Tuning in the past and today?
The times of classic cars like Opel Manta and Golf 3 are over, but car tuning is still an active part of our modern times, as men can't part with their hobby of screwing around on their cars and changing things. Back then, many things were easier because there were not yet so many laws and the inner workings of a car were not as electro-heavy as they are today. In this text, we from the online shop "Carbonwerk Germany" want to present what has changed between then and now with regard to car tuning and want to take our readers on a new journey through time.
Tuning in the past:
In the good old days, tuning was still called "hairdressing". That was the case in the 60s and 70s. Back then, the focus was on performance, handling and sound. Low-slung bodies were particularly popular, as were wide tyres and loud basses. The cars were usually covered with dark foils and fitted with large spoilers. It is therefore a trend from times gone by that is still maintained today.
Fairing has a total of three epochs. The first era deals with engine tuning, where it is all about the driving experience. The vibration shafts were improved here so that the engine had a nicer sound. The engine then automatically had better performance. But the mechanics did not only deal with the engine, but also with the carburettor, exhaust and spoiler to increase the sound and performance. In the 70s, spoilers were almost a must if you wanted to have a nice car and show your best side.
The second era dealt exclusively with body tuning. So it was all about the look of the vehicle. Wide tyres came into fashion. In the 80s and 90s, cars were then lowered and given the appropriate tinting films, so that boring compact cars became sporty hot cars.
In the third era, material, light and sound tuning was of great importance in order to make the driving experience more interesting. So here the focus was on leather, paintwork, lighting and sound. Large rims, individual lighting, special paintwork such as leather upholstery and thermo paintwork, as well as sound systems were created. Especially in our modern times, the third era plays a current role.
What has remained the same in the past and today?
- Chassis parts
- Sports exhaust systems
- Special wheels
- Customer demands are equally high
- Cars are to be made more efficient by tuning
- Interior
- Spoilers are still sold
What has changed over time?
- Sound generator
- Body parts are not as much in demand as back then
- Competitive situation
- Tuners today compete with other tuners and even car manufacturers
- Customisation options
- Wheels have grown from 14 inches to 23 inches
- Customers want complete conversions, Lightweight parts and performance enhancements
- Flashy colours are only available on customer request
- Legal requirements have become stricter
- Vehicles have to comply with exhaust emission standards and pedestrian impact protection
- When performance increases, the catalytic converter must also be adjusted
- The engine control unit maps are recalculated
- Even auxiliary headlights must be entered in the vehicle documents
- Many cars are tuned with carbon, steel or aluminium
Back then, drivers wanted to outdo each other. The cars looked extreme and everything that could roll was tuned. No matter whether roof spoilers, front or rear skirts and sills: all parts were pompously extended. Car manufacturers such as Audi and BMW pursued the goal of attracting many customers by luring cars with a 2002 Turbo and an Urguattro. It was important to boost engine power with a turbo. Due to the oil crisis, the demand for high-powered engines decreased. It was not until the diesel engine came on the market that it stood out with its high torque. This meant that fuel consumption was low. This led to the use of auxiliary control units, black boxes and chip tuning. Tuning is therefore a modification of vehicles. Usually the car is affected. The term "tuning" means "fine-tuning" in German. There are four different types of tuning:
- Engine tuning
- Chassis tuning
- Body tuning
- Interior tuning
Today, car tuning is more of a hobby. Many people get together to make changes to a passenger car. There are now magazines about it, organised events, meetings and tuning scenes to present one's souped-up vehicles to the other competitors. The most popular tuning models are the VW Golf GTI, the BMW 3 Series and the Opel Manta. There are many clubs that get together to motivate each other in their hobby. However, tuners are often blamed for their impersonation behaviour. The aggressive driving style and chavvy manners also do not go down well with onlookers, creating a certain stereotype in relation to car tuning.
In what way has road traffic licensing changed?
Today, souped-up cars need to be registered according to StVZO §18.
"Motor vehicles with a maximum speed of more than 6 km/h may only be put into operation on public roads if they have been approved by the granting of an operating permit or an EC type approval and by the allocation of an official registration plate."
The operating permit is in many cases supplied by the manufacturer as a type approval. Experts from TÜV or Dekra, as well as surveyors, can also produce a written permit. Neon-coloured underbody lights are no longer approved at all because they could confuse other drivers. Tyres, foils, windows, lights and headlights all need an official test mark. Today, special attention is paid to the safety of drivers on the roads in order to avoid accidents and dangerous situations. If the vehicle is not registered, the police can even confiscate the car or force the person concerned to modify the car again. Exhausts that are too loud are no longer permitted, as they disturb the environment and also violate noise protection laws. So today it is more difficult to soup up a car than it was back then.
Tuning in the past:
In the good old days, tuning was still called "hairdressing". That was the case in the 60s and 70s. Back then, the focus was on performance, handling and sound. Low-slung bodies were particularly popular, as were wide tyres and loud basses. The cars were usually covered with dark foils and fitted with large spoilers. It is therefore a trend from times gone by that is still maintained today.
Fairing has a total of three epochs. The first era deals with engine tuning, where it is all about the driving experience. The vibration shafts were improved here so that the engine had a nicer sound. The engine then automatically had better performance. But the mechanics did not only deal with the engine, but also with the carburettor, exhaust and spoiler to increase the sound and performance. In the 70s, spoilers were almost a must if you wanted to have a nice car and show your best side.
The second era dealt exclusively with body tuning. So it was all about the look of the vehicle. Wide tyres came into fashion. In the 80s and 90s, cars were then lowered and given the appropriate tinting films, so that boring compact cars became sporty hot cars.
In the third era, material, light and sound tuning was of great importance in order to make the driving experience more interesting. So here the focus was on leather, paintwork, lighting and sound. Large rims, individual lighting, special paintwork such as leather upholstery and thermo paintwork, as well as sound systems were created. Especially in our modern times, the third era plays a current role.
What has remained the same in the past and today?
- Chassis parts
- Sports exhaust systems
- Special wheels
- Customer demands are equally high
- Cars are to be made more efficient by tuning
- Interior
- Spoilers are still sold
What has changed over time?
- Sound generator
- Body parts are not as much in demand as back then
- Competitive situation
- Tuners today compete with other tuners and even car manufacturers
- Customisation options
- Wheels have grown from 14 inches to 23 inches
- Customers want complete conversions, Lightweight parts and performance enhancements
- Flashy colours are only available on customer request
- Legal requirements have become stricter
- Vehicles have to comply with exhaust emission standards and pedestrian impact protection
- When performance increases, the catalytic converter must also be adjusted
- The engine control unit maps are recalculated
- Even auxiliary headlights must be entered in the vehicle documents
- Many cars are tuned with carbon, steel or aluminium
Back then, drivers wanted to outdo each other. The cars looked extreme and everything that could roll was tuned. No matter whether roof spoilers, front or rear skirts and sills: all parts were pompously extended. Car manufacturers such as Audi and BMW pursued the goal of attracting many customers by luring cars with a 2002 Turbo and an Urguattro. It was important to boost engine power with a turbo. Due to the oil crisis, the demand for high-powered engines decreased. It was not until the diesel engine came on the market that it stood out with its high torque. This meant that fuel consumption was low. This led to the use of auxiliary control units, black boxes and chip tuning. Tuning is therefore a modification of vehicles. Usually the car is affected. The term "tuning" means "fine-tuning" in German. There are four different types of tuning:
- Engine tuning
- Chassis tuning
- Body tuning
- Interior tuning
Today, car tuning is more of a hobby. Many people get together to make changes to a passenger car. There are now magazines about it, organised events, meetings and tuning scenes to present one's souped-up vehicles to the other competitors. The most popular tuning models are the VW Golf GTI, the BMW 3 Series and the Opel Manta. There are many clubs that get together to motivate each other in their hobby. However, tuners are often blamed for their impersonation behaviour. The aggressive driving style and chavvy manners also do not go down well with onlookers, creating a certain stereotype in relation to car tuning.
In what way has road traffic licensing changed?
Today, souped-up cars need to be registered according to StVZO §18.
"Motor vehicles with a maximum speed of more than 6 km/h may only be put into operation on public roads if they have been approved by the granting of an operating permit or an EC type approval and by the allocation of an official registration plate."
The operating permit is in many cases supplied by the manufacturer as a type approval. Experts from TÜV or Dekra, as well as surveyors, can also produce a written permit. Neon-coloured underbody lights are no longer approved at all because they could confuse other drivers. Tyres, foils, windows, lights and headlights all need an official test mark. Today, special attention is paid to the safety of drivers on the roads in order to avoid accidents and dangerous situations. If the vehicle is not registered, the police can even confiscate the car or force the person concerned to modify the car again. Exhausts that are too loud are no longer permitted, as they disturb the environment and also violate noise protection laws. So today it is more difficult to soup up a car than it was back then.