Hardcover Book Volkswagen Beetle Portrait of a Legend -Edwin Baaske

Volkswagen Beetle: Portrait of a Legend by Edwin (sometimes listed as Adwin) Baaske is a richly illustrated history of the VW Beetle, first published in Germany and later translated into English in the late 1990s. It combines photography with narrative to celebrate the Beetle’s cultural and automotive significance.

 Key Details

• Title: Volkswagen Beetle: Portrait of a Legend

• Author: Edwin Baaske

• Publisher: Bentley Publishers (English edition)

• Publication Date: First English edition 1997; later reprints in 1998 and 2003

• Format: Hardcover, approx. 142–146 pages

• ISBN: 0837601622 / 9780837601625

• Dimensions: 30.5 × 22.2 cm

 Content Overview

• Origins: Covers the Beetle’s beginnings in the 1930s as Hitler’s “people’s car” project, designed by Ferdinand Porsche.

• Postwar Revival: Details how production restarted after WWII, leading to the Beetle’s global success.

• Cultural Impact: Explores the Beetle’s role in the 1960s counterculture, its popularity in the U.S., and its enduring image as a symbol of freedom and individuality.

• Photography: Features stunning period and modern photographs, factory images, and advertising material.

• Later Developments: Includes coverage of the Concept 1 prototype and the launch of the New Beetle in the late 1990s.

 Historical Context

• Published to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Volkswagen’s postwar rebirth (1945–1995).

• The book is considered a visual celebration rather than a technical manual, making it ideal for general readers and collectors.

• It complements more technical works like Bentley’s VW Beetle Official Service Manual or Ryan Lee Price’s VW Beetle: A Production History.