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VW Beetle books - history and models (1/4)
A book on Volkswagen Beetle cars? Explore here illustrated books on the history, types and construction of Volkswagen cars (1/4).
Der Käfer (I) - Eine Dokumentation : Die Modelle von 1945 bis heute mit allen technische Daten und Details
It runs. And runs. And runs: The most produced car in the world, the longest produced car in the world and perhaps the most iconic car in the world. In any case, the Beetle is immortal.
This series, which is finally available again, begins here with the technical development of the Beetle, including data, prices, registration and production figures of the Wolfsburg long-running car.
Reprint of the 8th edition from 1994.
Product details
| Author: | Hans-Rüdiger Etzold |
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| Details: | 247 pages, 24 x 21 cm / 9 x 8.25 in, hardback |
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| Illustrations: | 245 b&w photos |
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| Publisher: | Motorbuch Verlag (D, 2018) |
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| ISBN: | 9783613040861 |
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Der Käfer (II) - Eine Dokumentation : Die Käfer-Entwicklung von 1934 bis heute: Vom Urmodell zum Weltmeister
It runs. And runs. And runs: The most produced car in the world, the longest produced car in the world and perhaps the most iconic car in the world. In any case, the Beetle is immortal.
The series, which is finally available again, covers the complete development history of the VW Beetle in this second volume - from the first drafts in 1934 to the end of production.
Reprint of the 3rd edition from 1986.
Product details
| Author: | Hans-Rüdiger Etzold |
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| Details: | 250 pages, 24 x 21 cm / 9 x 8.25 in, hardback |
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| Illustrations: | 311 b&w photos |
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| Publisher: | Motorbuch Verlag (D, 2018) |
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| ISBN: | 9783613040878 |
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VW Käfer 1933-1953 (Schrader Typen Chronik)
The VW Beetle is a motor legend that has sold over 20 million units worldwide. Robust and reliable, suitable for everything and not afraid of anything, the Beetle became a symbol of the German economic miracle - and a vehicle whose success is unique in automotive history.
This car, according to VW General Nordhoff, "had more faults than a dog has fleas". The rear-engined pretzel Beetles built between 1933 and 1953 are still extremely popular today. This Schrader Typen Chronik volume is a monument to the early generations of Beetles.
Product details
| Author: | Alexander Franc Storz |
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| Details: | 96 pages, 22 x 24 cm / 8.7 x 9 in, hardback |
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| Illustrations: | 132 b&w and 24 colour photos |
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| Publisher: | Motorbuch Verlag (D, 2011) |
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| Series: | Schrader Typen Chronik |
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| ISBN: | 9783613032767 |
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Der erste Käfer: Wiedergeburt des VW 30
NEW
This book tells the story of the early development of the Volkswagen Beetle. For many years, it was believed that all prototypes had been destroyed. However, a major discovery was made at a scrapyard in Austria: original parts from a "VW 30" prototype were found.
Built between 1936 and 1938, these cars covered about two million test kilometres and played a key role in the later success of the Beetle, of which over 21 million units were produced between 1938 and 2003.
Collector and expert Christian Grundmann began the complex reconstruction of the prototype using parts from the discovery. He researched archives at Porsche, Volkswagen, and Mercedes, gathered private photos worldwide, and even found original technical drawings.
VW designer Andreas Mindt helped by interpreting the photos and creating new design drawings to restore the bodywork.
The book documents every stage of the restoration, from the people involved to the finished car, which accurately reflects its original form. It also recounts the remarkable history of the VW 30 prototype up to its rediscovery. Author Thorsten Elbrigmann, a Volkswagen specialist with over 30 years of experience, provides expert insight.
This illustrated volume is a valuable resource for Beetle enthusiasts.
Product details
| Author: | Thorsten Elbrigmann |
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| Details: | 176 pages, 29 x 22 x 2.6 cm / 11.4 x 8.7 x 1.02 in, hardback |
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| Illustrations: | 174 b&w and colour photos |
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| Publisher: | Delius Klasing Verlag GmbH (D, 2025) |
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| ISBN: | 9783667128805 |
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Volkswagen Käfer Limousinen 1938-2003
The legendary VW Beetle was sold over 20 million times worldwide. Robust, reliable and capable of everything, the Beetle became a symbol of the German economic miracle - and a vehicle whose success is unique in automotive history.
The rear-engined crawlers, built until 2003, won over a loyal fan base - this excellent book by Nicolas Rosenow, which explains the individual sedan series in detail on 144 extensively illustrated pages, is aimed at them, just in time for the 80th anniversary of the Beetle from Wolfsburg.
Product details
| Author: | Nicolas Rosenow |
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| Details: | 128 pages, 21 x 17 cm / 8.25 x 6.7 in, hardback |
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| Illustrations: | 79 b&w and 115 colour photos |
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| Publisher: | Motorbuch Verlag (D, 2018) |
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| Series: | Modell-Kompass |
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| ISBN: | 9783613040786 |
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Der Käfer (III) - Eine Dokumentation : Die Vielfalt des Käfers
It runs. And runs. And runs: The most produced car in the world, the longest produced car in the world and perhaps the most iconic car in the world. In any case, the Beetle is immortal.
In Volume III of this series, which is finally available again, Hans-Rüdiger Etzold presents the fastest, most beautiful and most original Beetle variations.
Reprint of the 4th edition from 1992.
Product details
| Author: | Hans-Rüdiger Etzold |
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| Details: | 219 pages, 24 x 21 cm / 9 x 8.25 in, hardback |
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| Illustrations: | 374 b&w photos |
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| Publisher: | Motorbuch Verlag (D, 2018) |
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| ISBN: | 9783613040885 |
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Der Käfer (IV) - Eine Dokumentation : Sonderkarosserien, Cabriolet, Karmann Ghia, Buggy, Auslandsproduktion
It runs. And runs. And runs: The most produced car in the world, the longest produced car in the world and perhaps the most iconic car in the world. In any case, the Beetle is immortal.
The series, which is finally available again, ends with this fourth volume, which deals extensively and in detail with the special bodies of the Wolfsburg success car.
Reprint of the 2nd edition from 1998.
Product details
| Author: | Hans-Rüdiger Etzold |
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| Details: | 222 pages, 24 x 21 cm / 9 x 8.25 in, hardback |
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| Illustrations: | 413 b&w photos |
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| Publisher: | Motorbuch Verlag (D, 2018) |
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| ISBN: | 9783613040892 |
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Die Käfer-Legende - Von tollen Käfern und Erfolgswagen
From Ferdinand Porsche's dream to a reality built over 20 million times on all roads around the world, from a National Socialist propaganda coup to a metal symbol of the democratic Federal Republic.
In this illustrated chronicle, Alexander F. Storz describes the period from the first prototype designs in the 1930s through the various further developments after the war to the last Beetle models that left the factory halls in Mexico in 2003.
Illustrated with private photos, he also revives the period colour of those decades in Germany.
Product details
| Author: | Alexander F. Storz |
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| Details: | 208 pages, 26.5 x 23 cm / 10.4 x 9.1 in, hardback |
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| Illustrations: | 365 b&w and colour photos |
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| Publisher: | Motorbuch Verlag (D, 2018) |
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| ISBN: | 9783613041035 |
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Related titles:
Mexiko Käfer
Alexander Franc Storz | German | hardback | 96 p. | 2014
VW 1302 / 1303 - Die Evolution der Super-Käfer
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So fuhren wir im VW Käfer - Ein Fotoalbum
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VW Käfer
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Volkswagen Käfer: läuft und läuft ... seit 75 Jahren
Herbert Wesselhoff | German | hardback | 206 p. | 2013
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