The Cal-look Lounge

Sorry Guys, I'm not a total newbie, but after a computer crashed and e-mail caught a virus I just resigned up with a similar screen name. Again, my name is Jim- I own & operate the SO-CAL Speed Shop franchise in Long Beach, CA. I used to be the Senior Editor for Rod & Custom, before that the Editor of the Goodguys Gazette, before that Associate Editor at Sport Truck and have also done a lot of Freelancing for The Rodders Journal, Traditional Rod & Kulture and a few others. Now I have my own on-line magazine called Traditional Speed & Style, but hope to spin off an equal quality VW On-Line Magazine early next year. All my professional magazine experience came AFTER I begged to work at Hot VWs, but at the time I had zero car magazine experience so they passed.
Despite many varied automobile interests I have loved VWs since I was 2 and my mom bought a new Ruby Red '68 Bug. I've had a bunch of different Bugs- but haven't had one for 15 years after the Aerospace industry left me out in the cold and I had to sell all the toys. Well, finally I'm getting back to one of the things I love- VWs! Today was the day we went and picked up our new '67 Bug- A totally original Ruby Red '67 Sunroof Sedan with original black CA plates and dealer plate frames- NOTHING has been cut on the car, and the banged up rear fenders and dent in the roof are the only damage it has ever seen. Have to say I was pretty excited for the big day. Got up early and picked up the trailer and we headed to Orcutt, CA to pick it up. 3 hours on the road and we were there. Met the car owner Dan and he was really happy that someone was getting the car who appreciated how totally original and unmolested it is. Only spent about 15 minutes loading it up and signing the papers and we were back on the road headed home. Highway 101 in California is always a beautiful drive and it was a beautiful day. One of my favorite sites anywhere is the old Trolley Car Cafe that time has almost totally forgotten. It was a thriving tourist stop in the '40s and '50s, but when the big highway went in the cafe was shut off from the travelers.
Took us another 3.5 hours to get home and we had a few minutes to sneak into the auto parts store to pick up a fresh battery. We raced home and I had a goal to get the two flat tires and the battery installed before Domino's delivered pizza. We got the wheels swapped and dropped in the new battery. The big bonus of the day was the first twist of the key and the old car fired up on the first try! I didn't even know the car would run, so this was quite the pleasant surprise. I took the car up the block and parked it in the driveway right before the pizza arrived. A long but very happy day.

(http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/74/67bug0022.jpg)

(http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/5003/67bug0082.jpg)

My son Blake with the new Bug.

(http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/6865/67bug0042.jpg)

(http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/4954/67bug0132.jpg)

Thats a nice find, what are your plans for it?

andy

good feeling huh :)

 8) 8) 8)  I seem to recall walking off a few Sunday morning wino hangovers on that side road in front of the cafe ::)

wonder if the post hangover was the fun part or the pre hangover.. sarge

welcome again jim
the car look like sarge 's one   ;D ;D some decades ago  ;D ;D

rgd
fabs

Plans are to clean it up, add BRMs and use it as our SO-CAL Speed Shop Volkswagen. Want to start caravanning to events like Goodguys with other VW enthusiasts. 

How cool!!!! The So-Cal speed shop is getting in on the act  ;)

Welcome to the lounge dude  :)

Hey Jim, welcome back, a very nice find. Keep us updated on the process and with pics.

Ted

67 - Its the perfect car!! It will look sweet with some BRMs and a good stance. Congrats on the find!

thats a great looking project Jim, i'll look forward to the updates..... cool shots of that cafe too!

Looks like a good project , the same like mine that i picked up at Modesko CA in 1998 . But it is still not on the road  :(
This is when i started working on it

Good luck Udo

Cool! How about hitting the Power Tour with it one year too. I still want to do that with mine some time.

--louis

PERFECT TEXTURE  8) good one. leave it alone. congrats. UD . .

Would love to do Power Tour! What are some events coming up before the year ends? Who wants to caravan to Goodguys Scottsdale, AZ?

That looks like a solid project!
I'll probably be down for Goodguys, but not bringing the VW.


I just remembered... I have a bunch of old black and white photos from the late '40's where my boss' father had an auto upholstery business in Southern Cal. Lots of hot rods and customs. If you're there, maybe we could meet up and you could check them out? I don't know if they are magazine material, but they sure are cool 8)

I would LOVE to see the Pics Zach. What goodguys event will you be at? Scottsdale? Thanks Jim

Yeah, Scottsdale. I live about a hundred miles north (and 15 degrees cooler) in Prescott. I emailed TRJ a long time ago about the pics, but I don't have a scanner to copy/send them. I'll PM you my number ;)

Back on topic!

Hey Jim, bug-o-rama is this Sunday at Fontana

Today was my 43rd Birthday, but I also found out my Bug was born in Oct. '66 TOO!!! It's cool because I collect 1966 Stuff and have a few 1966 Schwinn Stingrays- one Oct. '66 that was sold in the town I was born and still live in- Torrance, CA.

happy b day  jim  ;)

I remember seeing that Cafe in my younger days. I recall its real close to Andersons pea soup in Buellton? Good find BTW!

Yes, VERY close to Buellton- we stopped there for lunch.

Jim check out my 64 Ruby Red. I'll pick it up on Tuesday. It will need some changes made to it but it's a great start. Charlie

YEOW! Nice one Charlie! Can't wait to see the tweaks!

Jim, did you receive the PM I sent you?

I sent one, too! Still going to be at Goodguys Scottsdale tomorrow??

Sorry I can't make it to the Goodguys show.

Got the engine cleaned of 43 years of grime!  ;D

(http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/2175/enginebefore.jpg)

(http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/4850/engineafter.jpg)