The AFU and Urban Legend Archive Products vw references Select a topic - - - - - - - - Home Searches AFU FAQ - - - - - - - - AFU Animals Books Celebrities Classic Collegiate Death Disney Drugs Food GIF Language Legal Medical Misc Movies Politics Products Religion Science Sex Songs TV - - - - - - - - Other sites

From: JTCHEW@lbl.gov (Ad absurdum per aspera)
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.urban,rec.autos.vw
Subject: Re: Hitler and the VW
Date: 8 Dec 1993 23:05:48 GMT

>The VW Beetle was designed by Hitler.
>Just heard it, and need some info to refute it. I have a bet riding
>on this one, so please post the pertinent info and references.

If you have a bet riding on a VW Beetle, you have plenty of time, and at this time of year I hope it's dressed warmly. (Just kidding!)

As for Hitler, his meddlings in technical affairs were notoriously beneficial to the Allies. Since the Bugs did indeed work after a fashion, I find it hard to imagine that he was directly involved. But the car's roots do indeed go back to when he was in power.

The University of California's magical mysterious MELVYL online card catalog <telnet melvyl.berkeley.edu> reveals quite a few items in response to F(ind) SU(bject VOLKSWAGEN. Here are some intriguing ones. I have no VW and can vouch for the voracity of none of these references.

Joe "Check out the photo of the Aussie amphibious Bug in _Small World_" Chew

9. Center for Auto Safety.

Small--on safety: the designed-in dangers of the Volkswagen. Project editors: Lowell Dodge [and others]. New York, Grossman Publishers, 1972.

       UCB   Moffitt   TL215.V6 C4 1972
       UCD   Law Lib   TL215.V6 C45 1972
       UCD   Main Lib  TL215.V6 C4
       UCI   Main Lib  TL215.V6 C4
       UCLA  College   TL 215 V6C33 1972
       UCLA  Law Lib   T C33303s 1972 TO SRLF
       UCLA  URL       TL 215 V6C33 1972
       UCSB  Main Lib  TL215.V6 C4 1972 Sci-Eng
       UCSC  Science   TL215.V6C4
       UCSD  Central   TL215.V6 C4 1972
       CSL   Main Lib  TL 215 V6 C4 1972 General Coll

14. Fry, Robin.

The VW Beetle / Robin Fry. Newton Abbot ; North Pomfret, Vt. : David &

Charles, c1980.

        UCB   Moffitt   TL215.V6 .F7
        UCSD  Central   TL215.V6 F75

19. DISSERTATION

Loewenstein, David.
The self image and socioeconomic characteristics of Ford Pinto owners versus Volkswagen Beetle owners. 1971.

UCLA AGSMgmt LD 791.8 B9L825

30. Nelson, Walter Henry.

Small wonder; the amazing story of the Volkswagen. Rev. and enl. Boston, Little, Brown [1970].

UCSB Main Lib TL215.V6 N4 1970 Sci-Eng

31. Nitske, W. Robert.

The amazing Porsche and Volkswagen story. New York, Comet Press Books

[1958].

      Series title:  A Reflection book.
        UCLA  AGSMgmt   TL 140 P82N6 Corporate History Collection
        UCSB  Main Lib  TL140.P6 N5 Sci-Eng

34. Reichert, Nikolaus, 1920-

VW Beetle : an illustrated history / Nikolaus Reichert & Hans Joachim Klersy. Sparkford, Nr. Yeovil, Somerset, England ; Newbury Park, Calif.,

USA : Haynes, 1987, c1986.

      Series title:  A Foulis motoring book.
        UCD   Main Lib  TL215.V6 R45 1987

40. Steinwedel, Louis William.

The Beetle book : America's 30-year love affair with the "Bug" / by Louis

William Steinwedel. Englewood Cliffs, N.J. : Prentice-Hall, c1981.

UCSD Central TL215.V6 S78 Oversize