The Cal-look Lounge

Since some of the hot rod snobs aren't friendly to me either thought I would share our latest issue http://www.traditionalspeedandkustom.com/ with one of the only groups that has been friendly! I have been into VWs and hot rods both my entire life and I know a good number of you are as well. Hope you like it, if you don't please ignore. We are still looking for a buildable pre-64 project for SO-CAL L.A., preferably an Oval if we can pick one up right locally. Thanks Jim

Thanks for sharing, Jim!  If it has to do with souped up cars, I'm in. 8)  So, once the guys over at The Garage smelled a little VW, they dumped you???..... sheeeeeeeesh! ;) ;D

NOOOOO! The Garage is fine and we are TOTALLY VW friendly there. It was a DIFFERENT board. Please don't think that about the Garage! We will be building our SO-CAL Bug on there and it will be cool. There are other hot rod boards that would NOT allow a positive VW post to go 13 pages the way the one on The Garage has gone. Our people get it!

does it have to be an oval, i have a 59 semaphore car with original(patina) paint that i could part with. pretty complete, great base car. let me know, randy

No, a '59 would be killer!!! My first was a '61- also had a '58 I really liked! Always wanted a Semaphore car! Send me info & pics to jim@socalspeedshopla.com Thanks Jim

i'll try and get some out tomorrow, also have a ragtop clip if you want a sunroof

WOW!!!! Sunroof Semiphore car- been a dream for about 30 years!

hey Jim.....can't wait to see that So-Cal bug, i think there's a huge gap in the scene for hot-rod inspired vw's.....i might just be hitting you up for some parts for my 29 A coupe too!
i'm another one with dual loyalties.

cheers.....Jick

i'll be sure to check out that other forum too.....its not one i've seen before.

You keep posting that link!  That is awesome.  I have a front grill from an ancient tractor that I have had 20 years, and was saving for a hot rod (maybe) but I am looking to move it so I just registered and will post it on the swapmeet section. 
Thanks!
Nothing like a fine greaser girl in a red skirt!

Hey Jim Just read your whole post on Vw's,  On your forum......but tried to register to put a post on but couldnt because of the "what year is a Duce" question and i dont know it lol.............can anyone help? lol :D
Sorry and cheers  ;D

It's a 32, and I sent the pics to you Jim

Growing up with all kinds of cars at our house (my dad has 30 classic cars) we had everything from Volkswagens (my mom's first new car was a Red '68- my wife's first car was a '61 bug we built together) , to Model A Fords, to '56 Chevys to a 1919 American La France Fire Engine. The only ones gone are my Volkswagens, but I working on changing that. Never saw the reason to support only one brand and interest.

Motion denied.

"Duece" is another word for a TWO.  It comes from the old days of poker players calling names for cards.  I know most of you know this BUT......
So, a duece coupe is a 1932 (two) Ford.

Two bits = .25 cents
Dead mans hand= aces and eights  (the hand Wild Bill Hickock was holding when he was shot).
Theres some obscure american culture for yah....  yada yada yada

You really didnt know that?  Hey I have owned these Vee dubs since my first car I ever bought in 1977.  However, those days of hangin out on Whittier and just plain being alive in the seventies, you HAD to know about american muscle.  Its a CAR culture, not just a VW culture.  I drool when I see a Dodge w/a 440 and a six pack, or a flat head with triple strombergs, dont get me started with an injected blower......  I am certain Mr. Meredith would be one to agree.  Sorry.  That link was SO fun to read.

I still love you Mark, you are still punk dude! 

Respect.

Dah Worm

dont let these meatheads get you down, theres room for everybody :)

If I hadn't felt the VW prejudice myself personally when I have restored and built my Bugs I'd probably be upset, but I do know how it feels. It's cool if you like to keep your passion separate- just letting you know from where I have seen it as a car magazine editor traveling across the country there are a MAJORITY of hot rodders who also LOVE Volkswagens. That's just a fact. Thanks everyone who sees I'm not trying to ruffle feathers- just show as a guy that loves hot rods and Volkswagens- I'm not alone.
Take an editor of Street Rodder Magazine like Eric Giesert- he used to be an editor at VW trends- longggg ago. He still loves VWs, but is deep in the hot rod world too. I could go on for pages, but you wouldn't want to hear me ramble. Thanks Jim

Duce? Wasn't Mussolini called "Il Duce"..


If i read my Popular Hot Roddings and Hot Rods correctly in 80's Chevy II was called also a Deuce.. Nearly as confusing as calling Fuchs "alloys"  ;D


Keep on posting Jim, good to see something different than factory colours and Berms.

Hey I didnt set out to cause a fuss, I just honestly didnt know what one was lol, In the Uk you only see hotrods once in a while (well in my area of the uk), so never really grew up with them...........question answered now and i was able to make a post :D ;D

c

Word!  ;D

Funny because I LOVEEEEE Factory Colors and BRMs!!! My dream car is a totally stock '51 split, factory blue/green, lowered a little with BRMs. I don't even need the big engine!

Actually, I also think that factory colors and BRMs are a very good looking combination, but it's just that I'm a little fed up with that sort of "bellybutton" cars. To me, the true art is building a traditional Cal Look car that stands out from the crowd... or is that already a paradox?  ;) It's really similar to building a traditional deuce roadster, or let's even say a black deuce roadster. But I think it's possible to build a deuce roadster, that is black, that is traditional, and that is unique. Should be possible with a cal looker, too. Oh well, am I getting off the point, what was the thread about?  ;D

It's not the skirt that counts, it's what's under the skirt that counts! ;)


I have always felt the same way about hot rods and Volkswagens. My dad has restored classic cars and hot rods since he was 16, and all of his friends and customers that have seen my bug in the shop or in the driveway at home has always made some crack about "Got a drifter here, huh?" or "How do you put up with your kid working on this foreign junk?". It gets me everytime!  ::) I have always felt that if if hauls a$$, has a steel dashboard and no plastic along the interior, and could be considered a real  classic, I like it! Truck, cars, motorcycles (etc.) are welcome IMO. I always reply with "Yeah I am thinking of getting a import tuner next....Have you seen that sweet movie "Fast and Furious???" Those cars are SIC fool!  ;D ;)." Funny how they never look at me the same after a response like that!

Andy

Hey, I disagree.  Hotrods are hotrods.  It has been my experience that many hot rod guys can dig Cal Look'ers.  Maybe it is just the attitude that rubs them the wrong way.

You know, I like all kinds of cars and trucks. I definately have my favorites and opinions though. Hell, I even don`t mind seeing an old Volvo or BMW once in awhile. But I am a hardcore VW fanatic and will always be. I have owned a couple of GM products but just couldn`t get into the local Chevy guy scene. So I came back (I never really left). And I take far greater pleasure giving a beatdown do a guy in a FWD "Import" more than an American car because I think we fit in with the V8 guys more and they are on our side a little more. But if I could afford it I would own at least one Duece as well as a few other cars. But I lean more the traditional Rod and Custom stuff more than the Musclecars. I`ll take Supremes and pinner whitewalls over rallies and TA`s anyday. Anyway, most of the real car guys I know like VW`s and have built a few and don`t discriminate. I do agree with Ideaman though that having an attitude toward them doesn`t help and will do nothing to further our cause. And don`t try to get all punk rock on me and tell me how you don`t care what they think because It`s not 1978 anymore.

Thank God for you Mark! I think you should strip the paint off your hubcaps just so you can paint them again!

Why? So you can piss the hot rod guys off?

The age old issue of Us vs Them......

here's my take if any gives a rat's ass:

The V8 scene, much like the VW scene isn't just one big general band of guys. There are knuckleheads in every hobby. My ex boss was very much a Detroit Iron guy all his life, yet he made his living building hot VW motors and selling VW parts. He, more than anybody else, is the reason I got into fast air cooled VW's.... this guy took me under his wing and showed me more hand on stuff on how to make a VW live and run hard than anybody. My point is, while he grew up a V8 guy, once he got wind that a VW could levy some hefty punches, he made them part of his life, and encouraged a lot of guys my age, and younger and older, to build something that could pounce on the big cube stuff.
I think as we get older and mature, we all become somewhat more tolerant of the "other guys"... to me any guy that puts his brain to work before he lifts a wrench, is a cool guy, no matter how many cylinders are under the hood (or decklid). Personally the V8/hot rod/street rod thing is lost on me, not that I do not repspect it, I am just not passionate for that segment of the hobby. Always dug the little cars from overseas.

Best to all,
Jim