How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive: A Manual of Step-by-step Procedures for the Compleat Idiot

First published in 1969, this classic manual of automotive repair equips VW owners with the practical skills to keep their Volkswagen running smoothly. Inside you'll find:

• Expert knowledge on any air-cooled Volkswagen built through 1978, including Bugs, Karmann Ghias, vans, and campers
• Easy-to-understand, fun-to-read information for novice and veteran mechanics alike, with anecdotal descriptions and clear language to help take the mystery out of diagnostic, maintenance, and repair procedures
• Trusted advice from the late John Muir, whose in-depth knowledge and sense of humor have guided Volkswagen enthusiasts for nearly 50 years
• Hand-lettered with intricate hand-drawn illustrations throughout
• Updated information on problem-solving, with new photos and an updated resource list

Packed with trusted insight, troubleshooting tips, and clear directions, How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive is the ultimate VW manual.

John Muir (1918-1977) was a writer, mechanic, and expert on the maintenance and repair of Volkswagens. Originally a structural engineer working for the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, in the 1960s he quit his job to become a writer and car mechanic in Taos, New Mexico.




In 1969, Muir collaborated with the artist Peter Aschwanden to create the definitive manual for Volkswagen owners, How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive; A Manual of Step-By-Step Procedures for the Compleat Idiot. The first edition sold more than two million copies.




In November 1977, Muir passed away from a brain tumor. His self-published first edition is considered one of the most successful self-published books in history, and his manual remains the definitive guide for VW owners.