KeppelmanJ
24th December 2007, 12:17 PM
This is book pitch with a Beta slant. I just received a copy of Weernink's La Lancia (Third Edition) and it's really big and inspiring. There are cool pictures which I've never seen published anywhere (and as Lanciana editor I've seen lots), great engineering drawings, fine color. The larger format over the first edition is a big improvement in visual appeal, and it's very nice to have general coverage of the current cars including 80's race and rally history. The visual appeal is so good model to model regardless of year that if you don't lust feverishly after half a dozen cars at least you will feel proud to be among the rank and file of humble owner/enthusiasts. I've only read the Beta/Gamma section carefully. Weernink is more thoughtfully pro-Beta than anyone I can think of. He is enthusiastic about the cars particularly in terms of styling, originality of drive train parts and configuration, and rear suspension design. He especially likes the HPE. Generally he acknowledges the early corrosion issues but argues that the concept was sound, that the cars are lively performers, and that they set technical standards for Lancias which followed including the Thema. Though it only came out last year, I don't know how available this third edition still is. I found one english language site on the Web selling them still. There may be club members hoarding them who could be tapped, I suppose. It's likely a $200-300 book now but if you're a Lancia nut, there's no more enduring hit I know of than this.