VolksRod VS. German Look?

[CHB73SB]

I am wondering which way is better to go with my 73' super, I like the GL for the curved windshield, but i also like the no frills of the rat rod style. Looking for suggestions on the most economical solution to my dilemma.
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1973 Super Beetle

[Zach Thomas]

Germanlook for sure.
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62 Rag - a little crusty

[Ferguson]

in my option the rat rod or Volks rod is kinda lame the German look is much better going the Volks rod kinda looks like you couldn't afford or was to cheap to buy fenders
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(o)\!/(o) Proud owner of a 1972 Beetle, 72 Super Beetle, 76 convertible Beetle and a 69 Fastback
www.CCVW.org

[SLO-N-LO-69]

volksrod has it's place but I prefer the german. However I do like it lowered so I am not a purist. Nothing looks better than a stock body with a lowered suspension to me.

The bottom line is that the bug is yours to do what you wish. Make it what you want, not what other people think about it.

[SLO-N-LO-69]

volksrod has it's place but I prefer the german. However I do like it lowered so I am not a purist. Nothing looks better than a stock body with a lowered suspension to me.

The bottom line is that the bug is yours to do what you wish. Make it what you want, not what other people think about it.

[Joel]

That is 2 completely different vehicle styles, do you mean rat look or rat rod with no fenders, bumpers, engine lid etc?
cos that really is apples and oranges, one is built to go, corner and stop like a performance car the other is built for looks and wow factor but not driving pleasure.

Not wanting to offend but try and find some pics, supers look pretty stupid as volksrods.
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Quick little bug, you got a Porsche motor in that?
1974 Germanlook 1303 2.5 Suba-Beetle

[vw_hank]

[Derek Cobb]

There's a massive price difference as well. German-look is all about fine engineering, modern equipment and very high performance. Rat rod is more about 'seat of your pants' engineering, cobbling a very basic car together with 'what-ever' parts you have lying around.
A curved windshield Super Beetle is a great choice for a German-looker, kind of a miss-match for a rat rod.

[CHB73SB]

I'm not talking about running fender less, what i was kinda thinking is basically going with suspension, minimal interior, and a flat paint job.
HoodRide style.

As where if I go GL i will spend more time on the interior, and more time and work to the body as well as having to shell out some big bucks for the new rotors and drums to accept the lug pattern of a larger wheel.

I really like both and the wife says i cant have 2.
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1973 Super Beetle

[Max Welton]

In your first post, your are looking for the most "economical solution to my dilemma". What is you budget?

Max
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1967 Type-3 Fastback
Under the Knife https://shoptalkforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=151582
Home Stretch https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=767836

[CHB73SB]

Well depending on which direction I go I could drag it out a while and do it in phases, maybe total I want to put in it from this point is about $1500. I have done a front disc conversion and the topline sport+ springs, as well as built a 1776cc and rebuild the rear drum breaks. I have done quite a bit of body work and was thinking this summer spraying it with john drrer blitz blakc paint. But I know I need pans and need to replace the frame head.
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1973 Super Beetle

[Lakrum]

73 would look good as a German Look, hoodride im not too sure but it is your vehicle.

[daflee]

I much rather prefer the german look, especially since you have a curved windshield.
I think if you shop around for whatever wheels you pick and get a good deal, you could easily afford to go from this:

to this:

I think for the "must haves" My cost includes:
lowering kit (topline maxx struts) ~$700 after tax and shipping
Front disc kit (solid rotors)...359.95
Drill Pattern/Stud for Porsche, ea. with std [email protected]= 110.00
Extra long studs, extra charge................................10.00
Factory second 3/8 spacers....................................30.00
Total for goods.....................................................509.95
Tax.....................................................................44.62
Shipping for all.......................................................31.00
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Grand total..................................................585.57
Wheels from a porsche junkyard $800
Tires $300 after they were mounted/balanced

my grand total is somewhere around $2300 but like i said, if you find the right deal on whatever wheels, i think it could fall into your budget nicely.

plus you already have the disk brakes, so that cuts a huge chunk from the total. Just be forewarned: 4-->5lug adapters won't cut it in the front, unless you have wider fenders. it rubs. I'm using them in the back though and only the right tire rubs, but i think thats because i have some aftermarket and some original fenders.. (the rubbing isn't even that bad, probly only rubs when i'm flyin down the freeway and hit a dip, whilst a fat chick rides in the back )

[bdub74]

German Look

[ach60]

'73 curved window Super is the German look defined.
But as stated German look can be expensive, and is all about the engineering.
A good start on a German Look is simply making the car as clean as possible.
I would start with simply cleaning up the car to stock specifications,
by getting rid of all the P.O.'s make due repairs, and BS aftermarket stuff like eyebrows.
Then I'd look at www.toplineparts.com and set up a lowered front end, with disc brakes, and sway bars front and rear.
A 1776 will make OK power,
but big diameters wheels, and wide tires will suck up that power.
So for me 15" x 5 1/2" wheels like Pedrini alloys which are light and strong would be the way to go.
So I guess what I'm saying is go "Stock+" to give yourself a nice clean car to drive.
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Good Luck
Al

[Lakrum]

I cream my pants everytime I look at a good GL.

[CHB73SB]

Well when i built the engine last summer i left the compression low in prep. for a turbo blow thru set up running between 7-10psi.

I am also thinking about buying new wheels for my family car and using the stock wheels form that on the beetle.
The family car is a 2003 Audi A4 Sport, which has the 17" 5 spoke wheels.

I have already removed all of the chrome body moldings and filled all of the holes.

I would like to try to find one of those air dams, but i am not having much luck.
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1973 Super Beetle

[vw_hank]

Cant you just up grade the car with out it having to fit into A category?? Do what you like,, But please never say "hoodride" thats taking A good car and making it Junk! The worst of the worst PO's!!!!!! anything you do to the car should be A improvement
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1302s sunroof..
1600cc motor. Glenn ring 010. full toplineparts.com suspension. factory front disk brakes. Tram type-3 rear brakes. Hurst shifter. empi-8's. low-back's. tons of mods!

[TateFTW]

[Johnny.Baba]

Another option might be restomod. Meaning the exterior and interior are nearly factory looking, and all the attention goes to the engine, tranny, suspension, and wheel & tires.

Think about how much of this is going on in American muscle car scene and how cool it looks on old Camaros and Mustangs. There's no reason we can't get in on it. Volksrod and GL are both cool, but there's more options out there than just those two.