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.

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.

Karl Ludvigsen's careers as an auto industry insider and motorsport journalist gave him rare access to auto racing's greatest drivers. In this series of lavish coffee-table treatments from Haynes Publishing, the author offers race fans insightful biographies, rare anecdotes, and a wealth of archival color and black-and-white photography detailing motor racing's all-time greats. Beginning with the legendary Argentinian's early car-building days, Ludvigsen examines Fangio's F1 strut at Alfa Romeo, where he won his first world championship in 1951 at age 40; his dramatic success with Maserati in 1953, as well as his victory at Carrera Pan-Americana; his ensuing F1 world championships with Mercedes-Benz and Ferrari; his epic battles with Stirling Moss; and his ill-starred appearance in the Indianapolis 500. Also discussed are Fangio's 1958 kidnapping in Havana.

This landmark book is the result of interviews with many of the greatest names in Ferrari history, and is loaded with never-before-seen stories and photos.