Book Review: Shelby Cobra Fifty Years... incredibly well done book

the inside cover shot is terrific, and that is the way the rest of the book carries on, it's terrific.

The author, Colin Comer, is an enthusiast, researcher, racer, and owner of a couple Cobras, perhaps sequentially and not simultaneously... but I point out that this author is not just a research book writer. His basic bio and reason for writing comprise the preface pages. His website: http://www.colinsclassicauto.com/

Starting with the origins of Carroll Shelby's drive and ambition to make a sports car, http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2009/05/possibly-earliest-shelby-sports-sars.html for the ads for his sprts car dealership mentioned in the book, the where and how fall into place through the first chapter, which though focusing on Carroll, aslo spotlights Ed Hugus, race car driver, and thoroughly partnering with Carroll from the beginning as the first Cobra dealership, and used his "Spot" at LeMans to get a Cobra into the race. Could anyone be more helpful to a startup sportscar maker?
Phil Remington also gets a spotlight http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2011/07/phil-remington-last-of-soup-to-nuts.html

In the book a passing mention is made of Carroll's most famous personal Cobras, the dual supercharged 427 http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2007/01/carroll-shelbys-personal-cobra-sells.html

Chapter 2 gets thoroughly into the early racing, drivers, and events.

As you can see by the pages I've used here, the book averages 3 to 4 photos per page... I love that.
 I thought I knew a good amount about Cobras, http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/search/label/Cobra but with the connections, collectors, experts, drivers and owners the author learned from, he has linberally stuffed twice as much info I've never seen before into this book throughout the article and captions as I expected. It's a treasure of knowledge... simply astonishing. If you can only recollect all you'll learn from this book you'd be able to converse with any Cobra enthusiast

For example, you're likely already familiar with the CSX numbering, and various Cobra types, but I learned of the CS, COX, and COS Cobras for the first time. You see, CSX doesn't even come close to being what I thought it stood for, I thought it was Carroll Shelby Experimental. What a good guess! But it really is C for 3rd series Ace manufacturing, S is for Shelby (the Ace customer) and X is for Export.

I brought that up to show there is always more to learn, and to help with explaining CS were Cobras that weren't exported out of England, And COB and X were CObra Britain and CObra eXport.

This will help to explain the the #3 Cobra in the above right hand photo was the CS2131 and it's sister CS2142 that raced at the 1963 LeMans were not export Cobras

Awesome artgallery photos like the above are all though the book

It's wonderful how many car club members photos from car shows are in to book too

Like I was saying about the amount of information I learned for the first time, were these two coachbuilt customs, the Bordinat Cobras. Above CSX3001 was a bare chassis that went to Detroit Styling, and named the XD Cobra by Ford, the body was a new vacuum-formed plastic material from US Royal. Aint't that amazing? I've never run across any mention of these before! They disappeared into the storage warehouses of the Detoit Historical Museum http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2011/02/i-didnt-know-that-detroit-historical.html in the 1960's, and were found by 30plus year Ford employee and Cobra enthusiast Jeff Burgy. Below is the red CSX2008 called Cougar II by Ford and shown at the 1964 New York Worlds Fair http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/search/label/1964%20Worlds%20Fair

you'll learn about the Dragonsnake Cobras, like the yellow one above (the only factory yellow Cobra) now owned by collector and museum owner Steven Juliano http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2008/11/steven-juliano-collection-im-betting.html

A gallery of the above http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2011/12/cobra-dragonsnake-at-sema.html

A gallery of El Cid: http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2010/02/el-cid-one-of-few-shelby-cobra.html

This book is so damn good, and shows how incredible much info the author knows and shares with the readers, he has many pages about the DragonSnakes (8 made) and photos of at least 6, CSX2019 (Elvis http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/search/label/Elvis used it in a movie then it went back to Shelby American to become the 1st factory DragonSnake), CSX2427 the yellow one, CSX2472 that never did drag race, it was used by it's owner as a street car, then the 2nd owner autocrossed and road raced it, CSX2093, CSX2357, and El Cid CSX2248. The Motion "Kng Cobra" CSX3159 may or may not be an official DragonSnake

for a photo of another Motion built up DragginSnake http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2010/11/great-heavens-dragginsnake.html and   http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/search/label/1964%20Worlds%20Fair 

There is a chapter on the Corvette vs Cobra competition, chapter 4

For photos of Don and the number 89  http://justacargal-s.blogspot.com/2011/10/coronado-speedfest-pit-personal.html CSX2473 is the #89, I think Don said it was the most winningest, or most raced Cobra

The above image is to show the CSX2001, collector Bruce Meyer, http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2008/12/bruce-meyer-car-guy-preserver-of.html and I wanted to point out the cool little race car stripe/page number... that is a nice touch, as well as the below chapter numbering racing stripes. That is a damn fine touch

Chapter 5 gets in depth about Cobra collectors and clubs

For some great Castrol ads with the Daytona Coupes: http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2010/01/castrol-ads-celebrating-world.html  

For ads about accessories and engine parts: http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2009/07/shelby-parts-and-accessories.html and http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2009/07/it-was-long-ago-but-you-could-build.html

and http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2009/07/carroll-shelby-advertising-youve-never.html and the earliest Cobra advertisements http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2009/05/early-cobra-advertising.html

Chapter 6 has a hell of a good look at the wide variety of memorabilia, brochures, handouts, and merchandising Carroll used for advertising. Below is the 1963 "Snakeskin" dealer kit

I just bust out laughing when I tell people about the "Pit Stop Deoderant" that I've posted about here before,  http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2010/01/1967-shelby-advertising-of-pit-stop_19.html but I've never seen a can of it before.... Colin, you really nailed it! Great find!

In brief, there is so much to enjoy that I didn't know, I was looking for things I did know just to learn more.

by the numbers
7 chapters
129 pieces of paper between the covers, 256 sides

The form and layout are nice, great presentation, with high quality photos

Photos: 286 color images, 131 black and white.
Period ads, brochures, pamphlets, etc: 34

The only things that might make this book better would be if the author wasted many more years of research talking to every car enthusiast to pick their brains and made this the complete encyclopedia of Cobra knowledge. I'm happier reading this book and enjoying the photos to want him to have taken more time making it.

The few things that I know of not in this book are posted here on my blog, and if you want the extraneous Cobra info I have, and the extra pictures, here you are:
http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2011/10/not-many-cars-are-shelby-cobra-daytona.html CSX2465 is certified by Carroll Shelby himself to be a real Daytona Coupe but not mentioned in the book. Likewise http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2010/12/home-built-shelby-cobra-daytona-was.html CSX2130, the Willment Cobra Daytona, the AC Cobra prototype http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2008/03/prototype-ac-cobra.html
And the Shelby Record: http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2010/09/lp-that-will-get-record-player-out-of.html
the "Pit Stop Deoderant" that I've posted about here before,  http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2010/01/1967-shelby-advertising-of-pit-stop_19.html

CSX2451 the Mercer Cobra http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2011/12/mercer-cobra-may-be-ugly-enough-to.html probably doesn't deserve to be mentioned in the book due to its anti Cobra looks, and lack of usefulness as a sportscar

If I'd been the author I would have had a chapter on the first owners that kept their Cobras forever, like CSX2305, CSX2227, and CSX2006 http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2011/10/one-owner-1964-shelby-ac-cobra-289.html , six are supposed to be still with their original owners according to Cruisin Style Magazine http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2011/03/ac-cobra-trivia.html , and some coverage of the Daytona Coupes on Bonneville, and a chapter on the barnfind Cobras. Yes, of course you can just read the Tom Cotter books for those, but it's incredible info and would be a great addition to this book. I can understand leaving it out to keep on point of the focus on owners that love, drive, and race their Cobras, and not stuff them away for decades of neglect

Prices are around 27 dollars online: http://www.amazon.com/Shelby-Cobra-Fifty-Years-Colin/dp/0760340293/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1325441861&sr=1-1

Once you've enjoyed this book, you might also get a kick out of the Cobra Ferrari Wars http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2009/02/excerpted-photos-from-website-selling.html

The Impossible Collection Of Cars, a book that sells for between $400 and $700, from Pulitzer award winner Dan Neil with 100 cars featured

The world's most beautifully designed automobiles, but most often only a handful of collectors ever see them or own them, now, The Impossible Collection of Cars showcases the 100 most exceptional cars of the twentieth century.

 Each luxury automobile—from the 1909 Blitzen Benz to a 1997 Porsche 993 Turbo S—was chosen for its revolutionary design, magnificent lines, and head-turning capabilities. The book also features cars owned by celebrities like Marlene Dietrich, Greta Garbo, Pablo Picasso, Elvis Presley, and several of Ralph Laurens collection like these Ferraris:

his $25 million-plus 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, and below his 1960 Ferrari 250 GT Spyder.

Listed on the Awesomer.com for $410, http://theawesomer.com/the-impossible-collection-of-cars/128992/

 Try Amazon and buy them for $ 405 http://www.amazon.com/Impossible-Collection-Cars-Dan-Neil/dp/1614280150/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1324706422&sr=1-1

A lot of the cars in the book are being posted on http://driven.urbandaddy.com/

Steve McQueen, A Passion For Speed, book review

In brief, here it is by the numbers
5 chapters
96 pieces of paper between the covers, 192 sides
27 of those sides are blank, have nothing but a caption to the opposite page photo, or are just title pages
25 and about 1/2 sides of paper are text. Total. Good reading, and highly informative yes... but not a lot for 192 sides of paper

The form and layout are nice, good presentation, with high quality photos

Photos: 49 color images, 4 of those were movie posters, 2 were of auctions and not of Steve, 2 magazine covers, and one full page advertisement for Porsche

Biggest disappointment is that the chapter on physical fitness, though a really good informational read, takes up 32 sides of paper and none of those are about the "Passion For Speed" as it relates to vehicles. They are about his workouts, training, exercise. Relates to his ability to endure the driving conditions on motorcycle, race cars, yes I can see that... because he stayed in good shape and the chapter proves it... but I wanted to be receiving pages of Steve and his "Speed" related vehicles in text or photos. Not his home gym and pool photos... to which there are 1.65 sides of paper of text. Yes, of 32 sides in the chapter on his fitness titled "The Body as Tuned Machine" poor grammar there, it has 29.35 sides of paper with black and white photos of Steve working out or swimming. Not good. 22 full sheets of black and white photos of Steve in this chapter, working out with weights 5 photos, 3 with punching bag, 5 misc, 10 swimming or at the pool/hot tub... this is ridiculous, and not what I want in a "Passion for Speed" all from a Time/Life photo shoot. Waste of space in this book.

26 photos of Steve with motorcycles, 4 of those were on the set of the Great Escape.

 4 photos with his Lola T70 at races (I've posted these before, here they are again for reference)

3 photos from the Sports Illustrated car review article in 1966 I posted here http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2009/12/steve-mcqueen-tests-new-gts-of-1966-for.html
2 photos of the Porsche 908 while racing from the 1970 12 hours of Sebring
5 photos from the set of Bullitt (and I haven't seen 4 of them before)

9 photos from the movie Thomas Crown Affair
13 photos from the movie LeMans

4 photos of Steve with the Jaguar SS

26 photos in the chapter about his garage (big disappointment)  that show his vehicles, none show his aircraft, but this may be due to that information perhaps being thoroughly covered by the book Steve McQueen's Garage. No photos of his garage, none of the garages he had, none of the vehicles in storage barns or hangers, and no photos of the vehicles he had collected... as a group or collection. So, to have a chapter on his "Garage" is in appropriately termed, as no images of any outside, open doored, or inside of his garages are in the chapter, nor in the book elsewhere. Damn disappointing.

5 of those 26 seem to be there to display his first wife and Steve, with vehicles, but one is a magazine cover that I've mentioned before, and another... get this, in the chapter about Steve's Garage, titled "McQueen's Garage" is a photo of Steve and wife Neile happily embraced on a couch for the 1963 Life photo shoot.

Another 5 of those 26 are auction promotion shots... 3 were motorcycles, one was the 57 Chev truck, and the other was the Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso

Things I learned that I did not know:

The "Ringadingdoo" Kawasaki 100cc G31M, that he had an Excalibur he and his wife owned, that he'd been in the Marines - and the Merchant Marines where he had been a mechanic which prepped him for the Sand Pebbles role as an MM (machinsts mate in Navy lingo) ,  that he'd been a part time mechanic in a motorcycle shop that serviced James Dean's machine, how much work he'd had Tony Nancy do to his cars, and a good list of the cars, airplanes, and bikes that Steve had owned

This book doesn't get his name right. Author or edittor or both, ought to be ashamed.

 I think it may be an error copied from Wikipedia. This book says his first name is Terrence and that his middle name is Steven. His 1977 vehicle registration and this mugshot I've posted before shows that the police labeled him Steve T McQueen. And DMV and cops usually get that sort of bureaucratic detail about first names first, middle names inthe middle, and last name last... correctly. So, would he be named by his parents with his fathers first name (Terrance) as a first or middle name? Usually that middle name is the one from the parent.

Also http://stevemcqueen.com/biography says his middle name is Terrence

Another error was calling a Ford a "Tutor" not a Tudor. Seems like a typo perhaps, but its the same error found in other accounts of the James Dean wreck http://history1900s.about.com/od/1950s/qt/deandies.htm 
 
Things not in the book that belong, the story about tricking the cops into giving him and his wife an escort to the hospital in the Jaguar SS http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2009/05/steve-and-some-of-his-cars.html
 
I don't recall any mention of his time spent talking to, or interacting with Carroll Shelby (who loaned him a Cobra for a couple months to entice a sale), or driving the Cobra (excluding the Sports Illustrated car review article) no mention of Max Balchowsky on the Bullitt Mustang and Charger work, or of Steve's hanging out at Max's "Hollywood Motors" that I read somewhere was connected to his friendship with James Coburn who turned Steve onto Ferrari's and introduced him to Max because Coburn had his sports cars kept up by Max.

No mention of the 1969 Baja race where Steve was co-driving a Hurst Baja Boot. James Garner was also in that race was a friend... and neighbor who Steve would piss off by tossing empty beer cans onto his drive way... and co star (along with James Coburn) in the movie Great Escape

and when you know that Steve owned 210 motorcycles, 55 cars, 5 airplanes... you expect more would have been mentioned and shown.


 
Overall impression of this book...
 
 not worth the money (40 dollars list from the publisher http://www.qbookshop.com/products/194742/9780760342480/Steve-McQueen.html ) but online for about 25 bucks new, less if used. The less you pay the better the trade of your money for the amount of information and entertainment you'll recieve. There have been about 2 dozen books made about Steve McQueen, and a ton of information available online (I've posted lots myself) and this book doesn't compete well enough to justify your time and it's full price cost
 
Not well editted
 22 sides of paper have nothing, or just a caption for the opposite side, too much about French poets, and Japanese philosophers
 
Not well researched / not well filled.
 I've posted many photos of Steve from many sources, and some info and stories http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/search/label/Steve%20McQueen... and this book wasn't filled with the many easily learned things about Steve McQueen and his enthusiasm for racing in buggies, cars, and motorcycles.. too much is missing and so easily found online (like http://www.tv.com/people/steve-mcqueen/trivia/ )
 
This book failed to impress me with the chapter "McQueen's Garage"and wasted 22 sides of paper on photos from a Life or Time magazine gallery of Steve's workout.

Paul has made a book about the Tatra T67 and T87 models... here's a look at his preview

http://www.lowproduction.com/Lowpro%20Website/preview.html is the preview webpage, and hte book is selling at $70.00 ... order here http://www.lowproduction.com/

"They Started In MGs". New book out that talks about the famous who got their start in MGs

Briggs Cunningham, Phil Hill, Suzy Dietrich, Bob Donner, Carroll Shelby, Ken Miles and Charlie Elmers

a unique look at the early days of road racing in the U.S. in 291 pages and 278 photos by great racing photogs of the past. It profiles 80 sports car drivers of the 1950s

Carl Goodwin "They Started In MGs"
retail price is $35.00 from the publisher, McFarland - Publisher of Academic Nonfiction, and Serious Books about Pop Culture. Contact: www.mcfarlandpub.com Ebook ISBN: 978-0-7864-8624-3