Original VW Beetle - The Guide To European Models 1945-1978 Mexican Beetles And New Beetle

There are motor cars designed to impress the neighbours, cars built to achieve extraordinary speeds, and then there is the Volkswagen Beetle, a cheerful little machine that spent decades demonstrating that the world could be conquered with an air-cooled engine, four modest cylinders and a shape resembling an upturned bathtub. It was hardly glamorous, seldom particularly fast and possessed a heating system that occasionally regarded warmth as an optional extra. Nevertheless, it became one of the most successful and beloved automobiles in history.

In Original VW Beetle – The Guide to European Models 1945–1978, Mexican Beetles and New Beetle (1999), Laurence Meredith explores the fascinating development and distinctive details of Volkswagen’s legendary small car. Published by Bay View Books, this specialist reference work examines the evolution of the Beetle, helping enthusiasts distinguish authentic factory specifications from the imaginative modifications introduced by generations of previous owners.

The Beetle’s post-war success was an extraordinary achievement. Its simple construction, rear-mounted air-cooled engine and unmistakable appearance made it an affordable and remarkably durable form of personal transport. While other manufacturers pursued increasingly elaborate designs, Volkswagen continued refining a basic concept that had the considerable advantage of actually working.

Over the decades, countless changes appeared beneath the Beetle’s familiar curves. Windows grew larger, engines became more powerful, dashboards evolved and numerous mechanical improvements transformed the original design. To the casual observer, however, a Beetle from one decade might appear almost identical to another, leading to the mistaken impression that Volkswagen’s design department had enjoyed an exceptionally lengthy holiday.

For dedicated restorers, these subtle differences are matters of enormous importance. Meredith’s guide explores the details that distinguish particular models and production periods, providing valuable information for anyone attempting to return a surviving Beetle to its original specification.

The book also considers Mexican production, which continued long after European manufacture had ended, and the arrival of the New Beetle, Volkswagen’s ambitious attempt to reinvent its celebrated creation for a generation accustomed to modern comforts and considerably more complicated machinery.

Naturally, Beetle restoration can become an absorbing obsession. What begins as a modest project involving a charming old Volkswagen may eventually require extensive welding, specialist components and lengthy discussions about the correct shape of a dashboard knob. Enthusiasts have been known to spend extraordinary sums ensuring that a vehicle originally celebrated for its affordability remains historically accurate.

Condition: As New. This copy is exceptionally well preserved, presenting as new despite its 1999 publication date. Unlike many surviving classic Beetles, it requires no replacement heater channels, floorpan welding or prolonged investigation into suspicious corrosion beneath the running boards.

Published by Bay View Books in 1999. ISBN: 9781901432275.

Offered by Crappy Old Books, where we admire the magnificent determination of Volkswagen enthusiasts to preserve inexpensive people’s cars at an expense that would probably astonish their original owners.

An excellent addition to any collection of Volkswagen literature, classic car restoration guides or automotive history. Particularly recommended for enthusiasts who understand that the difference between two apparently identical Beetles can involve several years of production changes, dozens of obscure components and an argument lasting until closing time at the next vintage car rally.

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