The Cal-look Lounge

I thought some of you younger guys would enjoy a very brief history of the Auto Haus chain.  Dave Galassi enjoys the stories of those days long ago, so Dave this one is for you. 

What inspired this was a phone call last night from old friend and former employer Lynn Rosevear.  Over the years Lynn has always placed a call to me around the holidays just to say hello.   He and his brother Ron were the owners of Auto Haus, Rosevear Enterprises which along with EMPI was one of the early sources for VW replacement and performance parts.

It was in September of 1971 after being married for three or four weeks we probably had about $200 to our names, two VW’s and a rented house.  I was working at a BAP store and got the word that Auto Haus was looking for a retail counter person.  At that time they had a very small warehouse in Buena Park, California.  I interviewed with Lynn and got the job.  It was a bit scary as I had a good job with a well established company, but the lure of being directly involved with the Volkswagen performance industry was calling me.

I started the next week at the Buena Park store on Beach Blvd. as the number two man.  Within about one month I was offered the Store Manager position at $600.00 per month.  From that point we started opening other locations and I guess the Rosevear’s liked what I did so before to long I was offered the General Manager position of the retails stores.  By this time we had a large wholesale warehouse also located in Buena Park.  I had the reputation with our employees and being somewhat hard nosed and demanding, but I’ve had several state years later that they now appreciate my rules and regulations as it helped them in there future business ventures.  It is good to hear that you were appreciated even maybe not the most popular guy at the time.  To this day I can still hear Lynn saying, “Now John don’t get so tight jawed”!!

I remained with them for 10.5 years and I think I still hold the record for the longest running employee including all of the Rosevear kids that worked there.  In the early 80’s Mark Melbreth, another long time Auto Haus employee and myself left and did our own retail accessory and repair shop.  I felt that the VW thing was going to die and I didn’t want to be there at the end.  Guess I made a bad call on that one although it wasn’t to long after that the company fell on hard times and closed its doors.

The Rosevears were aggressive and the business grew rapidly.  It was like being at Disneyland everyday seeing new products arrive and being able to be the first guy around to have the latest performance item.  I can vividly remember selling Bosch 010 distributors for $14.95, S & S Headers for $29.95 and many other items retail.  Just goes to show you how times and prices have changed.

There are a million stories I could tell regarding those days and the characters that crossed the doors of the Auto Haus locations.  Some that come to mind are Ed (Rat Fink) Roth, Chuck (Shaky Jake) Babbit and countless others.

My personal thanks to the Rosevears for giving me the opportunity to live the life.  Here are a few names of people that worked for the Auto Haus organization during my years there.  Many are still in the business to one degree or another.  If I miss someone, my apologies as it has been a long time.

Not in any order;  Jere Alhadeff, Jeff Kymla (KYMCO), Dyno Don Chamberlin, Ed Craig (Suzuki of America), Jim (Sarge) Edmiston (Commonwealth VW), Mike Olivieri (Don Steves Chevrolet) Stu (Headflow Performance) Thomas, Dave Greiner (Proformance in Orange, a former Auto Haus store), Ron Greiner (SCAT), John Sandoval, Paul Opperman, Stan Davis, Doug Mische (No explanation needed) Mark Rosevear, Larry Rosevear, Doug Nadasdy (Dougbug), Mark Melbreth and myself (Royze Inc.) plus countless others.

Lynn and his wife Tammy now live in Washington State and Ron and his wife Judy are in Utah.  I was bringing Lynn up today with what the VW performance world has evolved to and told him to buy a copy of Keith Seume’s book as I know he will enjoy it.

John Lazenby

Cool story! Any good stories about some of the characters you mention?  ;D

--louis

thanks for the story, would like to here more too!

christoph

Very cool post John, thank you!
So when Lynn closed the doors of Auto Haus, he disappeared from the VW scene and never looked back?

Oh, but I think there is!  ;D

Great story, John. Auto Haus Buena Park was like a candy store for me. All those cool parts on the wall, and in the counters, and your car parked out front... How in hell did you keep that car so clean with all that traffic debris, and keep the idots from crashing into the back? I also recall seeing Ed Craig's car getting the pole parking spot as well. Good times! Deano

Lynn was also into Model A & T Ford stuff.  At one time he was in the L.A. Roadsters.  After Auto Haus closed he just stayed on his property in Wildamar, CA.  He got into the landscaping business and I think did that until he moved to Washington about 2 or 3 years ago.

The last time I saw him was at his 60th birthday party at his home, but we talk via the phone about once a year.  He will be 68 in June of 2009.  Ron is a couple of years older.

John

Great story, John. Auto Haus Buena Park was like a candy store for me. All those cool parts on the wall, and in the counters, and your car parked out front... How in hell did you keep that car so clean with all that traffic debris, and keep the idots from crashing into the back? I also recall seeing Ed Craig's car getting the pole parking spot as well. Good times! Deano

I just had an obssion to keep the car clean and still do, but with the quantity I now own and advancing age I'm not nearly the perfectionist I once was.

Funny story; there was a guy named Mike (something) who had an old 356 that was a real can.  He parked it in that same spot and the trash truck came down the Blvd. and drove directly over the back of it.

Also remember a car transporter was coming down that same Blvd. in front of the store and had to stop quick.  It launched a new Ford Pinto from the top deck.  See, these kind of stories you just can't make up!!

Someone just posted that they wanted me to build another car.  I'd really like to.  Time and money peritting it might happen.

John

John, your story of your tenure at Autohaus reads alot like mine at Buggy House, in Hayward CA. I was also there for a tick over 10-1/2 years, and was promoted to GM about 18 months after starting there. Some of the most vivid and funniest memories of my come from the time of my life. Funny what running a VW speed shop will do to you. So many of my long time friends were met over the counter of that place. And, yeah, how cool was it to be the first in the area to get to "try" some new HP parts. I remember the look of amazement from customers and peers when they first saw the Super Flow 48IDA motor in my '67 in 1991. Now if it only ran as good as it looked....

And again, similar to you, I'm still in the industry.

See ya around

Great topic and that's one hell of a list!  8)

Jere Alhadeff!  :o  8) 8) 8) 8)

Wish my memory was better as I know I'm leaving many important names, but you are right, It is one hell of a list !!!!

John

THAT'S ME  ;D

Great post John!

I bought my first set of Porsche chromies and an S&S header from the Long Beach Auto Haus way back in.... uh... wow... 1974... sheesh!
I was 16 and AH was my FAVORITE place to hang out.

~DR.

Lets see, if you were 16 in 1974 that means your, uh, subtract 1974 from 2000, add 8, multiply by the square root of 17, add in the number of days since the last full moon....damn your old.  ;D

--louis

mmmm ::) old advertiser  ;)

That's not old just hittin' his prime...

another one

john, do you remember when vw trends came to auto haus to do the report  ::) ::) ::)

Damn, if they had chicks like that working behind the counter no wonder they were popular.  ;D

--louis

  ;D ;D ;D

 ;D ;D

Great post John.  Everyone here will appreciate the history lesson.

I also believe you will find a lot of support to build another one.

Can you spin a couple more for the crowd?  Tell 'em what Fleming used to drive in high school!

Jeez, I ordered parts from Auto Haus in 1977, so it's you I need to ask about that refund I never got!  :D

Somewhere I still have the T-shirt and the stash of decals you guys sent me as a freebie with my order... The colour's got a bit washed out – can I change it for a new one?

The photo of the guy and gal behind the counter is a very young Ed Craig at the Buena Park store.  He says he is more blond today from the sun.  Trouble is every time I see him he gets more blond.  Geez Ed get out of the bleach!!  The gal could be Aunt Kathy.  I could tell stories, but I'm not going there.

I remember the VW Trends thing.  It was then Tom McMullen's publications.  Tom was in the L. A. Roadsters with Lynn.  He was a little short guy and flew a T38 trainer jet.  I remember one day Lynn and I flew the company plane, Cherokee 6 from Furllerton where it was kept to Long Beach and picked up Tom and his then girl friend Deanna.  Later she became Lynn's secretary.

Tom and Deanna were killed in a plane crash somewhere over the midwest comiing back from Florida.  There were roomers of a "mob hit".  Don't know if anything every came of that, but Tom was a real character and definately had a battery on his shoulder and was always asking for someone to knock it off.  For you old guys that remember the Robert Conrad add with one of the battery commercials you will understand.

There were a few girls that posed for VW Trends and I heard lots of stories, but I was at home happily married, so we will leave it there.  Ron Rosevear did a lot of the phots for that publication.

Now as for the story of Ron Fleming and me in high school.  Well I think some of you have heard it before, but Ron drove a Mustang and I drove my Supercharged VW.  Ron use to laugh at me when I drove into the lot.  Guess he ain't laughin no more!!!!

John

Yup!...Good days. I remember the day I took Eric to the Buena Park store in "tiny" Levi's. That fabric doesn't work well on 12" legs. Always got help there, not BS.

Those were the days, I worked for Dave Greiner at the Orange store and remember many trips to the warehouse. We never did have a blonde counter girl unless you count D. Mason.

Of that list Dave is one of the guys I've met (briefly) and his Proformance outfit is cool as ****. That said no blonde counter girl ...!

COOL stories John - Thankyou ;D Speaking of Dave Greiner I spoke with him about a month ago, He's an awsome guy and he also supplied my SPG Roller crank :)

Keep the stories coming John :)

I really hate being the old guy on the list... oh wait a minute... Hi Sarge! ;D ;D ;D

~DR.

Thanks to share this story.
 ;)
I found this real AH clear blue tee-shirt few years ago.
Enjoy !

Wow cool stories! Anyone know what happened to the AutoHaus shop front signs? They would make a lovely addition to a workshop :) How comes AH stopped was it when the VW scene bummed?
I wish we had cool speed shops here in the UK, where it is like a meeting ground as well as a parts supplier, the US seems to be or at least have been full of them.

Rob.

I thought of the same thing about the front signs , they will look great above the door of a garage

Mark, your so subtle ;)

Yes I have the Long beach sign, or at least that's what I was told by the guy I got it from... The only problem is somebody butchered it up by trimming off the "Auto Haus" logo leaving only the Dave Deal inspired cartoon VW. The sign is still really cool but if you were not famaliar with AH you would never know... I've displayed in inside my shop for years.

~DR

I bet its like many things though, these items are only valuable or sought after a long time after there gone, like VWs I have a friend that scrapped tons of split busses, that would be classed as easy resto's nowadays, he now shakes his head and thinks how he could have retired by now if he had only know how the bus market was going to boom!

john i hope that will help you for the provo in utah  ;)

rgd
fabs

i meet ed craig this year at the bug in 33  and yes his girl 've a very nice  bahamas blue bug

I was just reading an old Hot VWs the other day that had an ad listing all of their SoCal stores...  they had like eight or nine at one time.  Why did they go under, did they grow too fast and couldn't keep up?  Just curious.

Well Here is my Auto Haus Story I started Working at Auto Haus in Pomona in 1973 the owners name was Bill Choski  and His Son Billy Was in DVB along with Mark Rosevear, Mark is also married to Billys sister Linda I work there from 1973 to mid 75 then worked at the warehouse and AutoGear for a few weeks before moving over to the Buena Park Store I worked there about a year before Lynn came to me and Ask How I would Like To Manage the Van Nuys Store I told him What it would take Money wise to get me to Drive all tha Way Buy the End of the Day Lynn called And Said he thought it over and wanted me to start there the following monday  Worked there about three years befre they decided to close that store after tha I went back to work at the Warehouse  for about a month and decided to leave I moved on To Work at Barrett Ent. In Azsua where I was Ast: Manager for about six years , then got a Call from Geno Combs which was also a DVB member and had also worked at the Auto Haus warehouse he was Now Working for Small Car Specialities and he told me they were hiring and paid good money so I started working at SCS I worked the Counter there along with Geno Combs and Ron Grinder, Over the Years in VW I have Met A Ton Of VW Nuts  at One Time I Had An Empi Collection of just about everything they ever made About 12 years ago I got out of VW's and Got rid of most of my stuff. I sell on E Bay All the Time And A Friend told me about the Samba I went On the samba Site and was looking at 67 VW's when I noticed this 67 that Caught my eye  I started looking at the pictures on the site and noticed the plate 67 CONV  t was my ld 67 convert I had sold 20 years ago I E Mailed the owner and talked to him about the car we decided to meet at the 2005 VW Classic I took my old pictures of the car to show him  he was amazed, as I walked around the Clasic that Day I noticed that so many of the Old Guys were still in to it And I Got The Bug To Get Another VW So I Serched for a while and came across a nice Ruby Red 67 Sedan I bought it when I lived in Calif  and Brought it with me to texas in Dec,2006 Since I have Been Here I bought my 58 Ragtop it seem once a VW is in your blood its there for ever, my 67 is an all stock body with all chrome and Bumbers a set BRM's a 1914cc Motor with a 120 cam and 42 DCNF Berg Specials, My 58 Ragtop is in Progress it will be a full on old school cal look Americans,t bars, custom dash with gauges, 2332 cc with 48 IDA's (237 Hp on the dyno) Built trans super close 4:37 r/p 1:58 3rd 1:32 4th it is not a freeway flyer trans LOL but a ton of fun on the street....  After SCS I went to Work for Volvo worked there as a parts manager for 18 Years I moved to Texas in Dec, 06 and I Retired LMAO   ;D ;D ;D  My 67 is my 48th VW and my 58 ragtop is my 49th VW I have Owned

I think it was around 82 or 83  its been along time hard to remember when you get to be as old as dirt LOL dont know if you remember marks old white oval window he use to race but I got that car and redid it years ago it was my blue oval

The Thing I remember most about Lynn He was always out in that little trailer parked in back ot the warehouse with some young Gril inside LOL Damm PERV   ;D ;D ;D

>>OMG...im losing my mind with this thread..!!   john..thanks for the memories...i have always had the utmost respect for you personally and of course your car as well as i use to ogle as i walked by the pickwick hotel when DKP hung out back in 67/69?...and the american racing wheel stories..LOL    i started working at auto haus  as a direct result from meeting mark rosever and his HUGE sidekick jim thompson(auto gear warehouse) when i blew him off in the first thre e gears with my 1600 single port engine to his 48ida equipped 1835...back in 1972..!!   working in the warehouse  i can still remember counting over 100 sets of bitchin' 48IDA's on the warehouse shelf at one time or another when i worked there with my room mate at the time the late great walter gadzynski (who designed the first super beetle lowering kit and first person to have used the first renowned kadron carb kit from truehaft/i had my first set shortly thereafter..73?)he then went on to work with the late great ray stoddard in the R/D dept at treuhaft ...   ...i can still remember the sibling differences with ron and lynn as well...whew..what a handful...the article says it all..!!  LOL   .....    ok...fast forward...im eating dinner at this great steak place in pico rivera with my friend mike smith(bug in/NHRA fame) last month.. and i told him that ive been eating here for a while and it has a shroud of mystery for me as i have a memory but not vivid so we continue to drink our glass of wine before dinner when all of a sudden...BLINK...the light comes on in my head...THIS IS the very same steak place that we had our AUTO HAUS Christmas dinner at back in 1972...!!! WOW...!! and shubee...that picture is perfect for this story as that was first tim fapianos oval window(now a CHP officer for the last 30+ year)  ..then was sold to mark rosevear and the SAME car that got me into where im at today....and i bought that same car(your car) from ron barret years ago in a package deal with the help of scott bakken and sold to my friend akira...and never even recogized it from years gone by....I AM BLOWN AWAY///FULL CIRCLE...!!!! i love my vw life/peace out

LOL Dyno its a small world I remember the Barn Burner Dinners the Auto Haus Empolyees use to do at the Barn steak house in Costa Mesa on Harbor Blvd. with all the guys from the stores it was a blast last one I went to the bar bill was about $1300.00 we use to have arm wrestling contest there I remember putting Ron Grinder down two out of three times LOL Those were the good old days Great Memories  Jim Thompson was a Nut I Remember him Skin packing Rats, pieces of pizza and Turds on auto Haus Display Cards and sending them To The Stores he was a real Jokester  Should Have A Auto Haus Reunion  LOL

Yeah, he's been trying to sell that crank since he left Autohaus.















Just kidding!  :)

Dyno you got it Backwards it was Marks Car First then Tims Then I Traded Tim A 63 Ragtop for the Oval later on Tim Had Steve Walker do the Body and Paint On The 63 RagTop I traded him

lol I am sure he has lol  ;) :)

I feel like a real horse's patoot... if I'd scrolled down the page a bit more I would have had the answer to my question.  Lol. ;D

thanks  gary....i knew i was close and  just remembered after your post/reply the costa mesa steak house as well...long time ago.....its a small world...and the "other car" in the deal was bob carmona's....     thanks guys/speedwell... for the scan time...truly a tribute to great place to work..!!

 ;)

rgd
fabs

I recall a store in Westchester on PCH. Around the early eighties I worked in culver city and use to go to the Hoff bau next store. my brother was in bugs back then and I checked it out then one day it was gone.
 Dyno, it sure sounds like some wonderful memories!

That would be Clearman's Steak and Stein on Whittier Blvd just west of the 605 FWY, right?  John and I along with our wives had many a dinner there over the years.  The best was leaving the restaurant and heading east on Whittier Blvd past Bob's Big Boy for the cruise back to Orange County.  Good times 8) 8) 8)

damn what a thread...I grew up looking at VW Trends #1 and AH catalog....and the blue car on the back cover was my insperation ...who's car was it?

This has to be my favorite thread. The GODS of cal-look have come back and spoken. This is sooo cool! Thankyou! Buena Park was always my favorite store and I can remember ripping up and down Beach Blvd along that stretch (Johneys Speed and Chrome) on my way to Whitter Blvd on cruze night; back in the early '80's. Had to open up the 48 IDA's from my maroon split. Hehehe  8) 8)

great subject, brings back alot of good memories of where I spent my money and where I was employed (auto craft in La Harbra),   Looked through some old receipts and found some I thought I would share.

(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c218/smitty59/ScannedImage-3.jpg)

(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c218/smitty59/ScannedImage-2.jpg)

(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c218/smitty59/ScannedImage.jpg)

these are receipts for my current bug,
jim

Don, Thanks for stiring up a long ago fiiends name. I've often wondered what happened to Tim Fapiano. A CHP officer!
I recall the long nights I spent getting his 63 sunroof bodyworked and then towing it to shop I was painter at to spray it green.
That must have been 1976 or 77.  Like Gary said, those long past days are none too easy to recall.
Steve Walker

That would be Clearman's Steak and Stein on Whittier Blvd just west of the 605 FWY, right?  John and I along with our wives had many a dinner there over the years.  The best was leaving the restaurant and heading east on Whittier Blvd past Bob's Big Boy for the cruise back to Orange County.  Good times   

Dyno and Jim (Sarge), Christie and I started eating at Steak n' Stein back in the '60's.  I had been told about it from a freind and once we were there we were hooked.  It became so bad that when we had our second rentened house in Anaheim and were looking to purchase  home we were trying to budget $20.00 a week to do Steak n' Stein or as we refered to it as the S&S food clinic!!  Somehow we did make it almost every Tuesday night and we kept the pieces of wood stick in the steak to tell how it was cooked.  Christie had a LARGE jar of those things.

It was me that first got the Rosevear's going there for business meetings and Christmas dinners, etc.  I can still remember Mike Oliviier and Ron Greiner going around to the plates after everyone was finished and continuing to eat like there was no tomorrow.  I see Mike Oliviveri almost weekly and we still talk about those days!!

We don't go much anymore as I simply can't handle the food because it is so rich, but we got to know the Mater-de rather well in those early days and we even invited to his home for his birthday party.  He also gave us one of the wood backed menus that we still have in our den to this day.  I think the most expensive thing on it is about $12.00 as it was from the '70's.

Jim, don't know if you remember this one, but one time you, Sharon, Christie and I went' two days back to back!!  The second meal almost killed all of us!!!

Ah, sweet memories!!!! ::) ::) ::) ::)

John

 john...bruce was a nice guy/i remember how tough that was for everyone that knew him.   hi there steve walker...long time no see...that blue oval was one piece of pure beauty...you are an "absolute artisan" to say the least/and shubee always did nice work to compliment things as well.....that was one of THE NICEST vw cars i have ever had the priv to own and it hauled ass..!! a "PURE" memory for me..!! fred..."kudo's to you and the others"it was always the coolest thing to drive by any auto haus store and see the vast array of well done up vw's /> ya guys the "Steak and Stein"..."crazy joe" kosky reintroduced me to "the stein"one merry evening after years of being away...(and for you others out there) not to be confused with ANY other clearmans restaurant as this one has existed for years with "the same everything" still in place and many of the staff are second /third generation or knew of someone at least that worked there...THE BEST place for meat cravings period..!! thanks for filling in the blanks for me....    and to still have the group of dedicated vw followers still in the fold from the auto haus experience...wow..!!

John,

You must be reading my mind! I was just going to do a web search on Clearmans!!

All this talk about food makes me hungry!

I wonder... do they sell beer?? I'll have to ask Sarge ;)

Great posts on Auto Haus guys... For me it was Auto Haus for VW stuff and BAP-GEON for Lucas & Marchal lights back in the early days.
Later I was a regular at Claude's Buggies & SCS (street cars) & Johnny's Speed & Chrome (off road stuff)

~DR.

Good times!! ;D ;D

~DR.

Back in 1971-72 I had my first bug, a 62 ragtop. It was slow , and I wanted it to go faster. I had a friend in high school, Brian Vaughn who was in Der Gutenine( spelling?) VW club. I asked him what I could to make my car go faster, and he told me about a place called Auto Haus in Buena Park, that sold aftermarket parts for VW's. On my first visit, I saw two very nice bugs. One was gold and one was green. A lot of you know who's they were. I was 17 and knew nothing about "Hot rodding" a VW. I had a lot of question for the guys behind the counter. My first purchases were a Holley Bug spray and manifold, bosch 010 dist, and a S&S header for my 1385 Big bore 40 hp that my Dad just had rebuilt. Boy was he pissed when I took it apart! Over the next several years, I made many visits.

I want to thank you John... and Ed Craig for being so tolerant, and answering so many questions. Since that time I have had 26 VW's, attended many Bug In's, Raced in many of them. Was in a small short lived VW club, Der Volkswahl, built tons of motors, several trannies, painted numerous cars, met tons of people, and it all started with that first trip to Auto Haus.

John, it was great talking to you at the book signing party. I'll never forget seeing "The Buttercup" and the Green split for the first time.

Scott P

holy cow...scott p.  brian vaughn and i have been friends for about as many years as a result from being DGVA in the early 70' and were room mates at one time in the same house that i later owned for eternity in garden grove....and he was one crazy(crazier than me)  mutha ...not to hijack this thread but ....back in 1973 we were rather intoxed one evening and he wanted to drive my 67 vw so i obliged...into the first few moments behind the wheel a honda full of young (wanted to be men) came out of nowhere and ran us off the road(harbor blvd) so needless to say brian looked over at me with that devious smile of his and asked .."ok to catch'em" and of course my reply was.." HELL YES"..!! so we laced our way through traffic as he slammed gears and weaved in and out of the lanes  and finally caught up to them about 3 miles up the road..bad mistake for them from the beginning... as we got out of my exhausted beetle and beat the living shit out of every quarter panel and door on "moms car"...something we laughed about for several years to come...LOL

Don, I haven't seen Brian since High School. You're right! He was crazy.. and I was kinda scared of him. He was 1 or 2 years older than me. He is to blame for my VW obsession. I grew up in GG wich I believe was smack dab in the middle of Hot VW Mecca. At least it was for me!
Say Hi to Brian if you still have contact with him.... I don't know if he will remember me.

scott...have WE ever met before...??   whats your last name..??  i cant imagine i wouldnt know you...or at least recognize your mug...lol

Pescuma. Yes we have met but just casually. Years ago...1979-82  I hung around with a few younger guys that were into bugs. Mark Voegtley, Dave his brother, Larry VanWilgen, Gregg Modelmog. I'm sure you know all of them. We used to go to a Chuckie Cheese. It was the Der Volkswahl group. You were at a few gatherings. I think Clyde and Doug Berg even came to a few get togethers. You've probably seen my face at Nick's and a few other events in the past year or two. The newest DKP member Dustin and I are good friends. He was actually in the club back then, but I didn't know him. The strange thing is that we all went to the same High School! The next event I see you at I'll re-introduce myself. Take care... no local event would be the same without you there!
Scott

Wish my job now was as fun as my days at Auto-Haus.  My job and my hobby and entertainment were all the same.

I want to thank you John... and Ed Craig for being so tolerant, and answering so many questions. Since that time I have had 26 VW's, attended many Bug In's, Raced in many of them. Was in a small short lived VW club, Der Volkswahl, built tons of motors, several trannies, painted numerous cars, met tons of people, and it all started with that first trip to Auto Haus.

John, it was great talking to you at the book signing party. I'll never forget seeing "The Buttercup" and the Green split for the first time.

Scott P

Scott,

There is really nothing to thank us for.  We did it because we loved it and as Ed Craig recently posted I wish my job today was fun like those days.

I enjoyed talking with you at the book signing party also.  It is events involving our history that keep me feeling young at least while I'm around all of you young guys!!!   :o :o

John

How many of you guys want to see John build another VW?!

I vote yes

X2 but make it a 3 liter  :o

me another butternut on american racing  8) 8) 8)

eeewwww.....OUCH..!! LOL... ed..nice poster board your daughter put together..i  remember when you told me about her first vw !!       john perhaps you can enlighten me as to whatever happened to...>>les smith(sales)/al locke(w/h mgr)/walter johnson(sales)..??

How about a nice set of original 5 spoke empi's

thanks john...ugly if thats what happened to walter johnson..i always liked him/fyi...walter gadzynski tragically ended his life years ago shortly after i bought my garden grove house.     > the brit/was always a jolly prim and proper gent....          i know repops are sort of a sin with purists but i can tell you that the repops that came off of the original american wheels that i sold some years back look absolute bitchin to say the least/i endorse them fully...but perhaps you be the judge ? they might look good with your air bags/glass fenders/wink mirror/and those zoom tubes...LOL

I had many Mammoth and Glamis trips back in the 70's and 80's with Walt Johnson, and he was pretty much alive!  I have not talked to him in a long while now, but to the best of my knowledge, he's still alive and kicking.

I did bump into another Auto-haus alum at the last VW Classic.  Mark Sutter. Mark was also in DVB.

I do have plans to get another VW, but it will be a year or two away still.

John...what do I always tell you.  Gray hair is better than NO hair!

You weren't so hard nosed and demanding.  You just had this annoying idea that we were supposed to work and actually sell product instead of working on our own cars, playing "Pikul" or staring at Gayle thru binoculars across the street at Big-O tire.  Whew, what a girl!

Great post John!  Some great memories of working there.  Wish I hadn't had such a chip [OK, the whole tree] on my shoulder back then so I could have appreciated you more.

Never met such an anal guy, but to this day, his stuff is VERY clean.  You taught me a lot about anal, buddy.

Thanks.

Doug Mische

Would you care to rephrase that?  :o ;D

Uh, yeah...  I'm glad I can't see inside your head, bud.  These little glimpses really concern me.

UGGH!  What a visual.  However, now that the Brit has blessed us with that, I'm not sure John could have satisfied me.  ;-)

Wow, that post needs to be printed, blown up on white posterboard and displayed at the next DKP meeting!   ;D

In all seriousness, I havent met John yet, but if he helped shape Doug into "Crazy Pan Guy" he should be knighted...or punched...not really sure which.   ;)

Great thread guys, thanks for sharing

Uh, no...

what is that for you afforadable ??? Otherwise there is very beautiful reproduction from jge  http://www.javaglobalenterprises.com/torker.htm (http://www.javaglobalenterprises.com/torker.htm) like the one i will put on my car

who's car was this, my inspiration early on
(http://cal-look.no/lounge/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=7495.0;attach=23955;image)

I came into the shop a little late one day, (Auto Haus-Orange), and couldn't find my employee. It turns out that he had emptied out a display case, and with the help of some coco mats for a pillow, was taking a "nap"

Dave Greiner

Dealing with customers was always "interesting". We still bring up the time that a customer wanted to order a "3/4 inch" cam for his bug.

Then there was the guy who installed a new clutch, but the engine would stall when he pushed in the pedal. It turns out that he had put the T/O bearing on BACKWARDS!

I also want to apologize to Mr. Lazenby for smoking him out of the Buena Park store with my "Christmas" cigars. These days he would have me thrown in jail!

Dave Greiner

I know that dude... what about the time you found my silver "show car" on display in your store.

                                                          Wasn't that Glenn?

 

What's left of my Auto Haus sign.

I've had it a long time... too bad somebody cut it up.

~DR.

Wanna sell it? 8)

Um...::)  no.

~DR.

very cool sign dave  :o :o



fabs

barbs folts 
check this link i've post several time  ;) http://cal-look.no/lounge/index.php/topic,1539.0.html (http://cal-look.no/lounge/index.php/topic,1539.0.html)


fabs

 ;)

THANKS!

nice work dave...!!     

We had room in the store (Auto Haus Orange) For a display car. Usually a very nice bug or buggy. I came in one morning and to my "amazement" ther on display was Bill's Very Ratty VW Bug. Customers didn't know what to think. Didn't Mark Bruto put a sign on it saying that it was Adolph Hitlers personal car? And people believed it!

Another 80's story.
  Freddie Desoto, another trusted employee, owned a Karmann Ghia with an 1835, 130 cam and stock heads. He had lined up a street race for the next weekend. They begged me to borrow my Ascot  dirt track motor for a day. It was a 2200cc with
 12-1 compression, a big cam, 48 ida's, Drino Miller rods, welded heads and was running on methanol. It was a definate step up. If Freddy could only drive it would have had a great ending to the story. LOL

  Then there was the time Mark Bruto came in with a Triumph motorcycle that he had just purchased. Freddy begged to take it for a ride. Freddy was a very good rider and a semi professional skateboarder. Very trustworthy. About 1 1-2 hours later we get a call from the Emergency room at Chapman hospital. The story that we pieced together was that on the Chapman /55 frwy old cloverleaf the front end of the bike washed out, putting Freddy over the guard rail and into the bushes. Very lucky that he survived and was out in only a day. We went to the crash site and found his flip flops that he had been wearing. When you are young you are Invincible!
(or so you think)

...."VERY trustworthy....motorcycle.....flip-flops...." ::) ;D  good story, Dave!

more report of the car who was on the auto haus advert

How about the "Loss of consortium" brought about by your bus Dave?

Doug,

Yep, I guess selling parts and making a living was a bit much to ask.  As for the "chip on the shoulder", it wasn't the entire tree, but more like half of the forrest !!  You were the most unhappy person I think I've ever encounted, but then something changed and now you look at life much more positive.

Thanks for the comment about teaching you, but I think you must have me mixed up with someone else regarding the "anal" issue.  Possibly you are thinking of one of the "Plaster Brothers" who lived in the garage (now get this) "behind" the Costa Mesa store!!!

If I didn't say it before I'll state it now.  The book signing at your home was great, but I don't like the fact that your garage is cleaner and more organized than mine.  If your not busy how about coming over and cleaning mine up??? :o :o :o :o

John
[/quote]

Very glad you had a good time at the signing party, John.  My garage is a mess, but it's amazing how a little carpet makes it look better...

Dave !!

... I think I stated this in an earlier reply, but it was Mr. Greiner that blessed Lynn Rosever with the title of "The Weasel" because he was always snealking around.  Dave also coined the phrase that the employees were paid in "Weasle Bucks".   ;) ;)

John
[/quote]

I REMEMBER WEASEL BUCKS!!!!  LOL

Thanks Bill, that would be another Freddy story!  While picking up parts in my 1979 cal-look bus (now in Belgium),
Freddy rear ended a lady in a Mercedes. (honest, I wasn't tailgating, Dave!) Among the damages claimed was "loss of consortium"
which means her sex life was affected. I think that we did her husband a favor!

dave here's the proformance bus last year at the super vw nats in france , but the bus still live  in belgium   ;)

fabs

i love this bus  ;)
those cool stickers are still on the bus  8)

and maybe the license palte is the same when you sold the bus ???

Yes, it looks pretty much the same as when I had it. Maybe a little cleaner. (I had to say it before one of my friends jumped in)
Bill S. could probably tell you how much "air" it used to get on deliverys.

 the only thing i remember on the inside is the ugliest brown headliner  ;D ;D ;D did you kill a bear ???............................. ;D ;D ;D

"Bill S. could probably tell you how much "air" it used to get on deliverys." I could tell you how much "Air"  kobus was gettin in it accross the field at ebi  :D :D :D

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Nice story John.  And let me be the first to say that black & yellow decal with the rear view of the car is KILLER !!!  Man that's cool.

COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL story John  ;D And I'm not going to go on about how much I want that yellow/black sticker :)

Cool, John, very cool.  8)

I always had a lot of respect for Lynn Rosevear, more than I had for my partner and boss at the LaHabra store. There is a fine line between making the most money and going belly up. Buy product on credit and sell it before you pay for it....use someone elses money to make money.  Smart business but when the economy shifted and interest rates went sky high, suppliers demanded prompt payment and I'm guessing Rosevear was behind 90 to 120 days. Unless you've got a lot of cash, that's a lot to cough up at once and when you can't, the supplier puts you on COD or cuts you off and then you don't have the mdse to sell to generate the cash to bail yourself out. That's what I think happened to Auto Haus.

John,
 Yes the La Habra store was shackled with the owner's sons but it wasn't until my investment in the store was paid back and I left that they actually ran the store. The boys were good guys but Tim was, indeed "anti-help". I used to send him on wild goose chases that would hopefully take the entire day, just so I could get things done. "orifice boy" (I can't remember his real name) was just a ......well... never mind.......let's just say that meal with Mickey Thompson and his stupid question gave us all something to laugh about, even 35 years later! <grin>

Let's see.......oh Steak 'n Stein........my all time favorite dinner house.  I remember I used to run into you, John, all the time there as well as other people I only knew by first name. I've been to places as good but never better than Steak 'n Stein. When I visit So Cal, it's always on my "to do' list.

What part of Washington did Lynn migrate to?

John, do you remember a time when you and i were alone in the La Habra store, standing in the front of the store. It was pouring down rain and we were just watching and commenting on how hard it was raining, when lightening hit a transformer, not 20 ft from us. Scared the crap out of us and I know, for a moment, I thought I was dead. It was dead quiet and then I think we realized we were ok and started laughing.

good times,



Marc Buehler
5 year manager of the La Habra Auto Haus store (and the Downey store too)

Hey fabs..just for clarification...the girl in the Auto Haus add was not Barb Folts.  This was a Auto-Haus employee by the name of Sue.  She's was used in another add too shot in the Buena Park store.  (Standing next to me behind the counter). I have a copy of that add somewhere.  I'll post it when I find it.

Working retail at Auto Haus had pleanty of fun experiences.  Back when both Mark Herbert and Greg Borras worked in my store we had a guy come in to buy some fuses.  He was bragging about just completing re-wireing his car.  So he heads out to his car, parked right in front of the stores doors, puts in a fues for his radio.  So far so good....until he turnes on the radio, which engaged his cars starter, pushing his car thru the front of the store!

Almost as good as the guy who added brake fluid to his gas tank!

John,

That note from Lynn is a sure testimony to the way you have lived your life!

I'm sure your dad "IS" VERY proud!

That's the good stuff in life!!

Dustin

    Hi everybody

    I will have to bring out all of my cool stuff at the Bug In this year including some Auto Haus stickers / Patches catalogue etc... I have also all of my receipt from various Auto Haus stores where I had bought parts to do my 67 Ghia and other projects at the time I am sure I have some that were signed by Ed. Probably have a T Shirt somewhere

  Thanks
  Frenchy ( Doc Detail )

ok may be I have can be wanted to say that it was barb's car

Yep....it's her car for sure.  We just used Sue in the adds.  I actually thought Barb was better looking, but Sue was a employee and photographed pretty well.  Many of the people in the AH catalogs were employees.

I purchased these a few years ago from a former employee of the print shop that made them.
He said the red one may have been a prototype that wasn't used because they were still trying to decide what color to use.
Your thoughts Lynn ?
 ???

The Auto Haus days were pretty good to me too.  I started right out of collage working as John's "flunky" in the Buena Park store.  Eight years later, John was the GM of the company chain of stores, (more of a figurehead!  ha!), and I was was the Assistant GM.  Lynn and the entire Rosevear family were great to work with.  Lynn put up with a lot of our crap, and always took it well.  Plus...pretty great having you job and hobby being one in the same.

We had so many people work there that are still in the industry, or names you see mentioned on forums.  I can't even start to think of everyone, but here's just a few that have probably already been mentioned.

Jim Edmiston
Dave Griener
Ron Griener
Don Chamberlin (aka..Dyno Dave Chambermaid)
Phil Kelly 
Jeff Kymla

Also from my own store were...
 
Mark Hebert
Danny Deacon
Greg Boras

All great guys to be around.

Wish my job now was as fun as it was back at Auto Haus.

Lynn put up with a lot of our crap, and always took it well.  Plus...pretty great having you job and hobby being one in the same.
Ed, I couldn't have said it better.  Times were great then and I give anything to have a job like that today.

One last comment, you were never my "flunky" as you were not that qualified !!!!!     :o :o :o :o :o

Seriously, you were a great guy to work with and I'm glad that we have remained friends all of these years.  Please send the $20 you owe me for saying this..................

WE STILL APPRECIATE YOU JOHN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Richard,
this may very well be true, however my memory ain't what it used to be - the color is giving me the indicator that this was possibly in the works, while Dave Deal was working on the latter logos. The only oddity that I can see is the non-rounded edges, but a prototype possibility???
Hope that helps...Lynn

What ever happened to Freddie? Last I remember he had my 48s. What I wouldn't give to get those back!

My only Lynn Rosevear story is interviewing with him for a job in 1978. I made my best pitch but he didn't hire me. I went to BAP/Geon after that and worked there for 10 years.

I first met Lynn Rosevear through a good friend Steve Hostetler. Steve was running Lynn's store in Orange, called Sports Cars Specialties at the time.
My in-laws were looking for a business to purchase, and my late wife and I were heavily into VW's/Parts. I approached Lynn regarding his selling us
that store, and we agreed on a price conditional to reopening as Auto Haus Orange.
I pitched my in-laws and was promptly turned down and told that VW parts "would never make money". Instead they bought the Wallace Trade Bindery,
and lost every cent to a corrupt business partner. Oh well!

I know this is a very old thread, but reading through it brought back a lot of memories and I thought it was still the best place to add my stories.
It was summer of 1974, and after a first year of college I was looking for a job. There was an ad in the paper for counter help at Auto Haus in Costa Mesa. Responding to the ad brought me many things; a new job (that led to my career in automotive), a life long friend or two and some of the funniest stories I ever lived.
When I came in to the store to apply, I met the store manager, Pat "Mongo" McMahon. After chatting with him, I had to meet with John L - that was a bit tough as he was very cold and dry, but it must have gone OK because he then had me go to Buena Park and meet with Lynn. We hit it off fine and I had a job. At that time the Costa Mesa store employees were Pat, Doug Mische and a guy that I want to say was named Randy, kind of a small wirey guy who drove a FAST Ranchero maybe. Right after I was hired, they Re Hired Mike Alstrom who I am pretty sure was in DKP at one time but had a beat up, rusty 356 by then. Randy left and I was the one who suggested to John that we hire DUGBUG Nadasdy. They did and the Dugbug became the lunch getter and it was amazing how many times we went to Del Taco to get lunch and managed to find mud holes or dirt hills to climb on the way. Alstrom left and went to Small Car and I was again the one that pushed for hiring the new guy - Jeff Kymla. Jeff had been a customer who had bought a New Dodge Van and a Class 9 race car with some inheritance money. We got to know him and the money either went into the race car of the Epic parties at his house in Costa Mesa. As those things many times go, the money started to run out and Jeff needed a job, so we hired him. It was with this crew that I got initiated into the Barn Burners, and Holy Cow were those some Wild Parties.
The San Bernardino store was having some problems, I seem to remember hearing that a manager was helping himself to profits a bit or something to that affect. They asked me to go out there and train a new guy that they hired as manager. I lived on Balboa Island and it was quite a drive, but they paid me .25 a mile and I had a 914 at the time so I was making money on the drive. The store was huge, but not doing real well. There was a hot young thing working there who drove a 21 Window with surfboards on the roof, when she found out where I lived, well let's just say I had a new roommate for a while. By then I was only going out there on Saturdays to help out and was floating around between the other stores - Costa Mesa, Orange, and Buena Park on different days of the week. One Monday I got to Costa Mesa and no one showed up but Pat, John, and I. John was a little panicked as to what to do as the Costa Mesa store was always busy. I told him that (damn I wish I could remember her name) was at my house and would probably come in and work. No one knew that we were dating and John just gave me a surprised look and said OK. He never did ask what was going on.
John - the story of the Hippe chick was one of the funnier things that happened. The rest of the story - one of the days she was there, I got up on the roof and took pictures of the "young Lady" as she was sun bathing (OK passed out) nude in the grass area. We had just re hired Gavin (can't remember his last name, but he was originally from Louisiana and had a southern drawl and wore the goofiest plaid pants). Well, Gavin decided he should go talk to her. He just walked out there and told her she shouldn't be doing that (sleeping nude out there) She looked at him startled and they started talking and well, they ended up going off somewhere for a romp in the hay. The guys who were there were Pat, Doug, Me, Gavin and John as I remember it.
I worked a bit in the Orange Store with Stan Davis and another guy whose name escapes me. He drove a light blue 57 Ranchero and had a full beard. Both Stan and He were into photography especially young girls in skimply clothing. One day Ranchero man was sitting in his car taking pictures of a customer (female) who was out front of the store - nothing perverted, just a cute girl. Well the Orange Police drove by and thought something was "Funny" so they decided to have a chat - we laughed our butts off at it.
Like I said - Fun Times

John - I can't believe that you didn't mention the Mission Viejo store. It was a franchise that was not doing well, the guy owned Lynn money and he ended up taking the store to settle the debt. Lynn called me to Dale St for a meeting and asked if I would like to take over the store as manager. I said sure, it seemed like a great opportunity for me and meant no more traveling to San Berdoo. Well, at that time Mission Viejo and the surrounding area was very small (hard to believe now). Some days I wouldn't do ANY business - no one came in! Slowly we started to do some, but it was a small store and I was the sole employee. One day I was quite sick, but there was no one to cover for me so I went in. I really felt bad so I stacked up about 4 Race Trim Plastic bucket seats and set them right next to the buzzer that I had for the front door. This store had a small shop in the back for doing installs and the buzzer was on the back wall so you knew if anyone came in while you were back there. Well, I climbed into the seats with my head against said buzzer and proceeded to take a nap. The next thing I knew, something startled me and I looked up to see Lynn staring at me. He knew I was sick and decided to come check on me. When he got there, he stepped over the beam for the buzzer and snuck up on me. He laughed about it and said he really appreciated that I was even there - but it scared the crap out of me! I thought it was going to be my last day.

One other Story - One day the Costa Mesa store guys got to work and there were cops everywhere. Next door was Laguna Sea Sports and some guy had been shot in the head execution style and propped up against their front door watching the traffic go by. The next day, the empty field next door was on fire when the guys got to work.
I called Dugbug from the Mission Viejo store to see how things were going as I was bored as usual down there, and his very dry reply was "Yesterday was really dead, but today things are smoking" - as I heard the fire engines in the back ground. Typical Dug response!

I worked there 3 years and had a lot of Fun, learned stuff that I use to this day, including some of John's way's that I used in my own business. And interestingly enough just like John, I have had old employees tell me that some times they thought i was a jerk to them when they worked for me, but they now understand and use the same things with their employees. If it wasn't for Lynn, John, and all the guys I worked with there I would be a different person, that's for sure.

I believe this is a another Dyno Don.  At least if its who I think it is.  Don Chamberlin did work for AH, but from my memory it was only for a short time in the warehouse.  There was another Don, (also known as Dyno Don), that worked for AH much longer and would know the stories mentioned in his post.  From memory all are pretty accurate.

...Ed.

Yes, this is Don Lindfors - I got nicknamed DynoDon by a relative of the Original Dyno Don - Nicholson, back when I was about 15. I do work for PerTronix as the Manager of R&D for the Exhaust Division. Part of the reason I have come on here is I have just acquired my first bug in over 20 years and the first street one since Auto Haus days and I plan on an early Cal Look style for it.

Ed, we worked together for a while at the BP store when I would come over there. I still remember the time you became Eddie "Antlers" Craig, although  can't remembewhetherer it was something that happened at one of the Xmas parties, a Barn Burnout or at the store, details are fuzzy. I also used to hang out at your Westminster store after i had left Auto Haus.

John - I first met Mike Ahlstrom before going to work at Auto Haus. He was dating a girl from my HS, Corona del Mar. It was at that time that he told me he was a club member. I know we used to call his 356 the Bondo Bucket and then later when he worked at Small Car, we called his "new" car the 912-6 - used to make him mad as he really wanted everyone to believe it was a 911

No problem Mark.  I was a little confused by the post at first, but as I read more, I was pretty certain it was not Don Chamberlin, but actually Dyno Don Lindfors.

Don...Glad you remember Mike A's 912-6.  With its turbo flares and 165-15 tires it was something special!  Always loved the one spoke steering wheel too.  (actually a 3 spoke, but two were broken)  Mike was a really nice guy, and his cars were "fun".

John - I first met Mike Ahlstrom before going to work at Auto Haus. He was dating a girl from my HS, Corona del Mar. It was at that time that he told me he was a club member. I know we used to call his 356 the Bondo Bucket and then later when he worked at Small Car, we called his "new" car the 912-6 - used to make him mad as he really wanted everyone to believe it was a 911

Don, trust me that Mike Ahlstrom was NEVER a DKP member.  Ed mentioned the "fine" examples that Mike owned over a few years.  Honestly I can't think of a group that would accept any of his cars.

I saw Mike at a Bug-In a couple of years ago and he was working for UPS out in the Palm Springs area and doing well.  Wonder if he has another "creation" in the wings??     :o :o :o
 

I think this is Mikes Bondo Bucket. Unfortunately I don't have a pic of his "Slop Top".

Welcome to the Lounge, Don!  Cool to hear you bought a bug as well as what your plans are for it.  Keep those Auto Haus stories flowin'! 8)
Here's a pic of Sharon and I from 1971... I think I spent every waking minute in an Auto Haus shirt ::) ;D

Just remembered two things , we called Mike's car the "A-Bondo"

And the guy I refrenced as "Randy" working at Costa Mesa I think was named Kelly.

I was looking at the picture from VW Trends od the front of the Costa Mesa Store - the White Ranchero I am pretty sure was photographers (and the guy who worte the article) Bob Clark's. The Capri next to it is either mine or Jeff Kymla's - I'm pretty sure llooking at the rear wheels that it was Kymla's. As first Ithought it might have been Pat McMahon's turbo car, but alas it was yellow.

Ed - I forgot all about the "One Spoke" wheel. When he got that pile, he told me he now had the fastest street car of the A-H employees, but he didn't know that I just got my Sunbeam Tiger with the 400 HP 302 Ford. He was totally dejected.

Sarge....you look really enthused at that candle party! LOL

Rick Mortensen

Like he'd much rather be lighting something else?   8)

Kelly Wilson - that's right. And I remember that he was from the Inland Empire, some reason Rialto or Redlands comes to mind, but that could very well be wrong  ;) I do remember him talking about the commute, could you imagine doing that today? 55 south is a PARKING lot in the morning. On my first day he was the one who told me I had to "take Kirby for a walk". I said who the heck is Kirby? the company dog? You all started laughing as Kirby was the vacuum!

One other thing that just came to mind. When you were interviewing me, you went in the back and came out with a hand full of parts to quiz me. What's this? "that's a pushrod tube. What's this? "that's an oil strainer" What's this? "That's a Ford Courier valve adjuster, but i think you VW guys call them Elephant's feet" You just kind of rolled your eyes at that point.

You just kind of rolled your eyes at that point.

I've heard that one before as I guess I made a regular habit of doing so.   ::) ::) ::) ::)  None the less, you needed to know your parts to sell them..............    ;) ;) ;)

johnny sandoval is still around, got an email from him yesterday!

I have passed this on to JohnL.  So i will let him fill in any more info when he has it.

Mike

Ya, I remember John, use to go to Auto Haus there in Buena Park on my lunch when I use to work at Auto-Craft Machine, I believe he had a 67', I think blue like mine, mybe a different shade. When you talk to him next time, ask him if he remembers me, Ted from Auto-Craft. Glad to hear he's around and well, AND successful.

Ted

John sandoval, Thats a name I have not heard in years ! Had a tan oval, Lived across the street from my high school, sante fe high . Had a tan colored oval with porsche chrome wheels . Kid in my neighborhood bought the car and ended up with a glass front end.

John glad to help.  Mike

I found an old box in California and saved some of the print.    Thought I'd share here.

(http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/1339198.jpg)