front end
 

so now that my bug is all together and i got it out to a show and got to really stand back and look at it and in pics like this...
http://www.volksport.net/images/projpics/zen35.jpg

i'm left thinking the front is just a little too barron and blande. i obviously was shooting for and clean look, but with the headlights painted and not breaking the space up (by design) and no bumper, it strikes me as just tooo dull. the width contributes, although i do like the wider look.

so i am looking for some feedback and suggestions. i have debated about a graphic. thought was only 1 graphic where the bumper mount and horn grill would normally be. guess i could photoshop something. just not sure i like the thought.

i don't see adding a hood handle back in as much of an answer since the door handles are shaved and all logos. i also debated on something in the shift rod cover, but struck me as too obvious and possibly corny if not done right for this car.

any other ideas since i keep shooting my own down?

if it was me, I would cut some holes in those fenders and mount you
a nice Euro Blade bumper painted the same color as the car :D

good idea. thought of that too. bumpers just usually don't look right with widened fenders...to me. still a thought.

thought about air ducting for the brakes (not like i need it though) and grills, but not sure if i want to go there since there is nothing else up front, i'm thinking the holes would just stick out like a sore thumb.

I think a set of the little round turnsignals in amber would look good and break it up nicely. The ones that bugpack make for buggies. The flat ones.

Your saying it looks a little blande, I don't think it's a case of blande it's just the wing/fender moulding stands out to much in black, I think by replacing them with silver it will cure your problem.
A cheap and easy fix to see if this will be to your liking.

Just a thought.

i think a bumper and kamei soiler would do the trick just right.

this may be too far but black out the bumpers, headlight rings and trim too.

maybe some subtle ghost flames that are only visible in the right light?

http://img109.exs.cx/img109/2758/white9ca.jpg

Ghost flames might look great on that car in a good Platinum pearl or something like that....maybe those bumper might work as well....what about pinstriping in a subtle color? What about getting your light covers tinted or smoked. Are they smooth or fluted? If there smooth you could get a nice light green tint or something!

I think the car looks great the way it is...if you do changes to it I would keep them very subtle.

Maybe some silver carbon fiber rock guards on the front fenders.

what about a pre '67 bonnet? I think that would clean up the shift rod hole and make the front end look more harmonious.

Just my 2c worth...

a lot of good suggestions. any major rework, like a new apron, is not an option. i am done with any more major rework on the car. it has been far too long already. :D

there are some less intrusive suggestions that might work. since i borrowed several design cues from Speedsters and 356 (and some yet to come), i thought about an early 356 bumper design for the bug (see attached), but the lines of the bug particularly around the wheel well don't seem to lend themselves to this too well.

still open to more ideas. i can totally live with it this way. i think it looks really good. just seems to need a little something...very little.

Um...what about some carbon fiber or satin black headlight rings to bring in some contrast. A more far-out thought could be to put some grills in the hood or apron like the fun cup cars have. Yeah, it might not even look good, but I don't think I've seen it done before.

Ahhh...what about this? Cut some circular holes in the fenders where the little fender grills often are on VW's. Then run some brake ducts. That could be a good shot at having some form, as well as function involved.

the car looks amazing as it is maybe just ghost flames and thats it :)
btw i always loved to remove the door handles and the hood handle :agree:

also, you've got black mirrors, why don't you match the wheel color to black as well as the headlight rings and maybe a black racing stripe down the middle of the car? i think like one of the other poster's said, you need some contrast, it's all the same color with nothing to break up the lines a little.