This paperback book is filled with pictures, charts, and photos. It is more helpful for anyone who is unfamiliar with VWs rather than anyone experienced in serious hands-on maintenance.It is a good book to have in your collection, but should not be the only one on volkswagons.
Note that the original review was "lost" in Library Thing's cyberspace and was much more extensive. We apologize. ( )

Loved this book, lots of valuable info for collectors! ( )

Volkswagen Beetle: How To Build And Modify (2021) by Eric LeClair & Susan Anderson.
Where was this book when I needed it most. Back in the day you had to try to research the Beetle through library work, talking with various mechanics and dealers, and getting names and numbers of people who you might might call to get a tiny, but significant, piece of information just to do some intricate piece of work. And now here it is in a slim 160 pages. (I did finally manage to install Australian Trim on the bug, but it never did look right.)
As with all the books in CarTech’s Performance How-To offerings, this is the complete package, taking you from pre-purchase inspecting of the hulk you are thinking about (check suspension, body, rust, wiring or lack thereof. etc.) to tinting the windows just prior to rolling out to show off. You might be timid and just want to have a wagon that looks like it only now rolled out of the showroom. You might be more daring and do some power modifications. Or you go go all out and do a Rat Rod or Baja Bug or a dune buggy, whatever. Tips and tricks and great instructions abound throughout this guide.
And did I mention photos? The book fairly teems with detailed photos that will further explain what is written. But, as usual, I think it could use even more shots throughout. I’m more of a look and do-er than a read and do-er.
Keep in mind that this book deals strictly with the Volk’s Beetle and not the van. That is a find for another day. ( )

My wife used to joke that in her copious free time, she would like to have a Slug Bug rescue, a business that restored Volkswagen Beetles that have fallen on hard times.

That particular dream never quite came true, but this is a fine book for anyone who might be interested in taking their Beetle and creating the custom look of their dreams. A previous volume by the same author focused on what my wife talked about, restoring a VW Beetle. This work is all about custom modifications.

I learned quite a bit about the process of customizing from this book. One of the most valuable things to take away would be an honest assessment of the things you might do yourself, and where you would rely on the professionals. Beetles are very customizable, but not everything is within the reach of the weekend hobbyist.

This book offers a reasonably comprehensive view of common customizations by the major systems of the Beetle. I think you could use this book as a way to plan out what you might want to do, and how you could get it done.

I received a copy of this book through LibraryThing’s Early Reviewers program. ( )

This is a good way to start working on your VW Bug. The authors have good chapter headings so you can turn to the sections that are of most interest to you. This book came to us at just the right time as we had just acquired my husband's family Bug bought new in 1957. It has been in the family ever since and he wants to do some work on it and drive it around town occasionally. I am not a car person or rebuilder, but it looks to me like this book describes the major things that someone who wants to rebuild a VW might need to know. There are some areas of rebuilding that one might decide to have a professional tackle such as sandblasting, but many things can be done by the owner. The book is filled with photos to illustrate the processes. ( )