Synopsis
Veteran automotive writer Karl Ludvigsen has written the definitive story of the birth and wartime exploits of Adolf Hitler's Volkswagen and the post-war battle among the British, Americans, Russians, French, Australians and others for its giant factory and the Porsche-designed car that became an icon for generations around the globe. Car enthusiasts as well as history buffs will be fascinated by Battle for the Beetle's untold stories and behind-the-scenes interviews.
Booknews
Ludvigsen traces the history of the Volkswagon Beetle, from its inception as a people's car for Hitler's Germany to its status as a beloved American icon, to the arrival of the New Beetle in 1998. He focuses on the car's creation, the industry-wide power struggle following the German defeat in World War II, and the car's impact on automotive design. Sources include interviews with Ivan Hirst (once the ranking British official at the VW factory), as well as archives from Britain's Public Record Office and Imperial War Museum, the Ford Motor Company, the Detroit Public Library, and the Australian government. Ludvigsen is the former editor of Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)