What Is "THE RAREST" Corvette Book???

[Lynn H.]

Being a self proclaimed Corvette book JUNKIE, I made a score yesterday on ebay that got me to wondering what is the "rarest" Corvette book out there? My vote at this time goes to the leather bound edition of:
CORVETTE! America's Only (300 copies)
Published by MBA (Michael Bruce Associates) or possibly better known as Michael Antonick, who also wrote and published, Corvette-The Sensuous American, book series as well as what we all know as the "Black Book".
As many who have been around awhile may know, and are familiar with the book that was first published in 1978-There were 7500 numbered first editions of this book with the last 300 of them being the black leather bound edition (pictured). I looked for one of these for years before I found one a year or so ago (by blind luck) which I paid BIG BUCKS for at the time. I had to have it, and talked the owner into selling it to me. Yesterday I ran across one on ebay (for a great price, less than it was new) and it was the first time I had ever seen one offered for sale anywhere, so now I have two.
Does anyone know of any Corvette book that would be considered more rare than this one??
I almost hope NOT, as I will then be on a mission to find it that could be expensive!!

[Todd L.]

Re: What Is "THE RAREST" Corvette Book???

That is cool. Now that you have two, do you want to sell one?

[Bruce B.]

Re: What Is "THE RAREST" Corvette Book???

I like Dr Dick Thompsons "Corvette Guide" published in 1958. I don"t know the total printed but it is a difficult book to find.

As far as low printed numbers, Ken Kaysers hardcover publication on "The History of GM's Ramjet Fuel Injection" was limited to 100 copies.

I have number 21 along with a soft cover copy which I refer to on a regular basis. It is a great informative history book.
Bruce B

[John D.]

Re: What Is "THE RAREST" Corvette Book???

Ken Kaysers wonderful book is still available in a hardcover copy on "Tachometer Press" for 250.00. Advertised as limited edition though. But never the less it seems that more than 100 copies have been printed.

If you are FI fans you need to purchase this book which is also available in a soft cover. Especially if you are a fan of 57 FI's. JD

[Joe R.]

Re: What Is "THE RAREST" Corvette Book???

Corvette Book????

The rarest Corvette publication would be without a doubt "The Corvette Restorer" Vol 1 Number 1.

Not a book but certainly the rarest Corvette "Publication".

JR

[David B.]

Re: What Is "THE RAREST" Corvette Book???

Rick Bizzoco's 1969 Stingray Guidebook is pretty hard to come by. Last I knew, it was not being reprinted.

[Dick W.]

Re: What Is "THE RAREST" Corvette Book???

Two? three? years ago, we auctioned a complete set of Restorer's and Drivlines off at the MA National Convention. Value placed on vol. 1 # 1 was between $1,000 and $1,250

[Douglas C.]

Re: What Is "THE RAREST" Corvette Book???

Seems that 17 years ago or so, there was a book titled something like "Zora Duntov's Top 10 Favorite Corvettes". If you bought it through Vette magazine, you could get 1 of 50 personally signed by Zora and the author.

I have a signed one put away somewhere.

--Doug, No. 13644

[Jim D.]

Re: What Is "THE RAREST" Corvette Book???

Yesterday I ran across one on ebay (for a great price, less than it was new) and it was the first time I had ever seen one offered for sale anywhere, so now I have two.

I've seen them for sale on E-Bay before. Congrats. on your $45 purchase.

[Robert I.]

Re: What Is "THE RAREST" Corvette Book???

<As far as low printed numbers, Ken Kaysers hardcover publication on "The History of GM's Ramjet Fuel Injection" was limited to 100 copies.

I'm under the impression that it costs about the same to print 5,000 copies as 100 copies.

Wonder why only 100 copies?

[Steven B.]

Re: What Is &quot;THE RAREST&quot; Corvette Book???

Being a self proclaimed Corvette book JUNKIE, I made a score yesterday on ebay that got me to wondering what is the "rarest" Corvette book out there? My vote at this time goes to the leather bound edition of:
CORVETTE! America's Only (300 copies)
Published by MBA (Michael Bruce Associates) or possibly better known as Michael Antonick, who also wrote and published, Corvette-The Sensuous American, book series as well as what we all know as the "Black Book".
As many who have been around awhile may know, and are familiar with the book that was first published in 1978-There were 7500 numbered first editions of this book with the last 300 of them being the black leather bound edition (pictured). I looked for one of these for years before I found one a year or so ago (by blind luck) which I paid BIG BUCKS for at the time. I had to have it, and talked the owner into selling it to me. Yesterday I ran across one on ebay (for a great price, less than it was new) and it was the first time I had ever seen one offered for sale anywhere, so now I have two.
Does anyone know of any Corvette book that would be considered more rare than this one??
I almost hope NOT, as I will then be on a mission to find it that could be expensive!!

Good deal Lynn! I just checked mine and included with the book was a sheet describing "The Leather Edition", numbered 1 through 300. These leather editions were the last 300 of the original 7500 copies. The books have a white tag inside the front cover with the book number and on the page opposite the table of contents the book number is also inlcuded.

Included on the sheet were the following offerings:

The Leather Edition $50.00
The Corvette Black Book $ 5.00
Corvette! America's Only (silver cover) $22.50
Prints for Framing (24 pages from the book) $10.00 for the set

Congratulations again!

Steve

[Lynn H.]

Re: What Is &quot;THE RAREST&quot; Corvette Book???

Thanks for all the replies!! I have been in and out of town for most of the last couple of weeks, and have just gotten the opportunity to read the replies and get back on the board in the last couple of days. I am familiar with most of the books mentioned with the exception of the one " Zora's Top Ten Favorites". If anyone is sure of the exact title of this book with any other information about it (author/publisher/etc.), I would appreciate it if you could let me know, either in this thread or by PM. As far as the others mentioned, here is what I do know about some of them:
I do have a first printing of "Corvette Guide" by Dick Thompson and Donn Munson. Mine is a paper back, but if I am not mistaken I have seen this in hardcover form (it was an old library book) for something like $125 on ebay. If anyone can confirm this I would appreciate that also. This book is part of a series called "Modern Sports Cars Series" from New York Sports Car Press and distributed by Crown Publishers, Inc. I have a couple of other books from this series including one by Ludvigsen titled "Corvette Guide to Speed", first printing 1969. I also have one that states "revised" on the cover , also dated 1969. I have no idea how many of these were originally printed, but do not see them too often.
I have seen Ken Kaysers book on the "Ramjet Fuel Injection", and have read and been told it is rare, but I have also heard there are some bootlegs out there to be careful about paying too much for one without some sort of authentication. For this reason I have not purchased any of the ones I have seen as I do not know how to tell the differences between them. Also, not being something that I would call "strictly Corvette", I have not really pursued it, but I may try a little harder next time I see one represented as original.
I think we all know the rarity of the "Corvette Restorer" Vol-1, Number 1. I would be curious if anyone knows EXACTLY how many of these were actually printed by the NCRS. I have seen some bootlegs. The most recent original I have seen was sold on ebay 8-23-09. I was told it was offered and sold by Noland Adams and it sold for $510.
On the "1969 Stingray Guidebook" by Rick Bizzoco, of which I have a couple of, this book is available. I would highly recommend it to anyone with a 68 or 69 as it is one of the most comprehensive books on these models I have ever seen. While some of the information contained may be debatable, there is a LOAD of great information. One section that deals with the early identification and dating of Tires, once they were required to be molded in by the DOT is very good info, for everyone, and all years. This book was fairly hard to find a few years back, but is now available from Corvette Central, and I believe David Crane to have many of them also.
Bruce, and Douglas, would you maybe post a photo of the books you mentioned if possible? I would be particularly interested in seeing the numbered book Bruce mentioned, with possibly a photo of the page with the numbering and the cover. This would be helpful to me in attempting to locate one and determine it to be original.
And Steven, the books I have also have the order forms with them. I have four or five sets of "Corvette-The Sensuous American", with many of the order forms and inserts that were included with them. I also have at least one complete set of 24 prints that were offered, as well as the slip cases, and limited edition's of "Corvette-Sports Car of America" (in a slipcase also), that were offered by MBA.
THANKS AGAIN GUYS!!!
Lynn

[Bruce B.]

Re: What Is &quot;THE RAREST&quot; Corvette Book???

Lynn,
See attached photos.
The Ken Kayser FI book hard cover with sleeve.
The numbered inner front cover numbered of the above book.
2 Corvette Guides in hardcover, one with dust cover removed.
2 Corvette Guides soft cover and a Porshe and Mercedes Guides of the same series of books.
Contact me if there are any questions.
Bruce B

[Bruce B.]

Re: What Is &quot;THE RAREST&quot; Corvette Book???

WOOPS
Here is a picture of Ken Kaysers soft cover version of the FI book.

[Dale C.]

Re: What Is &quot;THE RAREST&quot; Corvette Book???