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Battle for the Beetle
Battle for the Beetle

by Karl Ludvigsen
Price: $39.95

Table of Contents

Foreword
Introduction
Chapter One
Birth of a Menace
Chapter Two
Beetles in Warpaint
Chapter Three
The Factory and its Survival
Chapter Four
Britain Meets the Beetle
Chapter Five
Assessment by the Americans
Chapter Six
The French Nearly Prevail
Chapter Seven
Australia, Belgium, Russia and Other Contenders
Chapter Eight
America Rides to the Rescue
Chapter Nine
Britain Chances Her Hand
Chapter Ten
The Making of a Non-Decision
Chapter Eleven
Epilogue for a Battle
Endnotes
Bibliography
Index
Art Credits
Acknowledgements
About the Author
Ferdinand Porsche opened an auto design office in 1930 in Stuttgart. Page 3
In 1940 the KdF works received contracts to manufacture bombs. Page 44
The elegant structural design of the factory featured high and well-lit production halls. Page 86
The factory was heavily damaged by wartime airstrikes. Page 99
The first car the VW factory produced after the war featured a Beetle body on a Kubel chassis. Page 110
Henry and Edsel Ford each responded to the challenge of the VW. Page 254
Roy Fedden’s admiration for the VW car and factory was reflected in the designs for his own cars. Page 311
VW introduced its Export model in mid-1949. Page 361
Karl Ludvigsen
Karl Ludvigsen

In addition to his motor industry activities as an executive (with GM, Fiat and Ford) and head of a consulting company, Karl Ludvigsen has been active for over 50 years as an author and historian. As an author, co-author or editor he has some four dozen books to his credit. Needless to say, they are all about cars and the motor industry, Karl's life-long passion.

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