The Cal-look Lounge

I think I read that someone was do a recreation of my car, but I can't find the info.  If anyone knows would they please provide me with a contact to that person.

The car left my ownership some 34 years ago and after getting somewhat back into this I've got desires to maybe build a recreation of the car myself.  Anyone got a set of American's they would be willing to part with to assist in the project?? :o :o :o :o :o

Hey Sarge, see all of the problems you have helped create for me!!!  Just kidding as I'm lovin' it.

Thanks,

John Lazenby

Welcome back to the light, John!

Hi John, it was me who posted it - it's my mate Brad who's doing it! His e-mail is:  bardbutterskotch AT yahoo DOT com - note the mis-spelling of Brad (bard). That caught me out for ages... :D

Hey Neil, 

Thanks for the e-mail address.  I'll send something off to him and hope to hear back.

John

I never really left the "light", just had on dark glasses.

John Lazenby

Somehow I thought someone might come back with a reply like this.  I'm already doing research on some of the items, but will need lots of guideance with parts due to technology moving on.  If I did it I would no doubt have upgrades over the original, but would still like to stick to the original format.

First I need to find another '63 sunroof car as I won't do this to our existing '63.  As stated before the American's are a BIG part of the package as far as I'm concerned.  So with that said I need input here folks.

John Lazenby

Here you Go... ;) ;D ;D

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=563716 (http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=563716)
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=562369 (http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=562369)
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=544052 (http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=544052)
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=425928 (http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=425928)

 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Frank

Hey Frank,

T H A N K S !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

John

Hi John With the Americans  running in the $8000.00 a set range you might want to lean toward JGE torkers from Java http://www.vwjava.com/prod05.htm  Rich Kimball as a set you could look at to see if they will work for you here is a picture

You're Welcome!!! ;)

Frank

Hi Gary,

Thanks much for the info.  I've talked to Rich Kimball and knew that he had some.  I usually see him on Saturday's at Cars & Coffee in Irvine.  Last week I told him I was bringing six cars for tomorrow and he said he would try to be there.  If so I'll chat with him about them.

I've heard the repros are HEAVY and don't look exactly like the origiinals.  Amazing the price for them now.  The first two I bought were from chasing a gal driving a Baja Bug with them on the front.  I paid $40 for the pair and gave her a set of stock wheels and paid to have the dismount done.  My times have changed.

John

PS:  I'll see Mikey Olivieri tomorrow and tell him we are in contact.

Hi John They are not that Heavy but they are aluminum not mag. so there is a Difference there they are well made and have a nice finish on them,The Biggest difference is where the Cap goes the cap that comes with the wheel it fits all type 1,2,3 so it is taller and to me it sticks out to far. I also have a set of these wheels which I copied an original American 8 Sided cap  except to fit the torker wheel and has the american racing sticker in the center, the cap I made is an inch shorter then what comes with the wheels here is a picture of the cap before sihilling in Santa Ana polished them. Tell Mike Hello from Me and that I miss the Old Days with Hector and John Sandoval. At the B.P. Auto Haus Store

very good initiative, John
john here's my torker , when i saw yours i feel in love with those one and ,i sandbalsted mine to have a similar look at yours nad after painted with a  varnished satin
 ;)
rgd
fabs

Gary,

What do you think the weight difference between your current American style and the Flat-4 BRM?  As I remember the original American was lighter than the origiinal BRM, but then you spliting hairs.

I like what you've done with caps, but did you know the originals were directional threaded and had a two prong knock off cap??

Haven't seen Sandavol or Hector in years.  I think John S is still in the area and Hector married and moved to the Bay area the last we heard.

John

Fabs,

In the photos of my wheels on the car they are natural on the spokes.  When I purchased the first two they were really "hairy" as we used to call it.  I can still hear Fleming saying "Your wheels are growing hair".  They would oxodize it seemed in moments.  I had Sihilling Metal Polishing in Santa Ana, CA polish the outers.  A true mag wheel has a different color when polished compared to an aluminum.  They are almost a blue color. 

I use to live with Semichrome and a rag in my hand.  My fingers were ALWAYS black!!!  Some guys used Braso, but I thought the Semichrome was easier and worked better.  Also, I didn't like Braso because of using it so much in my Navy days.

Shortly thereafter I painted the spokes a brown to match the sunroof and interior.  Actually I liked it better than the natural cast look for that car.  What I personally don't care for is when any of these type of wheels are completely polished.  I've always thought it cheapens the look of a car.

John

John, your car was a real inspiration when building my 67, hope you like what I came up with...

Hi John I know I had a Set of Originals on my Oval rt and lt hand thread and the  knock off were also right and left my Red Oval went to Japan with the wheels Sold it for $10,000 with a 36 H.P. and stock interior years ago then I hear the wheels are going for $8,000 a set  now  Damm should have kept them I paid $550.00 for 5 when I bought them came with the Knock offs and Lugs I had 3 right hand wheels and two lefts kept the spare which I sold to A Friend   The Jge Torkers weight about the Same as the Flat 4 Brm's and the Quality is also nice.

Cooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool,  Nice ride!!  You guys are really know how to make an "old DKP guy" feel appreciated after all these years.

I even have some of the original guys tell me now how much they liked the car, but never said it to me when it was fresh.

Over the years I've loved all of my "special cars" and am very fortunate to have a bunch now, butttttttttttttttttttttttttttt Butternut may be my all time favorite.  Lifelong friendships and love formed while I had that car and that is something you simply can't replace.

I'm so jazzed I may sleep in my '63 tonight !!!!  Christie, my wife of almost 37 years thinks I nutzzzz already, so what is the difference.

John

Yep, that is the way they were made back in the day.  Regarding pricing, I won't even tell you what I sold the entire car for in '74, but I get a sick feeling every time I think about it.

John

LOL  I know what you Mean I had just about every rare Empi Part Ever Made Sold it all 20 years ago and gave some stuff to friends Now I see Catalogs going for $250.00?  GT Valve Covers going for $500.00 just last week on E Bay there was a 48 IDA empi carb setup Empi Manifolds,Linkage fuel lines and Banjos NOS no Carbs Sold on a BUY IT NOW for $1495.00  I cant Believe it what stuff is Bringing these Days DDS Shifters $500.00 ?  I Sold them at Auto Haus for $39.95 in the 70's   Boy Have Times Changed?? 

john what did yo call it butternut ??? because the color look like the butternut  ::) ::)... ;D ;D
rgd
fabs

I think it's great you are getting the bug again, so to speak. Be sure to keep us updated on your progress.

--louis

John, what an awesome car you built. Heres a pic of a wheel and the cap..Jim

You know, I can't really tell you.  I guess the color kind of looked like butter and I certainly was a NUT!!

John

Thanks for the comments on the car.  I don't remember ever seeing these wheels not polished on the lip.  Is this one yours and if so how long have you owned it?

John

John - Greg Banfill at Vintage Warehouse up in Santa Rosa has/had (you'll need to ask him) an NOS in the box set of Americans, plus used mag and alloy Americans. I've always loved them - and when we did a feature on Shubee's red Oval back in 1992 had always hoped one day I'd get a set. When I heard Greg had some I was straight onto him. Sadly I had American Racing mag desires and Krytonic skateboard wheel money! Still to a man of your standing...
If you want to check out what the story is one the wheels - we're only talking a matter of three months since Greg and I were talking about them - but then wheels that rare and desirable are sure to have found a new home I guess - you can get him on 707.291.7606.   

Here's one of his ads looking for aluminum Americans
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=369260

Good luck with the search and the project.

He wanted Over $10,000 for that Set of NOS Americans