Among the many holdings of the Ludvigsen Library were the works of Rodolfo Mailander, who photographed races, motor shows, new-car introduction and other events in Europe from 1950 through 1955. This handsome portrait-format book presents Mailander''s photography, selected and with commentary by Karl Ludvigsen, of Porsche cars and people through these years. Spread over 250 pages are some 300 images taken by a man who was intimately involved with this world. By far the majority of these photographs have never before been published. Ludvigsen provides a knowledgeable and entertaining commentary on each, together with a year-by-year overview of the activities of Porsche during these exciting early years. The early Fifties were the dramatic formative years of Porsche, which was founded as a sports-car producer in 1948. The first-ever Porsche car scored a race victory that same year. Porsche''s first effort at Le Mans in 1951 brought a class victory, and Le Mans was destined to remain a major target for Porsche''s racers in the future. With the arrival of the fabled 550 Spyders in 1953 Porsche scored class victories on all continents with such drivers as Stirling Moss, Hans Herrmann and Richard von Frankenberg. As well, during these years Porsche developed and expanded its range of sports cars for the road. Included in the book are: * Exciting and evocative scenes from the great sports-car races, rallies, road races and hillclimbs: Monza, Berne, the Nürburgring, the Mille Miglia, Monte Carlo, Reims and others. * Behind-the-scenes views of the Porsche factory and the building of these great cars. * The Porsche road cars in their environment and at the great Salons of Paris, Turin and Geneva. * Porsche people, including Ferry Porsche, his engineers and his drivers. Among the many holdings of the Ludvigsen Library were the works of Rodolfo Mailander, who photographed races, motor shows, new-car introduction and other events in Europe from 1950 through 1955. This handsome portrait-format book presents Mailander''s photography, selected and with commentary by Karl Ludvigsen, of Porsche cars and people through these years. Spread over 250 pages are some 300 images taken by a man who was intimately involved with this world. By far the majority of these photographs have never before been published. Ludvigsen provides a knowledgeable and entertaining commentary on each, together with a year-by-year overview of the activities of Porsche during these exciting early years. The early Fifties were the dramatic formative years of Porsche, which was founded as a sports-car producer in 1948. The first-ever Porsche car scored a race victory that same year. Porsche''s first effort at Le Mans in 1951 brought a class victory, and Le Mans was destined to remain a major target for Porsche''s racers in the future. With the arrival of the fabled 550 Spyders in 1953 Porsche scored class victories on all continents with such drivers as Stirling Moss, Hans Herrmann and Richard von Frankenberg. As well, during these years Porsche developed and expanded its range of sports cars for the road. Included in the book are: * Exciting and evocative scenes from the great sports-car races, rallies, road races and hillclimbs: Monza, Berne, the Nürburgring, the Mille Miglia, Monte Carlo, Reims and others. * Behind-the-scenes views of the Porsche factory and the building of these great cars. * The Porsche road cars in their environment and at the great Salons of Paris, Turin and Geneva. * Porsche people, including Ferry Porsche, his engineers and his drivers. Among the many holdings of the Ludvigsen Library were the works of Rodolfo Mailander, who photographed races, motor shows, new-car introduction and other events in Europe from 1950 through 1955. This handsome portrait-format book presents Mailander''s photography, selected and with commentary by Karl Ludvigsen, of Porsche cars and people through these years. Spread over 250 pages are some 300 images taken by a man who was intimately involved with this world. By far the majority of these photographs have never before been published. Ludvigsen provides a knowledgeable and entertaining commentary on each, together with a year-by-year overview of the activities of Porsche during these exciting early years. The early Fifties were the dramatic formative years of Porsche, which was founded as a sports-car producer in 1948. The first-ever Porsche car scored a race victory that same year. Porsche''s first effort at Le Mans in 1951 brought a class victory, and Le Mans was destined to remain a major target for Porsche''s racers in the future. With the arrival of the fabled 550 Spyders in 1953 Porsche scored class victories on all continents with such drivers as Stirling Moss, Hans Herrmann and Richard von Frankenberg. As well, during these years Porsche developed and expanded its range of sports cars for the road. Included in the book are: * Exciting and evocative scenes from the great sports-car races, rallies, road races and hillclimbs: Monza, Berne, the Nürburgring, the Mille Miglia, Monte Carlo, Reims and others. * Behind-the-scenes views of the Porsche factory and the building of these great cars. * The Porsche road cars in their environment and at the great Salons of Paris, Turin and Geneva. * Porsche people, including Ferry Porsche, his engineers and his drivers.

Over 500 black and white period photographs taken by Rudolfo Mailander illustrate the early days of Ferrari between 1950 and 1955 as the company strove to establish itself as an important player in the world of Grand Prix racing and sports cars. Commentary by Karl Ludvigsen.

Within Jerry Seinfeld's renowned Porsche collection resides an unassuming yet extraordinary piece of Porsche history: Porsche Gmünd coupe 356/2-040. Captured exclusively for this book in a series of evocative portraits by acclaimed automotive photographer Michael Furman, 040s unsullied originality conveys with startling immediacy the combination of artistry, innovation and determination that went into its improbable creation. Porsche-Origin of the Species will appeal to all car enthusiasts who are eager to know what events really ignited the spark from which all other Porsches evolved

The great success that Porsche enjoyed with its first 550 Spyders spurred its small but effective racing cadre to a more ambitious design with its 1956 Type 550A. It's stiffer space frame was inside the 550A that Umberto Maglioli drove single-handed to win the 1956 Targa Florio -- Porsches greatest victory yet. Experiments in 56 with an even smaller racer, the Type 645, ended with a disastrous crash. Not for nothing was it nicknamed "Mickey Mouse". In 1957 Porsche created the immortal RSK, a race and hillclimb winner. The RS60 arrives in 1960 to meet new rules, winning Sebring outright. It evolved into the RS61 and then the Type 718, using the Grand Prix eight-cylinder engine. Races and hillclimbs throughout the world were mastered by these agile silver cars through 1964, depicted in magnificent images from the Ludvigsen Library.