Paul Schilperoord and Lorenz Schmid with the 1933 Standard Superior

About josefganz.org

Preserving the legacy of an extraordinary engineer through meticulous research, publication, and restoration.

01 The Team
Paul Schilperoord and Lorenz Schmid in the 1931 May Bug prototype at Zandvoort

Paul (behind the wheel) & Lorenz in the 1931 May Bug prototype — Zandvoort, 2009

The website josefganz.org was created by Paul Schilperoord and Lorenz Schmid, united by a shared dedication to researching and presenting the documented history of Josef Ganz and his work.

Paul Schilperoord

Writer, journalist, and industrial designer from the Netherlands. Paul became fascinated by Josef Ganz and started to research his life and work more than 20 years ago. His book "The Extraordinary Life of Josef Ganz" has been published in four languages and became the foundation for the documentary film published in 2019.

Lorenz Schmid

A descendant of Josef Ganz's uncle Alfred Ganz, Lorenz carries a deeply personal connection to this history. From his first meeting with Paul, a strong friendship started, as well as a shared passion to promote the life and work of Josef Ganz and ensure his story is never forgotten again.

03 Our Journey
04
2004

Paul Schilperoord begins researching the life and work of Josef Ganz, uncovering a forgotten chapter of automotive history.

05
2005

Lorenz Schmid and his father travel to The Hague to meet Paul Schilperoord. A newspaper article about Josef Ganz had sparked Lorenz's curiosity — the beginning of a lifelong collaboration.

09
2009

First book about Josef Ganz published in the Netherlands. At the launch, Paul and Lorenz drive the original 1931 Maikäfer prototype at the Zandvoort racing circuit.

10
2010

Portuguese edition published, bringing Josef Ganz's story to a new audience.

11
2011

German edition published — the story returns to the country where it all began.

12
2012

English edition published as "The Extraordinary Life of Josef Ganz," with major coverage in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The Daily Mail, and The Times.

14
2014

Updated Dutch edition released. The Louwman Museum in The Hague unveils the original Maikäfer prototype to the public.

15
2015

Paul and Lorenz acquire a 1933 Standard Superior with original chassis and running gear, beginning an ambitious restoration.

17
2017

Crowdfunding campaign launched for the Standard Superior restoration. Documentary "Ganz: How I Lost My Beetle" by director Suzanne Raes premieres, produced by Submarine.

20
2020

Paul Schilperoord publishes "De Zoektocht naar Josef Ganz," a behind-the-scenes account of his decades-long search for the inventor of the Beetle. Documentary broadcast on Swiss national television (RTS) and German radio (WDR 5). Swiss premiere at the Verkehrshaus Lucerne with a world-first exhibition of all three key Josef Ganz vehicles: the Maikäfer, Standard Superior, and Swiss Volkswagen.

21
2021

The restored 1933 Standard Superior completes a road trip from Lucerne to Zurich's Bahnhofstrasse, recreating Josef Ganz's iconic 1936 photograph in front of Beyer Chronometrie — more than 80 years later, in the very same spot.

22
2022

World premiere of "Ode to Josef Ganz" at Casino Bern: blues singer Philipp Fankhauser, composer Sebastian Schwab, and conductor Wayne Marshall perform the tribute with the Bern Symphony Orchestra — a once-in-a-lifetime event.

24
2024

Arte France broadcasts a feature on Josef Ganz, bringing his story to audiences across Europe in German and French.

25
2025

"Ganz: How I Lost My Beetle" screens at Rex Bern, followed by a panel discussion with NZZ journalist Daniel Di Falco, Paul Schilperoord, and Lorenz Schmid. The josefganz.org archive continues to grow.

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This Story

For more than 20 years, we have been committed to making Josef Ganz's life known. Numerous people have supported us along the way — with heart and soul, valuable tips, and generous contributions. We are looking for partners, museums, event organizers, and anyone passionate about preserving this forgotten chapter of automotive and Jewish history. Whether you can host an exhibition, collaborate on a project, or support our work in any way — we'd love to hear from you.