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Old October 25th 2005, 09:17
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oasis oasis is offline
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Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: timonium, md usa
Posts: 1,290
There are a number of ovals in our gallery. I remember at least one in Keith Seume's book on VW customs (the name escapes me).

I did a search in our gallery for splits -- not an easy task as there is no actual search or sorting engine. I found three. All seem to be works in progress.

Page 24 has one by Split50. Page 27 has one by MdR. Page 28 has one by Alex.

The reason I think you don't see many splits that are German Look is because German Look is a recent development as compared to the other styles of restoration and customization.

Getting a split as a platform for anything is going to cost a significant amount. Converting a car to a German Looker is going to tax the enthusiast's disposable income as well. Combining the two would be quite imposing.

I would guess the amount of splits converted to Resto-Cal or Cal Look in the last five or ten years is probably lower than one might think. It would seem to me the majority of these in existence had their roots in the conversion process prior to that.

There is also the factor that splits don't lend themselves for the GL treatment as easily as the Super Beetle (the 1302 and 1303). In fact, splits may be the most challenging air-cooled of all.

If a customizer were given a split for free in any given condition today, it would be easier and less expensive to convert it to Resto-Cal or Cal Look or just restore it to original showroom condition than to convert it to German Look of similar stature.

Clearly, any split that reaches fruition as a German Looker would get a near-unanamous :bowdown: from those of us who would appreciate such an endeavor and accomplishment. The average air-cooled enthusiast may not be so enthusiastic. The German Look is losing some of its red-headed step-child status within the community but there would be plenty of howling in the so-called purist's corner over "bastardizing" a split.

That means a customizer not only has to have deep pockets, that customizer has to be a genuine GL enthusiast to begin with. They are not going to get the same universal wow-factor some customizers crave.

The German Look is about performance but let's face it -- most of us crave or at least enjoy the pat on the back for a job well done. Purists and Straight-liners are going to be reluctant to offer that pat. And if it comes, it may be the reverse side of that hand they're offering.
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