Christmas tree's

[kingsburgphil]

Why is it that so many bugs and buses have so many supposedly accurate "accessories/options" stuck on them. I'll grant you, I'm far from being the expert here.
But as an VW observer/passenger in SoCal since 1955, I have no recollection of safari windshields, wide whites, and roof racks on VW's in the 50's.  I do remember when seeing another Bug on the hi way, you'd flash your headlights to say hi. Was it loaded up with bling...no.

We've all seen pictures of VW's in Europe with utilitarian roof racks, and Transporters in BFE with safari windows. My point being, what should be rare is now
common and taken to the point of absurdity. It's no mystery that a clean Cal Look car has more in common with a 38' KDF Wagen than any "Christmas tree".

Feel free to opine. 

 

[Rennsurfer]

VW accessories = bling/jewelry/gawdy/feckless/silly

Less is MORE.

There is nothing "rare" regarding VWs... I laugh, every time I hear that at a VW event. Don't believe me? Go look up VW production numbers. Most years are far from the r-word. One of the most produced cars in the world. HAHAHA!!! Then, make 'em look even more ridiculous by adding non-functioning surfboards, luggage, lanterns, mannequins, visors, racks, headlight brows, skis, etc. It's like putting those poor cars through an awkward emo or mullet phase. I think the only things we bought at the VW dealers back when my family bought 'em new were trim rings. Then, went back to the black & white wheels on the Bugs. The Type 3 cars came with 'em. Great cars in which my family had hundreds of miles full of good memories.

I'll have to add Christmas tree to the current rotation of Bugs that say, "HEY, LOOK AT ME... I'M GOING TO THE PROM!"

You're right; a traditional Cal Looker has more in common with a vintage Standard. Which makes perfect sense.

[bugnut68]

Overly gaudy and accessorized cars appear to me to be a sampling of those who have money to spend, and how can it be spent?  That's the question they may be asking themselves.  Some may enjoy the thrill of the hunt for these accessories, but I agree, they look way out of place on a car that was, in its bare essence, a simple, uncomplicated vehicle.

[Dan Mazur]

Although most of the small community have remained pure to the core beliefs of restoring to original or California Look, there will always be groups of large ego or askewd tangents who feel the need to personalize their cars. There truly is something out there for everyone and a place in the car show area for them.

As long as the show area is on the other side, who cares?

[So.Cal.Life]

         X2 Phil, is a bud vase the same as a bong???    Trees have bugs , bugs shouldn't have trees...

[Rennsurfer]

As long as the show area is on the other side, who cares?

HA! Well put, fellow DEEK. You're right... in that situation, it's not an issue.

[edcraig]

I was at the Classic a couple of years ago with my daughters car in the vintage section.  A guy in his 50's came up me and said he didn't remember any cars in the late 60's or 70's in so cal with roof racks.  I told him he was right...they just weren't used back then.  He than asked why I thought so many cars had them now.  I told him that it's their "perception" of vintage.   Like most things, memories or knowledge can fade with time.  It then becomes peoples perception of what it was like back then.

Personally, I like the various looks that people use with their cars today.  My taste is simple...basic, however I've seen plenty of over the top cars that look great too.  Its your car....have it the way you like it best.

....Ed

Legendary DRA

[Zach Gomulka]

I drive a GTV, it's supposed to be adorned with some senseless crap.

That's how I justify it

And I do love the thrill of finding some, eh, rare EMPI parts

[Rick Meredith]

So you're going to roof racks and a safari windshield then Zach?   

[Zach Gomulka]

I will not go that far! I actually feel like I'm nearing the end as far as that junk goes. Most upgrades in the future will be mechanical, like a 2 liter backed by a 5 speed

[Donny B.]

Maybe the roof racks weren't used that much in the US, but when I was in Germany back in the '60s I recall a Gogomobile coming onto the autobahn loaded down with people and a roof rack loaded with stuff.  I think it could barely go 50mph and it was pumping out blue smoke and going for all it was worth.   I think they were 2-stroke.  ....so maybe they were more popular in Europe than in the US.  Remember this is the style the owner wants and that should be fine.  You don't have to like it. The owner is the only one that has to like it.  Bye the way I have a roof rack for sale, a really nice one.

[Nico86]

The only things I would use if I need to :

- a roofrack yes but not on a cal-look, fine on a daily driver if you really have a use for it (and you can still easily remove it when you don't need it),
- additional rally-lights are usefull where I live (but I would use it with removable stands to not break it) But fog-lights are totally useless.

Other things are just ruining the great shapes of the Beetle.

[Jesse/DVK]

Why no roof rack on a cal looker? I use mine sometimes going to the beach to kitesurf with my bug. Perfect to use for my boards . And hey if driving to the beach with a hot VW isn't cal look what is?

[qubek]

We had a roof rack on my girlfriend's Bug this weekend (it's already removed ) because we had to take a carpet to her sisters place an there was no way to put it inside. I use this roof rack* from time to time on occasions like this. I'll say that roof rack is definitely NOT ok for a daily driver. Even if you don't care about things like fuel consumption, you just can't ignore the noise. It's so annoying. If someone has a roof rack permanently on his Bug, it's a clear sign that his car is for show, not for go.
Roof racks were used in Europe, because we generally had smaller cars. They just ware needed sometimes. But using them as decoration, all the time? Well, very often you can see a picture of a car loaded with "period accessories" and clearly see that the picture is modern, because those accessories where never used that way in the past. This is just one example.

As for driving to the beach, I was in California for the first time this summer and of course I've seen is a lot of people driving with surfing boards... because they were usually going too or from the beach. But when you see a simmilar car, with a simmilar board in Europe, in a place with is 300 kilometers from a nearest see and thousands of kilometers from a nearest beach where you can surf... it somehow changes things, doesn't it?



*on my car too  

[qubek]

double post

[Jeff68]

First of alll - To each his own, if people dig putting accessories on their cars let them go for it.  It's their car so they can do what they want and that's what customizing a car is all about.

To me a Performance type Cal-Look car doesn't have these parts on it.  Since so much of the Cal-Look style is based on drag racing I don't think you'll see an accessorised car on the drag strip right?? So that's the reason i don't think those parts belong on a Cal-Look car.
 I also know that there are those who only want to put "vintage" performance parts on their car or in their engine.  As far as Vintage performance parts........The way I see it is if the part was crap in the 60's and 70's it's still crap and will perform like crap just like it did back then, so why the hell would you use it now?  Some old parts are very high quality (better than some today, Berg & Okrasa cranks for example) and those parts I would definitely use on a Cal-Look car.  In other words if the part adds dependble high performance / power to the engine / car then it should be used.  The other "rare" crap should be put in a showcase to accumulate value for the collectors to squabble over later. 

These are just my opinions of course.....

[Speed-Randy]

 I also know that there are those who only want to put "vintage" performance parts on their car or in their engine.  As far as Vintage performance parts........The way I see it is if the part was crap in the 60's and 70's it's still crap and will perform like crap just like it did back then, so why the hell would you use it now?

Exactly, a LOT of it was crap back then, and should be left on a collection shelf, or display

[Kaferdog]

HA...Like Dan Says .......

                                "As long as the show area is on the other side, who cares?"

[bugnut68]

I like period theme/authentic special edition cars, like Zach's Empi GTV is a prime example... to me, there's a world of difference between an upgraded car, like the GTV, and a vintage bone stock resto that has the kleenex box under the dash, bamboo parcel tray, roof rack, single-wheel trailer (I can't believe how excited the vintage nuts on the Samba get excited over the different types of vintage trailers out there! lol) and so on and so on.

[LuftsickTero]

Why is it that so many bugs and buses have so many supposedly accurate "accessories/options" stuck on them. I'll grant you, I'm far from being the expert here.
But as an VW observer/passenger in SoCal since 1955, I have no recollection of safari windshields, wide whites, and roof racks on VW's in the 50's.  I do remember when seeing another Bug on the hi way, you'd flash your headlights to say hi. Was it loaded up with bling...no.

We've all seen pictures of VW's in Europe with utilitarian roof racks, and Transporters in BFE with safari windows. My point being, what should be rare is now
common and taken to the point of absurdity. It's no mystery that a clean Cal Look car has more in common with a 38' KDF Wagen than any "Christmas tree".

Feel free to opine. 

I do appreciate all VWs that have serious effort behind them. One thing I don't have huge respect are people trying be fashionable, fitting in or being important without really putting themselves on the line, really building anything or having anything built. Good example is  today's "pre cal" / "old speed" bullshit with people removing the hubcaps and fitting silly exhaust to otherwise stock car and now the same car is 15-30 minutes later somewhat more personal?

Locally here it's a small miracle of someone is even painting a car these days, the hoodride crap was fun when it arrived but it did leave quite a crappy aftertaste to the scene.

I do dig well done old speed cars like Fabs' '61, pre cal cars like Gregg Bunch's or the 30hp challenge-engines.. But all of those have serious effort and thought behind them.

My pet hate is car scene is the "lifestyle".. Best part of VW scene has been the freedom of not having to fit any molds 

[fredy66]

its only metal .
Its the man ore women behind the car that matters.
the VW scene is full  good people. Christmas tree ore not
if you don't do any mods to your VW is it a cal look 
this is a cal look forum but some respect for other forums is in place 

[OgCalLook]

VW accessories =

 It's like putting those poor cars through an awkward emo or mullet phase.
 

Thats funny shit Mark!

[Zach Gomulka]

My car isn't Cal Look anyway

But I'll never run a roof rack on it!!

[DKK Ted]

Ok. My take is a Cal-Look car is a car from back in the day, all business, and strong running motors, anything else is not Cal-Look. DKP and DKK cars are a prime example of Cal-Lookers, all done very tastefully, clean, and ready for business. At least most of them. Don't get me wrong, doesn't mean the other cars are not nice, just not Cal-Lookers in my book. But in all honesty, sometimes I feel my car is a little to much with extras. Something I need to sit back and look at the overall picture. Motor wise, I believe you can mix old with new, good internal parts and good quality parts outside, but subtle. You can even run an 010 dis. with an Ignitor to trigger your MSD! Now how cool is that? Old with New. My 2 

Ted

[61SNRF]

Why is it that so many bugs and buses have so many supposedly accurate "accessories/options" stuck on them. I'll grant you, I'm far from being the expert here.
But as an VW observer/passenger in SoCal since 1955, I have no recollection of safari windshields, wide whites, and roof racks on VW's in the 50's.  
I do remember when seeing another Bug on the hi way, you'd flash your headlights to say hi. Was it loaded up with bling...no.

We've all seen pictures of VW's in Europe with utilitarian roof racks, and Transporters in BFE with safari windows. My point being, what should be rare is now
common and taken to the point of absurdity. It's no mystery that a clean Cal Look car has more in common with a 38' KDF Wagen than any "Christmas tree".

Feel free to opine.  

I don't remember them during the 60's or 70's either.
One of my pet hates is when someone puts wide whitewalls on a 67 Beetle, just fugly IMHO. The same people often paint them two tone as well .
Other than that, what can you say. There where over 20 million made, and most went through two or more owners. This was the original accessorized car. I'm sure that after delivery, no two where ever alike again! Whatever you say will hurt someones feelings, so it's better left unsaid.
But yes, some people are "conspicuous consumers", and they like showing off.
I can also say from first hand experience that any Surfer who had a Cal-Look in California during the 70's might have had surf racks, but never a roof rack.

 

[hotrodsurplus]

One of my pet hates is when someone puts wide whitewalls on a 67 Beetle, just fugly IMHO.

And inappropriate too. The US Royal (now Uniroyal) thin-stripe tire came out in '58 and was all the rage from day one, at least in the US. In the states the domestic compacts got thin white stripes in '60. The full-sized cars lingered with wide whites 'til '62. By the mid '60s it was largely uncool to put big whites on cars that came with 'em--at least it was that way in most of southern California. 

This was the original accessorized car.

Actually that was the Model T. I love my Volkswagens but the flivver owns that distinction. 

One or two appropriate accessories on a car is justifiable and frankly authentic. But it's when they overlap--ice chest with ski racks--that it gets comical. Oh, and skirts are for chicks and trannies. Period.

We always called the over-accessorized cars Shopping Carts. I still call 'em that but I also call 'em Peacocks too. It's as if men turn into fancy birds trying to attract mates with colorful displays but the only other people who notice that crap are other dudes.