Kris Klingaman's Bug

[Neil Davies]

In my opinion, one of the best cars in VW history, both as a street car and as a race car.

I found the thread in Pure Racing (http://cal-look.no/lounge/index.php/topic,6974.0.html) with Speedwell's scan of the '70's Hot VWs feature, but I can't find out much about the colour. The feature lists it as Ford Fleet Blue, but I can;t find out what Ford Fleet Blue actually is! It's been suggested that it might be a commercial colour but can anyone confirm it?

[deano]

I just saw Kris' car two weeks ago in Japan. Since I took those original photos back in 1977ish, I believe this car was completely repainted, along with the additional Miracle Design graphics. Color is a now a solid bright blue, and not a metallic. I do recall the Ford Fleet color used before, which might be the same? It is just the reproduction of our magazine back in '77 was edgey, so the color you see here, is not exactly correct. There will be some current photos of Kris' car in the March issue of Hot VWs.....

[bugnut68]

I loved that car's incarnation in 1985, as a full-on race car.  One of my favorite race cars ever, no question.

[Neil Davies]

I just saw Kris' car two weeks ago in Japan. Since I took those original photos back in 1977ish, I believe this car was completely repainted, along with the additional Miracle Design graphics. Color is a now a solid bright blue, and not a metallic. I do recall the Ford Fleet color used before, which might be the same? It is just the reproduction of our magazine back in '77 was edgey, so the color you see here, is not exactly correct. There will be some current photos of Kris' car in the March issue of Hot VWs.....

Thanks Deano, I did wonder if the photos showed the correct colour! The picture below that Shubee posted seems pretty close though. It's a much more "mellow" colour than the blue that it became later, if that makes sense? Was it a metallic in its first incarnation then?

I did find a website with a list of Ford Fleet colours, but there are quie a few... http://paintref.com/cgi-bin/colorcodedisplay.cgi?manuf=Ford&model=Fleet&year=1971&page=7&rows=50

[Mags]

any picture inside Kris Bug?
also engine room?

mags

[Taylor]

http://cal-look.no/lounge/index.php/topic,6974.0.html

I have my signed '85 issue hanging on the wall in my living room!

[speedwell]

I just saw Kris' car two weeks ago in Japan. Since I took those original photos back in 1977ish, I believe this car was completely repainted, along with the additional Miracle Design graphics. Color is a now a solid bright blue, and not a metallic. I do recall the Ford Fleet color used before, which might be the same? It is just the reproduction of our magazine back in '77 was edgey, so the color you see here, is not exactly correct. There will be some current photos of Kris' car in the March issue of Hot VWs.....

cool Dean more picture from bee-haus collection ??

[deano]

Yes, I we saw the Bee Haus collection in Japan, which is where these photos were taken a few years back (above). I had forgotten that Hot VWs redid Kris' car once it was repainted by Phil Whetstone. Brighter blue than before...

[speedwell]

there're 2 report 1 in 77 and in race car in 85 if i remember well
 

[bugnut68]

Yup, made the cover in Sept. '85... between that car and the California Caravan story, one of my fave issues...

[Greg G]

this is a bug I owned that was a ford blue. I had some engine parts painted safety blue and it matched the body paint perfectly.

[58vw]

car before the graphics

[Neil Davies]

this is a bug I owned that was a ford blue. I had some engine parts painted safety blue and it matched the body paint perfectly.

Greg, that looks close! I'm going to try to get hold of some Safety Blue and see what it turns out like!

car before the graphics

Ooh! I don't think I've seen that one before! The colour seems to change depending on the light conditions the phot was taken in, amongst other things!

[kingsburgphil]

I just saw Kris' car two weeks ago in Japan. Since I took those original photos back in 1977ish, I believe this car was completely repainted, along with the additional Miracle Design graphics. Color is a now a solid bright blue, and not a metallic. I do recall the Ford Fleet color used before, which might be the same? It is just the reproduction of our magazine back in '77 was edgey, so the color you see here, is not exactly correct. There will be some current photos of Kris' car in the March issue of Hot VWs.....

Thanks Deano, I did wonder if the photos showed the correct colour! The picture below that Shubee posted seems pretty close though. It's a much more "mellow" colour than the blue that it became later, if that makes sense? Was it a metallic in its first incarnation then?

I did find a website with a list of Ford Fleet colours, but there are quie a few... http://paintref.com/cgi-bin/colorcodedisplay.cgi?manuf=Ford&model=Fleet&year=1971&page=7&rows=50

I don't recall Kris' car ever being metallic blue, even back in 72' when we were both running 16's with our 1600 zenith/holley mtrs.

[58vw]

another view

[Wink's1966]

what a legendary car!!!!! the things Kris did with the small motors he ran was amazing.... his performances and Mike Smith burn outs will forever be burned in my memory :-)