Book Review - Demon Bugs: VW Customs and Cruisers

Customizing the Cult Car

by Stephen Szantai

Reviewed by Chuck Arehart

The Volkswagen Beetle is an icon of counter-culture in the United States, and certainly an icon of automotive culture worldwide. The car’s simplicity lends itself to customization as a form of rolling self-expression, creating a new industry in the process. Stephen Szantai's Demon Bugs looks at the trends, history and customizing tricks that made the hobby so popular.

While chopping roofs, flaring fenders and adding chrome demonstrated automotive creativity, Szantai also documents the many engine mods, some of which give the Beetles over 300 horsepower. Szantai is a longtime automotive photojournalist specializing in Beetles, and his subjects for this book represent the U.S., Canada and much of Europe. Bug fanatic or not, anyone interested in cars will appreciate this well-done book.