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A new book here about early Minis by James Taylor (was supposed to find some cars for this but was too lazy...sorry Bill! ). Not sure how definitive or detailed this will be but it's not a subject anyone's tackled in any real anoraky depth before so will be interesting to see. Some sample pages on the website :

http://www.herridgeandsons.com/posit/sh ... 1906133665+++++++

Looks like it could be a good read, but no doubt the anoraks will be out in force criticising it in every detail. Photography looks first class too.

I don't think there's much reason for an anorak to buy it, but for most folk interested in early Minis who don't wear BMC underpants (that's Bill out) ( ) it's bound to be informative. Unfortunately it's quite rare for anoraks to write books, they're usually written by career journos with little interest or knowledge (understandably!), hence why so few decent tomes on Minis have ever been written but lots of light coffee table books. The Parnell book to the contrary has been a constant source of reference for me over the years, and that in itself wasn't anywhere near as detailed as I suspect the sequel (Cooper and S 2 - Parnell Strikes back!) will most likely be. (IF it ever appears).

My green 67 sdl is in it some where . I suppose at £35 you can't expect a free copy

Pete wrote:I don't think there's much reason for an anorak to buy it, but for most folk interested in early Minis who don't wear BMC underpants (that's Bill out) ( ) it's bound to be informative.

It's a very good read with lots of good information in but as you say Pete it's nowhere near as detailed as "we" would have liked, but there's a limit to time and space in these things. The danger for the publisher is it being so anal that no one wants to buy a copy. I do hope it's received well and the mistakes have been kept to a minimum. James tried very hard to make sure he spoke to the right people about the right subject but mistakes are inevitable. People where very generous with their time and access to cars (Nick) which made the job much easier than it could have been.

Not knocking this particular book but the trouble is after all these years and so many books on Minis that the last thing the world needs is another expensive photo book. A proper informed anorak Mini book has still to be written along the lines of the Parnell book, that covers classic Minis and would be a guide to restoration. Bill!

Like a lot of subjects (I'm thinking Unipower GT for instance) the info on early Minis is out there but it's all over the place, on here, on older versions of this forum even, in a few books, magazine articles, but needs to be gathered into one publication.

I agree Parnells original mini book is good
Also Anders Ditlev Clausager original healey
But the mini needs a book like Gary Andersons Authentic restoration guide
This really is a masterpiece ...only problem is second hand copy's fetch £250!

Pete wrote:I don't think there's much reason for an anorak to buy it, but for most folk interested in early Minis who don't wear BMC underpants (that's Bill out) ( ) it's bound to be informative. Unfortunately it's quite rare for anoraks to write books, they're usually written by career journos with little interest or knowledge (understandably!), hence why so few decent tomes on Minis have ever been written but lots of light coffee table books. The Parnell book to the contrary has been a constant source of reference for me over the years, and that in itself wasn't anywhere near as detailed as I suspect the sequel (Cooper and S 2 - Parnell Strikes back!) will most likely be. (IF it ever appears).

Hmmmmm,,,,,, decisions decisions,,,,,,,,

Buy the book or talk to the missus,,,,,,,

They published a similar book in the same series for the Jaguar E-Type, which is a fantastic book. A bit on the "coffee-table" side, but great photos and more specific info than most auto books.

There really is no substitution for the Parnell book for great Mk1 Mini info and photos. I keep one copy indoors and another in my shop!

Much better deal here :

http://www.whsmith.co.uk/products/facto ... 1906133665

That's looking a better deal isn't it? I MIGHT even leave a few hints around the house - especially with Christmas coming up .

Just leave the WH Smith page up on your screen long enough, they should get the message. A bit of tinsel on the keyboard might help?

Looks like a decent book.

But, just to establish my "king of the anoraks" status, I have noticed the first blunder.

In the Moke section it says that MK1 Moke wheels were painted "Old English White", this as we all know is incorrect, no Mini wheels were EVER painted OEW, they were painted a dark Cream colour, which was MUCH darker than OEW.

Personally I suspect that the actual colour is BS367 "Manilla"

M

Now that is truly anoraky - but there again God is in the detail as they say...

Pete wrote:Much better deal here :

http://www.whsmith.co.uk/products/facto ... 1906133665

But this one only has 156 pages vs 216??

Tagus wrote:

Pete wrote:Much better deal here :

http://www.whsmith.co.uk/products/facto ... 1906133665

But this one only has 156 pages vs 216??

Email off the publisher.

Hi Bill,

This is the same book. There is only one version.

We’re always asked for details of upcoming books a year before they actually come out, often before we’ve even got a manuscript! The book ended up being longer than we anticipated. We have informed Nielsen BookData, the central resource for book information, but it can take some time for all the websites to catch up.

Kind regards,

Ed

Had a knock from the postman this morning, WH Smiths have sent me my copy.

I have just spent the last 15 minutes flicking through and on initial inspection I give it a thumbs up. Excellent photography throughout showing various details of the cars. In the earlier chapters they are tables of part numbers for the electrical items and each section has colour and trim options. The book covers all vehicles made upto 1969. The chapters on the commercials and Moke seem a bit light in comparison to the others models covered, but then they did use much of the same parts. Some of the cars featured are stunners, especially the blue over yellow Elf and a certain '63 SDL.

I have yet to read the text, but could this be the new "Bible"?

PS I can confirm that it does have 216 pages!

This week I too received my signed copy of James Taylor’s book Factory-Original Mini Mk1 & Mk2. Having bought and studied John Parnell’s Original Mini Cooper & Cooper S book, Jon Pressnell’s Mini The Definitive History, Keith Mainland’s Classic Mini Specials & Moke book, I’m of the view that James Taylor’s new book is the best to date. Such a well presented and detailed book about the early Minis which to me are the Mk1 & Mk2 Mini, Riley Elf, Wolseley Hornet, Van and Moke.

To me this is the new Bible on early Mini cars without any uncertainty.

I ordered my signed copy with a voucher from MiniWorld Magazine at £35 pounds free postage and worth every penny in my opinion. The MiniWorld promotional code is FOM15 for anyone wanting to order a signed copy.

This book will without doubt make us all aware now that non-Coopers are very special cars and why-not, actually I believe, the non-Coopers are the Mini to have as Coopers have been preserved or replicated in great numbers

Tried registering at WH Smiths to pre-order a copy - they would not allow me to use my non-UK telephone number so do not appear to send outside the UK?

Can anyone confirm this and if so, suggest another option for a similar price? Amazon lists it as a pre-order item but at roughly double the price as WH Smiths - sorry Mr. Bezo's, you have 'enough' billions as it is...