trims are not so cal

[bullitt]

hi guys, im very new at this site so i present my person to u.
i'm filippo from italy.
im the happy owner of a 1960 split bus and a 1974 dune buggy deserter by autozodiaco ( italian version of dac deserter of usa).
first thing i would love to say on this CALIFORNIA LOOK forum is obviously a thing on the cal look.
in fact i think that too much cars nowadays feature chrome trims on side, hood and glass rubbers..
maybe i am too radical, but i really can't consider a cal look car a bug that still wears trims and bumpers.
what do u think about this?

[Zach Gomulka]

Well, I for one would have to agree with you.

[Trond Dahl]

I agree that no trimming is a more correct textbook look... but as in all styles I guess we see a new trend? or are people just lazy and don't "go all the way" anymore?

[Rune]

Well what else can I say..."Chrome won't get you home"

[Rick Meredith]

I agree that no trimming is a more correct textbook look... but as in all styles I guess we see a new trend? or are people just lazy and don't "go all the way" anymore?

The reason why my car had trim on it was that it was original paint and I didn't want to repaint it just to fill the holes. I powdercoated them black and they looked pretty good on the beige.

[bullitt]

i think that california look is a classic look, and we are all fond of classic cars if we are here.
so, when i see a german look or a resto cal at a meeting i can only think: well, nice job, well done, smart and perfect but it's not my way.
i dont want carbon fibre on my car or air ride!
im mad for old cars, im just like an archeologist. to work on it just like on an escort cosworth is not my target. THTS  WHT I THINK!!!!!!!!
i have to tune my car as tehy did in the good old days.
to build the right cal look car u have to catch first of all the spirit of that period.
the way of people dressin to do the right interior.
u have to know the muscle cars for the look...
may be the music can help u.......
to understand the reasons of that peoples behind the cars before than the same cars.
thts the reason why i hate trims.
first thing a people would have to do approachin a new project is to look a lot of period pictures.
cars of the right period had no trims.
l can perfectly understand reason why people leave trims : an original paint...a more classic look...fair of a no turning back work....but....this is not cal look.....
auto meters with bulb arent......turbo mufflers arent....
better to go for smiths and ansa glasspack!!!!!
this is my opinion guys, i would like to know urs. thank u for answers

[Gregor/DFL]

Hi!
Interesting topic here! I have to agree that a "dechromed" bug is a more authentic 1970s Cal-Looker.
But today it also depends on the condition of the car you are starting to switch into Cal Look. Back in he 1970s a bug was nothing more than an ordinary used, cheap little car. So modifications on the body was no problem.

Today a bug also is a bit of a "collector´s item", so if you´re having a good car with a nice original paint and interior, you´re also thinking of maybe ´re-transfering" the car into its original condition in a few years.

So speed an simplicity of a car isn´t connected directly to "chrome trim yes or no". "The" Cal Look doesn´t exist any more-there are many different variations of the same idea.

And to be honest: I dont give a s+#t, when someone tells "chrome trim is no cal look"-please don´t take this statement personal as I respect it as another opinion than my own. But this reminds me a bit of those narrow minded guys restoring a split to 110% perfection and complaining about other cars "not to be original" as the owners did not use 14mm screws to mount the fenders.

I have full respect for all the variations of "the Look" as in 2006 the one drawing in the 75 Hot VWs represents&illustrates the basic idea-but in my opinion the drawing never was meant to be "the law of the Look", just an example.
 

[Jordy/DVK]

"The" Cal Look doesn´t exist any more-there are many different variations of the same idea.

And to be honest: I dont give a s+#t, when someone tells "chrome trim is no cal look"-please don´t take this statement personal as I respect it as another opinion than my own. But this reminds me a bit of those narrow minded guys restoring a split to 110% perfection and complaining about other cars "not to be original" as the owners did not use 14mm screws to mount the fenders.

 Well spoken... 
 

[bullitt]

well , gregor, i think that if we call this look california look is for article on hot volkswagen that named it.
this is a fact...not an opinion.
in that article that named the look, the magazine gave some pictures and a precise vademecum...
the vademecum told no trims...nose down..hot engine.
so precise suggestions are even more underlined by the pictures in cal look bible by keith seume.
no trims even there...
all i want to say is that no profile is not my personal statement but a more objective rule.
im not the only one to say no profile for cal look.....it was who named it.
your parents decided to call u gregor when u was born....so i can call u jack one thousand times a day...but u stay gregor!!!!!!!!!
ur example on the bolts of fenders of split is good, but there are lots of things before.
it is a mistake , it is true.but is less remarkable then fitting a ford escort bumper on it.
there is a macroscopic error in calling  california look a car that tht wear trims. just like fitting thta escrt bumper on an original car. u could answer that nowadays all the people calls cal look some trimmed cars.....and i would tell tht they are all wrong.
u can do what u want on your car and i respect you tastes. but maybe all the volkswagen movement need new names to call things.
then would love to say another thing:
u said people leave chrome trims cause vw s are collector's item....
this is the classic example of how to reach different conclusions starting from the same point.
my point of wiew is that just for being a collector item, bug need respect.
for me respect in old cars tuning is to work on them just as people did at that period.
only in this way you will help storicity and u will do a car proud to be preserved in the future.
that is my opinion on california look. but try to understand me:trimmed cars are not bad...i like them.  name is the question.

[Rick Meredith]

well , gregor, i think that if we call this look california look is for article on hot volkswagen that named it.
this is a fact...not an opinion.
in that article that named the look, the magazine gave some pictures and a precise vademecum...
the vademecum told no trims...nose down..hot engine.
so precise suggestions are even more underlined by the pictures in cal look bible by keith seume.
no trims even there...
all i want to say is that no profile is not my personal statement but a more objective rule.
im not the only one to say no profile for cal look.....it was who named it.
your parents decided to call u gregor when u was born....so i can call u jack one thousand times a day...but u stay gregor!!!!!!!!!
ur example on the bolts of fenders of split is good, but there are lots of things before.
it is a mistake , it is true.but is less remarkable then fitting a ford escort bumper on it.
there is a macroscopic error in calling  california look a car that tht wear trims. just like fitting thta escrt bumper on an original car. u could answer that nowadays all the people calls cal look some trimmed cars.....and i would tell tht they are all wrong.
u can do what u want on your car and i respect you tastes. but maybe all the volkswagen movement need new names to call things.
then would love to say another thing:
u said people leave chrome trims cause vw s are collector's item....
this is the classic example of how to reach different conclusions starting from the same point.
my point of wiew is that just for being a collector item, bug need respect.
for me respect in old cars tuning is to work on them just as people did at that period.
only in this way you will help storicity and u will do a car proud to be preserved in the future.
that is my opinion on california look. but try to understand me:trimmed cars are not bad...i like them.  name is the question.

Sorry Bullitt but I have to take issue with when you say that it's wrong to call a car a car with trim a "Cal-Look" car. However, I'll be the first to say that removing trim is truer to the Cal-Look standard.

My opinion doesn't come second hand from some book or magazine... but from being at the vanguard of the movement in the late 70s early 80s.

While it's been several years since I read Keith's book I'll be willing to bet that there are pictures of cars with trim in it. That doesn't make them less cal-look. And a single book, no matter how well written can not cover a topic as broad as this. This isn't meant to be a bag against Keith's book... I certainly respect Keith and everything he's done for Cal-Look. I'm just pointing out the limitations.

Frankly, if the book or the article say that trim HAS TO be removed they are inconsistent with what was out in the movement at the time.

[Gregor/DFL]

That´s a good issue. As I understand the "roots" of Cal Look back in the days, it was more a question of people sharing the same interest (simple and fast aircooled VWs), founding a club and developing some "basic style guidelines" like nose down, removing bumpers, adding nice alloys and so on. But I expect all the guys back in those days being not that strict in deciding what´s right or wrong. Last year I had the opportunity to talk to a very nice guy named Ron Flemming being over here in Germany-and with all his funny stories and experiences I am conviced that "the look" was and still is all about spirit...

[bullitt]

sure gregor!!! i agree with u!!!!
spirit is largely speakin to have a cool car eye catchin that is fast on the road and in weekend strip trips. better if u use the car's world to meet new people and having a social life....
nothin changed.

[Zach Gomulka]

Just my opinion, but I believe a car that retains all the trim, but has all other aspects of the Cal Look, is a Resto Cal.

[Rick Meredith]

But there was no such thing as "Resto-Cal" back in the day! 

[Turtle001]

Fleming still has'm on 

[Stephan S]

Could someone please inform that Keith Seume guy that he inadvertently put a Resto Cal Bug on the cover of his California Look VW book?
I love Internet experts!

[Zach Gomulka]

Its just an opinion Stephan! Your car is still beautiful, even though in my opinion, it doesnt adhere to the traditional California Look.
Will you be in Vegas? I havent seen you in awhile, looking forward to a chat!

[Stephan S]

It's cool Zack! Yep, looks like I'll be in Vegas. Just got back from Sacramento an hour ago.

More food for thought:
Speaking of DKP, the majority of the current members run cars with moldings, full bumpers, etc. Soooo… Do we drive Cal Look cars? Ask any of the members, and they will answer “Yes”.
Ask Ron Fleming and Greg Aronson if our VWs would be considered as Cal Look cars, and their answer will be “Yes”. No doubt about it. Keep in mind that some DKP I cars were not dechromed.

Anyway, see you in Vegas!

[Jon]

I think we can all easily se that cal-look is NOT frozen in time....
It was a movement long before February-75... modified vw's that looked somewhat alike... clean colours, hot "small" engines, done with a wish to modernize the bug and to make it "fast"....   feel's stupid to say this, with all the guys who KNOW around... don't shoot!! :-)


If someone shows me a picture of a "looker" from any given year I can easily determine what era it's from... so can most of us... I think the engine compartment and interior dates most cars.

Keith Seume’s book is not law, but it's kind of like statistics 's... if you see a trend in that book, it's most likely "true"...  Or has Mr KS something against Empi steering wheels... it only shows ONE in the whole book (DKP pic's excluded)!? Nah... makes me think they were not as popular back then... now, they are the BOMB! And how about instruments... 80% in the old pictures are VDO...  I don't think 80% had VDO in real life, but a lot of people had them...

Can anyone "call" the different era's??


Ever heard the saying "same same but different!"  ;-)



     

 

[Gregor/DFL]

Fleming still has'm on 

...and that´s not all: look at that chromed antenna-resto cal? 

But I think at least we all agree in running those little aircooled cars we call "Cal Look" due to two reasons:
spirit and performance. There will always be discussions in detail questions. e.g. "are aluminium fittings "cal look"?"

btw. love ron´s car-stance, simplicity and the look is really sweet.

[Gregor/DFL]

Could someone please inform that Keith Seume guy that he inadvertently put a Resto Cal Bug on the cover of his California Look VW book?
I love Internet experts!

 

[bullitt]

hey stephan, somethin more respect would be cool, i presented my opinion. i dont know u. do u know me? i cant remember i ate fish and chips with u....but i didnt give u names ironically as u did with me.... sure u r "internet expert" of education.

[Stephan S]

Hi Bullitt,
My public apologies to you… Never meant to hurt your feelings.
Actually, my reply was directed towards Zach and his comment about Resto Cal Bugs. Sorry if it sounded a bit harsh. Actually, Zach is cool guy and I’ve know him for a few years!

[bullitt]

 thts ok,no problems guy.... i hope we could find at a meeting and eat that fish and chips!!!!!
always difficult to explain on forums, when u have no face expression and no voice modes to help u....
where are u from stephan?

[bullitt]

so guys i saw all ur answers and i have a clear vision of the thing.
most of u thinks that cal look is a progression wawe and likes trims turbo muffler and so on.
me and some others think that is a good thing to go back to cal-look roots.
so, generally speakin, wouldn't be clever to give  a name to these various tendances to understand quickly each other and even to give to the forum an official language?
things could sound like this on my opinion:
ANCIENT LOOKERS: like ron flemin oval and pre aronson car: trims, high ride, steel wheels, painted drums on display, white glaspack etc....
OLD SCHOOL: seventies cars: BRMs, fuchs, no trims. t bars glaspacks or t-birds, fiberglass lid, custom dash.
MIDDLE CLASS: early eighties and late seventies: cool colors. color coded handles and headlight trims, no chrome at all, cool alloys (fuchs, gas burner etc) dark tinted glasses etc...
NEXT NEW SCHOOL: nowadays cars: return of trims, cabriolet hoods, turbo mufflers, autometer, electronic ignition and so on,,,,,
what do u think?

[Rick Meredith]

I think we can all easily se that cal-look is NOT frozen in time....
It was a movement long before February-75... modified vw's that looked somewhat alike... clean colours, hot "small" engines, done with a wish to modernize the bug and to make it "fast"....   feel's stupid to say this, with all the guys who KNOW around... don't shoot!! :-)


If someone shows me a picture of a "looker" from any given year I can easily determine what era it's from... so can most of us... I think the engine compartment and interior dates most cars.

Keith Seume’s book is not law, but it's kind of like statistics 's... if you see a trend in that book, it's most likely "true"...  Or has Mr KS something against Empi steering wheels... it only shows ONE in the whole book (DKP pic's excluded)!? Nah... makes me think they were not as popular back then... now, they are the BOMB! And how about instruments... 80% in the old pictures are VDO...  I don't think 80% had VDO in real life, but a lot of people had them...

Can anyone "call" the different era's??


Ever heard the saying "same same but different!"  ;-)


   

 

Part of the deal is that most of the cars in my era were daily drivers so they were always works in progress.

Did my car always have an Empi wheel, 48s VDO gauges?

Nope.

It started bone stock... within a couple of weeks it was lowered cause that didn't cost much... just labor. Then as I could afford it 8=spokes were added, t-bars, motor went from 1500 to 1641 with Kadrons to 1776 with 48s.

I was in my late teens when I started it and took me 3-4 years to get it to the point where it was in the pictures I posted. 4 years of working at low paying jobs no less!

[bullitt]

u shoot another target!!!!
they were daily drivers!!!!
tht is cool too.
they were not perfect as today!
sure, body and paint looked good, but... are u sure they were clean under the their frame?
but i would love my car as a street eye catcher, but not a show car with mirrors on the ground!!!!

[Georg/DFL]

Hi Bullitt,

I guess there are already "names" for the different decades:

Traditional Cal Look – 70s cars
The dark years – 80s Cal Looker
Old School (as inventet by Volksworld) – 90s cars
Today –

Cal Look is subject to change. I can clearly see it in our club. At first turbo mufflers were all the range, now many of us are going back to dual quiets – even if they loose some horses. But MSDs are still in more cars than not!

I'll give you a little example: I have in my Ghia (a razoredge T34 – can it be Cal Look? I say yes!) a Berg shifter with the typical 90s handle. A friend of mine offered me a early handle with the small Gene Berg writing, but I didn't want to have it. Why? Because I think it's cool if people (like JHU ) can tell which area the car is from. I love traditionall Lookers with no chrome, dual quiets and 010s, but for me it is ok if people can tell that my car was build in the 90s. Because it's MY era, MY decade! When I was (not so) young (anymore).

[Rick Meredith]

Great points Bullitt & George.

[Luftkraft]

wow, what a discussion!  sometimes it reminds me of the true metal vs. false metal debate led by Manowar fans in the late 80s, sometimes I think it's some kind of scientific message board... but go on, it's interesting to read!