Cobra books recommendations for Christmas?

[MPTech]

My wife asked me what Cobra book I'd like for Christmas.
I don't have any, but would like a suggestion of under $50.
I'd like a brief history of Carroll's racing accomplishments and how the roadster came about and lots of pictures as a first book.

I saw this one in the store last week and it looked good, but it got a bad review (only 1 review, not a good sign), paperback, and only 192 pages:
AC & Cobra 1962-2011 (A Brooklands Portfolio) [Paperback] (http://www.amazon.com/AC-Cobra-1962-2011-Brooklands-Portfolio/dp/1855209284/ref=pd_sim_b_6)

But also found this one while doing some googling and it looked even better (Many 5-star reviews, 256 pages, hardbound, and less expensive):
She*** Cobra Fifty Years [Hardcover] (http://www.amazon.com/******-Cobra-Fifty-Years-Colin/dp/0760340293/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b)

This also looked interesting as a second book:
Cobra Replicas 1980-2011 (The Essential Buyer's Guide) [Paperback] (http://www.amazon.com/Cobra-Replicas-1980-2011-Essential-Buyers/dp/1845843959/ref=pd_sim_b_4)

Any better books to recommend?
(I'm not interested in Mustang Cobras and I have the Cobra / Ferrari wars on DVD).

Thanks!

[turbonut48]

I highly reccommend the S***** Cobra Fifty Years by Colin Comer. He does excellent work and has some personal experiences included.

Besides he s personable and has agreed to autograph mine !!

The Nut


PS
Colin is having a sale on his books on his website.

[Jeff Kleiner]

Amazon's new prices are over your price limit but it looks like they have sellers offering used copies. I have and recommend these:

http://www.amazon.com/Cobra-******-American-Original-Archives/dp/076031845X/ref=sr_1_8?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322566557&sr=1-8

Dave Friedman was the team photographer so there are lots of shots from inside the shop in addition to ones from at the races. There is a full color edition of this book as well but some of the best and most interesting photos are the B&W ones included in this version.

http://www.amazon.com/Cobra-First-Years-Trevor-Legate/dp/0760324239/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322565740&sr=1-1

Legate's book is very detailed regarding race history. Being that he was not an "insider" is written from a slightly different perspective than Friedman's.

http://www.amazon.com/******-American-Racing-History-Friedman/dp/0760303096/ref=sr_1_9?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322566557&sr=1-9

Another offering from Friedman that also includes the GT350s & GT40s.

I haven't picked any of them up for a few years; with winter coming on maybe it's time to take them off the shelf and crack them open!

Jeff

[MPTech]

Thanks Jeff! I'll pass on the $200+ versions, but may pick up a Very Good used version for less than $40! Looks like good reading.;)

[CraigS]

I have and really like the second one in Jeff's list. It's by Trevor Legate. Really weird. I got mine at Borders maybe 5 yrs ago and am sure i didn't pay over $50 for it.

[patpur]

I have both the Legate book (beautiful photgraphy) and the Friedman book. Both are excellent.

[SunDude]

Of those three books, Colin Comer's is far and away the best. The Brooklands Books compilations are normally very good, but this particular one only has a few articles on the Cobra and Autokraft MkIV; the balance is other AC Cars products (such as the 428 Frua, 3000ME, Ace-Brooklands,and the Lubinsky-era AC MkV and MkVI cars).

But IMO Trevor Legate's books are among the best on Cobras. Here's published three so far, and they all cover pretty much the same ground. They're all out of print now, so if you find one at a reasonable price, I say buy it! (Check Amazon, Alibris and Abebooks in addition to eBay.)


My wife asked me what Cobra book I'd like for Christmas.
I don't have any, but would like a suggestion of under $50.
I'd like a brief history of Carroll's racing accomplishments and how the roadster came about and lots of pictures as a first book.

I saw this one in the store last week and it looked good, but it got a bad review (only 1 review, not a good sign), paperback, and only 192 pages:
AC & Cobra 1962-2011 (A Brooklands Portfolio) [Paperback] (http://www.amazon.com/AC-Cobra-1962-2011-Brooklands-Portfolio/dp/1855209284/ref=pd_sim_b_6)

But also found this one while doing some googling and it looked even better (Many 5-star reviews, 256 pages, hardbound, and less expensive):
She*** Cobra Fifty Years [Hardcover] (http://www.amazon.com/******-Cobra-Fifty-Years-Colin/dp/0760340293/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b)

This also looked interesting as a second book:
Cobra Replicas 1980-2011 (The Essential Buyer's Guide) [Paperback] (http://www.amazon.com/Cobra-Replicas-1980-2011-Essential-Buyers/dp/1845843959/ref=pd_sim_b_4)

Any better books to recommend?
(I'm not interested in Mustang Cobras and I have the Cobra / Ferrari wars on DVD).

Thanks!

[SunDude]

So why exactly did it take 3 days for the moderator to approve my post, above...??

Is it always going to be this way on this forum...??

[Bigtim01]

All The above, and this one just for fun, "Cobra in the Barn" by Tom Cotter
A great car Guy read.
Tim

[AC Bill]

I have the Trevor Legate book as well as the first edition of ******'s Wildlife. Good historical info in both.

http://www.amazon.com/Shelbys-Wildlife-Mustangs-Wallace-Wyss/dp/0879380454

[KC Wildcat]

Hey MP,

I think you know all you need to know about cobra replicas :)

[skullandbones]

I got this one for a Xmas present. Sh**** Cobra the Sh****American Original Archives 1962-1965. Dave Friedman forward by Car**** Sh****. Published by Motorbooks International 168 pp in hardback/$29.95. It's got chassis and body pics while in production. Lots of good shots of roadster, Daytona, and King Cobra. Lots of history of that short period. Somebody actually got me what I wanted!!! See ya. WEK.

[CapeCoralCobra]

I ordered the S***** Cobra Fifty Years by Colin Comer from Amazon after reading this thread. Received it 2 days ago, 4 day delivery. I've read some of it and skimmed through some, and it's a very decent book. Only $26.xx with free shipping, well worth it.

[Howard]

I highly reccommend the S***** Cobra Fifty Years by Colin Comer. He does excellent work and has some personal experiences included.


I agree with this - also if you pick up a copy, be sure to check out page 241 - it has the only FFR photo in the book - mine! It's my POM photo from the other forum. Pretty cool.