The Cal-look Lounge

Don't know about you guys, but personally, I am enamored withthe style of the very early DKP cars.....cars like Ron Fleming's black oval when it had the ET mags and big Goodyears and stock height, Don Crane's red '67 (one of my very favorite cars ever)...Dave Dolan's '67...

I love the look of the stock height, and the 356 wheels (no hubcap), or ET mags or BRMs, stock moldings, the sign-writing on the decklid and fenders....can't really put my finger on why I dig these very early lookers so much, but I always have...

I wonder why this style isn't replicated today, like the "lowered' style is?

I'd love to find a nice '64 sunroof and replicate the look of these early cars....

Anybody else's thoughts?  :)

You definitely need to come to Europe!  :)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v232/SanchoPancho/Europe%2005/6a064d5f.jpg)

:)

...I heard this is what the same car looks like today ???

(http://blogsimages.skynet.be/images_v2/002/506/192/20060820/dyn004_original_558_387_pjpeg_2506192_7960fd155ddae25b74c539c215d3bf1e.jpg)

Please tell me it's another car!

enjoy jim  ;)

more  8)

it's look like the original :o

and now the original   8)  ,the only difference on the 2 cars is the bumper  ron had export bumper, and david euro bumper:

Man, those pics bring back some OLD memories!  Bug Optional (B/O) was the class they threw all the VW's into at Lions Drag Strip back in the old days. 

Here's mine. It's a 57 US spec with Rocket mags. Poor quality picture, will take some good ones soon.

Test drive in the rain...

This is mine. A bit too original yet, but later on with another engine and exhaust system. The Fleming oval is my favourite

are goodyear blue streak hard to find nowdays or is there good repros like the firestones wideOval?
my pirellis are neat but I would prefer a pair of good year
hervé

I am also a great fan of the Flemming oval. The car looks just right!
I used to be a hardcore original-nut and bolt guy, but something happened along the way...

I am currently working on my oval to make it look like the really early cal-look cars.
Diagonal tires in front, home made velocity stack on an almost stock engine... blue streaks on the back and a home made exhaust are on my wish list.

And Baboon: I simply love that split!! How about bring it to SCC?

Here you got some nice tires for sale:

http://www.sascosports.com/products/specs.php?type_id=22

Thank`s for the kind words you all. ;D ;D

here's some another pict from the dkp1 car

those look pretty much like andis used to:
(http://www.nose-down.de/blog/images/rides/car/Andi_Heck.jpg)
foto:nose-down.de

love this one very dkp1 period  8)

any idea how much of the DKP1 cars are still alive?

go to my blog to see the car of jim "sarge"
http://speedwell55.skynetblogs.be/
jim can you tell us some stories with that car  :)

My 63 was originaly purchased new from Lee Wood Motors in Whittier Ca by my dad.  I got it a couple years later and passed it to my wife-to-be in 1967 when I got drafted into the Army.  Up to that point the modifications were minimal...Four-Tuned exhaust, 010 distributor, velocity stack, etc.  Sharon (my wife) added the wheels (American 5 spokes and Ansen Sprints) while I was visiting Viet Nam.  Upon returning stateside (1969), DKP's focus had shifted to performance.  The mag wheels and adapters gave way to lighter chrome wheels.  Torsion leaves were pulled from the front beam to lower the stance.  My focus through this process was always on making my car as fast as possible with the little amount of money I had to spend...never could afford the Becker's paint or the Brad's upholstery.

another picture from your car  taken by you   ;D

 8)

 waouwww.... period engine :o

Geez, my whole photo album right here in the Lounge...I'm flattered! ;)  You have one pic I don't even have!

How do you think I feel? With direct access to the attachment folder! woha :-)

Me personally I am a massive fan of the early cars - stock height, white mufflers, Blue streaks and mag wheels thats what its all about  ;D

here's some  pic's of my friends original blue streaks on his ET mags - I even ran them on the Manx for a while  8)

Does anyone have any pic's of those repro blue streaks?

I love these old tires. here is a pic of mines at the rear, thanks for the links

(http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a266/herrvee/my-old-school/DSC00205.jpg)

hervé

sarge here's a picture of doug gordon's 65 before becoming the famous underdog,  and that was ron fleming who's driving the car. you take that pict jim  8)

and one more......a little more recent this time

Thanks for posting my pics for me Jim!  One of these days, I'll be needing me some computer training...LOL!

waouwwwww very impressive picture  , but is it possible to post them with big format ,there are small when we watch them  ::) thanks jim  ;)
here's sarge car  is it correct that john lazenby nicknamed your car "apalusa"
 pict from the bible

jim & sarge what do you thinks about my car??? has she the correct stance to be a pré cal-look ??? she 's just a little dropped , it's a 61 standard

another pict from my car  ::)

 ;D at that time  have you seen a  pré cal look with  empi/speedwell sprintkit????

Here's another of Rocket-Racing's Bug, I just posted it on another thread but what the hell, it's a sweet looking car! I'll get you some hotel information...

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v232/SanchoPancho/Scandinavian%20Cal%20Look%20Classic%202006/SCC2006MS042.jpg)

I finaly got the chance to check out this car last weekend, what a great car! It´s all in the details...
The plan is to get it a little bit higher in the back if i´m not mistaken.

Thanks for the compliments on the car!
It's not quite finished yet, still lots of plans that hasn't been carried out. Mostly details, but it also needs a vintage tuned engine.
And you are totally right JS, it will be raised a little in the rear. It was just the way I wanted it this spring, but the suspension has set after a summer of driving and made it a little too low.

For the real early look, you need to junk the EMPI-style decklid and those T-bars. Stock decklid and no bumpers, glasspack muffler, then you're getting closer! :)

its gotta be a White glasspack though  :)

cool thread, When I saw Speedwells car in Volksworld I nearly had a trouser accident, it is awesome.

thanks for this words simon what car have you?(picture)?

Wow! There are some nice cars here...!

I'm new to this forum, but thought that I'd share some pictures of my car.... some of you may have seen them on other forums.
I was also inspired by the pre-Aronson cars when I came to do my '67, Jim Holmes' car in particular:

(http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d54/1967vw/JimHolmes.jpg)

So this is how the '67 ended up:

(http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d54/1967vw/EcceyDelph005.jpg)

(http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d54/1967vw/EcceyDelph001.jpg)

(http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d54/1967vw/EcceyDelph015.jpg)

I've also got some 'Blue Streaks' for the rear, but have yet to find a pair of wheels I can afford to mount 'em to.

(http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d54/1967vw/BlueStreaks1-1.jpg)

(http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d54/1967vw/BlueStreaks2-1.jpg)

G-out!

 (http://www.restowagenuk.com/gallery/albums/album02/propercal.jpg)

 ;)

Oh dear! I just had a trouser accident guys  ;) :)

A little pre-cal update to bump this tread once again... The 57 just got new shoes on the rear to match the fronts..

thatz hot anders!!!!! i luv it!

very nice project

Heres My Early Cal Look 64 Bettle

Man, what a great thread!  I love seeing all those old shots and the new one's made to look old!   ;D

Man I love that stuff! ;)  Sarge, you gotta love the tribute... 8)

I'm just lovin' it!!!  ;D

It's too cool to see great pictures from the past that captures the first spirit of Cal Look cars  ::)

Greg Aronson's Oval definitely defines this period, well that's just my opinion!  :D

Oldschool

No it was Jim (Sarge) himself that came up with the name.  I believe it was due to some wear marks in the original paint that prompted such.

John Lazenby

Actually our current '63 sedan that we've owned since 1981 does look like the pre Aronson.  It is black with all of the trim, Porsche 5.5 chrome wheels with stock caps sitting a stock height.  I did build a 1600 d/p motor with stock exhaust and have retained it all of these years.  Also switched to 12 volts way back.  Other than that the car is original and I enjoy it that way.  Always get lots of looks and positive comments when I take it out. 

You don't see a lot of VW's on the road like back in my younger days, so when you do see a nice one it always catches your eye.  I can vividly remember when they were the most common vehicle on the road and then when the To#¤ta and Datsuns started appearing we had no idea that they would take over completely.

John Lazenby

John, I have a question about your black Beetle. At the latter end of the DKP 1 reunion video, where the vintage photos and 8mm ends, a second chapter opens, this time video taped, and I think it opens with a black Beetle being driven into a park over near Imperial Highway in Yorba Linda. Super clean from what I can tell (only see interior from footage). I always wondered who's car that was. So.....is that your car?

Looks like you guys had fun at the reunion. I remember when the Hot VWs article came out covering it. Too cool.

Thanks John,

Jim

I hope this isn't the second one on this I've sent.  Got disturbed by work, honestly the nerve of some people !!

The DKP1 reunion some 20 years ago in Yorba Linda was shot by my friend Ske who used our camera.  There were many copies made from that and were give out.  I haven't looked at it in years, but need to.

My guess is that the Black car coming into the area is me in our current Black '63.  Does the car sit a stock height with chrome wheels?  If so I'm sure it is me and the car looks the same today.

That was a very speical gathering for me as it was the only time since the beginning of the club that Pete Dayton, Gary (Mike) Huggins and myself were at a VW event.  We were the three that started it way back in 1964.  I'm still in contact with both today, but I'm the only one of the three still involved with the cars.  The three of us met in Junior High and Anaheim and have remained friends since about 1960.

Also at that event was Joe Schneider of Schneider Motors who was very good to the club in the early days.  Last was Pat Stutsman who owned Anchor Muffler where all of our exhaust work was done.

To tell you what that event meant to me.  When you entered the park you had to pay an admission and were given a ticket.  That ticket is still stuffed in the front of the Black VW's headliner.  Actually I had two events going the same day as there was a large Chrysler show at the Doubletree hotel in Orange.  We had two or three cars there as well, but I couldn't miss this one.

I may go home tonight and try to find the tape and watch it.  Probably will be scarey as I remember how old I thought everyone looked then and now they will look ever so young!!

John Lazenby

Another cool pre-cal car  :)

 8)...!

 8)

Them "Stones" are gearbox killers... not to mention slug like starts from a stop light.  They DO look cool, though! 8)

Whoa, this one is very cool.  Do you know any more details on it?  Looks like a '64....

Speedwell, I was at EBI an your car was my favourite bug. it's perfect! It's what I'll do if I had a bug. Sorry for my ignorance, but which kind of carbs do you use?

Right click on the image, then click 'save as'  ;)

thx for the kind words

the carbs are stromberg cd 150 those are english carb

 ;)

fabs

That is my car :D....

..an other one...

(http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/8696/dsc04976d.jpg)

great car, has to be one of the best looking I have seen on the Lounge. Did you sell it?

http://67callook.blogspot.com/2008/04/cal-look-italiani-6.html

another great car from Italy.... ;D

it SCREAM don't "sound"...and it's every day used... :o
ida's 2332 ugly and bad... ;D

Thank you for the compliment! Yes, it's still for sale, you have a PM

Take a look here http://manovrasoldvehicles.blogspot.com/ (http://manovrasoldvehicles.blogspot.com/)

My 59er

Here is my "work in progress" '64

(http://lh6.ggpht.com/_OVOmvcvRCE0/So-g9WxRWpI/AAAAAAAAAX0/L6JreVO4q1Q/s720/MinnieMenton.jpg)

Great looking car...!

Dru love your car can you give some details on the mods?

big and little tires, what sizes?
Dropped in front at all?
Engine?
Interior?

I have a 64 sunroof I am working on right now. 

 I'm happy you appreciate my beetle, thanks  ;)



Hi Mike,

another 64 sunroof pre-cal ... YEAH ...  ;) I'd like to have pics of your beetle.

Mine is not yet finished but at the moment these are jobs I did :

OUTSIDE
- 356 replica chrome wheels with 4" 1/2 on front and 5" 1/2 on rear axle
- only on front wheels 356 replica hub cup
- radial Firestone F560 155R15 on front and radial Firestone F560 205/70/15 on rear wheels
- 911 lens on headlights
- 4 red adjustable Koni shock absorber
- Red dums

INSIDE
- Grant Classic Wood 13.5"
- Empi EZR reverse shifter
- Empi Custom Dash Knob Set [tigerwood]
- Cocoa floor mats

ENGINE
- Bugpack 4 in 1 and White California Muffler

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OVOmvcvRCE0/SorhsPAItKI/AAAAAAAAAVU/-GFH25yYmm4/S1600-R/NewCover2.JPG)

As soon as I can I have to install a Zenith carb, a Screamer kit and Textile tires.
Front and rear are at standard height. You can find more detail and pics in my new blog at : http://64precal.blogspot.com (http://64precal.blogspot.com)

Don't forget to send me your pics  ;)

Cool thanks for the details. My car is far from done, do a
search for "fritter" at the other cal look site and see photo documentation of the build.

Hi Mike,

I have found your pics  ;)
Your '64 seems to be in good condition, with a bit of work to do but in good condition ...  Keep us informed on progress

Ciao
Drù

Thanks, it is getting there....welding is almost done just need to blast, prime, and slather judicious amounts of Bondo on to smooth everything out... :o

Plans are

Indigo blue
Grey interior
145 and 165 radials
5" slotted chromies
OG Hurst shifter
Mild dual carb motor w/heat
Euro look (meaning, euro clear front turn signals and amber/red rear lights, and maybe euro bumpers but no bumpers at first)

... Indigo blue ...it  sounds good  8)

let me know if you have probems to find out part for your "euro look" ... I'll give you some italian address where you can find parts  ;)

Ciao
Drù

Well now that you mention it Dru I'd like to get the other euro stuff on my car too, mainly:

locking ignition
cloth seats
whatever else I didn't mention yet!

Is that stuff readily available? 

Hi Mike,

we are a little bit O/T  :o I'll reply you via PM.

Ciao
Drù

fitted my new tires today, till i get the time to lower the front, its sort of pre-cal i think.


(http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff182/affenjunge/DSC00477.jpg)
(http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff182/affenjunge/DSC00487.jpg)

christoph what tyre sizes are those?

vredestein sprint classic front: 155/15" rear: 185/15"

here s mine :)

and here some more

NICE! I like the wheels & drums.

Looks good,

drums? :)

sorry, brake drums. Look good exposed and painted. Nice job.  :)

Still want to build a Java Green "pre-Cal Look" US-spec '67 Bug. Stock Java '67, stock height, but no bumpers or T bars, just open bumper bracket openings left open with grommets, stock moldings, stock window seals w/ brightwork. 356 chrome 5.5" wheels up front with no hubcap and painted drums on 165 Pirelli's and ET Mags in rear on Blue Streaks or Hurst pie crust grooved slicks.

2180cc 912-rod motor, 40 x 35 dual port VW 311 heads, Engle 130, 11:1, stock rockers with 911 adjusters, Solex 44mm PII carbs, Vertex mag, 1-1/2" 4Tuned header, glasspack tucked up under LH of apron with megaphone pipe, early 40HP fan shroud, Crown flywheel, Santana power pulley.

hehe no problem 
unfortunately the wheels are from Dr Jeckill, dont want to give them back really  ;D
BTW thanks Jim, means the world to me :)

8)

add Porsche caps and your car would look alot like Sarge's old '63 Bug. One of my faves of all time. I bet seeing your car will remind Sarge of his '63  :)

;)

not quite the look, though I admired that car when it was current.

Think Don Crane's red '67 (pic in KS' new book w/o bumpers), but Java Green and different wheels

That is one COOL car  ;D

thanks, now if i can only build that AND my "dream" Cal Look 67

P.S you may notice a changed a couple of key items in the motor  ;)

Whoa!  What's up with that?  Any more info?

3 pm sent  ;)

old report in volksworld about the the early days

who's car is this? Very nice

john it  was in the feb 2001 volksworld mag

email sent

44 PII??? Here is your chance...Sit down first ;)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Solex-44-PII-4-Carburetors-Porsche-356-Carrera-904_W0QQitemZ170431279551QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item27ae7ef1bf

Xavier

Wow, and it includes free shipping ::)

 ;)

(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6080/6128432989_7aa4ec080a_o.jpg)

(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6067/6128433321_466c50c788_o.jpg)

(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6082/6128433801_4471253606_o.jpg)

(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6085/6128432613_d0c80e1f9b_o.jpg)

This is the BEST thread on this forum  8)

Back from the depths of the Lounge, the pre-cal topic is back  ;D

Any newcomers to the pre-cal side these past years? Guess my 67 sorta qualifies
[attachment=1]

Two more shameless driveway shots taken around 1969 before the adapters and mags disappeared.  That intake manifold
was "slightly" warped when I purchased it and caused more then it's fair share of grief... most of it, self-inflicted. :-X

Great pics like always Sarge! Is that a stack with no filter?

Hey thanks!  Yep, no filter... looks like lots of stand-off running down the inside of the deck lid, too.
I scored the Zenith and manifold from Uwe's Bug Repair in Fullerton for $75. I vaguely remember
installing the manifold and thinking there was no real need to buy new crush rings, so idle speed
was all over the place; go figure! ::)  The Zenith came off a 356, so the jetting, venturies, emulsion
tubes, etc were all wrong... strike TWO.  Live and learn. ;)

Sarge's posts about this era are the best on The Lounge!! ("Primitive Pete")

The struggle is real!

Thanks, Jim.  I had PLENTY of era-experiences... luckily, most of it's been swept under the carpet!


 8) 8) 8)

I'm looking back at that engine pic... the shinny voltage regulator, generator pulley, and coil bracket in particular.  It's what we did back then when you could buy
a tube of Happich Simichrome for $.75 and spend hours at Hillcrest Park shinning stuff up... ah, the good old days!

That Simichrome went the way of the pink glass polish. :)

   ...actually, it's on the shelf in the garage ;)

How about going back to where this started. I for one would love to talk about the origin of what became the lasting " LOOK."
To emulate Hot Rods, emphasis on performance, lowering bugs getting away from bulky, large front rims and tires, check early pics of both John Lazenby and Sarge's bugs even had flared fenders. Quickly went the way of the dinosaur, things were moving fast.  Performance parts were trying to keep up, developing performance parts by Gene, Dino, Darryl, Schileys et al, at the Drags, Lions OC International race way.
Big n littles, aerodynamic and light weight were the key.  Racing water pampers, we needed the advantage of quickness.  How do you explain to your girl that just saw you lose to a cute little bug (Volkswagen), haha.
Love that!  Still happening today.
On the street, signal to signal, or better yet calling them out as they cruised us at Select Auto, "Wanna race a Volkswagen? "
Not good times, great times.