The Cal-look Lounge

the one with the louvers in it, cheers

Are you talking about Eric Birkey's bug? The last time I saw that car, it was beat to crap with cracked bondo every where and primer spots. I saw it on Mission Boulevard up the street from Buggy House.
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d15/skim1/DSCN1179.jpg)

ok russell   ;)

 ;)

Eric;s father, Arnold Birky (not BirkEy), used to run Top Fuel dragsters. There is a memorable photo of his car suffering a monumental blower explosion. Met him back in '88 or '89. Very nice guy.
(http://wediditforlove.com/prieto/scan0125.jpg)

 :o :o :o

Right guys this ws the car that got me in too VW's so we need to find it. There is a small reward for the person who can supply me the contact number of the current owner !

Lets see how good the lounge really is...........

Russell,
I live near Birky's Bodyshop where Eric did the car. Last I remember he worked at a paint store down the street. He mixed some Glasurit Gulf Blue L 390 paint for me years ago.
From what I heard through the grapevine was that the car was in L.A. beat to shit as stated above. But that was years ago. The car may have been sold to a relative of Eric's if I remember correctly.
I can ask around for you.
Erich

Eric's car was featured at the time that the '64 I was building was in the paint shop, and gave me the idea of having different colored wheels - it also confirmed what I had visualized in my my for the car - the darker color needed to be at the back of the car as the white wheels at the back didn't work for me. I can remember thinking about copying the louvers in the wings - but then I worked out two things firstly the cost and secondly how shit the car would look after a bit of mud came through the louvers after a bit of rain. it was inspirational to me as a young kid who knew no better.   

Eric was / is a good friend of mine.
Erics dad still races Tor Fuel. One of his crew / drivers has a shop just across from mine.
He actually helped Arnold and Eric build the Holey Moley that is now for sale http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=502688

Eric is long gone out of Santa Rosa and VW's. He moved to Oregon quite a few years ago after a stint at Hawleys Paints in Santa Rosa then a bicycle shop in Rohnert Park which he owned.
When he got out of VW's I bought everything he had. The only thing he kept was his Westy.
That car bounced around quite a bit locally after Eric sold it, then it slowly wade it's way South.
I asked around a bit after I saw this thread and as far I as I can tell the car is no more. After numerous owners, minor wrecks, multiple engines, and new owner mods it was finally parted and scrapped

A funny side note :
From day one that car had a plexiglass back window. Eric was 99% done with the car and ready for it's first show, but he couldn't find a nice rear window for it so he cut a piece of plexiglass and put it in. Last time I saw it that was still the case.

Thanks for the info, sound like another replica for the future.

So did they race holy moley then ?

Yep. Quite a few times according to Mark.

I hate that yellow car.

Don't sugar coat it Jim... Tell us how you really feel!  ;D

Actually, I'm glad someone said that. I was thinking it.  ;)

But you love that mirror...  right?  ;)

Only if you wanna buy one!

I agree. It just screams 80s

X2. One of the worst era's for "Cal Look" bugs

I don't know that I agree with that. There were plenty of nice traditional Cal-Looks built during the 80s... this wasn't one of them.

yes there's so nice cal look go to this one http://cal-look.no/lounge/index.php/topic,2447.0.html (http://cal-look.no/lounge/index.php/topic,2447.0.html)

There was even nice looking "eighties lookers" built in the seventies.... like Mark Dean's 67
(http://cal-look.no/lounge/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=3766.0;attach=12192;image)

Wow, those pics bring back memories. Greg hit it on the head with Eric and recent history. I first saw the car at Baylands I think when we were in the same show class.  Eric with the yellow car and me with the Green M&M (pre chop top) I think there is show coverage in that issue too from Baylands, not sure. That was when the had a Daily Driver class, and show judges. I have that show and awards on video, beta tape I think.

Last I saw the car is was beat severly. I think he and his dad did the body and paint. 
Picture that yellow and green beside each other at a show,...hard to miss
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z148/2manytoys_photo/mnmgreen009.jpg)

M & M Green was always a favorite of mine, but I remember it as a chop top?  ???

If you cant say anything nice... awww fuck it. I hate it too! ;D

M & M Green was always a favorite of mine, but I remember it as a chop top?  ???
[/quote]

Thanks, me too I miss that car.

(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z148/2manytoys_photo/mnmgreen_red.jpg)
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z148/2manytoys_photo/mnmgreen_red001.jpg)
Back then, I was building cars named after candy,...smarties I think in Europe. This is a pleasanton show.  The green was chopped after a minor accident when a van hit me. I was driving it everyday to work about 40 miles each way.

I don't think Eric's Yellow/white car was at this show. It was about 1992? The Red M&M went to Japan, remember that buyout.

Guys

That yellow car was what got me really hooked on bugs and as i have been cultured over the years, my eyes have been opened to our cal look style....... however im sure you all remember your first ! and i bet at the time she was fine. Only looking back you must think WHY ?  eh jim ?

Here is some real COOL info on Eric's dad Arnold.

http://wediditforlove.com/Birky.html (http://wediditforlove.com/Birky.html)

Great link Jeff.

My first dream car was the Super Dumper, so I'm sort of going back to square one...  but I used to like it for all the wrong reasons  :)

I agree great link Jeff, even they had VWs way back when...

I stand corrected. With the help of a friend, a few tips, and some phone calls I have Erics car in my possession. The louvered hood is gone, the yellow is now red, except the inside which is still yellow/white, the frenched headlights are intact, the rears are intact, but hidden under 62-67 housings.

Russell and I have been in touch, hopefully it will end up with him after all these years of looking.

So the saga ends.... finally after 33 years.

It was at Kelly park last year and looked like this, i saw it on a video and took pictures of it, ive asked a few to help locate but Greg has come up trumps once again for me, thank you.

[attachment=1][attachment=2]

And today it looks like this...

A great find. Really cool looking car

Lee

That’s cool Russell...glad you found it, Interestingly, I was just looking at that issue on Monday while I was organizing my back issues. I remember that car vividly from when I was a kid. Didn’t really love it, but it was kind of cool. Totally understand why it made an impression on you. His girlfriend was kind of cute too. interestingly, I was just looking at that issue on Monday while I was organizing my back issues. I remember that car vividly from when I was a kid. Didn’t really love it, but it was kind of cool. Totally understand why it made an impression on you. His girlfriend was kind of cute too. ;D