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Posted by: Part Pricer Nov 21 2003, 12:46 PM

Sorry for the commercial, but this really isn't a classified ad. Yet.

I was having a conversation this morning with one of my wholesale suppliers. It seems that I can get a real good price on the new version of Ludvigsen's book, Porsche: Excellence Was Expected if I commit to a quantity. You can get the details on the book from the Bentley Publishing website at http://www.bentleypublishers.com/gpex/gpex.main.htm. You can buy it directly from Bentley for $239.95.

Now, Amazon.com has it for http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0837602351/103-5258484-7878206?v=glance&s=books. Because the book is so heavy (21 lbs.) they charge additional for shipping. We'll add things up, round it off and call it $170 to your door.

Barnesandnoble.com has it for http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=2VH2GUMW1C&vcqty=1&isbn=0837602351&itm=1. For that price, shipping is free.

I should be able to offer these to the 914club members for $xxx delivered to your door (if you live in the lower 48).

Any interest? Remember, Christmas is coming. I'm not taking orders until I have secured the inventory. I'll post those details when it happens.

Thanks,

Paul

Posted by: maf914 Nov 21 2003, 01:04 PM

Paul,

I'll go for one copy.

I was going to go with Amazon, in fact, I have it on my Amazon account Wish List. Let us know if you intend to proceed and I won't commit with Amazon.

Thanks,
Mike

Posted by: marc_hines Nov 21 2003, 01:11 PM

Arrgg!!

I just order mine from amazon earlier this week (I needed a little light reading material...).

Posted by: Brad Roberts Nov 21 2003, 02:20 PM

Has anyone seen this book yet ?? 99% of the time they give one page out of 500 to the 914.


B

Posted by: Scott Carlberg Nov 21 2003, 02:25 PM

well, it is called 'Excellence was Expected'

Posted by: maf914 Nov 21 2003, 02:35 PM

This is a revised and expanded version of the original Excellence published back in the 80's. It covers both production and racing cars. The original had perhaps two chapters on the 914. It was written in chronological order beginning with the first Porsche designs and ending with the 928 introduction and the 935 and 936 racing cars. It was a massive single volume priced around $60-70 (big bucks for a book at the time). The revised edition supposedly brings the history up to date, but I don't know if the previous material has been expanded. It is now a three volume set and has recieved favorable reviews in several magazines recently.

Not much 914 content is my guess. But, like the original, it's probably considered to be THE Porsche book.

Mike

Posted by: davep Nov 21 2003, 02:36 PM

I bought my copy back in the late 70's. It is great. Damn near wore it out. Two chapters on the 914.

DaveP

Posted by: Part Pricer Nov 21 2003, 02:46 PM

Two chapters on the 914

21 Joint Exercise: 914 1969–1970
Pros and Cons of a Mid-Engined Sports Car • Porsche Explores a Mid-Engined Road Car • Volkswagen the Partner • The 914 Takes Shape • Propelling the 914 • Passenger Accommodation • New Future for VW and the 914 • 914 Meets the World

22 Mid-Engined Roadster 1970–1976
The 914 Finds a Following • Racing the 914 • Another Look for the 914 • The 916 • New and Improved • Fourteener Swan Song


Last month, I sold a copy to a shop that only works on early Porsches. They had worn out their copy of the first edition because they use it so much for reference on cars that they are restoring. I insisted that I drop it off to them. John (ss6) and I went up for the day. In the shop they had a 550, an RSK, an RS60 and an RS61. Yes, they were all real.

It's a great reference book to have if you are serious about Porsches. And, I'm not giving you one for your birthday.

Posted by: Brad Roberts Nov 21 2003, 02:47 PM

Ha ha .. I would'nt ask for one. I cant read anyway.


B

Posted by: ein 6er Nov 21 2003, 06:07 PM

$150. to my door?

put me down for 1!!

thanks!!

Posted by: dsmeyer Nov 21 2003, 06:31 PM

$150 delivered sounds great... add another one to your list.

Posted by: Qarl Nov 21 2003, 07:01 PM

1 please.

Thanks

Posted by: Curvie Roadlover Nov 21 2003, 07:20 PM

I was given this book by a friend. No special occasion. $150? I had no idea of the generosity involved.

Posted by: krk Nov 21 2003, 07:23 PM

I'm in.

kim.

Posted by: madd_dogg_914 Nov 21 2003, 07:32 PM

I will most definitely take one.

-Chris

Posted by: seanery Nov 21 2003, 11:13 PM

I'd be in, but prefer after christmas. (is that ok?)

Posted by: Part Pricer Nov 22 2003, 05:26 PM

Well, based on this and other responses, it looks like I'm going to move ahead with this. I will contact everyone that had expressed an interest after I secure the inventory on Monday. If anyone else is interested, let me know.

Sean, my hope is to be out of inventory come Christmas. However, I'll let you know if any are available.

Posted by: krk Nov 22 2003, 05:29 PM

Paul,

Very cool! I've been thinking about this for a bit, so from my selfish perspective, your timing is perfect!

kim.

Posted by: Dave_Darling Nov 22 2003, 11:45 PM

I would love one, but I may wind up getting one for Xmas. (It's on The List.) So I won't know until after then if I still need to get one or not.

--DD

Posted by: Mueller Nov 23 2003, 12:29 AM

add me to 'da list

Posted by: markb Nov 23 2003, 12:49 AM

I need to wait until after Christmas, too. The better half always has many Porsche surprises for me.

Posted by: ArtechnikA Nov 23 2003, 08:29 AM

in for 1 pls.

Posted by: ArtechnikA Nov 29 2003, 11:05 AM

how's this going and - most important - did you see that i'd added my name to your list before the Monday deadline ?

Posted by: 74GoKart Nov 29 2003, 02:05 PM

If you have an extra one, I would like to be added to the list.
Thanks

Posted by: Rgreen914 Nov 29 2003, 02:19 PM

I guess I'm on the "late freight" on this, but I too, would like one if at all possible!

Posted by: boxstr Nov 29 2003, 02:39 PM

If any of you ordering the Excellence was Expected second edition, and you have a chance to read or look atthe first printing, a single volume. Do so.
It is very informative as is the second edition.
Iwas able to get the New printing at the Ventura German Autofest and had all of the editions signed by the author, Karl Ludvigsen.
$175.00 cash and carry.
A very nice xmas present for any Porsche afficianado.
CCLINCAMP914

Posted by: Carrera916 Nov 29 2003, 05:50 PM

Hey Paul!!!

I hope i'm not too late! I gotta have that book!! I do have the old one & found a short (really short) history on my old man doing the 906 "spyder"!

Please email me off line to follow up on payment, etc....I find myself a bit tied down with other things and don't always check on this website...soo EMAIL ME please!

thanks,
jerry

Posted by: Gint Nov 29 2003, 10:21 PM

If the order hasn't been placed yet, I'll take a copy also.

Lemme know. And thanks for the effort.

Posted by: Part Pricer Dec 1 2003, 11:29 AM

Hi everyone. I haven't forgotten about you.

Last Monday, I committed to a very large quantity of these. On Wednesday, while I was travelling, I got a call and was told that the current remaining inventory is being allocated. It seems that this edition has proven to be very popular and Bentley is not printing them again until later in the Spring.

So, where do we stand? I don't know yet. I've been told that the allocation decisions are being made today or tomorrow. I might get one, or one hundred, or zero. However, whatever I am allocated, my share will go to the folks from the 914Club first.

I'll let you know. Hopefully soon.

Posted by: ArtechnikA Dec 1 2003, 11:35 AM

thanks for the update !

i have a certified First Edition of the original, so i'd really only be interested in another first edition; let me see what i can do through my company contacts with Bentley, and if that works for me, you can apply my unit to one of those "come-lately's" :-)

edit update: our order doesn't go in to Bentley until Friday, so if you have a confirmed allocation before that, go for it, and i'll cancel my "internal" order. and i have no confidence we'll even be able to achieve the Amazon price - although we do a consistent business with Bentley for VW and Audi diagnostic workshop manual CD's ...

Posted by: markb Dec 1 2003, 08:52 PM

I can't wait for christmas, put me in for one.

Posted by: Part Pricer Dec 4 2003, 10:45 AM

Guys, I really need to apologize to everyone on this for getting your hopes up. But, it looks like I got yanked around. I found out that I have received an allocation of zero. It seems that someone with much more clout than I got the entire remaining inventory. The funny thing is the entire inventory went to Wal-Mart. (Wal-Mart? Is that where they sell wall stuff?)

Sorry and please accept my apology.

Paul

Posted by: seanery Dec 4 2003, 10:47 AM

look for it at sams club i guess. I doubt wally world will have them

Posted by: ArtechnikA Dec 4 2003, 10:54 AM

it gets worse.

when this subject came up, they were available at Amazon.

now, they're showing 2-3 month delivery.

Posted by: seanery Dec 4 2003, 11:58 AM

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=42607&item=2446716207

Posted by: ArtechnikA Dec 4 2003, 12:51 PM

they don't have stock either, sounds like they're hoping for the same allocation Paul didn't get ...

Posted by: ldino21 Dec 4 2003, 01:16 PM

I am interested!!

Lou Smaldino
73 1.7

Posted by: Part Pricer Dec 6 2003, 06:59 AM

I've been monitoring inventories and if you act quickly you may be able to get a deal.

As of 8:12am EST on Saturday, December 6th, WorldPac has one copy of Porsche: Excellence Was Expected in stock. I ran a quick price search and you could order this one from EAS and pay a total of $149.01, shipping is included.

Here is their link. Enter Z1001-132413 in the part number search box to get there quickly. Good luck. Let us know if you get it.
http://www.europeanautomotive.com/