Volkswagen Transporter The First 60 Years [Hardcover]

Richard Copping (Author), Brian Screaton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2009

This book celebrates in words and pictures the 60th anniversary of the launch of Volkswagen’s ubiquitous Transporter. Making full use of Volkswagen’s archive material and wonderfully staged brochure pictures, the author creates an authentic period feel as he traces the development of the Transporter through the decades. Produced in a large and extensive format, this book is a authoritative reference.

Editorial Reviews

Book Description

This book celebrates in words and pictures the 60th anniversary of the launch of Volkswagen’s ubiquitous Transporter. Making full use of Volkswagen’s archive material and wonderfully staged brochure pictures, the author creates an authentic period feel as he traces the development of the Transporter through the decades. Produced in a large and extensive format, this book is a authoritative reference.

About the Author

Richard Copping has had a passion for Volkswagens for many years, and a particular love of the Beetle of which he has owned many examples. For the last decade his time has been devoted to writing about the cars, his work being published in various magazines and several books. Richard has also collected an enviable hoard of archive material relating to all Volkswagen models. He is also a former editor of VW Motoring magazine.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: Haynes Publishing (November 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1844255794
• ISBN-13: 978-1844255795
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 9.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,001,547 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the very best on Volkswagen, December 9, 2009

By 

Heinz Schneider (Palos Verdes Estates, CA, US) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Volkswagen Transporter The First 60 Years (Hardcover)

As a historian for a Vintage Volkswagen Club and writing about the Volkswagen history in its newsletter I am always interested in seeing what others have to say about Volkswagen. While the subject covered in this book, the Volkswagen Tranporter, is comprehensevly coverd, with detailed information and pictures, the part that has has been most intersting to me was the description of the early years at Volkswagen and the many individuals involved. The writer has described these individuals very well and has not fallen for much of the erronious information that over the years has been common in the many books about Volkswagen.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Some fun trips down memory lane with this book..., February 20, 2010

By 

Thomas Duff "Duffbert" (Portland, OR United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Volkswagen Transporter The First 60 Years (Hardcover)

This is another one of those "new books at the library" selections that just happened to strike my fancy when I saw it... Volkswagen Transporter The First 60 Years by Richard Copping and Brian Screaton. It's a coffee-table-sized book that covers the full history of the Volkswagen Van, from the first models to roll off the assembly line until today. Copping and Screaton do a very good job of combining both text and images, so by the end you have the complete story of the van, both down to the minute body specs and with pictures to show each change along the way.

For a VW fanatic, this would be a must-have book. The authors go into detail about how the idea of the Transporter came about, the struggles to get it out the door, and the personalities that shaped the vehicle over the years. For those of us who just fondly remember the "happy face" design, the images can take you down memory lane if you ever had the opportunity to ride in a VW Bus or go camping in one.

I personally didn't realize just how influential and groundbreaking the Transporter design was at the time it was introduced. It was a vehicle designed for a specific purpose... carrying cargo. No luxuries, no frills, just basic function with unique cargo-carrying design at the time. Over the years, VW added additional models to expand the line and target audiences. I didn't know there were specific models designed to be ambulances, hydraulic lift platforms, tipper trucks, and mobile work stations. And of course, the addition of passenger seats turned the Transporter into what was probably the original mini-van.

When you look at the models of today, they're sadly lacking in that distinctive look that made VW so easy to spot and recognize. But with this book, you can relive the glory days of the Volkswagen Transporter, Almost makes me want to put on a tie-dye shirt and play some Grateful Dead music... :)

Disclosure:
Obtained From: Library
Payment: Borrowed

0 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Still waiting, January 7, 2010

By 

L. Blackburn - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Volkswagen Transporter The First 60 Years (Hardcover)

I ordered this book around the middle of December and we're still waiting for it to arrive. I have no idea why it's taking so long and it was a real disappointment as it was a Christmas gift that's now extremely late.