The Cal-look Lounge

Just looking through EBI2 pics and speaking with a friend about Der Express.
I know hardly anything about this car whats its history and the story?
Cheers,
Rob

I´m sure Russel can tell us, but here´s what was posted on the other forum when it was for sale last year.

http://www.cal-look.com/blog/blogs/index.php?blog=1&m=200705

Not much more to say other than what was on above blog, however Bill caught this terrible illness and then his goverment (the same ones who sent him to fight) decided that they would shut him down as he was unable to work and was owe them money, they appointed a liquidator who then sold his stuff on to repay debts...... Very Sad Story.

The only part that is wrong on the story is the comment at the end, "do you put it in a musuem or upgrade it to modern times" !!!!!

Answer is : NO you race as is   ;D And im sure Bill would be delighted at this.

The car was awarded 1st place in the Gasser class at EBI and will now hopefully burn some rubber at SCC in August.

It's a sad story in relation to the situation Bill found himself in but the plus side is he created an absolutely blitzing little car that lives today the same way it did three decades ago. Nice one Russ for preserving it. I'm pretty taken with the car as are a couple of other people I know, the thing rocks. It would be great if Bill knew his car took the European Bug-In gasser/racecar award and is back on track and not missing a beat after all this time.

 8)

(http://www.offdrc.co.uk/images/gallery_2008_003/photo_2008_003_053.jpg)

Dont worry there a copy of Ultra on its way to him and his family.

I always smile to myself when I see pics of Der Express, because you guys seem to dig it as much as any well-known gasser from the west coast.  Yet it was built and raced in my home state of Pennsylvania, far removed from California and the Bug-Ins.  Too cool.  I wish I had seen the car, but its time was long before me.

 8)


You should get over here to one of the shows next year. :)

Probably not next year, but I'd like to in the near future.

cool!

Its such a good looking car.
Good on you Russell for keeping Bill informed thats a nice touch.

Just think how many other relatively unknown VW race cars there must have been, It is so amazing that this little German car was so popular!

That's a sweet car! I would love to find an old race bug like that.

I bloody love this car to bits ( a fact that Im sure I bored everyone to death with at EBI2 ) . It is just so battle scared and put together so basic and practically . God I get this car  8) 8) 8)

As i have spent a fair amount of time with it i feel a certain protectiveness towards it,I am sure it will be preserved as it is now.

So how many people noticed the rear fenders/wings? so what did you notice? 

Kev keep out ;)


cheers richie

They got a lip on them I'm good at this. :P :D ;D

What the fact that they are steel and possibly a factory option  ;)
I'll tell em for ya Kev  ;D
 More reasons , if they were needed to drool over the car  ::)

Having this car as a guest in my garage for a few weeks, my guess is also that they are modified steel fenders. The holes for the bumper overrider support is still there....
But what`s the deal about the rear apron...? Wheelie bars.....? Richie you didn`t.......?  ;) :D

i think it is a nice way to clear the stinger. maybe it is not wide enough for wheeliebars. and isn't the trans and engine mounted higher?

Berger you are such a lucky guy having such a nice guest!

I have a pair of those steel flared fenders in my attic right now.  :)

here is the thread from last year - I saw it on ebay for sale, and put it on here!

http://cal-look.no/lounge/index.php/topic,1512.0.html

Si