Porsche: Excellence Was Expected is a story of epic proportions, one reaching back into the 1800s and following the engineering adventures of men who influenced the path of more than a century of automotive design. Their story has it all: world war twice over, the founding of a dynasty, the perversity of politics, meeting challenges in the face of destruction, and achieving victory after glorious victory.

Ludvigsen's masterpiece, Porsche: Excellence Was Expected, also covers the cars of the Porsche family in all their glorious detail, from the Lohner-Porsche Electric in 1900 through ground-breaking designs for Daimler, Daimler-Benz, Steyr, and Auto Union. The opening of Porsche Design in March of 1931 and the development of the Volkswagen also have their place, as does the tale of Ferry bailing his father out of a French prison just in time to see the first sports car that carried the Porsche name. From 356-001 to the 928, it's all here.

But observant readers just came up two beats short. Just up to the 928? Published in 1977? But what about the rest of the history? The 956, 962, 951, 959, 964, 993, and more? The water-cooled revolution? The Cayenne? And the fabulous Porsche Cup racers plus the multiple wins in IMSA, Le Mans, and the ALMS? All of it occurred after the publication of this nonetheless-valuable tome. In fact, Excellence Was Expected is so widely revered that it's still the only Porsche book to have if you'll have only one this despite the fact it stopped the story 26 years ago.

For recent information, Porsche historians have had to turn elsewhere. Until now. On September 1, 2003, Karl Ludvigsen and Bentley Publications will release the long-awaited new edition of Excellence Was Expected. The three-volume book will total 1,566 pages, with 1,480 B&W photos and 144 color photos. Have we yet clasped this important addition to our Porsche library in our eager hands? Admittedly, no. But here's a history that Ludvigsen spent his life researching, to the advantage of all, And we have little doubt that it will do the first book justice. But it will not be inexpensive, as the retail price is set at $239.95.

And that's why we're doing a first-ever Book Preview: You can save $40 by taking advantage of an early purchase offer on Bentley's website at www.bentleypublishers.com.

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