356 Porsche

By Pete Vack
From the Archives, 2009

The following true story is based on the recollections of John Wiech, who bent my ear for a few hours at a car meet last year. We originally published this in 2009 and it was one of our reader’s favorites. [Ed.]

The subject had started another family argument. Johnny had become enamored with a rare foreign car but it seemed no one knew exactly how to pronounce the name. It was German, or was it. “…It’s Austrian,” said his Dad. “But made in Stuttgart,” said Johnny, being careful to put the “sch” in. He reasoned that the sch in the car’s name might sound the same and the vowel at the end be pronounced. His older sister said otherwise. “It’s Porch, as in front porch or back porch, without the ‘e’.”

She always thought she was so smart.
[Read more…] about A Porsche Christmas Story

LIMITED NUMBER OF SIGNED COPIES ORIGINALLY PRICED AT $75
ON SALE NOW FOR ONLY $40 USD US SHIPPING FREE
$60 USD FOR ALL OTHER LOCATIONS INCLUDES SHIPPING

Porsche: Brochures and Sales Literature, A Source Book 1948-1965.
By Susann C. Miller and Richard F. Merritt
Hardbound, 317 pages, black and white

Send Check or Money Order in US Funds to:
Susann C. Miller
Suite 1703
4734 Stratford Court
Naples, FL 34105
susannart@aol.com

Review by Pete Vack

Back in the 1980s, Susann Miller lived in Clifton, VA outside of Washington D.C. (she has now settled in Florida) and we met once or twice. A Porsche expert, Susann was the author of several books on the marque and was about to become famous along with Dick Merritt, for their work which has become a standard reference source for Porsche enthusiasts, the Porsche: Brochures and Sales Literature, A Source Book 1948-1965. It consists of “all the known sales literature on the Porsche 356 including paint numbers, accessories, Beutler, 904 and Spyder brochures; a rare look at the 917, Carrera RS, Marine and Aircraft Engines, and Rotorcycle; and the early Speedster to name but a few.”

Ferrari specialist Dick Merritt also lived in the D.C. area. Although Dick owned a large number of Ferraris, he drove a Porsche 356SC coupe that was, he said, “the best car I ever owned.” Merritt not only co-authored Ferrari: The Sports and Gran Turismo Cars with Warren Fitzgerald (1968), but in 1976, with John Barnes and the help of many Ferrari owners, created the Ferrari Brochure and Sales Literature- A Source Book, 1946-1967.

Merritt and Miller teamed up with Barnes again to publish the Porsche Brochure and Sale Lit book. Known among Porsche owners as the “M&M” book, it was first published in 1978, a second edition in 1985, and the third edition, with 28 new pieces found since the first edition published again in 2005.

The Merritt Ferrari brochure book can still be purchased through Veloce Press, (a company this writer co-founded in 1999 with Stephen Glen). Susann went on her own to take over publication of the third edition of the now classic M&M brochure book from her home base in Naples, and we are proud to be able to offer a special signed edition for only $75 with FREE shipping through VeloceToday.

A list from the book's back cover shows the titles of brochures included in the book.

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