| We can already hear it. The story you are about to | | | | Volkswagens packed the pages of Hot Rod |
| read is going to upset some of our readership; but in all | | | | Magazine or Rod & Custom Magazine, especially |
| honesty we don't care. After all, we have taken a few | | | | during the '60s and early '70s. The latter publication |
| risks in the past by running features of "cosmetically | | | | featured the EMPI Inch Pincher Gasser on the cover |
| challenged" VWs (check out last month's ratty 1950 | | | | of its October 1966 issue for example. In the early '80s, |
| Split), and reporting on import races for example. As | | | | the California Look craze had taken the West Coast |
| controversial as these two subjects might be, the | | | | by storm and Hot Rod devoted a long segment to |
| response from our readers has been excellent, so we | | | | "the look" (October 1981). Today, the Cal Look is still |
| will continue to show cars you won't see in other | | | | going strong, and with reliable cars running easily in the |
| Volkswagen magazines. Like it or not, our job is to | | | | 12s--if not faster with a turbo--they are definitely Hot |
| present all facets of our hobby. This includes a new | | | | Rods in our book. As a side note and even if the |
| (or is that old?) breed of Bugs, which could have been | | | | California Look isn't the subject of this article, let's |
| built by inventive Hot Rodders about half a century | | | | mention that a number of early Cal Lookers borrowed |
| ago. They look mean, they are loud, and they display a | | | | a few Hot Rod characteristics: nerf bars, louvers, |
| tough attitude. At VWTrends, we simply call them Hot | | | | flamed paint jobs, big and little tires, etc. |
| Rod VWs. | | | | Now take a close look at the shape of the Beetle and |
| What is a Hot Rod? | | | | study the similarities with some American cars from |
| This first question is certainly open to heated debate. | | | | the mid-'30s: not a big surprise considering when the |
| To set the tone, let's first mention that the latest cover | | | | Volkswagen was designed. You may consider |
| of Hot Rod Magazine features two vehicles off of the | | | | removing the fenders like the early Hot Rods. Fred |
| showroom floors, a Ford Mustang Cobra and a | | | | Hidalgo, whose chopped Sedan was featured in our |
| Subaru WRX STi. Are they Hot Rods? You bet. | | | | June 2002 issue, told us he found the inspiration for his |
| Consider the following: They both run 13.3 on the | | | | project by looking at fenderless Fiat Topolino drag |
| quarter mile in stock trim! These cars don't fit in our | | | | cars, built in America as early as the '50s. If you elect |
| own definition of a Hot Rod however. Instead, we will | | | | this option, remember to move the front end forward |
| concentrate on what many consider as the original Hot | | | | a few inches --we'll explain why further in this article. |
| Rod, vehicles oftentimes built on a budget by ingenious | | | | Hidalgo did so and the stunning result allowed him to |
| young lads after WWII, during the '50s and most of the | | | | win his class at the prestigious Grand National |
| '60s. | | | | Roadster Show in 2002, an event where non-V8s are |
| Much has been written about the early days of Hot | | | | typically frowned upon. |
| Rodding. Plenty of books and publications will tell you | | | | Let's not forget the financial aspect of building a Hot |
| more about this era, but we still feel compelled to give | | | | Rod VW. A workable '32 Ford Coupe body has |
| you some key information to clearly understand the | | | | eclipsed the $10,000 mark, while a grille shell with a nice |
| subject. While stripped down cars already raced on a | | | | insert may cost $1200. In other words, for the price of |
| few dry lakebeds in California back in the '20s, Hot | | | | a few rusty 70-plus-year-old parts, you could build a |
| Rodding came of age during the mid- to late-'40s, | | | | cool project car based on a derelict Bug. Juan |
| thanks in part to Hot Rod Magazine the first issue was | | | | Luevanos, the owner of the flamed Volkswagen |
| published in 1948. A typical Hot Rod back then would | | | | pickup truck seen in these pages, conceded that he |
| have been a fenderless 1923 to 1932 Ford Roadster, | | | | spent only $3500 on his killer ride. Hard to beat! |
| fitted with a hopped-up flathead Ford V8 or inline four | | | | Ideas for your Hot Rod VW |
| cylinder (a.k.a. "banger"). In the Los Angeles area, many | | | | Just from looking at our Hot Rod VWs featured in this |
| owners used their rides not only as daily transportation, | | | | issue, you may have guessed that there is more than |
| but also as weekend racers especially at El Mirage | | | | one body style lending to the look. Our selection |
| Dry Lake. This dual purpose certainly influenced the | | | | includes a Convertible, a pickup truck, a Roadster, a |
| look of most Hot Rods seen on the street. It was a | | | | fenderless Sedan, as well as a chopped Bug with |
| time of "form follows function," and in truth loads of | | | | fenders! Nice variety, huh? Early Beetles are typically |
| these vehicles looked rather crude. Limited finances | | | | preferred. While most builders might understandably |
| and post war shortages (tires in particular) frequently | | | | think twice before cutting and modifying a Split or Oval |
| affected their overall appearance, most builders | | | | Window, nothing stops you from using a smashed and |
| choosing to keep the original paint or applying a coat of | | | | beat-up '58-'64 "Big Window" Beetle from your local |
| primer. | | | | junkyard. Chopping the top should definitely be an |
| The standard of finish definitely evolved during the '50s, | | | | option, even though it won't always be necessary, |
| a time when many Hot Rods became inspired by drag | | | | especially if you wrench on a Split or Oval--they |
| racing. By the early '60s, cars were usually detailed to | | | | already come with a smaller windshield from the |
| the max and quite colorful. Models built during the '70s | | | | factory. |
| aren't that exciting, due to their conservative (and | | | | Volkswagen Beetle passenger side |
| perhaps funky!) look. By then, most Rods lacked that | | | | Removing the fenders is easy enough; but the next |
| "bad boy" appeal. | | | | step consists of making the vehicle look good. As |
| '40s, '50s and '60s Hot Rods | | | | mentioned earlier, you need to extend the wheelbase |
| Understandably, a Hot Rod built during the '40s is likely | | | | by moving the front end a few inches, thus making the |
| to look quite different from a '60s model for example. | | | | Bug look sleeker, less stubby. There are various ways |
| So if you decide to tackle a VW project inspired by | | | | to attain this goal. Martin Smith, the owner of the |
| these old cars, you may want to stick with a style | | | | chopped Sedan with red wire wheels seen further in |
| from one of these three decades. We combined a | | | | this issue, has adapted an early Ford axle, as did Fred |
| quick summary to help you with your choice. | | | | Hidalgo. We have also seen a VW pickup truck in Ohio |
| Remember, these are simple and non-exhaustive | | | | that uses a near-stock Volkswagen front end pushed |
| guidelines. Rules need to be broken sometimes... But | | | | forward, thanks to a machined spacer fitted between |
| please make sure not to use any billet-style accessory | | | | the front of the chassis and the axle beam. Last but |
| (those squarish aluminum license plate frames or | | | | not least, Juan Luevanos and Robert Ortiz chose to |
| rearview mirrors for instance). They look way too | | | | modify the stock front end on their respective Bugs, |
| modern for a Hot Rod VW project! | | | | as featured in these pages. What they did is simply |
| '40s Hot Rod: Extremely basic stripped down vehicle | | | | swap the upper and lower torsion bars from the left |
| that used a bunch of scrap yard parts. It was likely to | | | | side to the right, and vice-versa. This approach |
| be a fenderless Ford Roadster. Stock color or primer | | | | required modification to the spindles and the bending of |
| preferred. Hopped up engine. Level ride height, with | | | | the tie-rods as well. Most engineers would probably |
| wire wheels and black bias ply tires. Basic interior with, | | | | scratch their head when checking out this setup... Even |
| once in a while, a pair of bucket seats pirated from a | | | | though both enthusiasts report no ill effect when |
| WWII plane! | | | | driving, in the interest of safety, we cannot promote in |
| '50s Hot Rod: Most cars were nicely finished and | | | | our pages the method they elected to use to extend |
| painted by then. Coupes were now part of the game. | | | | the wheelbase. |
| More high-performance products and more chrome. | | | | A fenderless Beetle will also require new headlights. |
| Steel rims with "big and little" whitewall tires for that | | | | Dune Buggy-style shells might be used, but other |
| California rake. Rolls and pleated upholstery, with white, | | | | alternatives exist like the seven-inch So-Cal Speed |
| black or red being the most popular colors. '60s Hot | | | | Shop buckets. Then it is up to you or your local |
| Rod: Very well finished vehicles, with wild metallic, | | | | fab-shop to create a bracket to attach them to the |
| pearls or candy apple paintjobs. Fenders had gained | | | | body. If you can't find any suitable taillights at a swap |
| acceptance within the Hot Rod community. Wild | | | | meet, you can always mount a pair of traditional 1939 |
| high-performance engines with superchargers or fuel | | | | Ford-style teardrops or other aftermarket models |
| injection. Chrome steel wheels or aluminum | | | | from Mooneyes. |
| five-spokes. Various tires were accepted, from | | | | As far as the look of your engine, forget about the |
| blackwalls and wide whitewalls, to redlines and | | | | modern Porsche 911-style fan shroud, and stick instead |
| whitelines (actually, wide whitewalls left the scene by | | | | to a simple 36-horse unit. A pair of Weber 48IDAs |
| 1962 or so). Wild metalflake Naugahyde interior, with a | | | | would certainly feel right at home flanking it. |
| chrome tach mounted on the steering column. | | | | Remember that some of the fiercest American sports |
| Today's Hot Rod scene | | | | cars used them in the '60s, and Mooneyes still carries |
| Old-style Hot Rods have become increasingly popular | | | | a V8 manifold for them! If you are on a limited budget, |
| during the past few years. Surprisingly enough, these | | | | you can always fit one or two single-throat carbs, |
| rides fascinate mainly younger enthusiasts. Their | | | | topped with a velocity stack or a louvered air cleaner |
| involvement brings fresh air to the Rodding scene that | | | | as do those V8 Hot Rod guys. Many of the VWs |
| is made of an older crowd mostly interested in cruising | | | | seen in our article run a darn noisy stinger exhaust |
| with the air conditioning on behind the wheel of a | | | | system. Cool, except that you may run into problems |
| vehicle that occasionally costs more than a beach | | | | with Officer Friendly. Of course, a stinger baffle |
| house. The funny thing is, nobody seems to have | | | | always remains an option... Since most mufflers found |
| found a name for this group of traditional new/old Hot | | | | on the market won't look elegant on a fenderless Bug, |
| Rods. Some call them "Rat Rods" (when they lack | | | | an alternative would be to build your own system, |
| finishing touches), others "Retro Rods" or "Real Rods." | | | | maybe with a couple of single glass packs installed |
| They even have their own events like Mooneyes' Rat | | | | below the engine. Imagination is yours. |
| Fink Reunion last December, which gathers these cars | | | | Wheels? How about some stock wide-five rims, |
| in addition to Customs inspired by their equivalent of | | | | widened in the back, painted a contrasting color (red |
| the '40s to '60s era--this is where we shot most of the | | | | on a black car for example), and dressed with chrome |
| pictures for this article. | | | | "smoothie" hubcaps plus trim rings? Mooneyes offers |
| This friendly mob has adopted various specifics of the | | | | a variety of other custom hubcaps, in addition to |
| early Hot Rods, like the primered body and the loud | | | | traditional '60s Hot Rod wheels: American Racing Torq |
| exhaust. Since early tin can be expensive, ingenious | | | | Thrust "D," Radir (replicas of the old Rader), ET-Mags, |
| gearheads don't hesitate to mix and match various | | | | etc. Double and triple check their offset before |
| pieces of metal to create their own body. Now and | | | | maxing-out your credit card, and be aware that you |
| then, modified grille shells pirated from obscure '30s | | | | will need to redrill the drums or discs--C.B. Performance |
| vehicles take their place in front of flatheads or other | | | | advertises blank rotors to be drilled for a wide range |
| early V8s. | | | | of rims incidentally. Speaking of brakes, a set of |
| Hot Rodders like to drive fast, and the music they | | | | polished aluminum drums from a Porsche 356, with fins |
| listen to reflects this attitude. To many, '50s doo-wop is | | | | across the edge like the popular Buick seen on |
| fine, but punk rock might be better. Actually, the scene | | | | numerous Hot Rods, might be an idea to look into. |
| makes for an interesting mix of rockabilly, punkabilly | | | | Coker sells a bunch of whitewall radial or bias-ply tires, |
| and garage punk factions! For more about the way | | | | while cheater slicks--dual-purpose rubber for street |
| they dress check out pages 68 and 69. Art has a | | | | and strip - from Mooneyes would look killer on a VW. |
| strong influence on the scene as well, starting with the | | | | Except if you go for the '60s metalflake upholstery, the |
| pinstripes that emulate in a way the tattoos worn by | | | | cockpit should be kept very simple. Can't afford a new |
| some! This crowd has embraced Hot Rod artists like | | | | cover for that seat found at a swap meet? Hide it |
| Von Dutch or Ed "Big Daddy" Roth. The latter made | | | | with a Mexican blanket. Once again, Mooneyes comes |
| the iron-cross popular, way before it became | | | | to the rescue with a bunch of products for that interior, |
| mainstream--think about Jesse James, who adopted it | | | | from the '60s-look metalflake steering wheels, to a |
| as his West Coast Choppers company logo. | | | | wide array of crazy shift knobs (8-ball, piston, tacky |
| Interestingly enough, Roth has tinkered more than once | | | | lighted skulls...). You'll find plenty of additional ideas in our |
| with VWs... He drove a lowered Bug with T-bars | | | | parts guide. Before cutting your old Volkswagen to |
| during the '70s and built various show cars powered | | | | pieces, you should definitely check your local rules and |
| by our faithful flat-four, including the very first trike back | | | | regulations to make sure all modifications executed |
| in the late '60s. | | | | won't put you in trouble with the law. Hope to see you |
| Some of you may wonder how VWs fit in the Hot | | | | behind the wheel of your freshly completed Hot Rod |
| Rod scene. Well, it seems that for years many people | | | | VW ! |
| have considered the Beetle as a Hot Rod. | | | | |