Porsche Speedster Typ 540

James Dean is famous for his acting perfomances. Less well known is that James Dean had a lifelong passion for speed and high-performance machines. Dozens of photos combine with interviews with people who really knew Dean and his motorsports dreams to reveal an unseen side of this American icon.

'The tubs' is a series of personal stories about the 356 Speedster and successors in New Zealand.

On September 30, 1955, 24-year-old James Dean became immortal. While his young life ended in a car crash, James Dean passed into the realm of American folklore, where his memory remains today. What exactly happened on that fateful day 60 years ago? What events led to the tragic accident that cost Dean his life? What became of the people and vehicles involved in that unguarded moment at Cholame? Is there any truth to the idea of a "curse" associated with Dean and his Porsche Spyder? And what do the major landmarks of the last few months of Dean's life look like today? Foremost James Dean researcher and expert Lee Raskin answers these questions and more in James Dean: On the Road to Salinas. He paints a vivid picture of Dean's life during that last summer, as he began to race his Porsche Speedster, filmed his third leading role in the movie Giant, and acquired the infamous 550 Spyder that he dubbed, "Little Bastard." Raskin provides a detailed timeline of the rising movie star's last 12 hours, while debunking numerous "factoids" that continue to circulate prominently in accounts of Dean's life and fatal crash. James Dean: On the Road to Salinas is the definitive account of the last months of James Dean's life. It is a must-read for any James Dean fan, Porschephile, or enthusiast of American popular culture of the 20th century.

The pedigree of Porsche as car designers was brilliantly affirmed by its creation of the 550 Spyder competition roadster. See the 550 Spyder in all its variations, from its origins in experimental Porsche models to the amazing and finely crafted one-off specials of Walter Glockler. With its superb four-cam flat-four engine, designed by Ernst Fuhrmann, the 550 became known as a giant-killer for its racing successes on tracks all over the world. As tough as it was handsome, the 550 was winning races years after its official launch at the Paris Salon in 1953. Exclusive photography of the 550 in the Ludvigsen Library shows its engineering, its evolution and in action in races in Europe and North America. This book is must reading for all Porsche enthusiasts.About The Author:Karl Ludvigsen has a distinguished record of accomplishment at senior levels throughout the worldwide motor industry. He has received wide recognition for his work as an editor, journalist, historian and author. Not only has he been employed at senior levels with Ford of Europe, Fiat North America, and General Motors, but he has also been involved in editorial roles with Motor Trend magazine, Auto Age, and Sports Car Illustrated and Car and Driver. Ludvigsen is in demand from the press of North America and Europe as a source of information on industry trends, and he is a frequent speaker at conferences. Currently, Ludvigsen acts as Chairman of Ludvigsen Associates Limited (a consulting company), Managing Director of Euromotor Reports Limited and Director of Ludvigsen Library Limited.

Looking back on 70 years of the legendary marque at one of the world's greatest races, Porsche at Le Mans is authoritatively written and packed with photos, history, and results.

DIVIn Porsche 911: 50 Years, bestselling author Randy Leffingwell celebrates a half-century of one of the world’s premiere sports cars, focusing on the major themes that have defined Porsche's rear-engined wonder. He tells the whole story—design and development, racing and competition, engineering and technology, style and culture. All the iconic 911 models are included: the original 901 prototype that set the standard; the legendary RS models that made the little Porsche a dominant force on the world’s racetracks; the infamous Turbo, the car that kept the performance flame alight during the dark, dismal decade of the 1970s; the fabled 959, the model that redefined the term “sports car�; the 993, last of the original air-cooled models; and the 996, 997, and 991, the liquid-cooled cars that brought the 911 into a new millennium. But beyond telling the story of the cars, this book also spotlights the people behind them: Ferdinand “Butzi� Porsche, the son of legendary Porsche founder Ferdinand “Ferry� Porsche, who co-designed the instantly recognizable 911 shape; Peter W. Schutz, the Porsche CEO who saved the 911 from extinction; and Dr. Helmuth Bott, the engineering genius behind many of the groundbreaking technologies that have defined the 911, including fuel injection, turbocharging, and all-wheel-drive. Leffingwell also tells the story of the 911 community—the clubs and culture that surround the car. Together, all of these facets make Porsche 911: 50 Years the most essential book in any Porsche fan’s library./div

Porsche's fabled 911 represents the ultimate expression of Ferdinand Porsche's original vision of the perfect sports car. In The Complete Book of Porsche 911, author and photographer Randy Leffingwell provides a year-by-year overview of Stuttgart's most famous car, from the original 901 prototype to today's technologically advanced GT2 and GT3 derivatives and the latest 992-generation 911. Along the way, he highlights the racing, prototype, and limited-production cars—offering the most complete reference available to these top-tier sports cars. In this book, you'll find the air-cooled cars of 1963 to 1998, then the water-cooled 911s of 1998 to present day. With behind-the-scenes info on the evolution of this iconic sports car, this book offers the detail craved by Porsche enthusiasts. Illustrated throughout with images from Porsche's own historical archive and complemented by the author’s stunning photos, along with detailed technical specification tables, The Complete Book of Porsche 911 offers a thorough account of one of the most beloved enthusiast cars ever produced.

Porsche 356By Brian Long.The full and fascinating story of the postwar CoupTs and Spyders that started the Porsche legend. Coverage includes Porsche 356 development, production history, specifications, and racing records. Plus guidance on buying and restoring a Porsche 356 as well as information on current replicas of this classic German sports car. Hdbd., 8 1/4"x 9 3/4", 160 pgs., 180 b&w & color ill.