Exploded Bug poster by Peter Aschwanden

The late Peter Aschwanden was best known for his extremely detailed and humorous illustrations for John Muir's 1969 book, How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive: A Manual of Step-by-Step Procedures for the Compleat Idiot. His cover illustration for The Septic System Owner's Manual almost makes me wish I had a septic tank.

At his website, you can order books, posters, and T-shirts. His "Exploded Bug" poster (above) is amazing!

Peter Aschwanden's web site

Mark Frauenfelder is the founder of Boing Boing and the editor-in-chief of MAKE and Cool Tools. Twitter: @frauenfelder. Come and hear Mark speak at the ALA conference in Chicago on July 1.

MORE: Art and Design

More at Boing Boing

Eurovision 2013: An American in London

The technology that links taxonomy and Star Trek

Ito Kagehisa

Thanks, Mark! I love Aschwanden’s work.

I wore out two copies of the VW book… and I still have at least one charred, grease-blackened and torn copy in the barn.
therling

Ah, the hours I whiled away underneath my 68 Beetle, my 70 Ghia and my 69 Bus, under the tutelage of the “Idiot Guide,” learning how to do a clutch job, replace a front steering beam or trying Quixotically to coax some heat from the heater boxes.

That book was a great “hacker” guide during a time of an increasing throwitaway culture. Probably the best “how to do it” book I’ve ever read.
Marshall

Keep Your Volkswagen Alive is a bookshelf classic. If I had kids, I’d buy them a Beetle just to share the book with them.

I never owned a Beetle, only an air cooled 81′ Vanagon, but it was definitely an inspiration when problems solving was required. My favourite part of the book is the instructions on clamping the book, drilling binder holes in it and slicing off the spine for maximum lay-flay usability and lifespan.
Stefan Jones

My father had that book! He kept a VW camper and a van going for years. There were a couple of engines under tarps around the yard, and a shed full of parts.
Anonymous

The first vehicle I ever owned as my own was a 72 VW Beetle, and the first thing I bought to go with it was a copy of the “Idiot’s Guide”, as it was known in my circle. I kept that VW running for nearly 2 years, working on it nearly every day, thanks to that book. It was funny, smart, and aimed at people who could just barely figure out which end of the wrench was which (perfect for me). I learned EVERYTHING about internal combustion engines, braking systems, manual transmissions… the book was careful to include not just the hows, but the whys (including little side notes about historical evolution of modern vehicles). I loved that book.
Teller

That book was nails. Had a 56 VW, a 72 and was a complete idiot. Taught me how to make a timing light and time the engine. God bless him.
ill lich

You people are all making me realize how much I miss air-cooled VWs: the perfect hackers car (hence all those mods like the Baja bug, dune buggies, and the MG roadster conversions). You really could keep them going on your own, they were that simple, like giant lawnmowers.
WombatNation

In addition to having an awesome cover, The Septic System Owner’s Manual is a fantastic book. We had a copy up at our cabin. We had thought about putting in a septic system to replace our Incinolet incinerating toilet.

Please forgive the link to a page on my own website, but it contains a borderline amusing pictorial essay on the Incinolet, including a photo of it in action.

http://www.wombatnation.com/essays/incinolet.html
Lobster

Any chance they make one of these for a Chevy Impala? :)
- Anonymous
  
  I wish they had it for every vehicle, but I’ve never been able to find anything as detailed for anything but VWs. It was pretty obvious that the book was a work of love, one which I was exceedingly grateful for.
ill lich

I used to have that book (my first car was a VW Bus, aka the “type 2″), hell of a book, really logical and helpful and “friendly” in a funny hippy way.
yoadrian

The VW book was great. The simple ,detailed instructions and the helpful illustrations made it possible for even someone with my limited mechanical experience to work on my 1963 bug. The book saved my butt when my bug threw a rod in the middle of Nowhere Nevada in 1975. I reverently passed it on to the new owner when i sold the car.
Silversalty

This poster reminds me of a self-portrait I took years ago with my beloved but ever spontaneously exploding MG.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14060984@N05/2312076073/in/set-72157607041296423/
Dorkomatic

John Muir’s book was and is a classic example of how a manual should be written. And Peter Ashwanden’s illustrations were integral to the character and clarity of the book.

And I too, need a ‘posh’ copy of the book for my coffee table.
Anonymous

Loved that book. It helped me keep 2 Beetles, a Bus and a Thing running. That book saved my behind, time and time again.

One of it’s engine illustrations led me to resolve the most difficult recurring oil leaks ever. Any time I went over 20 MPH oil would come out of everywhere and spray all over the engine compartment! replaced every gasket and oring 4 times before I saw an oil pressure relief valve in an illustration. Sure enough, it was gunked up and stuck in the closed position.

I don’t have a car anymore, but I may buy another copy just to have on the bookshelf.
Anonymous

I still use this book! I have 67 VW Camper as a daily driver and The Idiot Book is a great reference and visually awesome!
ka1axy

’59 Beetle here. It was a death trap, but I learned an awful lot about cars. It finally ran, sold it for what I paid for it (but not the two engines, muffler, numerous parts and tools). I remember it fondly, and How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive was (is?) in my bookcase, with numerous grease spots.