Topic: The books that have never been written yet - and should be!

[als15]

Just to say that we are going ahead... 418 coachbuilders listed till now.
And this is a draft of the cover.
Any suggestion is always welcome. 

[RayTheRat]

Very nice!  I like it!

RtR

[75america]

Just to say that we are going ahead... 418 coachbuilders listed till now.
And this is a draft of the cover.
Any suggestion is always welcome. 

Nice to see there is already a lot of progress in this project! 
I expected a lot of coachbuilders...but not 418!

I believe that the background on the cover is part of the Alfa Romeo 4C.
If that's correct and if I can give my suggestions, I'd say that in my opinion it's a bit strange to put an in-house Centro Stile Alfa Romeo designed car (although the car was propably made by an Italian coachbuilder) on the cover of a book about coachbuilders.

[als15]

I believe that the background on the cover is part of the Alfa Romeo 4C.
If that's correct and if I can give my suggestions, I'd say that in my opinion it's a bit strange to put an in-house Centro Stile Alfa Romeo designed car (although the car was propably made by an Italian coachbuilder) on the cover of a book about coachbuilders.

Wow! I'm tempted to award you a point... 
But, yes, it i's indeed the 4C and it was also my biggest concern. It's just a visual proposal to see if my grpahic idea worked, however, and this was the best hi-res picture I had in my hands at that moment; probably I'll change it for the final version with a more representative one.

[Allemano]

When I'm at home I will send you another design if you like.

I agree with 75america to swap the Alfa 4C with a classical coachbuilt car picture.

I like your cover as well, esp. the typograpy is nice. Only thing I would change is the square size of the book. I would prefer a rather horizontal format, but that's purely a matter of taste...

[als15]

Thanks: any suggestion is indeed very useful.

About the square size, generally I agree with you about the horizontal (just because cars are longer than heigh). And in fact my series of book "Historica" is in "album" fromat 27x19 cm.
But this time I'm quite forced by the internal layout.
Organizing the book in columns (as an encyclopaedia must be), three is the best layout in terms of balancing between text width and pictures size. However, the regular A4R would have had too wide columns and too big pcitures, while 27x19 is too small.
I think I'll use 25x24 or 25x27 (that means 7 cm wide columns and basic pictures, with important models spanning on 2 or 3 columns), but I still need to discuss with the printer to find the most efficient format also in terms of cost.

And this is a very preliminary draft of the internal design.

[Paul Jaray]

I'll leave room for this book since now....

[faksta]

Alessandro, that is simply amazing! I'm in queue for a (signed ) copy of your new book for sure!

Also, that Ala D'Oro story... seems familiar

[75america]

Can I, based on the page you posted, conclude that Accossato is reponsable for that Fiat Ritmo Pick-up from 1985? 
I always thought they stopped their activities a long time before 1985. 
To avoid confusion (based on the mentioned info, also Adriano could have been responsable), I suggest to include the coachbuilder’s name in each photo caption. 
E.g. “Sotto: ACCOSSATO Fiat Ritmo autocarro (1985)”

[als15]

Yes, it's Accossato. Or, to be precise, not Ernesto Accossato himself but his former employee Antonio Palmaro, that bought the brand around 1960.
He is still working today and made similar pick-up conversions on second-hand 132, Argenta, Regata, Tempra and Marea. Today he mainly makes few dropside upfitting works on Scudo and Ducato.

About the page design: you are indeed right. Working on columns, the brand name must be in the captions too.

[Allemano]

Here you are some layout suggestions I made on the weekend as I'm very inspired by the idea of books like that.

Hope you like it.
(design_10 wasn't that orange at home.  It always depends on the screen you have, but it wasn't intended be too so saturated)

Unfortunately I didn't have the correct editor's logo at hand.

BTW: a horizontal layout doesn't neccessarily mean avoidance of columns when you stretch the columns' width a bit.

[als15]

Thank you! Your covers look great. I like in particular the design of the first (perhaps with the colors of the last).

The time before the book will be ready is still long, but for sure we will consider your proposals during the final choice of the cover.

Thank you very much!

[cmetisse]

In fact, a french book has been published on this theme : "Carrosserie italienne, du style au design", by Serge Bellu.
A beautifully illustrated book, but not as such an encyclopaedia.

I suppose that the Fornai series is an attempt to do so. I have four of these, but it is interesting yet very badly made... and still quite expensive for what it is.

Anyway, I'll be glad to buy you one when yours will be released. Keep the good work !
Would it be only in italian, or is there a project to do an english version ?

For me, the great project of publishing houses would be to create some kind of "joint-venture", joining efforts to publish the best books of each country in english.

That is the main problem for me : I only read french and english. I can figure a bit of italian, but not much !
This is quite frustrating, as for most obscure brands, you can only find books in "original" language.
For example, a Glas book would only be in german, most Tatra historical stuff in is Czech, etc...

I'm sure that if there was one "global" publishing structure, printing good books in english from europe, japan, usa, etc... it could be a profitable business. Even for forgotten brands, there are worldwide sufficient numbers of petrolheads who'd love to read something good in a "readable" language.

Speaking about italian brands, I'm really frustrated to be unable to read Giuseppe Busso and Domenico Chirico biographies, as I'm a big Alfa Romeo fan.

Anyway, one dream book I'd buy instantly : the encyclopaedia of concept-cars !

[Paul Jaray]

In fact, a french book has been published on this theme : "Carrosserie italienne, du style au design", by Serge Bellu.
A beautifully illustrated book, but not as such an encyclopaedia.

I suppose that the Fornai series is an attempt to do so. I have four of these, but it is interesting yet very badly made... and still quite expensive for what it is.

Anyway, I'll be glad to buy you one when yours will be released. Keep the good work !
Would it be only in italian, or is there a project to do an english version ?

For me, the great project of publishing houses would be to create some kind of "joint-venture", joining efforts to publish the best books of each country in english.

That is the main problem for me : I only read french and english. I can figure a bit of italian, but not much !
This is quite frustrating, as for most obscure brands, you can only find books in "original" language.
For example, a Glas book would only be in german, most Tatra historical stuff in is Czech, etc...

I'm sure that if there was one "global" publishing structure, printing good books in english from europe, japan, usa, etc... it could be a profitable business. Even for forgotten brands, there are worldwide sufficient numbers of petrolheads who'd love to read something good in a "readable" language.

Speaking about italian brands, I'm really frustrated to be unable to read Giuseppe Busso and Domenico Chirico biographies, as I'm a big Alfa Romeo fan.

Anyway, one dream book I'd buy instantly : the encyclopaedia of concept-cars !

The Encyclopaedia of concept-cars will be definetly a book to have!

About the readable language, I've got the same problem with my project.
I need to translate some books (1st of all these:
http://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/index.php?topic=16938.0
http://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/index.php?topic=12487.0).

I've tried to scan those books and to use an OCR program, then translate via internet but it's too long.
I'd love to exchange those files with the books (or any other) for help...with anyone who can read a Svedish or a Dutch book!

[als15]

Anyway, one dream book I'd buy instantly : the encyclopaedia of concept-cars !

The Encyclopaedia of concept-cars will be definetly a book to have!

I definitely agree with you. It would be a huge book, but it is a "must be written". Perhaps, if any (or some) of us will try to write il, I can consider publishing it after the Italian carrozzieri. If I don't loose all my money with that book, of course... 
Perhaps it could be organized on three volumes: 1st - European, 2nd - American - 3rd Japanese and rest-of-the-world.

For me, the great project of publishing houses would be to create some kind of "joint-venture", joining efforts to publish the best books of each country in english.

That is the main problem for me : I only read french and english. I can figure a bit of italian, but not much !
This is quite frustrating, as for most obscure brands, you can only find books in "original" language.
For example, a Glas book would only be in german, most Tatra historical stuff in is Czech, etc...

This is another good point. I think that a good basic book in English for each country with "minor" automotive industry would be great. I mean, it wouln't make any sense writing "Cars made in France" or "Cars made in Germany" because they must each one be made by 10 volumes. But a nice "Cars made in The Netherlands" or "Cars made in Hungary" ( ) could be very interesting.
And perhaps we have here at Autopuzzles the right experts to write them.

[Iluvatar]

Thank you! Your covers look great. I like in particular the design of the first (perhaps with the colors of the last).

The time before the book will be ready is still long, but for sure we will consider your proposals during the final choice of the cover.

Thank you very much!

I think I prefer the first cover (with the Alfa 4C) cause it's cleaner... and I think it's not good for a Enciclopaedia to have only one car on the cover... maybe you can do like for the rear of Fiat Fuoriserie books... with a lot of little pics of cars (B&W!!) with a neutral background...

[RayTheRat]

Thank you! Your covers look great. I like in particular the design of the first (perhaps with the colors of the last).

The time before the book will be ready is still long, but for sure we will consider your proposals during the final choice of the cover.

Thank you very much!

I think I prefer the first cover (with the Alfa 4C) cause it's cleaner... and I think it's not good for a Encyclopedia to have only one car on the cover

I agree about the first shot.  If not, then Sannia's-Enzyclopaedie_12.jpg (the "green" photo.)  I don't care for the sepia or reddish tone on the monochrome (and emblem) image. 

I think the green is the "strongest" cover/image, but the Alfa 4C is the classiest.

For whatever a rat's opinion is worth.

[pnegyesi]

This is another good point. I think that a good basic book in English for each country with "minor" automotive industry would be great. I mean, it wouln't make any sense writing "Cars made in France" or "Cars made in Germany" because they must each one be made by 10 volumes. But a nice "Cars made in The Netherlands" or "Cars made in Hungary" ( ) could be very interesting.
And perhaps we have here at Autopuzzles the right experts to write them.

Hear, hear

[75america]

I'd love to exchange those files with the books (or any other) for help...with anyone who can read a Svedish or a Dutch book!

I offer my help with the translation of the Dutch book.

[Paul Jaray]

Great!
PM sent!

[75america]

Maybe its on page 1 of your book but if not, do not forget to include 'Accamo & Moneta'

[als15]

Maybe its on page 1 of your book but if not, do not forget to include 'Accamo & Moneta'

  Poor start. I just put down half of the first page and I'm already missing one name...

Have you any further information about this brand?
And - if I can ask - which is the source?

[75america]

Have you any further information about this brand?
And - if I can ask - which is the source?

Source is Auto & Design magazine issue #18 (April/May 1983).  Subject is the Lancia Selene, a 'landaulet' conversion of the Delta.

[Allemano]

The Encyclopaedia of concept-cars will be definetly a book to have!

This book already exists — unfortunately for one decade only.  http://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/index.php?topic=8916.0

[Wendax]

I just read that our late member Siata1, Georg Amtmann, together with the German author Stefan Dierkes compiled more than 4000 special bodied cars from 1945 to 1985. This piece of work hasn't been published yet.