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Book Reviews
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 VOLKSWAGEN
History to Hobby
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ENDORSEMENTS on back cover of book:

Hot VW Magazine's Editor,  Bruce Simurda:  "Bob Cropsey's book "History to Hobby" takes a unique approach to chronicling the history of Volkswagen automobiles.  You get it all in great detail, without the fluff".

East Coast VW Hobby Journalist, Steve Mierz:  "Bob Cropsey pulls together the whole picture for why contemporary old - VW Enthusiasts are still so incredibly active in the New Millennium, also how and why the 'Fun' aspect of the old - VW hobby happens.  I highly recommend this book."

West Coast VW Historian & Writer, Rich Kimball:  "This is the consumate source book for the Volkswagen enthusiast, a true encyclopedia of VW facts & figures.  This book will surely become the most used volume of any in your library".
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Hot VW Magazine.
Book Review on page 91 in issue November 2005.  

NOTE: They made a major mistake on the review. They printed 36 pages. This book has 240 pages.
   Finally, a history book put together for the VW collector.  Bob Cropsey is a very well known east coast VW historian and enthusiast, and has been compliling information for this book for the past five years.  Bob has been involved with the VW hobby for 30 years, restoring over 25 VWs, several of which have been featured in mgazines, books, and VW ads, as well as organizing local VW shows.
   The first "Chapter" of Bob's book is entitled, VW History Complete. It is a time line of VW related dates and facts starting with the foundation of the Westfalia Company in 1884, and ending with the last Beetle rolling off the Puebla, Mexico assembly lineon June 30th. 2003  This type of chronological listing gives a good perspective on the history of Volkswagen by showing the surrounding events that influenced that history.
   The next section of the book is dedicated to those wonderful Volkswagen Ads of the 1960s from the new York ad agency of Doyle, Dane & Bernbach.  These ads are what made Volkswagen (whether you liked them or not) a household word, and every VW collector worth his or her salt has at least a few of them in their collection.  There is a complete listing of ad titles starting with the 1959 "198 pounds " ad showing a man holding an engine, to the last print and TV ads of the early 1970s.
   Also in the book is a list of model changes, including U.S.A. sales figures, and chassis, engine, and production numbers for Beetles through 1980 and Type 2s from 1949 through 1974.  One of the best "Lists"is that of the movies where VWs appeared.  It's pretty complete, but ... we didn't see Big Wednesday listed, where Gary Busey and the boys are driving an Oval convertible  to the draft induction center, but we'll let that pass.  we entered it in the margin of our copy.  Oh, and of course, there is a Herbie section, too.
   Bob Cropsey's book "History to Hobby" is an encyclopedia of Volkswagen facts and figures giving you all the details without the fluff, guaranteed to become one of your favorites in your library.
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VW Motoring Magazine. UK By Editor: Richard Copping.
    Bob Cropsey has been into the Volkswagen Hobby for almost 30 years.  he has also been driving either an air-cooled Beetle or Bus every day of the year for the last 30-year plus years!  The opening words of "Volkswagen History to Hobby" undoubtedly give a clue to the nature of this 240 page book.

    Containg a wealth of black & white illustrations, including a section of quirky cartoons,  this volums is undoubtedly a labour of love.  The chapter headings speak in volumes about the mixture of serious and more light-hearted sections, showing why the book's subtitle of "History to Hobby" is so apt.  Ranging from a complete history of air-cooled Volkswagen, both before the Beetle's birth to the final demise of the Beetle in 2003, via a year-by-year description of the changes for both the "bug" (1945 - 1980) and the "Bus" (1949 - 1974),  to the more frivolous "Fun and Crazy VW facts" and herbie The Love Bug sections.  Theoretically there is something for all.
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Vintage Volkswagen Club of America.
Historian:  Heinz Schneider

   Bob Cropsey the author of this book is well known at VVWCA.  He is our very active regional representative in New Jersey.  Years ago he dazzled us with his knowledge about VW as the official VVWCA Historian, until he, in a nice complimentary way moved me into the position after I had corresponded with him about some Historical points pertaining to VW.
   Looking at this book, it is obvious that he has spent a considerable amount of time to gather that much information.  In the principal chapter of his book "From 1844 to 2003", he has collected just about all the facts known about VW.  He calls it "The most complete chapter on VW History".  I have to agree.  It is obviously a labor of love of the subject.  This is the first time where I have seen someone establish a timeline with all the pertinent events reguarding Volkswagen in chronological order.  Having now read his book for a second time within the last few weeks, all I can say is: Mission Accomplished!  One main reason I am much impressed is that I have struggled myself for many years to figure out and make sense of the many confusing details about the Volkswagen History.  Here we have all the dates, events, and people listed, well organized in compact chapters.  There is no doubt;  From now on this book has to be considered as the prime reference book for anyone who has any questions reguarding VW and it's History.

   Besides all the information above this book has chapters on "The Great VW Advertising Campaign", "Fun & Crazy VW Facts", "Herbie The Love Bug",  "Year to Year changes of the Beetle from 1945, and the Bus from 1949",  "The Great VW Hobby" and if all that isn't enogh you get well done drawings by George Trosley.

   To close:  For anyone who consideres himself a VW Enthusiast, I can not see how he or she can do without this book.  I Highly Recommend it.  Heinz Schneider,  VVWCA Historian.

 

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