RestoWagen UK - the UK Resto-Cal Volkswagen Resource.

Not so much a reader's ride - but a staff one! This is my Beryl Green 63, which is in the process of a long-term Resto-Cal transformation.

The Beryl Green paintwork is perhaps my favourite feature of the vehicle. Not too common in VW circles, it is in fact an (almost) period-correct VW factory hue, having been removed from the options list shortly before my car rolled off the production line at Wolfsburg. The paint job sadly seems to be of quite poor quality, and so at some point will be resprayed. Being a long term investment, this comes further down the list than other sources of expenditure. I can't see myself changing the colour, though. It has been described as "baby-sick green" by some - Can't say I see it myself! (or maybe I just like the colour of vomit?! Who knows….)
The roofrack is a standard off-the-shelf item with a twist. The metalwork has been given a white coating to contrast nicely with the paint. The wooden slats haven't been spared special treatment either, having been coated with a red-brown varnish. These inexpensive tricks give a fresh look to a popular accessory, and whilst not appropriate in every instance, works well in this situation.
Aside from the DubAddicts and HotVW's stickers in the rear window, the rear end of the body is stock. That's right - as it stands my car commits the ultimate Resto-Cal sin, a stock rear ride height. Don't fear, however - this is all set to change in the near future, as I will explain later!
The all-red rear lenses are another inexpensive detail. Contrary to popular belief, these are in fact legal on pre-`65 vehicles. Also legal (I'm told) are white front indicators for cars in the same age-bracket. More evidence, perhaps, that just because you can doesn't always mean you should! I'll stick to the orange bulbs for now, which are, incidentally behind clear lenses. I'm a great fan of clear indicator lenses; on Sixties bugs particularly. The stock orange lenses can often unwillingly dominate the front of a car, especially when the body colour contrasts with them strongly. Of course to render my theory absoloute crap, the UK GFK bug (built by Gavin Jones, now owned by Ian and Sophie) - along with many other beautiful cars - looks superb, orange lenses et al! Avoiding contradiction is obviously not my strong point, so I shall have to leave you to your own opinion on the matter!
The bumpers are the blade-style correct for European-spec cars of the era. I'm a fan of both these, and the US-spec alternative (the chrome-covered surface area of which far exceeds that of the blade - and more things to polish can never be a bad thing!) I'm not sure what will get the nod in the end, but for now I'll stick with the blades.
A couple of new additions to the front end of the car are the Aussie-spec visor and the Bosch driving light. The latter is a part of a NOS pair, the yellow foglight having not been fitted. They will both probably end up sitting wider on the bumper, as the clearance between light and opening bonnet is slim.
The Aussie visor is as much for practicality purposes as accessory street cred (!) My car is a daily driver but is not fitted with interior visors. This swapmeet find is not in A1 condition, but proved to be a lot cheaper than one in better condition, and it does it's job well. Interestingly, the same company is still producing these visors today, but by the time it gets over to these shores from Down Under, you'll be lucky to get any change from Ł200. Mine was Ł45, and is a clamp version, rather than a bolt-on. The less holes I have to drill, the safer it is for everyone else, not to mention my poor car. I may be getting some replacement stainless steel mesh.
Also visible are the Flat 4 Robri rear stone guards and round mirror, both Volksworld show purchases.

The interior is fully-kitted out with TMI all round. Whilst the door cards remain the only original part of the interior, the inside probably retains the atmosphere of originality of the car more than anywhere else. The carpets are dark brown, with the seats upholstered in stock-style pea green vinyl. The big stock white wheel makes for easier turning than my old `68, where the tiny wheel required about 5000 degrees of turn either way before it reached full lock!
The Motorola radio is a nice addition, and is a nice alternative the the plainer period radios you often find at swapmeets. It has enough chrome to keep me happy, which is the most important thing! At some stage the glovebox will house something more modern, but until then I plan to get a little speaker to hook it up to.
The shifter is stock, and gives the notorious "wooden spoon in a soup bowl" shift. So long as a 1200 is all I have in the back, it'll be fine.

I have recently acquired a set of chromed Porsche 356 wheels, 4.5j at the front and 5.5j at the rear. The front two are now shod in Continental 145/65/15R tyres (commonly found on Smart cars) The rears are set to recieve a new pair of 185's in the near future.

With four years of University (and University debts) looming, it will be a few years at least until my car is finished. Foxcraft `skirts and a narrowed beam will form part of the final look - the rest will remain a surprise!
If you see the car about at a show, come and say hi. And tell me what you think I should do with it!