Volksrods
Encyclopedia
Volkswagen
Volkswagen is a German automobile manufacturer and is the original and biggest-selling marque of the Volkswagen Group, which now also owns the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, and Škoda marques and the truck manufacturer Scania.Volkswagen means "people's car" in German, where it is...
beetles
Volkswagen Beetle
The Volkswagen Type 1, widely known as the Volkswagen Beetle or Volkswagen Bug, is an economy car produced by the German auto maker Volkswagen from 1938 until 2003...
. They are used as an alternative to traditional hot rod
Hot rod
Hot rods are typically American cars with large engines modified for linear speed. The origin of the term "hot rod" is unclear. One explanation is that the term is a contraction of "hot roadster," meaning a roadster that was modified for speed. Another possible origin includes modifications to or...
s and are quickly growing in popularity. Classic Ford Model T
Ford Model T
The Ford Model T is an automobile that was produced by Henry Ford's Ford Motor Company from September 1908 to May 1927...
s and Model A
Model A
Model A may refer to:* Ford Model A , a model of car built by the Ford Motor Company* Ford Model A , a model of car built by the Ford Motor Company* One of the letter-series models of Farmall tractors...
s are becoming more scarce and more valuable than ever. Consequently, their expense has made obtaining and modifying one not feasible for the masses.
VW's are being used as an alternative to Hotrodding, the Volkswagen community has turned to the VOLKSROD. The Volksrod starts out as a traditional Volkswagen beetle. They are so much cheaper, easier to find, and much easier to find parts for. It is also a 1930's design, which is "very much important" in keeping with hot rodding's roots & tradition.
One popular method of the conversion involves removing all body molding & bumpers as well as the fenders of the beetle, and then installing a classic Ford
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
front axle
Axle
An axle is a central shaft for a rotating wheel or gear. On wheeled vehicles, the axle may be fixed to the wheels, rotating with them, or fixed to its surroundings, with the wheels rotating around the axle. In the former case, bearings or bushings are provided at the mounting points where the axle...
to move the wheels forward and give the car a low, stretched look. After that it's finished off with a chopped top and a flat black paint job, original wheels & often with a pinstriping.
Another popular customization is to move the stock Volkswagen axle beam forward or reverse the trailing/torsion arms and re-work the steering linkages.
But as with all types of car customization, lots of different modifications are practiced in different combinations. Usually built with little or NO expensive machined Aluminum or Chrome plated parts! The Volksrod is mostly handmade by the owner with simple mechanical tools and welding equipment. The Volksrod usually eschews an expensive paint job, utilizing spray can paint applied in their driveway. A common refrain, often heard, is "cut - weld - drive."
A new wave in the VW scene is the Rustom Style; it is a lifestyle more than a fashion among volkswagenistas and is growing and getting more popular quickly. There are two different categories on the Rustom style, being PATINA the more conservative one and HOODRIDE as a little more expressive. Keep in mind that all of this categories are cars that are mechanically functioning properly and are legal to be driven on any public road.
See also
- Baja bugBaja BugThe term Baja Bug generally refers to an original Volkswagen Beetle modified to operate off-road , although other versions of air-cooled Volkswagens are sometimes modified as well.-History:...
- Cal LookCal LookA Cal looker is any aircooled Volkswagen that has been modified in a style that originated in California in the late 1960s.- Common modifications:...
- Hot RodHot rodHot rods are typically American cars with large engines modified for linear speed. The origin of the term "hot rod" is unclear. One explanation is that the term is a contraction of "hot roadster," meaning a roadster that was modified for speed. Another possible origin includes modifications to or...
- Punch buggyPunch buggyPunch buggy is a car game generally played by children in which participants punch each other in the arm upon first sight of a Volkswagen Beetle while calling out "Slug bug!" or "Punch buggy!" in reference to the Beetle's nickname, the Bug.- History :Most references about the game originate from...
- Steyr 50Steyr 50The Steyr 50 is a small car released in 1936 by the Austrian automobile manufacturer Steyr. The streamlined body was approved by Director Karl Jenschke to be constructed in 1935, but in that same year Jenschke relocated to the German Adlerwerke in Frankfurt/Main.The car had a water-cooled...
- VolkswagenVolkswagenVolkswagen is a German automobile manufacturer and is the original and biggest-selling marque of the Volkswagen Group, which now also owns the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, and Škoda marques and the truck manufacturer Scania.Volkswagen means "people's car" in German, where it is...
- Volkswagen BeetleVolkswagen BeetleThe Volkswagen Type 1, widely known as the Volkswagen Beetle or Volkswagen Bug, is an economy car produced by the German auto maker Volkswagen from 1938 until 2003...
- Volkswagen KübelwagenVolkswagen KübelwagenThe Volkswagen Kübelwagen was a military vehicle designed by Ferdinand Porsche and built by Volkswagen during World War II for use by the German military...
- Volkswagen New BeetleVolkswagen New Beetle-Specifications:*Dimension:**Length: **Width: **Height: **Wheelbase: **Curb weight: *Max speed: 177–210 km/h *Acceleration : 6.5-13.2 sec-Body styles:-Engine choices:-Safety:...