Author Topic: "The Style Books"  (Read 4693 times)

mdsalemi

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"The Style Books"
« on: July 02, 2020, 21:48:01 »
(Note: you have to know about my book Pagoda Style in order to appreciate this...)

Today I learned that there is a new book out called "Corvair Style", recently published. Two years ago the same author, Richard Lentinello of Hemmings, did "Cadillac Style".  So I go to learn more about these books and I start laughing...so I wrote a note to the author. Maybe he'll laugh, maybe he'll be dismissive, and maybe he'll be angry. But here's the note:

Hello Richard,

I hope you are well. I continue to enjoy getting the many emails from Hemmings, and many of the interesting articles in them. Today’s of course, on the Checker was particularly interesting to me, since I had cousins in New York that drove cabs…so Checkers always held an interest. And of course having lived in Michigan for 35 years, they were a home grown brand.

Maybe you remember my name but probably not; I used to deal with David LaChance and Mark McCourt at Hemmings a few years ago (my quest to gain some advertising, even for the special motor oil for older cars was fruitless). And, in another lifetime, in the early 1990s (before your time at Hemmings) I owned a company in Manchester, Vermont (Primary Color Incorporated) that did prepress work for Hemmings.

In the kindest possible way, with a smile on my face (there’s no anger here, I’m laughing) I’d like to take a little issue with the comment on your website that  “This concept of Style books was created by noted automotive historian, editor and photographer Richard Lentinello, who has long dreamt of creating a special series of collector-car books for enthusiasts to enjoy and treasure.”

Well—I’d beg to differ—not on the noted historian bit, but on the creation of the “Style” books. I believe it was I who created this concept. I did it with my book called Pagoda Style, which had been sent to your office at Hemmings, and I know at least, McCourt and LaChance read it since we spoke about it at that time. I’m sure they’ve forgotten it. The book was published in December, 2011, and the ISBN registration for the book obtained (with the title) about two years prior. It’s probably still floating around the office up there in Bennington, unless someone pilfered it.

About my book Pagoda Style let me say—“Each chapter focuses on one particular car, with insightful and sometimes entertaining and funny thoughts from its owners. Each of these car owners are passionate about their Corvairs Pagodas, relating why they hold such a special fondness for them, as well as how they drive and handle. And several cars are still in the hands of their original owners, which makes for some truly interesting reading.” Basically, Pagoda Style is a “celebration of the fascinating background of [this] distinctive automobile and the dedicated individuals who collect, restore and drive them.  Does that verbiage sound familiar? Yeah, it’s yours!  But the concept was created in 2008-2009, and it took two years to assemble.

Maybe you saw the book maybe you didn’t. It was a limited edition of 500 copies. Approximately 125 copies went to those who contributed to the book. The balance of the copies sold in 23 countries on six continents in 9 months. It was sold on Amazon, eBay, Barnes & Noble, and in the Mercedes-Benz Museum Gift Shop.

Aside from the first press copy and my own personal copy on the shelf, alas they have been sold out since late 2012. However, they do pop up on eBay now and then…here’s one now! https://ebay.us/oUCDxI


I'm still laughing...
« Last Edit: July 02, 2020, 21:52:33 by mdsalemi »
Michael Salemi
Davidson, North Carolina (Charlotte Area) USA
1969 280SL (USA-Spec)
Signal Red 568G w/Black Leather (Restored)
2023 Ford Maverick Lariat Hybrid "Area 51"
2023 Ford Escape Hybrid
2024 Ford Mustang Mach Ex PEV

Jonny B

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Re: "The Style Books"
« Reply #1 on: July 03, 2020, 01:21:59 »
Michael,

It will be most interesting to learn about what you get back from the folks at Hemmings. Keep us all posted. An posted in style, no doubt!

Jonny B
1967 250 SL Auto, DB 568
1970 280 SL Auto, DB 904
1966 Morris Mini Minor

ja17

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Re: "The Style Books"
« Reply #2 on: July 03, 2020, 14:36:31 »
It's always amazing to see how casually someone can take credit for your creativity and hard work. I guess you should be flattered but also disturbed.

A very good Amish friend of mine restores and rebinds priceless Antique leather books for museums and libraries. He asked me to borrow one of my "Pagoda Style" book one day and a few months later he returned it in a special hand crafted leather covered case that he made. I'll take some pics and post it latter. My second copy I gave to my Grandson Jacob who keeps it with all his special possessions also.

Thanks Michael!
Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio
1969 Dark Olive 280SL
2002 ML55 AMG (tow vehicle)
2002 SLK32 AMG (350 hp)
1982 300TD Wagon turbo 4spd.
1963 404 Mercedes Unimog (Swedish Army)
1989 flu419 Mercedes Unimog (US Army)
1998 E430
1974 450SLC Rally
1965 220SE Finback

mdsalemi

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Re: "The Style Books"
« Reply #3 on: July 03, 2020, 16:31:47 »
It's always amazing to see how casually someone can take credit for your creativity and hard work. I guess you should be flattered but also disturbed.

Well, that's the way of the world, I guess. The funny thing is, Hemming's did get at least one review copy (maybe more?) sent out when I was trying to publicize the sale of the book to the world. There were reviews in a number of places, including Amazon, and a few of these noted "there's nothing else like it". So, yes, it was kind of my creation, the finished product sent to Hemmings, and then 8 years later, a "Cadillac Style" book shows up? Then, this week--"Corvair Style"?  And Hemmings' Richard Lentinello claims he invented the genre? Hmmm...
Michael Salemi
Davidson, North Carolina (Charlotte Area) USA
1969 280SL (USA-Spec)
Signal Red 568G w/Black Leather (Restored)
2023 Ford Maverick Lariat Hybrid "Area 51"
2023 Ford Escape Hybrid
2024 Ford Mustang Mach Ex PEV

GM

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Re: "The Style Books"
« Reply #4 on: July 03, 2020, 17:30:30 »
Steve Jobs famously said in 1996:
"Picasso had a saying -- 'good artists copy; great artists steal' -- and we have always been shameless about stealing great ideas."
Sorry you got ripped off, at least they should have given you attribution.
Gary
1971 280SL - Sold
(98 from the end of production)
DB180 Silver Gray Metallic
Black MB Tex

john.mancini

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Re: "The Style Books"
« Reply #5 on: July 05, 2020, 14:12:18 »
Hi Michael,

That was a very well written letter that you sent to Hemmings. Hopefully they got your (somewhat cryptic  ;) ;))message.
I wanted to let you know that just the other day I took out your book and read through it. You did a tremendous job putting that together and the results could not have been better.

Thanks again for the book Michael. We're all very happy that you are part of this wonderful Pagoda SL Group.

John
John
65 230SL 519 Red 4-sp
98 911 cab
56 Ford F100
08 Porsche RS60 Spyder
23 Z4M40i

mdsalemi

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Re: "The Style Books"
« Reply #6 on: July 05, 2020, 15:34:24 »
Hi Michael,

That was a very well written letter that you sent to Hemmings. Hopefully they got your (somewhat cryptic  ;) ;))message.
I wanted to let you know that just the other day I took out your book and read through it. You did a tremendous job putting that together and the results could not have been better.

Thanks again for the book Michael. We're all very happy that you are part of this wonderful Pagoda SL Group.

John

I'm seriously considering an "editor's edition" to Pagoda Style for the 10th anniversary. That would include all or most of the content, with the following additions:

1. Where are they now?
2. Serious notes on how each page came together. While some know some of the effort and photo editing, nobody knows all. (but me of course) This would be somewhat akin to "The making of..." or what you find on some blu-ray movies, SPECIAL FEATURES.
3. Possible addition of more contributors. A lot has happened in 10 years...
Michael Salemi
Davidson, North Carolina (Charlotte Area) USA
1969 280SL (USA-Spec)
Signal Red 568G w/Black Leather (Restored)
2023 Ford Maverick Lariat Hybrid "Area 51"
2023 Ford Escape Hybrid
2024 Ford Mustang Mach Ex PEV

Peter van Es

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Re: "The Style Books"
« Reply #7 on: July 06, 2020, 08:49:50 »
Just make sure it isn't as much of an ordeal as the first version was... you're not as young anymore as you were then  ;)
1970 280SL. System Admin of the site. Please do not mail or PM me questions on Pagoda's... I'm not likely to know the answer.  Please post on the forum instead!

yves

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Re: "The Style Books"
« Reply #8 on: July 06, 2020, 13:57:57 »
May be we could here, on the forum make a list of those who are interested in...a second book.?

....I am interested   ;)
Happy owner of a 69 blue 280SL ,  63 FHC  osb E-type , 55 FHC XK 140 to be restored...

thelews

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Re: "The Style Books"
« Reply #9 on: July 06, 2020, 14:16:52 »
The only thing that would change on my page is what the driver looks like.
Enjoy some pictures at this link:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8292359@N06/sets/72157603240571101/show/

John - Wisconsin
1967 Early 250 SL Red/Caviar, Manual #1543
1961 190 SL 23K miles
1964 Porsche 356
1970 Porsche 911E
1991 BMW 318is
1966 Jaguar XKE
1971 Alfa Romeo GTV 1750

mdsalemi

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Re: "The Style Books"
« Reply #10 on: July 06, 2020, 14:36:13 »
Just make sure it isn't as much of an ordeal as the first version was... you're not as young anymore as you were then  ;)

You know, Peter, there's a sign at the local independent mechanic. It says "You can have it CHEAP, you can have it FAST, or you can have it GOOD; pick one..."

I specifically chose GOOD. It wasn't going to be fast (just the >2,500 emails with over 70 participants spanned two years). Then there was the wasted time; remember Bob Possel? His wife, self-described photographer, also fancied herself a graphic designer and commandeered all communication on Bob's pages. She didn't understand the difference between a layout and a photo, and kept submitting her own designs not in keeping with the unified theme of the book. Sizing was all wrong, too, consistently wrong! When I finally got his pages all together (yes I have them, unpublished), she insisted he drop out. Want to know how much time was wasted on that? There were also a couple of participants that made it extremely difficult to communicate with them. Since the book had to be 100% complete before going to press, one un-reviewed page or one unanswered email brought things to a halt more often than you'd imagine.

In reality, with all those emails, the only people or person that complained about the time was one at-the-time board member(s) who didn't even participate. Chronic complainer. The advance of $2,000 (to increase the print count), erroneously reported to the board as a "liability" rather than the reality of a "Prepaid Asset" was returned and the complaints stopped.

I may be ten years older, but my ability to deal with this now, with better hardware and software (two huge parts of the puzzle), and much faster internet is considerably improved...
Michael Salemi
Davidson, North Carolina (Charlotte Area) USA
1969 280SL (USA-Spec)
Signal Red 568G w/Black Leather (Restored)
2023 Ford Maverick Lariat Hybrid "Area 51"
2023 Ford Escape Hybrid
2024 Ford Mustang Mach Ex PEV

john.mancini

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Re: "The Style Books"
« Reply #11 on: July 06, 2020, 22:47:37 »
I'm very interested but if there are pictures involved please photoshop my image from the first book.
John
65 230SL 519 Red 4-sp
98 911 cab
56 Ford F100
08 Porsche RS60 Spyder
23 Z4M40i

neelyrc

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Re: "The Style Books"
« Reply #12 on: July 08, 2020, 02:25:23 »
.........3. Possible addition of more contributors. A lot has happened in 10 years...

Michael,  I was not here for the first go but I would be pleased to contribute if given the opportunity.
Ralph

1969 280SL, 4 Speed Manual, Dark Olive (291H), Parchment Leather (256), Dark Green Soft Top (747)
1972 Mercedes-Benz 280SEL 4.5
1988 Mercedes-Benz 560SL
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Italy
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WRe

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Re: "The Style Books"
« Reply #13 on: July 08, 2020, 06:35:24 »
Michael,  I was not here for the first go but I would be pleased to contribute if given the opportunity.

Same with me! ... Wolfgang

450sl

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Re: "The Style Books"
« Reply #14 on: July 08, 2020, 09:42:15 »
Same over here !!!!; Mark

JamesL

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Re: "The Style Books"
« Reply #15 on: July 08, 2020, 11:55:57 »
Michael, if you’re not already regretting opening your mouth, I’d be happy to update my entry😉
James L
Oct69 RHD 280 in DB906 with cognac leather

mdsalemi

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Re: "The Style Books"
« Reply #16 on: July 08, 2020, 13:38:52 »
It's all in the thought process now...how best to do it and more. The original concept took a while to become clear, and at least from here I have a starting point...but still needs formulation...
Michael Salemi
Davidson, North Carolina (Charlotte Area) USA
1969 280SL (USA-Spec)
Signal Red 568G w/Black Leather (Restored)
2023 Ford Maverick Lariat Hybrid "Area 51"
2023 Ford Escape Hybrid
2024 Ford Mustang Mach Ex PEV

Vander

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Re: "The Style Books"
« Reply #17 on: July 08, 2020, 14:30:53 »
If it is to be re-done, or a second book. A section of the new generation of owners is a good idea as long as where are they now for the previous ones.
1969 280SL

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Re: "The Style Books"
« Reply #18 on: July 08, 2020, 14:41:56 »
Michael,   I have found in all the volunteering I do the complainers are the ones that do nothing. It was and still is a great book.

RAY

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Re: "The Style Books"
« Reply #19 on: July 09, 2020, 17:39:37 »
Hi Art,
Thanks for letting me purchase your copy, still enjoying it now.

Michael, I would certainly be interested in being a contributor to a new one, even though I do understand it is at the moment in the ' thought' process.

Ray