The iconic Beetle is popular with
customizers because it is relatively inexpensive as a medium with an
uncomplicated exterior that’s easy to personalize and a basic flat-four engine
that can be worked on even by amateurs in their backyards during the weekends.
It is present almost everywhere worldwide with an easily identifiable design
which makes even minor customizations easily stand out satisfying every
customizers craving for attention! Common customizations may include lowering
the car's suspension, body shaving, trim removal, wheel alteration, bumper removal,
replacement or modification (chromed, polished, painted, powder coated, etc.),
modifications of the headlight, hood and trunk, taillight replacement, etc. The
combinations of the customizations above (and more) are the bases for the
different VW Beetle customizations developed throughout the years. Below are
the more popular ones. You will notice though especially with the pictures below that the style characteristics usually serve only as inspirations for the customizer and not strictly totally adhered to as a template.
California Look.
This is one of the more popular styles that influenced the VW scene all over the world. Cal look originated in Orange County, Los Angeles at the end of the 1960's which gained popularity a few years later when the it was officially named as California Look by Jere Alhadeff in the February 1975 issue of Hot VWs.
This is one of the more popular styles that influenced the VW scene all over the world. Cal look originated in Orange County, Los Angeles at the end of the 1960's which gained popularity a few years later when the it was officially named as California Look by Jere Alhadeff in the February 1975 issue of Hot VWs.
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| The VW California Look |
To put it simply, Cal Look is a
subtle VW in every possible way except for a high horsepower engine! Since
then, the Look kept evolving throughout the following three decades to present:
70's Cal Look
 |
| VW Beetle modified in 70s California Look Style |
VW: Any Beetle, Karmann, Type 3 or Bus with round bumper blades; also
1968 or 1969 Beetles
with
square bumpers.
square bumpers.
Trim:
Usually, all body trim and window rubbers removed, headlight rings
painted, the vent wings painted or omitted for one-piece-windows.
Interior: Racing seats used; dashboards
changed fitted with more gauges; sport steering wheels and shifters
used.
used.
Suspensions: front end lowering done
to achieve nose down stance like drag race cars.
Wheel: Any wheel fitting VW or
Porsche pattern allowed. Adaptors for other wheel patterns were
frowned
upon, as were fully polished wheels.
upon, as were fully polished wheels.
Engine:Type 1 engines only! 2 liters
engines were known as very big, small but wild high compression
1.8
liter engines were common.
liter engines were common.
80's Cal Look .
 |
| 961 Bug, Old School 80's Cal look 2175cc |
VW: anything air cooled.
Trim: removed, at least on the outside. T-Bars and Buggy-Bars were out
of fashion, simple bumper
blades
without bumper guards were up to date.
without bumper guards were up to date.
Paint: the more colorful, the better; graphics were in.
Interior:seats from other makes
used; tweed cloth used; dashboards welded up. Suspensions: lowered at the rear
end- the lower, the better
Wheels: focus was fully polished
Porsche Fuchs wheel; also low-profile tires used.
Engines: a step backwards- performance
unimportant, the look was all that counted; chrome and
transparent plastics were usual.
90's Cal Look
The Cal Look now looks back to its roots-not the original Cal Look but the Cal Look of the 1990's. That's why most cars nowadays still have their chrome trim and sometimes even towel-bar bumpers.
The Cal Look now looks back to its roots-not the original Cal Look but the Cal Look of the 1990's. That's why most cars nowadays still have their chrome trim and sometimes even towel-bar bumpers.
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| 90's Cal Look Beetle |
VW: any Beetle,
Karmann, Type 3 or Bus with round bumpers, but also
1968 or 1969 beetles with
square bumpers.
square bumpers.
Paint: color choice restricted to original VW colors or period colors.
Interiors: stock seats or upgraded
with period racing seats. Dashboards are hardly altered; gauges are
located in additional pods.
located in additional pods.
Suspension: restricted to the
front end, the rear end remains on stock height.
Wheels and tire: follows 1970's- only period wheels are
possible and no low-profile tires.
Engine: big type 1 engines up to
2.3 liters with 48IDA carbs commonplace; a hot 1600cc with 40 IDF, is
fine for some. Modern technology used like MSD ignitions, 94mm barrels and pistons and turbo mufflers.
fine for some. Modern technology used like MSD ignitions, 94mm barrels and pistons and turbo mufflers.
German Look
The German Look originated inGermany and is a modern style resulting from people upgrading their VWs with Porsche parts to be used in the "Kafer Cup". These days the vehicles are still inspired mainly from Porsches, but also any high-performance circuit racing car. 'Form follows function' is a common German Look buzzword, though in reality the car doesn't have to perform as well as it looks (hence the 'look').
The German Look originated in
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| 1972 German Beetle |
VW: can be applied to any VW though the 1303 is often chosen because
of superior handling, and
aerodynamics
aerodynamics
Trims: removing all chrome on the
car and painting them the same color as the body
Paint: modern monochromatic paint schemes: often colors used on Porsche
cars.
Suspension: level stance-closer
to the ground to stick to the road
Wheels and tire: large Porsche or modern alloys with low
profile tires as you would find on German race
cars; large brakes upgraded from drums to disk brakes
cars; large brakes upgraded from drums to disk brakes
Engine: Type I engine is often swapped
with a Type IV engine (from a Type 4 Volkswagen or a Porsche
914) for more power.
914) for more power.
Resto Cal/Cal Resto/Resto-Custom Look
The Resto-Cal look is a vintage style, resulting in a car that has a ground scraping stance but can be restored to stock relatively easily if preferred. It is predominantly based around a stock-bodied car (i.e - no body mods) that has been lowered front and rear. The general consensus is - the lower the better! One spline at the rear is considered the minimum!
It was described by urbandictionary.com as "a very cheap, ugly, unsightly & unattractive method of modifying air cooled VW cars". Some feature excessive rust on the main infrastructure, including the suspension and floor pan. It is the very opposite of what the California Look was originally intended for: tastefully built, fast, and nice looking fun to drive functional VW that could easily out accelerate most cars on the roads, even V8 powered units.
 |
| 1966 Resto Cal |
VW: air cooled Volkswagen cars which
is not limited to only Type 1 models. Any model of aircooled VW
can be given the Resto-Cal look (except perhaps for the MacPherson strutmodels). Pre 67 cars are
more traditionally popular but late models are increasing in popularity.
can be given the Resto-Cal look (except perhaps for the MacPherson strutmodels). Pre 67 cars are
more traditionally popular but late models are increasing in popularity.
Paint: doesn't matter if the car has paint or like most examples primered.
Interiors: stock, except for the
possible additions of a performance shifter or additional accessories (e.g
-
Bambus parcel shelf)
Bambus parcel shelf)
Suspension: overly lowering to
the point of decambering the rear wheels to extremely unfunctional
angles,
which can hinder car handling properties which can also bring the front fender arches excessively over
the wheels/tires. Narrowed beams are popular too-narrowing the front track to enable the car to go
lower, giving a "tucked" look.
which can hinder car handling properties which can also bring the front fender arches excessively over
the wheels/tires. Narrowed beams are popular too-narrowing the front track to enable the car to go
lower, giving a "tucked" look.
Wheels and tire: can remain
stock, or other popular options are Polished/Chrome Empi 5s or Early Porsche Fuchs.
Engine: Big engines are not
necessary, but it's also not unheard of for a Resto-Cal car to have a hi-po
motor. Engine may remain stock or painfully slow.
Period accessories are popular - along
the lines of fender skirts, roof racks etc.; installing and/or bolting
on
every known car accessory to the car.
every known car accessory to the car.
French Look.
French look Beetles will have
similar customizations as the German Lookers with somewhat smaller engines as
the French regulations allow less play in that matter. So the exterior styling
will become where the twist and variation takes place, with wild graphic paint
jobs in vivid colors typical of the early 1990's.
Volksrod
VW's are also being used as alternative to traditional hot rods and are quickly growing in popularity mainly because classic Hotrodding vehicles such as Ford Model Ts and Model As are becoming more scarce and more expensive. Their expense has made obtaining and modifying one not feasible for the masses. VWs are so much cheaper with easily accessible parts. It is also a 1930's design, which is "very important" in keeping with hot rodding's roots & tradition.
VW's are also being used as alternative to traditional hot rods and are quickly growing in popularity mainly because classic Hotrodding vehicles such as Ford Model Ts and Model As are becoming more scarce and more expensive. Their expense has made obtaining and modifying one not feasible for the masses. VWs are so much cheaper with easily accessible parts. It is also a 1930's design, which is "very important" in keeping with hot rodding's roots & tradition.
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| Red Volksrod with a beam axle showing, mounted on coilovers |
One popular conversion method involves
removing all body molding & bumpers as well as the fenders of the beetle,
and then installing a classic Ford front axle to move the wheels forward and
give the car a low, stretched look. It’s then finished off with a chopped top
and a flat black paint job, original wheels & often with a pin striping.
Another popular customization is
to move the stock VW axle beam forward or reverse the trailing/torsion arms and
re-work the steering linkages. As with all types of car customization, lots of
different modifications are practiced in different combinations. Usually built
with little or NO expensive machined Aluminum or Chrome plated parts, the
Volksrod is mostly handmade by the owner with simple mechanical tools and
welding equipment. The Volksrod usually eschews an expensive paint job,
utilizing spray can paint applied in their driveway. A common refrain, often
heard, is "cut - weld - drive."
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PREVIOUS RELATED POST:
Volkswagen Beetle Mods Throughout The Years: Part I
Volkswagen Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): Part II- 17 character VIN
Volkswagen Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): Part II- 17 character VIN
Volkswagen Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): Part I- Pre-17 character VIN requirement
VW engine cooling system components.
VW engine cooling system components.
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