The books that have never been written yet - and should be!

[woodinsight]

I just read that our late member Siata1, Georg Amtmann, together with the German author Stefan Dierkes compiled more than 4000 special bodied cars from 1945 to 1985. This piece of work hasn't been published yet.

It would be a wonderful tribute to him if it were published.
Hopefully a publisher will be found......

[Allemano]

I just read that our late member Siata1, Georg Amtmann, together with the German author Stefan Dierkes compiled more than 4000 special bodied cars from 1945 to 1985. This piece of work hasn't been published yet.

Yes, I read that as well. Will ask Stefan Dierkes if this procect progresses.

[dapper]

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[dapper]

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[als15]

Yust to share your opinion... Should one compile a book about concept-cars, which cars should be included?
Only extreme and futuristic cars without any relation with production or also other kinds?

Alternative energy-powered (e.g. Ford e-Ka)?
Special versions of production cars (e.g. Chrysler 300 Hemi, Mini Clubman Van)?
Previews (e.g. Fiat Simba)?

[Allemano]

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Sorry, but I didn't forget... Just sent him an email today.

[Allemano]

Yust to share your opinion... Should one compile a book about concept-cars, which cars should be included?
Only extreme and futuristic cars without any relation with production or also other kinds?

Alternative energy-powered (e.g. Ford e-Ka)?
Special versions of production cars (e.g. Chrysler 300 Hemi, Mini Clubman Van)?
Previews (e.g. Fiat Simba)?

Roger Gloor did it in his 80s concept car book that he included only serious concepts mostly shown on car fairs by independent design studios or concepts by big car companies.
He didn't differentiate between alternative-driven or combustion powered vehicles, but also featured special bodied cars like Boneschi's Lancia Gazella.

The book is a BIG volume though he tackles only one decade of concept cars...

So, to keep it from getting too wide I would suggest to ignore the most extreme excesses, but that's only my point of view.

[als15]

If if if if if if I'll do that (time and money are, unfortunately, limited), I'd focus on single decades too. The evaluation I'm doing is now on the most recent: 2000-2009, with the idea of coming back later. And the first sensitivity is that even these single decade has seen about 500 different concept-cars.
Hence, I'm wondering if electric versions of regular cars or anticipations of regular cars are actually interesting or if it could be better (and lighter) to focus only on "real" concept cars.
And of course only the ones made by real companies (not self-made attempts) or shown at major shows.

[Allemano]

A book about 1990s concept cars would fill a gap as well...

[Allemano]

I just read that our late member Siata1, Georg Amtmann, together with the German author Stefan Dierkes compiled more than 4000 special bodied cars from 1945 to 1985. This piece of work hasn't been published yet.

Mr. Dierkes replied and says that it's not a book, but a multi-author data-base.
Unfortunately there are some glitches regarding sponsorship and appropriate software, so, the project is temporarily shelved...

[Iluvatar]

If if if if if if I'll do that (time and money are, unfortunately, limited), I'd focus on single decades too. The evaluation I'm doing is now on the most recent: 2000-2009, with the idea of coming back later. And the first sensitivity is that even these single decade has seen about 500 different concept-cars.
Hence, I'm wondering if electric versions of regular cars or anticipations of regular cars are actually interesting or if it could be better (and lighter) to focus only on "real" concept cars.
And of course only the ones made by real companies (not self-made attempts) or shown at major shows.

I think that a similar book should focus on real concepts, but with a minor section with a review of those other cars...

[Carnut]

Yust to share your opinion... Should one compile a book about concept-cars, which cars should be included?
Only extreme and futuristic cars without any relation with production or also other kinds?

Alternative energy-powered (e.g. Ford e-Ka)?
Special versions of production cars (e.g. Chrysler 300 Hemi, Mini Clubman Van)?
Previews (e.g. Fiat Simba)?

For the book to really interest me it would be styling/design concepts rather than technical concepts.
Something that looks wild/out of the ordinary.  A picture of a Golf with an electric motor would be boring!

[als15]

Basically, I agree with you. I think that concentrating on styling and design trends and innovation would be the most interesting approach.

The BIG question is if a book featuring 500 cars (so, roughly 500 pages) about a single decade would acatually be commercially sustainable.
I mean, how many enthusiasts would buy a small series of 6-7 books (from the 50s to the 00s) at 60-70 € each one?

[Allemano]

There's a German design professor who already has published many books on icons of car design. While the unknowingly (?) critics are praising this glossy publications I'm rather bored... It's always – like in so many other automotive design books – about the same 10-20 cars. Citroen DS/2CV, 300 SL Gullwing, Porsche 911, Chevy Corvette, Jaguar E, Ferrari Daytona, cars with tailfins, wedge design cars..

Only speaking for myself I would prefer a book about the forgotten and weird concept cars or dead-end trends...

[als15]

My idea would be a sort of "concept-car directory". One page per car with good pictures and key-facts about every single concept-car shown at any motor-show. For sure, a complete (if ever possible) list and not a selection. Also for me, the less know the more interesting. I'm only afraid of the number of pages and the cover price that would result... 

[Allemano]

My idea would be a sort of "concept-car directory". One page per car with good pictures and key-facts about every single concept-car shown at any motor-show. For sure, a complete (if ever possible) list and not a selection. Also for me, the less know the more interesting. I'm only afraid of the number of pages and the cover price that would result... 

I'll be your client...

[Carnut]

There's a German design professor who already has published many books on icons of car design. While the unknowingly (?) critics are praising this glossy publications I'm rather bored... It's always – like in so many other automotive design books – about the same 10-20 cars. Citroen DS/2CV, 300 SL Gullwing, Porsche 911, Chevy Corvette, Jaguar E, Ferrari Daytona, cars with tailfins, wedge design cars..

Only speaking for myself I would prefer a book about the forgotten and weird concept cars or dead-end trends...

Agree 100%.
The number of times I pick up a "new" book only to put it straight back on the shelf when I see it's just a re-hash of the same old stuff - even exactly the same interior posing as a new book in a shiny new cover!
Quite enough has already been written about all the cars you mention; I'm pretty sure there is NOTHING new to be written about them!

[Carnut]

My idea would be a sort of "concept-car directory". One page per car with good pictures and key-facts about every single concept-car shown at any motor-show. For sure, a complete (if ever possible) list and not a selection. Also for me, the less know the more interesting. I'm only afraid of the number of pages and the cover price that would result... 

If it was one book that's the one I would want to take with me to the proverbial desert island!
Also, I would tend to gloss over the very well-known concepts with just a small picture and a few words and concentrate on the more obscure ones.  But I would prefer to see fewer books than just one per decade because of the cost, although I know the sheer number of cars could preclude that. 

There are already quite a few concept car books, but whilst most of them do have some interesting pictures in them they are notable for what's not in them rather than what is..

I'm always bitterly disappointed when a book is not comprehensive!

[Allemano]

I'm always bitterly disappointed when a book is not comprehensive!

Same here! 
I have books about Porsche specials and about BMW specials (...) and I guess I've found here at least three or four times more on that subject than these quite big volumes are featuring...

[DeAutogids]

I'm always bitterly disappointed when a book is not comprehensive!

Same here! 
I have books about Porsche specials and about BMW specials (...) and I guess I've found here at least three or four times more on that subject than these quite big volumes are featuring...

What I hate is that many of those books have words on them as "complete" or rely on famous people (famous from TV that is) to sell them.

[FrontMan]

I wish someone would write a book covering every aspect of the Lancia Aprilia. Nothing on that car was conventional, apart from the upholstery and the spark plugs!

Also, biographies and work histories on the likes of Henri Toutee, Nemorin Causan, and Emile Petit.

[rosenbergm]

Hello Everyone I am new to this site. We all know how incomplete alot of the books on automobile manufacturers and coachbuilders are. Beaulieu is a good book but far from complete as stated by many. I am looking for people to work on a project that if we can get it prepared would be the most comprehensive ever written on the subject. We can take the stuff from beaulieu and other books and sites and what we now know what they are lacking and be better. My proposal is this we make a collection of books one for each letter of the alphabet and in it we but every single automobile manufacturer and coachbuilder we can find. Now you might say it would be impossible to do. But beaulieu started exactly as we are starting now just one person looking for another person and so on. Now this is something that never would be complete but once we publish the main collection every two or so years we can come out with an update that shows the new manufacturers and or coachbuilders. Now something like this would take a lot of time to get everything assembled but if we have a team of people it would be easier. In terms of coachbuilders we have italy mostly squared away with the book of italian coachbuilders that will be coming out. I would like to hear opinions on this. Such a collection would be a mammoth project but I think the final product out ways the hard work. What Do u guys think.   

[Arunas]

Hello Everyone I am new to this site. We all know how incomplete alot of the books on automobile manufacturers and coachbuilders are. Beaulieu is a good book but far from complete as stated by many. I am looking for people to work on a project that if we can get it prepared would be the most comprehensive ever written on the subject. We can take the stuff from beaulieu and other books and sites and what we now know what they are lacking and be better. My proposal is this we make a collection of books one for each letter of the alphabet and in it we but every single automobile manufacturer and coachbuilder we can find. Now you might say it would be impossible to do. But beaulieu started exactly as we are starting now just one person looking for another person and so on. Now this is something that never would be complete but once we publish the main collection every two or so years we can come out with an update that shows the new manufacturers and or coachbuilders. Now something like this would take a lot of time to get everything assembled but if we have a team of people it would be easier. In terms of coachbuilders we have italy mostly squared away with the book of italian coachbuilders that will be coming out. I would like to hear opinions on this. Such a collection would be a mammoth project but I think the final product out ways the hard work. What Do u guys think.   

I'm in!

[als15]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica

They started with the same aim... But my feeling is that such a work on cars would even get bigger.
Frankly speaking, is not the contents that worry me: with the support of Internet and enough people and time, I can suppose that a sufficient level can  be reached.
The real problem is the cost and the potential market of such a huge collection of books. How many people will buy a 1,000 USD car encyclopaedia?
And who will be ready today to invest 100,000 USD to publish it?

Nevertheless, I'll be in too, if the project goes ahead!

[Paul Jaray]

Ciao rosenbergm,
wellcome to autopuzzles.
I'm working on a similar project since I was young: ( http://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/index.php?topic=10302.0;viewResults).
I started like that, filling a list of each and every maker (but also one-offs, racers, selfbuilts. etc) I find in my books. I reached today 15500 makers an 94000 models and 11000 circa are in my hd where I collect the material from the web (but among those 11000 are many of the ones featured in my books too).
I don't think, I know, it's a quite impossible task, but such an exciting hobby.
I received some lists from other members too and my goal will be to match the 11000 folders in my HD with all the lists I have and with my index.
Of course I'm in...I've always been!