Title: Ferraris for the road
Description: In the beginning there were Ferraris for the race track only. These machines, brutally-powerful but too savagely-primitive for anyone but the most daring and experienced of drivers, were efficient only at accomplishing what they were designed for - winning races.

This was in the late forties. By the early fifties, Ferrari's reputation had already grown into a legend - a legend demanding that it be shared by many more than just the handful of drivers who raced the red machines.

Enzo Ferrari, seeing an opportunity to finance his growing racing activities, now decided to take advantage of this demand. He began offering his cars for sale to the public. But this still meant that only a privileged few could enjoy them - the first customers were royalty and industrialists; and the cars were still handcrafted In very limited numbers, still virtually race cars, thinly disguised in graceful bodies.

It was not until the late fifties that Ferrari began producing cars in larger numbers and according to modern assembly-line methods. Although never available in mass, now there were finally Ferraris for the road - magnificent touring machines designed with comfort and reliability in mind; fascinating cars with a true racing heritage; dream cars, now within reach of determined car enthusiasts.

Numerous books have been published on the history of Ferrari, the early cars, the race cars and their success. But many of these books have given the production models only a few token chapters. Now, finally, here comes Ferraris For The Road -the latest in Henry Rasmussen's lavishly-illustrated Survivors Series - an entire book devoted to Ferrari's production models.

Although every production model is pictured on the pages of Ferraris For The Road, twelve of the most prominent receive the author's special attention - treated to the artistic camera-work and the entertaining writing style that have, after four previous books in the Survivors Series, become Henry Rasmussen's familiar trademarks.

His fascinating essay begins with the classic open model, the LWB Spyder California, and the brutish SWB Berlinetta. The truly-beautiful Lusso is featured next. The graceful yet very potent 275 GTS and the elegant 330 GTC continue the review. Rasmussen then turns his camera to the fearsome 275 GTB/4. The last of the conventional V-12 front-enained sports cars, the tremendously-powerful Daytona Coupe and its open version - the Spyder - together with the civilized 365 GTC/4, continue the lineup. Next comes the 246 GTS Dino, its arrival signaling a new era of mid-engined cars. Rasmussen then goes on to feature the fastest of them all, the ferocious 512 Boxer. The 308 GTS, the popular toy of the modern-day sports car enthusiasts, brings the selection up-to-date.

the photographs are executed on carefully chosen sites along picturesque desert and mountain locations, where roads, both arrow-straight and serpentine, form the backdrops so fitting Ferraris for the road. Here Rasmussen also finds inspiration for his stories about the cars and their owners, often interviewing his subjects while at speed. In his own special way he communicates to the reader his impressions on the styling of the cars, on photographing them and above all, on driving them.

Complementing the 125 color plates are the numerous black-and-white photographs describing the individual history of the models. The reader will find useful the easy-to-compare sections containing such vital data as performance figures, construction specifications, original prices and production numbers. Also included is a chronology of Ferrari production cars - a valuable tool in establishing order among the often confusing array of models.

Ferraris For The Road, with its spectacular color photography, informative and entertaining text, exquisite design, superb printing and binding, makes for a stunning book worthy of the high standards of excellence set by the cars it is dedicated to - the magnificent machines from Maranello.
Subjects: Ferrari automobile