2001, ISBN: 9780837600710

Although many people have written about the ubiquitous Volkswagen Beetle during the past 50 years, award-winning author Karl Ludvigsen has uncovered the untold stories behind the famed "P… Mehr…

Although many people have written about the ubiquitous Volkswagen Beetle during the past 50 years, award-winning author Karl Ludvigsen has uncovered the untold stories behind the famed "People's Car." The focus of this masterwork is the post-war battle for Adolf Hitler's giant Volkswagen factory and the efficiently-packaged car designed by Ferdinand Porsche. Should the heavily-damaged factory be destroyed, would it be better to cart off the tooling and plans as war reparations, or should the works be rebuilt and left in place as part of a recovering economy? Ludvigsen addresses these questions and much more in Battle for the Beetle. The tale is replete with extensive original research, fascinating photos and the clear concise writing for which Ludvigsen has long been known. The Society of Automotive Historians found Battle for the Beetle so compelling that it presented Ludvigsen's work with the Society's highest award for a book in 2001. The Nicholas-Joseph Cugnot Award "is presented to the book published during the previous calendar year which represents the most outstanding writing and original research in automobile history." In presenting the award, SAH Secretary Michael Berger called Battle for the Beetle "an exemplary piece of scholarship, " while another declared: "To my mind this book is automotive history at its best." Berger continued, stating that: "In sum, Battle for the Beetle is fascinating and captivating for anyone interested in automotive history or, for that matter, the history of the era within which the Beetle was created." Unquestionably, Battle for the Beetle is one of the most readable and fascinating books to come along in years. Media > Book, [PU: Robert Bentley]<