The Cal-look Lounge

So pretty much these days if it was made before 1990 someone, somewhere is trying to sell it as OG vintage must have VW what not. From the guys who were really there, what was actually in demand and what was considered junk? TO me it seems if there was a bunch of this stuff left from back in the day, that probably meant no one wanted it in the first place. Now you see the same stuff going for ridiculous prices. I thought it would be interesting to hear from the guys who actually where in the scene when this stuff first came out. (DDS, EMPI, Race Trim, Scat, Berg, etc.)

Thanks,

--louis

IMHO

DDS, Berg and 1st Gen EMPI (before they were bought out) were the stuff.

Scat was ok.

Wouldn't think of touching RaceTrim or Truehaft or later EMPI.

Anything Berg was (and still is) top notch.  Race trim and Bug Pack and Treuhaft were the basic inexpensive stuff mostly for the average Joe trying to make his car a little nicer than stock.  In my little space I did not do much with DDS.  However, I ran old school Empi windwing locks and Empi valve covers and an Empi GT steering wheel as they were quite collectable even in 1979.  It was the Empi that had not been made for years.  Also ran the original 2 piece Empi 5 spokes.  Re-pops had not been made yet.  My DKK car with window stickers ran chromies and porsche caps.  Cheaper than cast wheels but still considered spartan at the time.  Porsche alloys and BRM's (if you could find or afford them) were A #1 ALWAYS!  There were so many shops selling their stuff back then as well.  Autohaus, Johnnies Speed and Chrome, etc....  Seems like every town had a VW glitzy parts shop.  You must be right in assuming that the left over stuff is left over for a reason.  But in my experience with baseball cards over the years, it all runs out eventually and there will always be someone after you that treasures your trash.

Don't knock the old Race Trim Stuff - I rather like it  ;) :)

LOL... well I was just telling you the way we looked at it then. RaceTrim maybe be decent stuff, it just that it was the house brand for Auto Haus and was looked down on because of it.

I am sure it is pretty "crappy" really  ;) :) I just LOVE the look of the Script type logo on the Race Trim stuff  ;D ;D ;D

All the Race Trim Stuff was Cast by ARPM so it really is not any differnt then DDS stuff ARPM made alot of stuff for other companys

Agreed but the perception was otherwise.

OLD thread alert, just got sent this pic, they are hanging off the back of an empi sportster that will soon be repaired.

That is exactly true. ;)

Very often parts were actually manufactered by the same companies and simply rebadged/tooled for the specific retailer.

 I also love the Race Trim Items Script 8)

When I think of vintage gear, I think about names like Öttinger/Okrasa, TDE, Riechert or Denzel. Parts from the 70´s is more like old school gear to me :)

The Lee Eliminator ownership era of EMPI brought along a good deal of crap. A lot of the add on accessories in the shrink wrap packages are things which still exist in that condition as nobody would have ever thought of putting it on their car when the stuff was new.

Your correct and BUGPACK still uses all of the original ARPM molds.

Do the molds have mold?  ;D

Very often parts were actually manufactered by the same companies and simply rebadged/tooled for the specific retailer.

 
[/quote]What do you mean were? they still are!!!