Author Karl Ludvigsen Receives 2016 "Golden Piston" Award For Contributions To Automotive History

At a ceremony in Bremen, Germany, during the Bremen Classic Motorshow, Karl Ludvigsen was awarded the “Golden Piston” for his contributions to the recorded history of the motor car.

Established in 2006, the award is given annually to a personality whose work accords with the goals of the Forum Für Fahrzeuggeschichte, known as F³ or F-Cubed.

F³, the Forum for Vehicle History, was established in 2001 with the goal of blending knowledge with resources to achieve accurate representations of the history of motor vehicles for the benefit of both specialists and the public.

Karl Ludvigsen has written more than 60 books about cars, motor companies, drivers and designers. A former motor-industry executive and consultant, he has concentrated on authorship since 2000.

The “Golden Piston”, said F-Cubed, was given to Ludvigsen “for his services to the communication of automotive history with the conscience of the dedicated historian without, however, overlooking enthusiasm."

“With his work for the automotive industry and journalism,” F-Cubed continued, “his particular achievement is to have created valuable contributions in the portrayal of historical developments in the automotive field."

"Hearty congratulations on his latest award,” added the German group, “to the likeable nobleman of personalized automobile history.”

In his response Ludvigsen touched on his first stay in Germany as an American soldier in the 1950s. He has specialized in histories of Porsche and Mercedes-Benz which have been published in both English and German.

Karl Ludvigsen and his wife Annette met with journalists and officials during a weekend of talks and ceremonies at the Bremen Classic Motorshow, where the presentation took place.