Was This Man the Real Designer of the VW Beetle?

Filed in archive German Cars , Porsche , Volkswagen on September 11, 2009

From time to time rumours circulate that Professor Porsche was not the actual designer of the Beetle. Even Hitler, when he approached him to develop a "People's Car," provided sketches that resembled the car's final shape. But now comes a book by Dutch author and historian Paul Schilperoord in which he claims that an engineer named Josef Ganz should have been credited with the design. The Hungarian-born engineer had a revolutionary concept for a new car he called the Maikäfer (May Beetle). It featured an all-independent suspension, rear engine, and an aerodynamic shape not unlike what would eventually become the Volkswagen. Since he lacked the financial backing to build a car and was also an automobile journalist, Ganz published several articles supporting his ideas.



Being Jewish in Germany was Ganz' downfall. The existing manufacturers apparently viewed him as a threat to their stability and, perhaps not by coincidence, he found himself arrested by the Gestapo on fake blackmail charges. He was eventually released, tried to build the car in Switzerland, but according to the book, the Swiss government attempted to steal his designs. Meanwhile Hitler, totally ignoring the revolutionary May Beetle, called on Professor Porsche to design and engineer the People's Car. After years of legal battles Ganz moved to Australia to work for Holden, the GM subsidiary. He died poor though not quite forgotten, thanks to Schilperoord's "Het Ware Verhaal van de Kever." English translation: "The True Story of the Beetle."

[Thanks to Autoblog for this lead, which they've credited to Ganz-Volkswagen.org and AD.nl Autowereld]