would you buy a coffee table book, or picture book of 60s speed parts ??????????????????????????????????
There's a lot to consider before I plink down hard earned cash for a book... How many pages and photos? How much is it going to cost? Are these nice photos of the items or just scans from old catalogs? Is it a picture book or will there be some text about the manufacturer, the product, and it's place in rodding history? Color or B&W photos? Will all the makes that speed parts were made for be covered?
I would buy one if.... - it was hard bound with a hard cover - if you pictured the part or an old ad of the part and also a picture of the part on the car - if it was mostly color with black and white old photos of the era - it cost less than $30 - you include brief descriptions, stats, or manufacturer details on each page (quotes from "authorities" would be good too...) - you credit your sources of photos, ads and info in the back Good luck, I hope you are able to do it.
Hell Yeah!!!! Needs to be high quaility photos , breif description and stories. Some coffee table books have too many words. For me the point is to be able to leaf through it and dig the pics. I don't want to take up a reading project. Do it and do it cool....I'll take one!!!!
Coffee table books can be expensive for my tastes and budget. If they can provide information as well as a nice picture of a rare part I'd be more inclined to spring for it. Personally I think it would be cool to follow the format of the early 50's Hot Rod and have the part displayed by a lovely lady in a 50s bathing suit. I liked that feature.
Yes, I’d buy one, probably in any form, softbound scans of catalogs or hardbound in-depth historical color documentation.
Depends on price/content (definate maybe). But, while you're at it, i'd be very interested in a similar book on abandoned drag strips. Preferably with then/now pics. Doesn't have to be hardbound. Don't forget the prices of the day on those parts.
Ya but it would have to contain detailed descriptions of part numbers, casting numbers how to tell the one part from the other etc. etc. I want the hard core tech details...damnit!
Nope - I wouldn't buy one. Cool idea, but once you get prices on publishing a "coffee table" style book, you'll probably sober up real quick. The realities of book publishing are harsh at best. Also, know that good intentions from potential buyers soon turn into practical decisions ("I've been meaning to buy a copy, but the old lady/kids/dog/etc. needs this or that first, yada, yada, yada). Just go to the nearest Barnes & Noble and look at the gorgeous "coffee table" car books piled on the discount rack because they couldn't move them at the original asking price (or deeply discounted for that matter). Are you a photographer? Got an expensive digital camera and a studio? How about access to the parts? Would it require expensive travel to shoot them? Sorry for being so discouraging, but I've been involved in some of this stuff, and that's the reality of the situation as I see it. Maybe there would be an affordable on-line option - say a web site dedicated to early speed parts. Probably no profit potential, but it could be lots of fun. Good luck!
I would only buy one if its spanned the history of speed parts (is there such a book now?). I like 60's stuff but some of the earlier stuff is really wild too. You could do two books, one that covers 30s-Mid50s and Mid50s-70s. I can never seem to find enough hot rod literature to satisfy my reading needs. Johnny
No offense, because you are correct. However, you are, ironically, the reason why people DO difficult tasks. You'd never go into business for yourself either, if you weigh all the cons (as real as they may be). I should thank you in advance, because YOU could be the guy who said it couldn't be done. The reason this guy jumps through all the hoops involved to put his book together. The reason why I could have a copy of "60's SPEED EQUIPPED"! I'd buy one, just like I'd buy a book on the Early Times club, if someone (you know who you are, Aust, haha) would put it together. I cannot buy every hot rod related coffee table picture book that comes along, but I do buy as many as my budget/wife/bookkeeper will allow (which nets out to a lot of dough each year)! BTW, I just picked up Hot Rod Kings. I love it. I was stoked to see a vendor in Pomona last weekend with it available.
i would if it was well done with good photography and at least some info on the parts... and if it was not rediculously priced. say under $35 maybe. depends on the size, quality and content though.
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