“Porsche: Origin of the Species” May Just Be Your Perfect Gift
There’s an old saying: “You can’t know where you’re going until you know where you’ve been.” Likewise, every Porsche owner might want to know where their car came from, which should make Porsche: Origin of the Species essential reading. Written by automotive historian Karl Ludvigsen (Excellence Was Expected), the genesis and early history of the marque are laid out. Funnyman and Porsche collector Jerry Seinfeld wrote the introduction, and his 356/2-040 Gmünd coupe is also used as a jumping off point for the book, the origin if you will. Ludvigsen details in 356 pages (was that number intentional?) the hows, whats, wheres, and whys of the first Porsches, with rich detail, thorough interviews, and memories from the people who were there.
All the textual information is supplemented with archive and contemporary photographs, letters, and technical drawings. Seemingly no stone was left unturned, including an important part of the story: the business side of the company. Why the 356 made economic sense is a facet often omitted in books about the cars, as it can be uninteresting or banal, but here it adds an additional dimension that makes the story all the more complete. Heck, the book even sees fit to include a reproduction of the original 1949 356 workshop manual.
Beautifully produced and published, Porsche: Origin of the Species is a must have for all Porsche enthusiasts.
Our friends at Bentley Publishers happen to have discovered a few copies in their basement (literally) that are signed by Ludvigsen. The publisher is offering them at a special holiday price, but they have to be purchased through Bentley’s website. And you have to act fast; there are only few copies left, and time is running out.
