Announcing the book that every 105/115 series enthusiast simply must have !!

[Mark Baigent]

Thanks for the expressions of interest everyone - I have passed them onto Bruce and he is encouraged to say the least .... BUT we need plenty more so if your genuinely interested or know someone who maybe please respond to this thread .... Grazie MARK BAIGENT 

[GTV-074]

I am interested .....

Count me in....

Cheers,

Paul.

[Doug Gould]

I'll take a copy if its published.

[preacherman]

I'm in

[twistybits]

Hand up high and waving enthusiastically....................yes please!

[alfagtv100 (Biggus)]

Me to.

[Paul Newby]

Mmm. Having seen the contents of this book I'm a little concerned as to whether this is going to advance the knowledge of 105/115 series enthusiasts.

I'm not sure that you need separate chapters on the 1900s, 750 and 101 series and also the 2600 (106 series). One preceding chapter covering all is probably enough.

Also how can you have a comprehensive 105 series book without chapters on:

1. The GTA and its derivatives
2. 105s in competition
3. The forgotten 105 - the Montreal?

Having seen excerpts of other books from the Publisher's website I'm sure it will look nice but you need to have substance to go with the style...  

[Brad M]

Mmm. Having seen the contents of this book I'm a little concerned as to whether this is going to advance the knowledge of 105/115 series enthusiasts.
:
Having seen excerpts of other books from the Publisher's website I'm sure it will look nice but you need to have substance to go with the style...  

I get a sense of Déjà vu here, didn't you already make that comment?

[Paul Newby]

I get a sense of Déjà vu here, didn't you already make that comment?
[/quote]

Yes, I did but in the "General Discussion" section. I didn't realise that the same topic was also in the 105 Section. It appears that this is where all the comments have been made, so I've brought my comments here.

If you think I'm being a bit harsh, then let me elaborate.

I worked in a motoring bookshop for several years in the 90's. I have just about every Alfa 105 book published. From memory (I'm at work) the best general book was by English journalist Richard Bremner, who actually owned a 2000 GTV. As for books on the GTA you can't go past the superb Allegerita.

I'm interested in seeing the completed book, but like DavidM1750 says, I do wonder what more can be added to the subject, especially the general nature of the content given the Chapter titles.

[aggie57]

The other 105 book I have enjoyed owning is the one by John Tipler, issued in 1992.  While it does include a fair bit of material previously published, it also includes quite a bit of original content and is written very much from an owners perspective.  Many of the photos in the restoration section will be very familiar to current owners!

The number of books published on these cars in recent years is pretty amazing considerings in the early days we had Hull and Slater, Fusi and not much else.  I remember when David Owen published Alfissimo. Finally we had a decent book covering modern Alfa's.

[continental]

Responding to Paul Newby and Aggie57, the intention is that the book's primary focus would be on stripping any personal bias of writer or quoted works, to enable owners and enthusiasts to judge the cars as new. Illustrations in colour from a collection of original factory, press and Carrozzeria material will confirm such details, and most have not been previously published.

There is certainly intended to be coverage of the GTA and of the Montreal, but the marque's racing history is an area in which I have little expertise, and which would fill a book by itself.

While I note that Paul feels the postwar cars which preceded the 105 could be covered in one chapter, I feel that the 1900 which started the small-engine-high-efficiency trend under Satta is particularly significant, and there is little available on the model in English.

I agree that Alfissimo is an excellent book which contains much material which will also be covered in mine, but the focus of my own book would be very strongly toward the 105. It would also be printed in full colour, which is rare in Alfa books other than those at the very top end of the price range.

[Paul Newby]

Bruce, when I worked for Motor Books in Sydney back in the 90's there weren't any books specifically on the 105 Series GTVs and Spiders. Then we had the Bremner book and the Tipler book – both fine publications covering the multitude of different models, their competition use (including GTA) and restoration advice. I have other books too including Alfissimo, but leaving aside the specialist GTA titles, I believe these two are the benchmark.

What I'm trying to say is that any future publication needs to add to our collective knowledge and I await your book with interest and reserve my judgement until then.
I am no expert on Dr Orazio Satta and his accomplishments, but I believe that the Series 750 / 101 Giullietta is the significant predecessor to the 105 Series.

The 1900 Series is significant in leading a new direction to an affordable Alfa Romeo era postwar, but its iron block (but alloy head) twin cam engine is not related to the all alloy engine that we came to know and love in the 105 Series and even 116 Series (Alfetta) that followed. The 1900 lead to the 102 Series 2000 model and 106 Series 2600 model which were both blind alleys for Alfa Romeo.

I agree that the racing history of the 105 Series would fill a book by itself and indeed has. However the sheer joie de vivre that comes from the driving experience of any 105 Series Alfa, even the Berlinas and Supers demonstrates how intertwined racing is to these cars - it is in their bloodlines and cannot be ignored, in my view.

[continental]

Paul, Many thanks for your welcome post.

I hope that my further details have given you a better idea of my intentions, but from your latest comments may I add that I am eager to trace the bloodline of the 105, which originated with Satta's (and the factory's) post-war philosophy to build cars which were more affordable than the fabulously expensive 6C and 8C pre-war cars. While the engine architecture of the 1900 differed from the 105, it was a clear break from the Jano era, and forecast many of the core features of the 105. As such I believe it merits a careful examination, and ditto the Giulietta which was very much closer to the 105 in concept and detail.

Like you I have collected most if not all books on post-war Alfas, and continue to believe that my planned title will indeed add something to the shared knowledge of the marque. But may I stress that I welcome any criticism of concept or detail, or questioning thereof, since a sale of 1 book will not cover its substantial production costs. Should you or any other AR enthusiasts have misgivings or queries, please bring them on.

[aggie57]

Agreed - the 1900's represented a clear bridge between the pre-war cars and the more affordable series that followed.  At the same time it, it provided in retrospect a very clear indication of what design principles were to be persisted with and what were not.  

In that sense it is a very important connection between the two periods in Alfa's history, a connection that can be seen all the way through the 750/101/105 and even 116 series cars.

@Bruce - it does appear that you have a good appreciation of this which bodes well for the quality and contribution of your book.

Alister

[continental]

Alister many thanks for your supportive comments. I honestly believe that to properly understand the 105/115 cars the 1900 must be regarded as their legitimate prototype, despite the acknowledged differences between them. Frankly I have enjoyed collecting original material on the 1900/2000, if only because the model is so largely ignored.

Regards, Bruce.