California Stylin’ by Bob Clark, VW Trends #1 1976

Not very many people have read this, so after spending a few days typing it out, here you all are. I will eventually post it on my website alone with pics from this article.

California Stylin’ by Bob Clark
VW Trends Issue #1 1976

By now most of you are familiar with the term, “The California Look.” For those of you who either haven’t heard the term or have but aren’t sure what it pertains to, I have put together this short section which will be devoted strictly to this latest of fads in the Volkswagen world.

Few styles which are so similar to the factory lines have been given so much attention by the public, show circuit, drag strips, and press as the current styling trend known as “The California Look.” How the new style got its name is fairly self-explanatory. The California Look was born on the West Coast and more specifically the Southern California area.

It’s always difficult to trace the actual beginning of any popular trend or fad as you always get different answers from everyone you ask. Well, “The California Look” is somewhat different in that most everyone agrees the trend started with a number of Orange County (the home of Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm) residents searching for the ultimate in performance for their VW’s. They wanted something different, but they were after total function also. Performance was the name of the game for these early timers and all those flaired fenders, mag wheels with huge tires and the rest of the power robbing plastics found on the custom street bugs of the day just weren’t the answer. At about the same time there were several very quick VW sedans running on the nation’s strips. The styling for these drag cars was of course strictly performance orientated and they undoubtedly had a marked influence on the upcoming street scene. There are also rumours that some of the VW freaks were getting tired of being harassed about their underpowered insects, so they put together a drag car, threw on somebody’s licence plate, went down to the Street Racers’ meeting on Sunday night and proceeded to trailer all comers. They had so much fun that all of them traded their mags and wide ovals in on dual 48IDA Webers and dual port heads.
However and wherever the style originated isn’t really important except to the name, but what is important is that it’s with us now and is spreading like a frog on the freeway! So, if you don’t want to be left in yesterday, take a good hard look at, “The California Look.”

The first and probably most outstanding difference between this new style and the normal street custom is the clean, uncluttered appearance. When you first see a Cal Look car on the street, it is difficult to pick out one particular area that makes them look so businesslike. When you finally catch one up close, things like the absence of any chrome body trim and their glass finish paint jobs begin to catch your eye. What is even more striking about the outward appearance are the colours chosen to adorn these classy looking creatures. The paint jobs are always solid one colour shots of impeccable quality and detail with the colours coming from the factory paint charts of Porsche, BMW, Mercedes and other high quality automobiles. As you look closer, you notice the somewhat over-sized factory bumpers have been replaced by expensive looking polished aluminium nerf bars or stylish looking buggy bumpers. These two light weight designs were conjured up to keep things legal.

Once again you take note of the obvious quality of these non-stock items. If you are looking at the front end, you will notice the absence of two things. The turning directionals are no longer on top of the fenders, and the horn openings that were below the headlight have been filled. Well, the horn opening was just another gaudy eyesore and the fender lines have all been cleaned up by placing small round Lucas turning directionals in the lower portion of the front fender.

As long as you’re up front, try to roll a beer can under the front end. There is a good chance it won’t go. Wind created by high speeds has a habit of lifting the front end making control somewhat less than desirable so most of these cars have been lowered. Once again the style is only due to function. The California Look cars are usually lowered in front by one of two methods. The most popular way to lower the bug front end without botching everything up is by installing a Select-A-Drop. A Select-A-Drop allows the front end height to be adjusted quickly and easily. The second method entails pulling, cutting, welding and reinstalling the front torsion bars. Either way will work, but the Select-A-Drop is adjustable.

Walking towards the back of the car, you can’t help but notice that the chrome has even been removed from the running boards and that the rubber looks as new and lawless as the welting between the fenders and the body. The rear of the car features the same style bumpers as the front, but the stock exhaust pipe recesses in the rear apron have been filled and there is a single exhaust tip welded to a “quiet” type muffler protruding out from under one side of the apron. If all this is taking place during the hot summer months, the rear deck lid may be sticking out from the rest of the body. This isn’t due to a misalignment during installation but it is done to force cool air over the engine. Why would a California Look car need the extra cooling? That can best be answered by lifting the lid. What’s that? You ask. Well, don’t feel alone, many a Detroit muscle car has asked the same question when left standing at the line by one of these not-so-sluggish beetles.
The power plants in California Look VW’s are the owner’s pride and joy. Boasting anywhere from 1700 to 2200cc these sparkling clean $1000-$1500 “monster motors” as they are sometimes called, push many of the cars into the low 13 second bracket at the drag strip.

The most outstanding external addition to many of these engines are their dual Weber carburettor set-ups. Weber carbs have long been known as one of the World’s very best high performance units and the VW’s that run them are running what is known as “Weber Motors.” Once again the key word is quality, no matter what the cost. Those 48 Webers with manifolds matched to the heads can cost a quick $500. Hearing that will probably make you close the hood, so let’s take a look at what ahs replaced the wide mags and tires.

The first of the California Look cars ran Porsche chrome rims with Porsche hub caps. This set-up is still popular but polished aluminium, EMPI 8 spokes and the almost extinct BRM mags are the really trick wheels to run. Tires vary in name, but they have to be low profile radials by a top manufacturer. Dirty tires are definitely out. Looking though the window, you notice that all of the chrome trim has been removed from the rubber window moulding and the rubber si in perfect condition. Now you look at the immaculate interior which features two beautiful leather European racing seats and plaid on naugahyde panels. The stock dash has been removed and replaced with a dark plexiglass or aluminium sheet. Mounted into the new dash is an impressive looking assortment of VDO instruments. There is everything from a 10,000 RPM tachometer to a head temperature gauge and you can bet they all work. The shifter that extends from out of the plush carpeting carries the incomparable “HURST” name. That shifter is probably linked to totally built transaxle which features a super diff and close ratio 3rd and 4th gears.

Now if you are finished trying to find any flaws in that work of art, back off and I’m sure you will be able to see all of those subtle changes that make up the “California Look.”
If you insist on waiting around to see the owner do a burn out in the parking lot, don’t waste your time, he knows his machine is quick and doesn’t have to prove it to the parking lot crowd!