The Look

California Look or Cal-Look

The "California Look". Originally began in Southern California back in teh 1950s. Cal-Look typically consists of radical lowering job, removal of chrome, bumper, and other trim, producing a more smooth-looking vehicle.

Resto-Cal

The Resto-Cal (or Resto-Custom) Look 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!

Wheels can remain stock, or other popular options are Polished/Chrome Empi 5s (it's all about the Bling!) or EarlyPorsche Fuchs.

Interior is stock, except for the possible additions of a performance shifter or additional accessories (e.g - Bambus parcel shelf)

Period accessories are popular - think along the lines of fender skirts, roof racks etc. Big engines are not necessary, but it's also not unheard of for a Resto-Cal car to have a hi-po motor. Narrowed beams are popular too, narrowing the front track to enable the car to go lower, giving a "tucked" 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 should you wish.

Any model of aircooled VW can be given the Resto-Cal treatment (except perhaps for the MacPherson strut models) Pre 67 cars are more traditionally popular, but late models are increasing in popularity.

The German Folks Klub is perhaps the world's most famous Resto-Cal club: thegermanfolks.com

RestowagenUK.com is a site dedicated to UK Resto-Cals: restowagenuk.com

German Look

The German Look originated in Germany (hence the name!). It is a modern style, and was a result of people upgrading their Volkswagens with Porsche parts to be used in the "Kafer Cup". These days the vehicles are still inspired mainly from Porsches, but also any high-performace circuit racing car.

Specific items might include:

• large Porsche or modern alloys with low profile tyres as you would find on German race cars
• large brakes: upgraded from drums to disk brakes
• modern monochromatic paint schemes: often colors used on Porsche cars.
• no chrome: removing all chrome on the car and painting them the same color as the body
• level stance: closer to the ground to stick to the road
• large engines: see Type IV conversion

'Form follows function' is a common buzzword, though actually the car doesn't have to perform as well as it looks (hence the 'look'). This look can be applied to any Volkswagen, though the 1303 is often chosen because of superior handling, and aerodynamics. Also, as part of the style, the Type I engine is often swaped with a Type IV engine (from a Type 4 Volkswagen or a Porsche 914) to provide more power.

For further information on the German look, see germanlook.com. 

 

French Look

French look Beetles will have similar customisations 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

Most often a Volksrod is a Bug, any year with the fenders & running boards removes and a beam extender that relocates the front axle forward between 8 and 10 inches. The Volksrod is usually extremely lowered and often has other modifications like chopped roof, reversed door hinges, shaved drip rail, shave mouldings, etc. Frequently the paint is original or primer or flat black shot out of a rattle can. Frequently mistaken for a unfinished project, this is the desired effect of the Volksrodder.

source : volkswagens.wikia.com , thesamba.com/dictionary , Google Images