| Whether you know it as a Beetle or a Bug, and | | | | bumpers are retained and either polished, painted, or |
| whether your image of it is the classic version or the | | | | chromed. |
| New Beetle introduced in the late 1990's, chances are | | | | Taking the "Cal Look" a bit farther, there is the "Resto |
| that this is the car that you associate with the | | | | Cal" look, which includes the addition of a roof rack, |
| Volkswagen brand more than any other. Why | | | | and possibly wing mirrors, stone guards, and mud flaps. |
| shouldn't you? The cute, compact car is inexpensive, | | | | Front indicator lenses, and tail lights are often changed |
| easy to maintain, and pretty versatile for such a small | | | | as well. Even more personalized looks can be |
| vehicle. | | | | achieved by changing or removing door handles, or |
| It is because of this combination of easy of | | | | changing the hinging of the hood and trunk. While |
| maintenance and iconic styling that the classic VW | | | | lowering the Beetle is a common modification, |
| Beetle has becoming one of the most popular cars to | | | | however, another equally common element of |
| be customized. After all, it seems designed to accept | | | | non-VW customizations, the use of tunneling |
| personalizations, and everyone recognizes the basic | | | | (Frenching) head lights is not. |
| lines of the car. | | | | Aside from cosmetic changes, popular ways to |
| Most Beetle owners don't change much about the | | | | modify a classic Beetle include engine mods. The |
| interior of the car. Some might add a sound system, | | | | standard engine is a flat-4, air-cooled engine in sizes |
| generally a subwoofer and a few speakers, and | | | | from 1200-1600cc, but because most of the parts are |
| after-market steering wheels are popular as well. In | | | | merely bolted on, replacing them with larger or |
| addition, racing enthusiasts, or race car drivers - Herbie | | | | higher-performance pieces is relatively simple. The |
| isn't the only Bug ever to take a turn on a speedway, | | | | standard engine has been customized into |
| after all - go so far as to strip the interior and install | | | | configurations much larger than 2400 cc by adding |
| bucket seats, race harnesses, and a roll cage. | | | | piston/cylinder kits and turbochargers, Other |
| The bulk of Beetle modifications, however, are | | | | enthusiasts have completely replaced the power plant, |
| cosmetic, and feature styles like the "Cal Look," a set | | | | using a VW Type 4 2-liter flat-4 engine, a |
| of customizations that has existed for more than 30 | | | | turbocharged Subaru flat 4, or even flat 6s as found in |
| years, albeit with some evolution over time. Generally, | | | | Chevy Corvairs or Porsche 911s. Other power |
| the first alteration is to lower the car's suspension and | | | | upgrades include the use of dual carb systems, and |
| change the wheels. While period style EMPI 5- or | | | | stronger transmissions. |
| 8-spoke rims are the most popular choices, other | | | | From cosmetic customizations to motor modifications, |
| people favor Speedwell BRMs. Another change | | | | it's clear that even though the New Beetle is sporty, |
| involves stripping the bumpers and trim, or replacing the | | | | stylish, and popular, it's the classic Bug that is still in the |
| bumpers with push bars, though sometimes the stock | | | | hearts of auto enthusiasts everywhere. |