When asked what my favorite thing about Speedhunters is, my usual reply is the way we’re able to simultaneously showcase car culture from many different corners of the globe. Not just the popular cars and bigger events, but the lesser known underground stuff as well. No matter how long I’ve been involved with Speedhunters, there’s always something satisfying about clicking over to the homepage and seeing a lineup of cool cars and stories from across the world.
At any given time, there could be a story about a car built to carve the canyons of California; a masterpiece created by a bespoke outfit in Europe; or a time attack monster from Japan. If variety is the spice of life, then it’s good to have several extra-strength breath mints available while reading Speedhunters.
What I enjoy even more is when we get the chance to showcase cars that combine elements from multiple parts of the planet. This ’56 Volkswagen Beetle is most certainly one of those cars.
For this story of international automotive passion, we find ourselves in Yokohama, Japan, with a car that was born in Germany nearly 60 years ago, built in a style pioneered on the sun-drenched streets of California.
The owner’s name is Manabu Kanda and besides being a passionate VW enthusiast, he also operates a blog called Kalifornia Look, in which he documents daily life and the cruising scene in and around Yokohama.
If the name and the car look familiar, that’s because Kanda-san is actually a friend of mine, and last year when I went to Japan he helped organize a Speedhunters Yokohama cruise night with some of his friends. We had a great time rolling around the streets of ‘Y-Town’ – as the locals call it.
It just so happens that when Larry was in Japan last month for Tokyo Auto Salon, he and Dino headed to Daikoku Parking Area one night, where they randomly encountered Kanda-san who was out for a cruise in his VW. The car really struck a chord with Larry, so he decided to shoot it right then and there.
Perfecting The Look
The wonderful thing about Japan is that regardless of what automotive subculture interests you, there’s guaranteed to be a group of people there who follow it. Actually, they don’t just follow it – they obsess over it like few others, and the cars they build speak to that.
Whether it’s an old Mini Cooper or a low and slow American custom, there’s a guy or gal in Japan who lives for it. Air-cooled Volkswagens are no different. In fact, Japan is home to one of the world’s best air-cooled VW scenes, with maniacs doing everything from full restos to racecars, to completely authentic Cal Look builds.
Kanda-san has owned his ’56 oval window Beetle for 15 years. It was actually the first purchase he ever used a loan for, and like a lot of privately owned cars in Japan, it’s been a story of constant refinement and improvement.
In fact, the day of our Yokohama cruise night last year was when he picked up his Beetle from K-Line – a local body shop that had just treated the car to some exterior refreshing and a brand new coat of paint.
The car was a turquoise green in its previous iteration, but for the new color scheme Kanda went with a color he calls ‘Beer Gold’. It could also be considered a dark form of champagne gold, but because Kanda-san is such a fan of drinking cold brew he thought the chosen name was a nice fit.
Whatever you want to call it, the color looks gorgeous and manages to perfectly capture the traditional style of a Cal Look VW, while also standing out from the crowd in a big way.
Aside from the paint, the body of the vintage VW has received other light custom work. The bumpers have been removed for a cleaner look, while other items like the front turn signals have also been smoothed out.
While many VW owners like to go with a slammed stance, Kanda-san has instead gone for more of a street machine vibe with a narrowed front beam and a significant rake. It looks mean without being over the top.
Built For The Streets
The wheel and tire combination also does a lot to contribute to the VW’s old school look. The classic 15-inch Centerline wheels measure just 3.5-inch wide in the front, with much larger 7-inch numbers out back.
The tires also add to the retro style, with skinny 135-width Michelins in the front and big 215/70 Cooper Cobras in the rear.
Of course, a proper Cal Look inspired VW should have plenty of grunt to back up its clean style. And while Kanda’s Beetle is by no means a racecar, it’s seen plenty of work beneath the decklid. The 1,776cc engine engine was built by a Tokyo-based VW workshop called One Low and is topped by a pair of Kadron carbs.
Having seen the car in action last year on the streets of Yokohama, I can attest that the little oval window moves very well, and the induction sound from the carbs provides a lovely soundtrack.
The interior is almost completely original, with the pair of red bucket seats contrasting nicely with the Beer Gold paint.
The original steering wheel has also been swapped out for a thin tri-spoke piece from an earlier car. Don’t forget the panic button either!
The only big aftermarket additions inside the car are an Auto Meter tachometer with a custom mount, a Hurst shifter and a Moon gas pedal.
I guess you can leave it to the Speedhunters to venture to Japan for the glitz of Tokyo Auto Salon and come back with a story of a guy and a homegrown Volkswagen from the ’50s.
Cars like Kanda’s VW aren’t just cool and exciting, they make the world feel like a smaller place. That’s something I think anyone whose ever loved car culture from a far-off land can relate to.
Mike Garrett
Instagram: speedhunters_mike
mike@speedhunters.com
Photos by Larry Chen
Instagram: larry_chen_foto
larry@speedhunters.com
Manabu Kanda’s California Look 1956 Volkswagen Beetle
Engine
1,776cc flat-four built and blueprinted by One Low, dual Kadron carburetors, BEE HAUS ceramic-coated exhaust system
Suspension
Narrowed beam with lowered front end
Wheels/Tires
Centerline 15×3.5-inch (front) 15×7-inch (rear) Michelin 135/SR15 (front) Cooper Cobra 215/70/15 (rear)
Exterior
Custom ‘Beer Gold’ paint by K-Line, removed bumpers, smoothed front turn signals, shaved hood ‘Volkswagen’ emblem
Interior
Restored interior with early model type-1 steering wheel, Autometer tach with custom mount, Hurst shifter, Moon gas pedal
Thanks: Kanda-san would like to thank One Low, K-Line, K&M Machine Service, Hideyuki Tajima and Toshimitsu Omote
KaliforniaLook
More Volkswagen Stories on Speedhunters
