Can anyone recommend a good Porsche technology and engineering book? There's quite a bit of engineering legacy in these machines of ours, and I'd really like to understand why things are the way they are and how they work - beyond the basics. Not a how to or hands on book, but something that explains the interesting nuances of Porsche technology and maybe a little history thrown in.
Thanks in advance for any suggestions!
The best that I have found is the three volume set "Excellence Was Expected", by Karl Ludvigsen. It ain't no cheapie! Available from Amazon for about $150. Much higher from auto book specialists.
Marty
Wish that I had the book. A lot of owners don't know that Porsche is really an engineering company & do work for industrial & automotive companies world wide.
excellence was expected
i have this. it is a must-have for porsche enthusiasts.
Amazon.com: Porsche: Excellence Was Expected
Great book set. And comes with its own holder... get it from Amazon in US or Canada.
==RedEye
I'm anxiously awaiting this one:
Porsche: The Engineering Story
, by Jeff Daniels. I have two of his prior books (
Driving Force
, and
Modern Car Technology
). Both are fantastic, with clear, in-depth explanations and many high quality technical illustrations. All three are published by Haynes Publishing, which gives you a sense of what to expect.
Amazon.com: Porsche: The Engineering Story: Books: Jeff Daniels
Book Description
Over the years, Porsche has developed a reputation for technical innovation and for using cutting-edge technology in its road cars. This book travels chronologically through Porsche's technical history, each chapter starting at a crucial point in the company's evolution. From Dr. Porsche's preparation of high-powered prototype Beetles for competition purposes, to the technology incorporated in the latest Cayenne and Carrera GT models, as well as the latest 2005-model 911, the reader is taken on a fascinating journey through the Porsche archives, revealing many fascinating and previously unknown behind-the-scenes details of the company's engineering story.
About the Author
Jeff Daniels is a former Technical Editor of Autocar and current Technical Editor of EVO. Highly respected for his ability to explain often complex subjects, he has been a regular columnist in leading motor industry publications. He lives in London.
Well, after a nearly one year publishing delay, I finally got my copy of
Amazon.com: Porsche: The Engineering Story: Books: Jeff Daniels
from Amazon yesterday. It provides a chronology of the technology evolution in all of the various Porsche models, including the latest Cayenne, Cayman, Boxster, 997 and Carrera GT models.
It's a very thorough book. The only thing I'm disappointed in is that the author focuses more on describing the origins of the technology found in each car, rather than providing detailed illustrated tear downs of key technologies like PSM, PASM, Motronic, varioram, etc. (he does provide decent text-based explanations of these). Still it's a great book if you're interested in understanding the technology heritage of our cars, and why Porsche made the engineering choices it did.
