| Author |
Message |
allsidius
Samba Member
Joined: February 02, 2010
Posts: 1475
Location: Norway
|
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
allsidius
Samba Member
Joined: February 02, 2010
Posts: 1475
Location: Norway
|
 Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2017 1:40 am Post subject: Re: Birth of the Beetle by Chris Barber |
 |
|
| Blue Baron wrote: |
Forget a reprint, how about a revised edition? If you cull through the vintage photos in this forum, there are a wealth of new KdF-era photos.
I'm sure there's also new information that must have come to light in the last 15 years.
....
This photo alone would be worth a revised edition! |
I totally agree, there was so much information that came to light in the restoration of VW 38/06 too, that could be used for such a revised edition. Also, there is an astonishing amount of unseen pictures posted on Facebook page Volkswagen prototypes, too.
_________________
1973 1303S w sunroof Click to view image
1978 1303 convertible (sold)Click to view image
1966 1300 RIPClick to view image
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
FRK
Samba Member
Joined: December 09, 2002
Posts: 2652
Location: Orange county, CA
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
allsidius
Samba Member
Joined: February 02, 2010
Posts: 1475
Location: Norway
|
| Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2017 11:09 am Post subject: Re: Birth of the Beetle by Chris Barber |
|
|
He will soon cool off, I don't think he can sell it at this price. The going rate lately has been just shy of 300 EUR.
For all Adam Smith fans, I am well aware of the workings of market economics, but I don't think many beetle fans shell out 550 EUR for a 30 EUR book without checking previously attained selling prices.
_________________
1973 1303S w sunroof Click to view image
1978 1303 convertible (sold)Click to view image
1966 1300 RIPClick to view image
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
usariemen
Samba Member
Joined: August 28, 2004
Posts: 1745
Location: Germany
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
finster
Samba Member
Joined: May 26, 2012
Posts: 7935
Location: north o' the border
|
| Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2017 10:03 am Post subject: Re: Birth of the Beetle by Chris Barber |
|
|
| I see another one has popped-up on ebay.uk in time for xmas |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ianlaw
Samba Member
Joined: November 23, 2017
Posts: 1
Location: North east Scotland
|
| Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2017 1:53 pm Post subject: Re: Birth of the Beetle by Chris Barber |
|
|
I contacted Haynes today and they replied within an hour:
Hello Ian
Thanks for your email.
Haynes General Interest department are now just publishing colour manuals on a variety of subjects but unfortunately the approach of this title doesn’t fit the manual format.
We therefore wouldn’t be able to consider republishing it (and rights would now have reverted back to the author).
Sorry we couldn’t come back with more positive news.
Regards
Louise McIntyre |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Jack O'Neill
Samba Member
Joined: March 23, 2009
Posts: 102
Location: Israel
|
| Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2017 2:53 pm Post subject: Re: Birth of the Beetle by Chris Barber |
|
|
| ianlaw wrote: |
We therefore wouldn’t be able to consider republishing it (and rights would now have reverted back to the author). |
I think those are, indeed, good news - if we could contact the correct Chris Barber, and if he could be persuaded to try an e-book edition.
I have no idea on how to actually publish anything, but I suppose that not having to deal with printing and distribution could facilitate things... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
allsidius
Samba Member
Joined: February 02, 2010
Posts: 1475
Location: Norway
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Terry Gaudet 
Samba Member
Joined: March 11, 2004
Posts: 399
Location: New Brunswick, Canada
|
| Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2017 6:25 am Post subject: Re: Birth of the Beetle by Chris Barber |
|
|
I thought this book sounded familiar. I went looking on my shelf and sure enough.....I have one. Read it many years ago and put it next to my other cool VW books. Funny how things get old and expensive.....lol
_________________
Terry Gaudet
1950 Beetle Standard
1955 Canadian Custom
1956 Kombi w/SO23 kit
1965 Kombi walkthrough
1965 Double Cab |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Jonnyla
Samba Member
Joined: November 11, 2013
Posts: 101
Location: Mesa, AZ
|
| Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2017 9:48 am Post subject: Re: Birth of the Beetle by Chris Barber |
|
|
For those of you still holding a library card and actually just want to read this book I found this Borrow list.
http://www.worldcat.org/title/birth-of-the-beetle-.../978072086
Although I know a lot of us like collecting rare items having to do with our favorite hobby. This might hold some of us over for now.
_________________
'55 3 fold sedan, stock with lower stance (project)
'57 sedan, future old speed outlaw style (project) |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
usariemen
Samba Member
Joined: August 28, 2004
Posts: 1745
Location: Germany
|
| Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2017 3:11 am Post subject: Re: Birth of the Beetle by Chris Barber |
|
|
How much will they charge you If you " loose" it?
_________________
Master of my domain! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
MDKG
Samba Member
Joined: October 16, 2008
Posts: 1088
Location: The Netherlands
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
KTPhil
Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2006
Posts: 34003
Location: Conejo Valley, CA
|
| Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2017 9:17 am Post subject: Re: Birth of the Beetle by Chris Barber |
|
|
| usariemen wrote: |
| How much will they charge you If you " loose" it? |
Just your soul. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
usariemen
Samba Member
Joined: August 28, 2004
Posts: 1745
Location: Germany
|
| Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2017 2:05 pm Post subject: Re: Birth of the Beetle by Chris Barber |
|
|
| KTPhil wrote: |
| usariemen wrote: |
| How much will they charge you If you " loose" it? |
Just your soul. |
Long gone.
_________________
Master of my domain! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
pig-pen
Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2012
Posts: 570
Location: United Kingdom
|
| Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2017 2:02 am Post subject: Re: Birth of the Beetle by Chris Barber |
|
|
Just throwing this out there... is it really that good a read?
_________________
1954 L227 Type 113
1964 L31 Type 265 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
RichOakley
Samba Member
Joined: August 30, 2004
Posts: 1108
Location: Midlands, UK
|
| Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2017 3:37 am Post subject: Re: Birth of the Beetle by Chris Barber |
|
|
I've sold a couple of copies of this book during the past year in A1 condition for around £100.
_________________
1947 Beetle
1956 RHD Karmann Cabrio
1956 RHD Beetle
1957 RHD Pitt-Moto Type 2 Camper
1959 RHD Beetle
1966 RHD Type 3 Fastback
1976 RHD Sun Beetle |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
allsidius
Samba Member
Joined: February 02, 2010
Posts: 1475
Location: Norway
|
| Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2017 6:01 am Post subject: Re: Birth of the Beetle by Chris Barber |
|
|
| pig-pen wrote: |
| Just throwing this out there... is it really that good a read? |
Yes it is. I have about 20 to 30 vintage and newer VW books, and none comes even close. The level of detail, the accuracy is at a totally new level compared to any of those lesser books. C Barber has had access to countless original VW and Porsche memos and factory drawings, making him able to pinpoint crucial decisions regarding design choices.
The book precedes the Etzold book Der Kafer, which only deals with production development.
Questions asked by Birth of the Beetle are typically: How many other engine types were tested before settling on the flat four? Who made each and every prototype up til the construction of the KdF factory, in many cases the fate of each car is told up to scrapping.
Since the book was written, a mountain of new pictures have been released, and the VW38/06 restoration especially added a lot of inside info that completes the information in the BoB. I bet an even more detailed account could be written today. (Who knew all those quirky details about the headlight buckets of the VW38 series?) But overall, I would say it is a book not to be missing from any VW nut's bookshelf. It is the last one I would part with.
_________________
1973 1303S w sunroof Click to view image
1978 1303 convertible (sold)Click to view image
1966 1300 RIPClick to view image
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
scottyrocks
Samba Member
Joined: August 19, 2016
Posts: 2661
Location: Long Island, NY
|
| Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2017 6:23 am Post subject: Re: Birth of the Beetle by Chris Barber |
|
|
Even so, it's a recent book, and should not be so expensive or hard to get. It's not like it's a college textbook.
_________________
“If you care for a thing long enough, it takes on a life of its own, doesn't it? Mending old things, preserving them, looking after them – on some level there's no rational grounds for it.”
– D. Tartt, 'The Goldfinch' |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
allsidius
Samba Member
Joined: February 02, 2010
Posts: 1475
Location: Norway
|
| Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2017 6:54 am Post subject: Re: Birth of the Beetle by Chris Barber |
|
|
| scottyrocks wrote: |
| Even so, it's a recent book, and should not be so expensive or hard to get. It's not like it's a college textbook. |
I couldn't agree more. That is one of the less fortunate effects of the world wide web, which has made any publication or other sellable item available to the whole world. Books that have recently gone out of print, but while still in demand, fetch ridiculous prices. I guess Amazon has something or everything to do with it. You can get any book at all, as long as you pay what we ask. In the days of the bookshops, you would have to scour all their catalogs for what you wanted, but the prices were not extortionate for recently out-of-print books. Later, you would join waiting lists by Email all over the continent for what you wanted. Still no price hike. Now, Amazon has a calculator that makes up these funny prices from supply vs. demand algoritms. I have seen Amazon asking 2000 dollars for it. My experience is that Ebay is still the best place for such purchases. Hope it stays that way.
Read the thread in full for a better view of the situation.
And by the way, you do know who just bypassed Bill Gates as richest man in the world?
_________________
1973 1303S w sunroof Click to view image
1978 1303 convertible (sold)Click to view image
1966 1300 RIPClick to view image
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
