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Philip Porter writes:

Digging up an amazing story!

The JCB company is a phenomenon. It is a fantastic worldwide success story from humble beginnings. We feel very honoured to have worked with Lord Bamford and his colleagues to tell the story in our very different scrapbook style. 

As with our Mini Scrapbook, Martin Port has done a brilliant job writing and designing the JCB Scrapbook. It is pure, fascinating entertainment - and just in time for Christmas. The perfect present - even for your children.

All our books excite me, from the lowest-priced to the most expensive. We are starting work on Ultimate GT40, the first of Richard Heseltine’s Concept Cars series and a charity book I will tell you about in the next issue.

It may sound rather strange to write about how charming our customers are, but it is so true. Our team is paid so many compliments and it is enormously appreciated by all of us.

On a sad note, I was sorry to hear that Haynes is giving up publishing motoring books. The late-John Haynes was a colossus, in every sense. It was a privilege to have known him; he achieved so much.

Porter Press Books Update

Where to start? Michael Turner phoned to say he is absolutely delighted with The Michael Turner Collection. We are all thrilled as well. Over 300 of Michael’s wonderful paintings, complete with anecdotes to go with every one. The book is large format to give each painting real impact. 

BRM - Ian Wagstaff has finished the text, Doug Nye is unearthing some fabulous period photographs and the Owen family are providing unique material from their archives.

Ferrari 250 GTE - in two months, the limited edition of 750 has virtually sold out. All credit to David Wheeler. Incredible.

JUE 477 - the story of the first Land-Rover. We are still waiting for permission to reprint but the Launch Edition remains available, though also selling fast.

The Self Preservation Society - 50 Years of the Italian Job - winner of Motoring Book of the Year, will be available in softback shortly at just £30.

Original Jaguar E-type - author Malcolm McKay is about to photograph a group of superbly original cars that our friends at Eagle have made available.

Ultimate McLaren F1 GTR - these awesome limited edition books are, not surprisingly, flying out of the door. 

Saving Jaguar by Sir John Egan - we are talking to several TV production companies about a documentary based on the book. It is such a dramatic story.

In the pipeline: Vanwall, Ultimate GTO, Ferrari Breadvan, Ultimate Works Porsche 962, Trans-Africa Land Rover, La Voiture Noire, 9600 HP, Make Your Classic Car Work Perfectly, with more being discussed.

An invitation to virtually 'meet'
Philip Porter

Following a lively first Zoom session for customers with Philip Porter, we are organising another for December. This one will take place at 17.00hrs GMT on Thursday 17. Philip will be delighted to answer questions about past books, new books, future books, his books, your ideas, his cars, the Porter Press team, flying balloons and airships... you name it! Please email shannon@porterpress.co.uk if you would like to receive an invitation. 

II Maestro and 'The Turtle' by Richard Heseltine

Giorgetto Giugiaro is nothing if not an overachiever: a man with a gilded resume that includes umpteen landmark post-war design icons. Nonetheless, ask him to comment on his past efforts and he will invariably dismiss them out of hand. However, there are exceptions, the car you see here being one of his favourites from a bulging back catalogue.
 

Read more >>

When is a gentleman (sometimes) not a gentleman?
by Martin Emmison

First published in Motor Racing News c. 2012

ANSWER: when he races another gentleman’s car on an unwritten ‘you bend it, you mend it’ gentleman’s agreement … and then bends it!

Read more >>

Cooper T39 Bobtail - The Fastest Sports Car Down Under
by Stewart Longhurst

With fewer than half of the 50 cars built thought to have survived, it’s not often that you see a Cooper T39 ‘Bobtail’, let alone one with a Briggs Cunningham team racing livery. Add to that the facts that Cunningham never owned the car and that Jack Brabham had it shipped to race successfully in a completely different global hemisphere, and you have a rather intriguing story.

Read more >>

Porsche 917, ex-David Piper
by Michael Kliebenstein

One day I got a surprise call to view an interesting Porsche in northern Germany.

The car in question I knew only from pictures and the occasional Nürburgring appearance in the ‘80s. It was David Piper‘s old 917 war-horse Fahrgestell Nummer 5-LT, the car he probably raced most.

Read more >>

JCB Scrapbook, by Martin Port

Martin Port & Philip Porter discuss the exciting JCB history detailed in this new title.

McLaren F1 GTR
The Definitive History, by Mark Cole

Philip Porter introduces the Ultimate McLaren F1 GTR books by Mark Cole.

Fast-Feed-Back

'The collection of 900 or so photos reproduced here is jawdropping in its content, both in terms of the global locations and the cars to be found there, including all the Grand Marques and a feast of rarities. Best of all, you'll likely be familiar with plenty of these cars as they are today.

'Such nostalgia will no doubt raise a wistful tear for those who lived through that pre-internet era when there were still discoveries to be made and not everyone knew the precise value of everything. Brilliant.' JE, Octane

What a incredible piece of history (5 ★)

'This book is unbelievably fantastic. I have never seen a better book on the McLaren F1 GTR. So rich in details with superb photographs and such a profound research on every single car. The title "the definitive history" is absolutely worth every letter. It is as perfect as the car itself. Since I received it I have opened it everyday because it is such a pleasure to read and browse it. Very, very well done, thank you Mark, Philip and everybody who was involved in this perfect piece of art.' Wolfgang H.

Click here to view all Porter Press books

Competition Winner

Congratulations to Christopher Claridge-Ware who correctly answered last month's question: From what name are the initials AC derived? The answer was (2) Autocarrier.

Christopher has very kindly sent us a few photographs of his XK 120. "I bought a complete but very sorry looking car from the US on eBay.com - unseen except for some photographs. A tense moment as the “buy now” button was pressed! 

It was shipped back to the U.K. via Holland and sent straight to David Ayre - a superb engineer who stripped the car and painstakingly renovated all the original parts wherever possible. I did want discs on the front and a five speed gearbox but have kept the original parts.  

Since it was completed, we have toured Europe twice, the last time driving to the Algarve for my daughters wedding. It drives beautifully and has never missed a beat, a testament to original Jaguar engineering and David Ayre’s engineering skill. This photograph was taken at Hampton Court where it took runner up in the 2018 Club Concours - straight after a 3000 mile trip in Europe. Fabulous car...” Christopher 

 

For your chance to win this month's prize - a copy of Maserati 4CLT please send the correct answer to the question below to shannon@porterpress.co.uk by December 31.

Based on our Exceptional Cars book: Maserati 4CLT - The remarkable history of chassis no. 1600

Which future World Champion won the 1950 Grand Prix de Pau in this car?

A. Farina
B. Fangio
C. Ascari?


For more information on this book click here.

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