Nominations for "GodFather of Cal-Look" now being accepted

[TexasTom]

I have someone in mind, but I'd like to hear YOUR choices for GodFather of the Cal-Look ...

Not necessarily who may have created it, but who PERFECTED it, Who got it The Most Right in Your eyes .... Maybe I'm wrong???

And, I'm talking about the REAL Cal-Look, not the other 'resto-Cal' movement ...

The Cal-Look GodFather, who is it?

Just stirring the pot
TxT

Sorry, I've already polluted it by seemingly 'opinionizing' it ...

[nlvtinman]

Tom,
That's a hell of's BIG spoon you are using to stir the pot with!  I know... "things are BIGGER in Texas" 

[WCB Hitler's Hot Rod]

My first question to you is what do you mean "perfected it."

[johnl]

My first question to you is what do you mean "perfected it."

I'd have to agree with the statement above.  We all know who is credited with the first car to start the trend, but there were many along the way that "perfected it" in my opinion.  Beyond that everyone has their own views or taste to the basic format.

I view the topic to take on the Religion or Politics discussions in that no matter what you say or do there will be many opinions and beyond that who is to say who is right or wrong??

[bilboa2]

I know Tom's choice and I agree with him 100 per cent. Think a ways back.... color choice, wheel choice, stance, Body mods, engine look, innovated items...and award winning.  A certain TREND SETTER look for sure..Yes, there has been alot of nice cars built, but I believe never any so widely accepted at the time of being " the best " so far. ok, last hints for my/our vote..lisc plate said it all. ...short wiper blades..

[Fastbrit]

I know Tom's choice and I agree with him 100 per cent. Think a ways back.... color choice, wheel choice, stance, Body mods, engine look, innovated items...and award winning.  A certain TREND SETTER look for sure..Yes, there has been alot of nice cars built, but I believe never any so widely accepted at the time of being " the best " so far. ok, last hints for my/our vote..lisc plate said it all. ...short wiper blades..

I know who you mean and what car you mean, but to be honest it's an impossible debate. One could argue that Ferdinand Porsche is, or the first person to put a VW down the dragstrip, or it has to be Dean Lowry, or it has to be etc etc etc...? Every one is a contender.

[richie]

Whoever it is,and i have an idea of who you think it should be,it would have to be a car without bumpers,if it had them at all it cant be truely Cal look,
T-bars are such an important part of the whole look,let the argueing begin

cheers Richie

[jamiep_jamiep]

This is as bad as the last general election.... nobody knows who the people they're voting for are???!!! 

I always thought Dean Kirsten's 67 was about as good as it gets then or now. Being too young (and too far away) to have ever seen the car in the flesh I obviously don't know the standard of build, and I think that right now standards are possibly higher than ever, but to me thats kind of secondary to the feel of a car, to make it the PERFECT cal looker.

A good craftsman can make something 100% 'well done', but without the vision or imagination sometimes the talent is wasted.

*As for me I'm a little low on both haha....

[Lids]

I would be tempted to suggest it less to do with the first car etc, but the magazines for keeping it alive over all these years.

[WCB Hitler's Hot Rod]

The word "perfect" is pretty ambiguous, since everyone has a different opinion of what they think is "perfect." I know one thing though.. It ain't  "perfect" Cal-look if it has side trim or vent windows!!! Now you know my "perfect" interpretation which means nothing to someone else

[Zach Gomulka]

The Aronson/Holmes '63, hands down. Not a flaw to be found in that car. Sure, it's got vent windows, but would it really look better without them? I think not.

[TexasTom]

OK!

Someone finally nominated ... I'll throw in a few:

-  Dean Kirsten ('67)
-  Dave Rhoads ('64)
-  Keith Goss ('62 Chop)
-  Greg Aronson ('63)

[70slooker]

lets face it, if it wasnt for the first car we might be fighting over corvair engine swaps, craigers and that flame job just dont look right, so in my brain it goes likes this,

-Greg Aronson 63,
-Keith Goss 62
-Mark Thurber 62

for someone whos only seen these cars in books and on the internet of course for style and looks ive looked at these three cars the most to gain ideas and info for my intended build

[kingsburgphil]

I feel the need to add "Sarge's" name to the list of candidates.   

 

[Cornpanzer]

rick zavala

[bugnut68]

Ed Papac's Spellbound/Top Gun show car, no question.  September '86 Hot VWs....



















 

[TexasTom]

-  Mike Billings ('67)

[pacoima914]

How about Ghias, Jeff Benedict, Roger Grago, Frenchy.  Innovation: Gary Berg, the car was probably better than the race car.  My personal favorite is Keiths chop, the car looks like it came out of a factory, perfection personified.  Yeah you can go on and on but this is fun!

[DKK Ted]

I feel the need to add "Sarge's" name to the list of candidates.   

 

Yup! I agree. Sarges (DKP) red 67'

[edcraig]

No easy answer here.  I got involved with VW clubs in 1969.  Most VW in the majority of the clubs were not what we now call Cal Look.  There were a few in Der Volkswaffe, and a couple in Volkschargers that had it, but they are all but forgotten now.  The majority I remember seeing were in the Orange County based clubs like NBVA, DKP, DGVA, CVA, and DRF.  I'd have to guess like most trends many happened at the same time and copied from each other.  Very difficult to pin it down to one person, or even one club.

For me, Greg Aronson, Mike Mahaffe, and John Lazenby's cars were some of the earliest that that really had the "look" and set the style.  Give credit to HVW, (I think Jere Aldeff) for coining the term, Cal Look, a few years later.

[stealth67vw]

Sarge get's my nomination.

[Fasterbrit]

This thread really needs some pictures

[Neil Davies]

The Aronson/Holmes '63, hands down. Not a flaw to be found in that car. Sure, it's got vent windows, but would it really look better without them? I think not.

The vent windows I can live with, but not the placement of the DKP stickers on them!

I think either that '63 or Mike Mahaffey's '51, but probably Ron Fleming as the Godfather!

[58vw]

yes pictures....and you could go on and on...with names here...so add some pics..

[DKK Ted]

Here is some early pics of Sarges car, made some small but nice changes since then, but still a very very clean car and a true Cal-Look car in my eyes.

Ted

[mwardvw]

I'm in ... Keith Goss' 1962 chop top, Porsche desert beige, Porsche alloys, CN36's, Porsche front disc, rear drum, working windshield wipers, Brad's upholstery, 911 front seats, heater, turn signals in the headlight buckets ... must I go on !!!