While most states are in the process of opening back up for better or worse, many of us are still staying home to keep our friends and family safe from this nasty virus. Yes, the responsible thing to do is to stay indoors and read some great books about your favorite automobile manufacturer from Stuttgart (No, not Mercedes-Benz). Here are our five favorite books that you should all be reading right now. Without further ado, here are our picks!
Title: The Complete Book of Porsche 911: Every Model Since 1964
Author: Randy Leffingwell
Publisher: Motorbooks
Format: Hardcover, 344 pages
Available on Amazon.com
Forget a light read—this book lives up to the titular “complete” in most ways. Randy Leffingwell’s latest book brings readers up to date with a recent edition covering the 992 and covers everything from ’64, including sports prototypes and racing cars. When absorbing minutiae seems like the ideal way to spend a evening by the fire, this piece ought to help indulge your statistic-obsessed side.
Title: Porsche Milestones
Author: teNeues
Publisher: teNeues
Format: Hardcover, 224 pages
Available on Amazon.com
The perfect addition to any petrolhead’s coffee table. This large book touches on major models, significant wins, engineering leaps, and the colorful characters responsible for Porsche’s progress over the last seventy years. Savor the epic imagery or delve into details depending on your mood—there are several approaches to take when enjoying this one.
Title: The Porsche Art Book
Author: Edwin Baaske
Publisher: Delius Klasing
Format: Hardcover, 248 pages
Available on Amazon.com
Porsche piques the interest of more than just racers, historians, and engineers. This book covers the works of 24 artists inspired by the marque; from Scottish 3D artist Chris Labrooy to Italian realist Marcello Pestici. No history lessons here as this is a collection for the visually oriented; 192 of its 248 pages are dedicated to gorgeous imagery. “What the artists showcased in this book have in common is their affinity with technology as well as design,” wrote Michael Mauer, the Chief Designer for Porsche, in his introduction to the book.
Title: The Ultimate Book of the Porsche 356
Author: Brian Long
Publisher: Veloce Publishing
Format: Hardcover, 256 pages
Available at ultimate356.veloce.co.uk/
To get a better sense of how and why the Beetle-derived 356 paved the path for Porsche, this leather-bound beauty might do the trick. Every 356 from the Gmünd cars to rally and racing cars they inspired are covered without any detail spared. Unfortunately, this small-batch item is limited to a fitting 356 copies, but the diehard enthusiasts already knew that.
Title: Derek Bell: All My Porsche Races
Author: Derek Bell, Richard Heseltine
Publisher: Porter Press Publishing
Format: Hardcover, 256 pages
Available on Amazon.com
Bell might’ve arrived onto the world stage in a Ferrari, but his career is best associated with another brand. Whether it be with the 917K or the 962, the flaxen-haired Brit is inextricably linked to Porsche, and this book gives a detailed view into his Le Mans victories, his Group C domination, a trip or two across the pond, and some of the geniuses he worked alongside. For a fan of sports car racing, having some literature on one of its biggest stars is a must.