/512 M, 312 PB, 512 BB LM, F40/F40 LM, F333 SP, 212 E Montagna, 312 T5 Formula 1.
   
   The text in each section describes the racing history of each model and gives a technical description. I found a few misspellings in the first two chapters (all I have read so far) but these may be a result of translation.
   
   Overall a handsome book that I would not hesitate to put on the coffee table. It is sure to start a conversation.

4 comments about Keith Martin on Collecting Ferrari.

1. i've read keith martin's "market" every week in autoweek magazine since 1994. i came across this book on line and have to say as a car enthusiast, as a ferrari enthusiast, this is a must have for any pontential used ferrari owner. if you can afford the $75,000 markup on a $170,000 ferrari modena, then this book is not for you. however, if you are like the remainding 99.9% of us, buy this book. it's a perfect reference guide wether you are looking for a $20,000 mondial or a $200,000 250 SWB.
   
   joseph j



2. Found the book very entertaining. I am an owner of a 73 Daytona and read with interest Keith Martin's review of this car and other collectible Ferraris. The only downside is that this book was published in 2004 and some of his articles are already somewhat dated.
   
   I would recommend this book to anyone interested in collecting Ferrari. I plan to pass the book on to my mechanic.



3. This is the only book I have found that, in excruciating detail, runs through the many pitfalls, mostly financial, that can occur to an enthusiast purchasing a depreciated Ferrari. The book, though attributed to a single author, is actually a collection of short magazine articles written by several contributors, and gives a reasonably broad set of views on the windfalls and pratfalls of dealing in this market. Though sympathetic to the marque and the pleasures of ownership, the collective authors lead one to the conclusion that Ferrari ownership is not for people unwilling to spend thousands of dollars on, say, a periodic valve adjustment. Another view that is commmon among the collective authors is that ownership of depreciated (and hopefully future appreciating) Ferraris is not about everyday driving, but is about the pleasure of savoring the fact of ownership, and an occasional drive into town on a sunny weekend afternoon. Anything more is such a risk to the value of the car that only persons having very large financial resources to devote to hobby cars would actually accumulate substantial miles on such a vehicle.
   Properly sobered by this information, somebody like me can decide to invest in one of these cars fully ready for the likely financial consequences of the decision.



4. This is a nice compilation of articles and auction commentary by Keith Martin and Ferrari gurus Michael Sheehan and Steve Ahlgrim, and not surprisingly it's a fun read. Especially worthwhile are candid commentaries by Sheehan and Ahlgrim on Ferrari's on which you will always lose money, and models to seek out or avoid entirely. I was glad to see actual, useful assertions about good versus bad models, and the rating guide in the back is probably worth the price of the book, even if the prices are now a couple years old. If you're new to Ferrari's and want a taste of what's available, and at what cost, this book is also fairly helpful.
   
   But... the auction commentary on specific cars is a bit of a letdown. It may be interesting to know that a particular 512BB realized such-and-such a price despite having a mouse-nibbled wiring harness, but realistically a few pages on what to look for in a 512BB would have been a more direct and helpful approach. Similarly, not many people are stuck deciding between a seven-figure 250GTO and a $30K 1980s 308, so the broad scope of the book limits its usefulness. We never learn WHY you would want a Colombo-designed front-engine V-12 versus an '80s Testarossa with the flat 12. Much of the information is there, if you can hunt it down. But it could stand to be pulled into a format that a well-heeled neophyte could digest.
   
   Maybe the biggest problem is the title, which created expectations that the book didn't meet. Don't get me wrong -- I enjoyed reading this and hearing experts' opinions on what people paid for specific Ferrari's. But as someone who owns one - and can't afford a whole stable-full - I didn't benefit as much from this as I had hoped. Also, I can't help but think that someone who is set on collecting $500,000+ cars would need a real consultation with the writers. This book is more of a toe-dip into the ocean of Ferrari lore that awaits someone ready to take the plunge. (And it is a plunge, albeit an exhilarating one that every car enthusiast should take as circumstances permit.)
   
   If you want a great evening read, where you can jump between articles, go for it.
   
   Minor, slightly relevant quibble: The binding fell apart when I opened the book, due to dried adhesive. Maybe it's genuine Italian glue?

2 comments about Inside Ferrari: Unique Behind-the-Scenes Photography of the World's Greatest Formula One Team.

1. I had read about this book several months back, and, having followed Ferrari Formula 1 racing since the early 1970s, I had to have it. The photography is excellent, although most of the pictures are behind the scenes at Maranello or at various racing circuits around the world. The cars and the crews definitely take frontstage here, with the drivers being mentioned secondarily.
   
   The author and photographer were given access to the team during the time that Rubens Barrichello was Michael Schumacher's teammate. This was definitely the modern golden age of Ferrari, with 5 straight driver's championships for Schumacher. The insider information is nice, but if you really follow Formula 1 you have probably heard much of this before.
   
   What I liked best was the section featuring the tour of Enzo Ferrari's old office, the comparison of the racing and road car divisions of the factory, and the details of both Maranello and Fiorano, the two test tracks that Ferrari owns. The fact that the team can take the cars out, run full racing lengths daily, wet down the track as needed to test tires, etc. shows how important racing is to the workers that have taken Ferrari to the pinnacle of the pinnacle of motorsport.
   
   At the price, this book is a steal. Stop reading and buy it!



2. I bought this book for my dad for Christmas. We are huge Ferrari fans and it's great to have a book on Ferrari that has some authenticity... there are stax of book on Ferrari, the cars, the F1 team and so on, but few of them have any real ties to the factory.
   
   This is where this book is different. The foreword is by Jean Todt, the photographer is a hugely respected F1 photographer and the guy who wrote the bits between the photos is one of the most successful F1 writers around - a great recipe!
   
   The authors were given exclusive access to Ferrari. Anyone who has been to the factory will know how secretive and restricted it is for visitors and appreciate seeing this hidden side of Ferrari.
   
   If you are a Ferrari fan, you will want to add this one to your collection!

5 comments about Montezuma's Ferrari: And Other Adventures.

1. The sequel to "The Last Open Road" it is a must read for readers who loved it. As a stand alone book it isn't quite as good and might not be appreciated as much if read by itself. "The Last Open Road" is multi-dimensional, it is a great car tale and also a coming of age story of a young man who wants to be a sportscar mechanic and is pursuing a girlfriend at the same time. All three threads are intertwined. The book is wonderfully evocative of time and place, you can smell and feel the summer nights which he describes. In "Montezuma's Ferrari" the protagonist is a successful mechanic and married so the focus is mostly on the car tales and the descriptions are not as engrossing but the book is still wonderful.



2. This book is Beatufiuly written and is very entertaining. If you have not read any thing by Mr. Levy you must read this book.Like catcher in the rye? Read this book. the advertising section is beautifully done . Come on be cool.NOW BUY THIS BOOK AND ENJOY IT!



3. If you have read "The Last Open Road" and liked it, you'll like this. It has the same fun characters and starts where "Open Road" leaves off. If you haven't read "The Last Open Road" you may not enjoy this as much... but, in my opinion, "Montezuma's Ferrari" would stand on it's own. I'm looking foward to reading the next book in the series.



4. I've just finished Montezuma's Ferrari and was plesantly surprised by it. It doesn't quite have the impact of The Last Open Road, the characters and locales now being familiar, but it's still has its own surprises, the trip to Mexico coming to mind. I'm looking forward to the other two books in the series.
   
   If for no other reason, the Levy books are good for the early history of sports car racing in America, but they still deserve to stand on their own merits.



5. levy has it all in this 2nd out of 4 books
   
   life after world war two in the ike years
   sports car racing in the 50's
   a trip to 50's mexico
   and the continuing life of the teenage buddy palumbo from passaic nj
   while filling in the history of sports cars in the post war and some pre war years
   
   great entertainment

2 comments about Ferrari: Stories from Those Who Lived the Legend.

1. A great book. Maybe I'm just partial because of the vivid five page stretch devoted to the Comp Daytona.
   
   There are lots of Ferrari books out there, good books, filled with well researched bore-n-stroke, nuts-n-bolts facts, but I've always hungered for something a little more subjective, a little more visceral.
   
   With this one you get visceral.
   
   The cover doesn't look very promising, does it? With its distinctly unhistorical 599 and convoluted invocation of "The Ferrari Legend" I was expecting a bland model-by-model, race-by-race statistical history. But John Lamm's discriminating compilation does Ferrari history justice; it is told in first hand accounts by those who, (as honestly stated in the title), "lived the legend."
   
   The number of anecdotes, photos and especially voices contained in here is staggering: you get the ubiquitous Phil Hill, but also Enzo Ferrari's personal secretary Brenda Vernor; you hear Mauro Forghieri's thoughts on Villeneuve; Andretti's on Forghieri; you get Sam Posey describing in detail his 1971 Le Mans drive in a 512M; Surtees talking about Dragoni and team politics; Gurney on going to Italy in `58 to try out for the Ferrari team in front of Mr. Ferrari; Dario Franchitti on why he loves his F40 and F355, not so much the more recent cars.
   
   This is not another competent but impersonal coffee-table book, (Ferrari 1947-1997, Ferrari 60 Years, etc.).
   
   Here's Steve Earle describing his experience as a teenager watching Phil Hill in the glorious 412 MI at Riverside in `58: "...you were standing in the pits, you could hear that car around the whole track...You thought, `Oh my God,! This is the most amazing car in the world.'" Then Earle describes what it was like to OWN this one-off car, and use it at the very first Monterey Historic Races, (which he organized). The book has similar interviews with a number of enthusiasts that really help flesh-out the non-competition aspect of the legend. Everyone from the life-long collector who bought his first Ferrari off the New York Motor Show stand in 1956 to the dude that crashed his Enzo on a public road in Colorado while doing 206 mph gets a chance to tell his tale.
   
   Many of the iconic photos are from the Road & Track archives, which is great for American readers whose first introduction to the marque came via these images; they are reproduced in gorgeous detail far surpassing their news-stand quality. My favorite shot is used as the splash-page that introduces us to the decade of the 70's: Bob Bondurant four-wheel-drifting a 308 at Sears Point --you can even see Bobby's hipster sideburns flaring under the G-load.
   
   Also, the book tastefully avoids over-emphasizing the recent decade of F1 domination. Attention is paid to the latest road cars, like the 599 Fiorano that makes the cover (wouldn't you have preferred to see a Comp Daytona?). But these post-Commendatore chapters are not the main meat of the book. The Schumacher years are dutifully recorded, di Montezemolo speaks, but you can sense the author's disinterest in Schumacher the man, whose words are nowhere to be found. And that's fine by me.



2. For anyone interested in cars, photography, and interesting stories this book is a treasure. Of the several Ferrari books I own this one stands out as both artfully done and a good read.
   Well worth the price.

5 comments about Ferrari.

1. Excellent book with the essencial info needed to understand the philosophy of the most famous car maker in the world. Customers looking for advanced technical information may feel disappointed, but the marvelous glossy pictures worth every buck spent.



2. 'Ferrari,' quite simply, is the most beautifully photographed book on the cars from Maranello that I have ever seen. There is text, and it is helpful, but I find myself returning to this book time and time again just to drool over the pictures -- they are nothing less than stunning.

   The book starts out with approximately 15 pages about Enzo Ferrari, the man; then there are maybe 10 pages about Ferrari, the marque; the next 330 pages(!) deal with the Ferrari cars in all their splendor: all color, many-times huge, (several full-spread -- roughly one foot high and two foot wide), highly-detailed and incredibly clear photos of the most gorgeous cars in the world.... perfect examples of priceless cars in absolutely wonderful settings; following the several hundred pages on the cars of Ferrari, there is one page devoted to the author and the photographer (Lehbrink, and Schlegelmilch, respectively); the book concludes with about 15 pages of specifications.

   To provide a little more detail on the actual vehicles covered in the car section... There are more than 50 car-series included, starting with the Spider Touring (166 & 212) in 1948, and concluding with the F50 in 1995. The majority of the vehicles covered in this book are road cars, (many of those being the early road-and-racing cars, such as the original Testa Rossa; 250GT swb; GTO; etc), but other true competition vehicles are included -- a few examples would be the P-series cars (i.e. 330P4), the CanAm cars (350; 612; 712), and the 512M, 312PB, and 333SP. The number of photos for each series of cars range from about 6 to as many as 15 or more (often-times including interior, engine, and/or detail shots). There are roughly half-a-dozen paragraphs written about each car or series of cars (appearing first in English; then German; then French; then Spanish or Italian). As mentioned above, this section on the cars of Ferrari ends with the F50 introduced in 1995 (and therefore does not cover the 360 Modena nor the 550 Maranello).

   As for the specifications part of the book... For each and every series of cars photographed and written about in the preceding section, there are corresponding details listed here. There are from 2 to 4 car-series on each page; for each series, there is a small line drawing representing the most common body-style for that particular series; then things such as all the model designations in that series, the years they were built, the total number built, and specifics for the engine, transmission, and chassis, as well as top speed, are listed.

   For anyone who is looking strictly for reading material, whether it be the cold, hard facts, or someone's interpretation and personal bias on Ferrari... I would suggest you look to the myriad other books concerning themselves with the countless details about the history, drivers, race wins, squabbles, fights, and (sometimes) cars of Ferrari. However, if you want to "feel" Ferrari -- a 330GT sparkling in a field of Goldenrod; a 250GT Lusso patiently waiting on a damp, foggy road; or a 333SP tearing around a track with the surrounding scenery blurring by -- look no further. This book allows you enjoy the aesthetic side of the great Marque From Maranello -- it is photographic proof of the beauty of the rolling sculptures called Ferrari, and the artistry of (mostly) Pininfarina. This is the first book I've seen that lets you feel as if the cars are actually sitting in front of you -- it almost seems possible to reach out and touch these phenomenal machines.




3. Today I read a book. Maybe not a whole book and maybe not the best of books. But I think it was the best. The book you see was called Ferrari, and of course, it was about none other than Ferrari's. After receiving it as a gift I wondered just how good it would be. My awkwardness turned into excitement when as I started reading. Nothing could prepare me for the many languages and associated pictures that relished this book. Filled with many cars (many of which I wish I could have, I might add), it was thoughtfully put together with glossy high resolution pictures. Being half Italian and having the chance to read both the French and English languages I found the book to be well put together and well thought out. I only wish I was more multicultural. But I'm not. I'm only 14.



4. This book is huge! Beautiful colour photos throughout make this book a great buy. This book is not ideal if you want to read up on Ferrari cars.Each car has a brief written section in 3 different languages. As for as a photo gallery of Ferrari this book is a gem. As far as a factual history book,there are other books.
   
   If you love Ferrari's and plenty of colour photos to look at but dont mind a brief read then this book is okay.



5. I received this book as a Christmas gift a few years ago. Let me just say it is a SUPERB book loaded with Ferrari eye-candy! From Ferrari's beginnings in 1947 to the F-50 supercar of 1995, this one covers nearly all the Ferrari roadcars (as well as some racers) in chronological order. Although it's printed in FOUR different languages (you've got to search the pages to find the English sections) and the vehicle statisitcs may be inaccurate sometimes, it is still a worthy addition to a racing fan's library. The back of the book even has a section showing a diagram of each featured car with information underneath....even production numbers! The only real problem with the book is that there is an UPDATED version available that includes the Ferrari 360 Modena, 550 Maranello, Enzo and other late models. If you want the extra info then this is NOT the book to buy.....try to find the later edition.

5 comments about Ferrari: A Complete Guide to All Models.

1. A good book that covers plenty of the Ferrari models over the years. Has in depth technical details about the cars and their production. I just wish it showed more real pictures of the cars, as most are just artist drawings.



2. When I look to the picture of this book in the site, I thought that it was fantastic because of his beautiful first page. But when it arrived and i've realised that it was just a book with small picture and nothing to say about the real history of each Ferrari. i've to tell you that I'm 30 years old and I've never seen such a book.
   Oh course I've also to tell you that the Amazon service was perfect.



3. This may be a book without fault. It's complete, easy to use, lovely to browse, and inexpensive. In the 1970s the Fitzgerald and Merit guide to Ferraris was the masterwork. It was updated a couple of times but disappeared in the '80s. Signore Acerbi has come to the rescue. Every Ferrari, including competition models, gets double-spread coverage. The left-hand page has a photo and specifications. The right-hand page has a gorgeous pen-and-ink illustrarion and well-considered, clear commentary. There is even a "Palmares" section at the back which details every major Ferrari racing victory. I've bought one for myself and four for friends. Terrific!



4. Book was in excellent condition and fast service. Would definitely buy from this seller again.



5. I think this book is handy to have as a quick reference, and is a good starting point for casual research. But to consider it a "Complete Guide to All Models" is a lot of wishful thinking. I would love to have such a book, but it likely could not be contained in a single volume. When you consider all of the unique variations of the cars produced during the earliest decades of the company, as well as the different incarnations of individual cars that were given new engines, new bodies, etc., during their racing careers, you begin to see that two pages is hardly adequate to begin to cover a single model (especially in a book this size). Still, as a whole, there is a lot of good information here. It will do until something better comes along.

4 comments about Ferrari: The Road from Maranello.

1. Probably my best book on Ferrari! The book deals expertly with the history of the marque, all significant Ferrari cars and also racing. I feel, however,that too much emphasis has been given to the role Chinetti played in the success of Ferrari. The American connection is nevertheless interesting. The book deals with some of the stories behind the story. I find the parts dealing with the famed coach designers and builders especially interesting e.g. Pininfarina, Scaglietti, etc. A well illustrated book that is a must for any serious sports and racing car lover, especially Ferraristi!



2. Forget the images - although they are spectacular. Forget the archive photos - although they are revealing (and historic). Concentrate on the words, yes I mean read the story. For the first time I found myself actually interested in the man who created these incredible machines. Adler makes him come alive, 3 dimensional, in a ways I never knew about Enzo. It's a great book on all fronts, at all speeds, bravo! A real page turner - and then start all over again.



3. A brilliant Ferrari book.Beautifully illustrated and a mine of information. Reasonably priced too.A must for all Tifosi !!!



4. One should buy this book for the photographs, which are very good to excellent, and capture a multitude of the most famous Ferrari models.
   
   Right off the back the book opens with a short chapter on Pinin Farina's (as the name was then written) Cisitalia 202, a nicely done short history with twelve color photographs showcasing a superb red example of this legendary car and epochal monument of automobile design. (There's one of these in MOMA.)
   
   This great start gets muddied up with a confusing overview previewing the upcoming chapters. I think the book would have read better without this section, or at least, without duplicating later photos. Too, better editing would have helped an ongoing and annoying discontinutiy between page and image. Writing a review is not helped by such confusion, I must say! Also, themes and topics pop up here and there without any convincing larger focus - surely this book could have been better organized and not so helter-skelter in its directions.
   
   However, despite these intellectual issues - or peccadilloes if you wish -the book does give a wonderful overview of Ferrari's greatest cars, most in pristine condition. Readers are treated to an embarrassement of riches as one section on a legendary Ferrari flows into yet an even more legendary model!
   
   The oh-so-critical colors are printed with great care - the paler yellow Luigi Chinetti demanded for the Sergio Scaglietti 275 GTB/4 Spyder (cars derivisely derided by Enzo Ferrari as taxis!) is perfectly contrasted with a richer yellow 275 GTB. (The preview chapter boasts an even brighter shade - a screaming yellow 250 GT Short Wheelbase Berlinetta!)
   
   Chapter two covers Enzo Ferrari's career with a series of historic photos, but does not add any historical revelations.
   
   Just how rich a collection of photographs is contained here might be gauged by counting the 150 plus color photos (not counting in addition many historical black and whites) all coming in the first hundred pages. Chapter 5, a touching study of Ferrari's Dino, has wonderful shots of the car Ferrari named after his beloved son, Dino, who courageously faced a terrible early death.
   
   The book includes a thorough index: overall this is an outstanding art book, with its editing issues quite overhwelmed by the majesty of the Ferrari images.

1 comments about Ferrari 60 Years: The Great Moments.

1. The description of the book is right, but does not give the book full justice.
   Not only does the book highlight Ferrari's accomplishments each year but provides photos, drawings and results of races and the drivers for each year.