Product Description

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #160419 in Books
• Published on: 2004-08-27
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

About the Author
Jim Tyler has experience of restoring a wide range of classic cars, from a 1949 AC Saloon and 1940s military vehicles to cars manufactured into the 1990s. He has written classic car restoration guides based on his experience, owners' handbooks and workshop manuals for modern cars.

Customer Reviews

It's a decent book but the title is a bit off the mark...
I've had experience with the restoration of a number of vintage cars in the past so after I purchased a 1963 Volkswagen convertible I started to do my homework which consisted of reading everything I could find online about these cars as well as purchasing this book. The main gripe I have with the book centers around the misleading title. This book is not a "restoration manual" but rather a repair manual. That may seem like a petty statement but it is actually an important difference to note for those people who are looking for a reference book to guide them in a proper and correct restoration of a Volkswagen Beetle. I'm not saying that it's necessarily a bad book..in fact as a repair guide it's quite helpful especially in regards to the most involved body repairs. There are an extensive amount of color photos documenting many of the procedures however none of them provide any insight into what would be a considered a "correct" restoration.

Beyond my disappointment with the lack of correct resto info, I would also have to take issue with some of the bodywork procedures outlined in the book. Among the dubious methods employed in some of the extensive repairs were brazed together panels (as opposed to a proper weld) or overlapping patch panels instead of properly fitting and butt-welding the panels. While I realize that plenty of people, past and present, utilize these bodyworking methods, they are considered to be far less than ideal and can often lead to more problems down the road.

The mechanical repairs covered in the book seem to be soild and well thought out. Just as in the bodywork section, repair text is supported by an extensive amount of photos. I have several other books covering the mechanical aspects of the type 1 Volkswagen so I was not as concerned about the detail in this area. If someone was looking for reference covering just the mechanical repairs I might suggest some other books first such as John Muir's "How To Keep Your Volkswagen Alive", the Haynes Rapair Manual or the Bentley shop manuals.

Overall I could recommend this book but only with the notes that I have mentioned. In the end, there are not too many Volkswagen books available so even books that are mediocre are probably worth picking up.

A very good review of body work
The book pulls no punches about how easy it isn't(!) to restore an old bug. But, it has lots of very good color pictures of real cars (not the pristine shots you get in shop manuals). And, the writer gives anecdotes about his experiences working on cars, what to look for in one, and when to walk away because it's likely hopeless. Sadly, his anecdotes are nowhere near as good as the Muir book. And, you really have to think twice because the entire book is written in British English (you'll be calling a wrench a "spanner" by the time you're through with it). Overall a very good purchase, even at the somewhat high price.

Wonderfull book to have! - On the side.
The book deserves a 5-star raiting, yet it may not be what you expect.

If you have a Beetle and expect this book to help you with repairs, then maybe this is NOT the book for you. In fact, there is a complete paragraph in the second page that reads in essence: "This is not a workshop manual. We strongly advise for this book to be used as support when using a repair manual".

If you plan to buy a Beetle, then this is by far THE book to buy.

Illustrations ar beautiful, explanations are clear and go from the very basic DIY-wanna-be to the highly specialized DIY-better-get-some-pro-to-do-that kind of Beetle owner.

It can help you on certain reparis, but it will probably NOT turn you into the mechanic your friends will sought to fix their Beetles... although they certainly WILL come to you for support and advice.

Printing quality is wonderful, and it is worth its cost, for it shall be of great use when speaking to a specialists, in the sence that you will -for a change, speak their jarggon and are to not feel out of the loop, when asking a pro to work on you four-wheeled, hard-earned, mechanical love.

Get the book if you are looking for real, hard information about a beetle. Get an additional workshop book to work on repairs. I will. Now.