which callook trends didn't stand the test of time

[Zach Gomulka]

- 1835cc or 2180cc displacements with 10:1 or 11:1 compression. (Yes, I know why!)

Are they ok now with thick wall 92's?

- radios seemed to be more popular back then with cal-look. Cruising around with a nice sound system enhanced your driving pleasure. Made me get more tickets though listening to the old KNAC punk music. 

Nothing wrong with having some tunes! But if it gets into having amps and massive subs, the weight factor takes away from performance.

- different colors were used with Porsche alloys or BRM's etc. Not just black. A lot of times would match the color of the car.

This is something I would like to see come back. Really captures that late 70's look. Especially on alloys.

[Zach Gomulka]

- rear spoilers like for example the Herrod Helper wasn't that popular. It disrupted the clean and simple lines of the cal-look image, but I sort of liked them. It would be the only spoiler in the cal-look scene that was accepted; if  you wanted one, IMO.

I tried one on the GTV a while back. It did two things: Noticeably raise the oil temperature, and give the impression to EVERY ass clown on the street that I wanted to race them! No more!

[Rick Meredith]

- rear spoilers like for example the Herrod Helper wasn't that popular. It disrupted the clean and simple lines of the cal-look image, but I sort of liked them. It would be the only spoiler in the cal-look scene that was accepted; if  you wanted one, IMO.

I tried one on the GTV a while back. It did two things: Noticeably raise the oil temperature, and give the impression to EVERY ass clown on the street that I wanted to race them! No more!

We used to call them Hemorrhoid Helpers! 

[johnl]

- rear spoilers like for example the Herrod Helper wasn't that popular. It disrupted the clean and simple lines of the cal-look image, but I sort of liked them. It would be the only spoiler in the cal-look scene that was accepted; if  you wanted one, IMO.

I tried one on the GTV a while back. It did two things: Noticeably raise the oil temperature, and give the impression to EVERY ass clown on the street that I wanted to race them! No more!

We used to call them Hemorrhoid Helpers! 

  I can't tell you how many of those Auto Haus sold, but it was a lot.  Mr. Herrod use to deliver them to us fresh from his garage and I guess they really did help mileage.

[LuftsickTero]

With that said, this idea of being sweet and accepting and sunshiny no matter what doesn't work with me. I like hearing what people like and what they don't like.

That's Scandinavia for you Freedom of speech as long as your opinion is fashionable, acceptable and politically correct

All of the custom car trends have details that look silly looking back dozens of years after, also funny that no period correct Cal Looker build today in Europe doesn't have a center console or the "curled wiring" in engine bay

[Zach Gomulka]

- rear spoilers like for example the Herrod Helper wasn't that popular. It disrupted the clean and simple lines of the cal-look image, but I sort of liked them. It would be the only spoiler in the cal-look scene that was accepted; if  you wanted one, IMO.

I tried one on the GTV a while back. It did two things: Noticeably raise the oil temperature, and give the impression to EVERY ass clown on the street that I wanted to race them! No more!

We used to call them Hemorrhoid Helpers!  

 I can't tell you how many of those Auto Haus sold, but it was a lot.  Mr. Herrod use to deliver them to us fresh from his garage and I guess they really did help mileage.

Not on mine!

[low oval]

With that said, this idea of being sweet and accepting and sunshiny no matter what doesn't work with me. I like hearing what people like and what they don't like.

That's Scandinavia for you Freedom of speech as long as your opinion is fashionable, acceptable and politically correct

All of the custom car trends have details that look silly looking back dozens of years after, also funny that no period correct Cal Looker build today in Europe doesn't have a center console or the "curled wiring" in engine bay

forgot about the center consoles, uh oh.........

[Jim Ratto]

One could probably divide this poor thread up into a few subtopics. I went and re-read almost all of it (not my long winded dribble) and I noticed the initial post wasn't taking the tone of "which stupid things were done to Cal Look cars in the past", I think I am reading it more as "what trends were evident in past years within the hobby that have gone by the wayside?" Right?
Then there are posts of some things that were popular within certain time sgements, that were not really key at enhancing the performance, etc. A lot of these mods were cheap, inconsequential and easily reversable. There were glam items sold, at least when I was first into this, that capitalized on monkey see, monkey do. I sold a lot of it @ BH for many years (esp @ Pleasanton Bug Bash). The transparent 009 caps come to mind. The SS sleeves that wrapped around the generator does too. I know they caught my eye at the first Bug show I went to.
So I guess what I am saying here, is originally the post (I think) was just wanting to BS about "oh yeah, remember when every car was decambered in the back, ran color matched Rivieras and bronze tint SBG glass?" And then we all had some fun poking and ribbing each other (good natured I hope) about some of the stuff we did, and even some of the "out of style" stuff we still like (I still love turquoise, dechromed cars with chromies and nipple caps, though you can keep the subwoofers and amps and chrome motors.... I'd rather match the paint of the car for the engine tin). We could all dig up pictures of ourselves from 25 yr ago and laugh at those too....no harm done fellas.
And who gives a rats ass about "fitting in"? This hobby is so far out of "mainstream" as it is already. We're all wierdoes. Out of 400 employees here @ work, I've got the one and only air cooled VW Beetle in the lot today. Yeah, in So Cal. When people here hear me get all excited and worked up about my main jets or seeing 7400rpm getting on 118 freeway, they look at me like I just hatched from an egg. "In a Bug? uhhh...ok..ya feel ok JIm?"

[TexasTom]

Everybody's normal till you get to know 'em ... Freak

[TexasTom]

Haven't seen a Formuling France steering wheel in quite some time .... seems like everyone goes Empi or stock.

[Black Sheep]

Fully polished or chromed fuch's and empi's , thank god !!

[bugnut68]

Haven't seen a Formuling France steering wheel in quite some time .... seems like everyone goes Empi or stock.

This is where I'm different than a lot of folks, I guess, as I can't stand big ol' steering wheels in a Bug, at least.  I've got long legs and am much more comfortable with a Grant GT or else, my personal favorite Formuling France wheel.

[bugnut68]

Fully polished or chromed fuch's and empi's , thank god !!

Again, that's where I'm different.  I think those wheels look way better either polished or chromed... especially on a late-model, in the case of 8 spokes.

[TexasTom]

I wonder ... surely Formuling France wheels are not still made?
Surely that was there demise ... I took mine off when the horn button disintigrated. Luckily I had something else to use ...

[Black Sheep]

Fully polished or chromed fuch's and empi's , thank god !!

Again, that's where I'm different.  I think those wheels look way better either polished or chromed... especially on a late-model, in the case of 8 spokes.

Careful with opinions like that you'll find yourself confined to the resto lounge 
you'll be liking roof racks and pop out rear windows next 

[bugnut68]

Fully polished or chromed fuch's and empi's , thank god !!

Again, that's where I'm different.  I think those wheels look way better either polished or chromed... especially on a late-model, in the case of 8 spokes.

Careful with opinions like that you'll find yourself confined to the resto lounge 
you'll be liking roof racks and pop out rear windows next 

Meh, I don't care... lol.  I'm already something of an outcast owning a late-model VW.  

[Rick Meredith]

With that said, this idea of being sweet and accepting and sunshiny no matter what doesn't work with me. I like hearing what people like and what they don't like.

That's Scandinavia for you Freedom of speech as long as your opinion is fashionable, acceptable and politically correct

All of the custom car trends have details that look silly looking back dozens of years after, also funny that no period correct Cal Looker build today in Europe doesn't have a center console or the "curled wiring" in engine bay

Never curled wire but I did braid it   

[TexasTom]

Fully polished or chromed fuch's and empi's , thank god !!

Again, that's where I'm different.  I think those wheels look way better either polished or chromed... especially on a late-model, in the case of 8 spokes.

Careful with opinions like that you'll find yourself confined to the resto lounge  
you'll be liking roof racks and pop out rear windows next  

Meh, I don't care... lol.  I'm already something of an outcast owning a late-model VW.  

Late models are the new Ovals
They even have their own thread!
LMAO!

[bugnut68]

Fully polished or chromed fuch's and empi's , thank god !!

Again, that's where I'm different.  I think those wheels look way better either polished or chromed... especially on a late-model, in the case of 8 spokes.

Careful with opinions like that you'll find yourself confined to the resto lounge  
you'll be liking roof racks and pop out rear windows next  

Meh, I don't care... lol.  I'm already something of an outcast owning a late-model VW.  

Late models are the new Ovals
They even have their own thread!
LMAO!

Lol, my car isn't Cal Look simply because there's hardly any paint left on it... it's what I would refer to as the 'SSB/Mark Herbert Look.'

[low oval]

dang, formuling france wheels also!  I just removed the louvered fire wall as I decided it was too outdated.  My car is a who's who of what didn't last.
Got me thinking,  which cal look trend's that have stood the test of time:
stock side trim, stock steering wheel (always the first thing to go on any of my cars), stock mirrors, over rider bumpers, stock paint colors, stock width front beam, stock dash, stock gauges, dual cans, alloys, uncut dashboards, stock window rubber, big motors, and stock radio's and being not too low, oh yeah and stock lighting.
hmmm......... I don't remember alot of these things being cal look, other than the obvious.
enjoying this topic by the way.
jim

[Rennsurfer]

After t-bars, the next thing I put on my orange car was a Formuling France wheel. First, with the Porsche horn button, then got over that real quick and switched to a VW one. Loved that wheel. Seemed so right and felt good when driving the car. Next, was a n.o.s. still in the box EMPI GT wheel that I bought from Gary Berg at one of his parties (or our club parties... can't remember) for $50. The last wheel it had was a three spoke Porsche 911 one from the take-off bin when I worked at Circle Porsche+Audi. LOVED that wheel. Perfect size like the VW Formula Vee wheel I'm currently enjoying.

Weird not seeing the Formuling France wheels on more cars, these days. Truly, a great wheel for a Cal Looker.

[Rick Meredith]

I never liked FF wheels... found the hub too big and the horn button too cheap looking. I had a Racemark in my '67 before I put in the Empi

[Rennsurfer]

I never liked FF wheels... found the hub too big and the horn button too cheap looking. I had a Racemark in my '67 before I put in the Empi

That Racemark wheel was COOL. I didn't find out about those till after I already had my F.F. The wheel that Rhoads had in the green car was very nice, too. Really dug the Wolfsburg horn button.

[nicolas]

Right?

right!

[Rick Meredith]

Couldn't find a picture of a Racemark in a VW so I found the next best thing.... A Racemark in a Porsche.

These have the earlier style horn button Mine has the later horn button which was flatter and had a smaller button with a aluminum ring around it. .. oh and of course a Wolfsburg crest in black and chrome. Still have it but I think the leather would need to be redone as it's showing its age. I think it's 15in.

Of course going from this to the much larger Empi was like adding power steering to the car. 

Racemark was started as a partnership with Mark Donohue and is still in business but now specializing in floor mats 

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[speedwell]

is this what you're looking for  ........ ....

[Rick Meredith]

That's the right wheel but I haven't seen that horn button before. I think that maybe something custom as the only ones I've seen have been the earlier one like the one in the picture I posted and the later one which I have.


Edit: Here's a pic I found on The Samba. This is the horn button I have but I have the leather wrapped wheel like in the other pics.

[Jon]

This was my point, I was being a touch sarcastic .   

I understand that, but my point was that all the comments in this thread is judgemental.
When it comes to my comment about the A1's I absolutely understand what I did, what I was trying to do was to put the shoe on the other foot.
But it's true, I like my exhausts somewhat hidden... and black...

[Luftkraft]

The use of the word "sano" in Hot VWs articles is clearly a cal look trend that didn't stand the test of time. 

[Stripped66]

The use of the word "sano" in Hot VWs articles is clearly a cal look trend that didn't stand the test of time. 

Too bad crappy writing is still in vogue...