Book Review: Ferrari Legends

In order of priority, say, a small package might be a plastic model car, and the big one, if lucky, might be an entire slot car road racing track.

Today, if there was a similar pecking order for books under your tree, the big ones, the grande finale, might be in the form of Simon Moore’s “Immortal 2.9.” Or perhaps a perfect copy of Huet’s “Gordini”, complete with an English translation insert. Smaller gifts, to be opened around the Christmas supper, might be “The Essential Guide to the Alfa Giulia GT“, a nice deal for under $20 US.

Or, something large but not of the same stature as a Moore tome. That’s about where we’d tell our Christmas friend to start. Open first the wrapping that hides “Ferrari Legends Classics of Style and Design”. The package is big, 12 ¾ by 9 ¾ inches, heavy, hinting of something that should not be opened quite so soon. But the gift is not very expensive, at only 50 dollars or so U.S., far less than a used copy of “Gordini” will cost. Nor will it ever gain in value, but more likely eventually become one of those remaindered books at Barnes and Noble… heavy in pounds but light in depth.

Yet it has its own special appeal and may just be the hit of Christmas evening. For to enjoy books like the 2.9 or Gordini, one must take time, be alone, let it soak in. “Ferrari Legends” is simple. The text and descriptions can be largely ignored, but the photography by Michel Zumbrunn can be immediately enjoyed on many levels without a great deal of thought. After ripping the wrapping, the large book can be put on the coffee table near the tree opened up and enjoyed by guests or friends who may not know a 250 GTO from a 196 Dino. There are people like that, you know, and they might well enjoy this book. A glossary in the appendix will also help the neophyte, filled with definitions of words like axle, piston, rpm and the like.

But alas, the eye candy, courtesy of the Zumbrunn studios is stunning even for the jaded among us. Though the cars all share the same backdrop, no one can deny Zumbrunn is a whiz with the camera and lighting. And it was a pleasure to sit down with the book and page through his art. To his credit, almost the full range of Ferraris are covered, beginning with the 166 Spider Corsa and wrapping up with the Enzo, and in between the 348. Far and above our favorite was the ex-Bob Wilke 375 America by Ghia, a car kept as original as possible by some pretty astute caretakers (in the finest sense of the word) since Wilke’s death in 1970. Once thought overly dramatic and too Detroit-like, the salmon and black coupe comes across with grace and beauty under Zumbrunn’s floods.

He does his magic on another 375, the Pininfarina Edsel-nosed car built for Gianni Agnelli, our second favorite selection. The car is far nice than the description, and I think the dark green America is a good example of how well Zumbrunn manages to convey the fantastic lines and the exquisite beauty of these Ferraris.

Did I not give the serial numbers? Sorry, but either does the book in most cases. Don’t expect much individual history of the cars photographed, although there are a few brief paragraphs but in general, no names of recent ownership.

One might feel a sense of embarrassment after opening this, but don’t. It’s only the first of the Christmas packages under the tree. And we bet that you‘ll spend more time between the pages of “Ferrari Legends” that you might imagine. Below are a few illustrations from the book. all, of course by Zumbrunn.
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1959 250GT Berlinetta

1962 250GTO

Interior of 1955 250GT Berlinetta Speciale

1953 250MM Berlinetta

1956 250GT Berlinetta

1956 250GT Series 1 Cabriolet