| Self-help books for the novice or casual mechanic is a rare thing back in day until 1969 when John Muir collaborated with Peter Aschwanden self-published a book titled “How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive” for the classic Volkswagen Beetle owners that is currently on its 19th edition with new material from Tosh Gregg and Aschwanden remains widely available.
What makes this book a bestseller is that its one of those for dummies being able to be published that is helpful to everyone who ever owns a classic beetle. Though I only found this book recently, I have not been able to finish the first chapter last year. It’s only of the book they have that caught my attention, which I borrowed from TAFE Regency’s expanded library last year. It’s actually the only copy that is available in the libraries that TAFE have. But recently I searched for another copy in one of South Australia’s public library, which is in Marion Cultural Centre. |
There I found the 25th Anniversary Edition a bit tattered and discolored or was is really published to appear to reflect its silver anniversary? This was the sixteenth edition published in February 1996 long after the author had passed away, which was forty-one years ago and was published by his wife. Currently, all the publishing rights are owned by Avalon Travel Publishing acquiring it in 1999. Browsing the pages the book still holds up and can renew interest in the classic Beetle being an air-cooled car that is easily maintained.
Peter Aschwanden who did the illustrations is the one that holds the book interesting up to this day. Injecting humor in the artworks can really grab some attention and makes this book interesting.
Outside of its original publication readers and owners of the books have been shared this online through PDF download or in open libraries. It’s not just a Volkswagen book for dummies, but for those who owned a Volkswagen previously it’s also a nostalgia taking them back to a time when used to drive one.
These days you can say this book is outdated by modern standards due to most of the cars now are run by EFIs or computerized without a carby, but even without the need to read the entire book it gives you a new appreciation for classic cars namely a Volkswagen Beetle, not the one released in 2000 or in 2013. The one legacy that Adolf Hitler had made is the “People’s Car” and this book is something worth owning or reading if not a good browse, but a nice anecdote that makes the classic Beetle’s legendary status as one of the most manufactured cars in the world iconic.
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