The Cal-look Lounge

Cal-look/High Performance => Cal-look => Topic started by: speedwell on December 18, 2008, 17:33:37 pm



Title: 54 cal look convertible
Post by: speedwell on December 18, 2008, 17:33:37 pm
here's a request
some loungers shall recognize theirs convertibles  ;D ;D ;D glenn , brian ............. ::) ::)

let share some stories and details about the car ,I remind myself the first time that I saw this cabriolet, it was in the super vw n°7, I found it already nice at the time  8)

here we go

 ;)


Title: Re: cal look 54 convertible
Post by: speedwell on December 18, 2008, 17:34:32 pm
 ;)


Title: Re: cal look 54 convertible
Post by: speedwell on December 18, 2008, 17:35:51 pm
some years later  ;)


Title: Re: cal look 54 convertible
Post by: speedwell on December 18, 2008, 17:38:11 pm
 ;)


Title: Re: 54 cal look convertible
Post by: speedwell on December 18, 2008, 21:28:11 pm
report of super vw mag n°7


Title: Re: 54 cal look convertible
Post by: speedwell on December 18, 2008, 21:29:34 pm
 ;)


Title: Re: 54 cal look convertible
Post by: speedwell on December 18, 2008, 21:36:17 pm
 ;)


Title: Re: 54 cal look convertible
Post by: Cornpanzer on December 18, 2008, 23:05:47 pm
Thats funny.  I remember both of those stories, but never realized that they were the same car.   I like how the owner in the later story took credit for all of the suspension and chassis work!  ::)


Title: Re: 54 cal look convertible
Post by: Bill Schwimmer on December 19, 2008, 02:20:11 am
I remember 9 of us getting into that car when Glenn owned it and going to some parties... Most of the 1776 motor parts from the Fred Elliot version ended up in my sqbck. One of my all time favorite cars. Many many memories in that vert and it was'nt even my car.


Title: Re: 54 cal look convertible
Post by: team97 on December 20, 2008, 07:08:37 am
Where to start? I got the car from Brian Plummer in a trade deal for my 67' Ghia. At that time it needed alot of work. seems Brians mom work at Truehauf and he got the car through her. (when Brian got the car it was a mess) Well we made a deal and I went through the car, repainted and rechromed all of the undercarraige, built a 2180 cc , 48 IDA motor, 4:88 R/P gear box and drove the crap out of it. The car weighed about 2000 LBS and ran HARD. When I swapped the car to John, I kept the motor and trans and my alloys and he kept the alloys you see on the car in the article. I did run FUCHS on it for a short period of time before I got rid of it. I drove the car daily to Fullerton JC and Cal St Fullerton, car shows, work, ETC on slicks with the 4:88. (it was my only car) If this car could talk, me , Bill, Greg, Mason, Gabbard and numerous others would have to plead the 5th.


Title: Re: 54 cal look convertible
Post by: team97 on December 20, 2008, 07:33:16 am
BTW Fabian, thanks for posting this, it brings back alot of great memories. I've had never seen the last article until now and some of the facts are questionable, other than the wheels, motor and the added trim the car LOOKS exactly how I left it. Refering back to Bill's comment, these were our everyday cars. We "socialized" with them, "raced"  them and just flat out got around with them. I have to give many thanks to Fred Elliot, Dyno and many others who participated in the original build of this car. It is truely one of those "you should have never gotten rid of that one" deals.

Glenn


Title: Re: 54 cal look convertible
Post by: geotherider on December 20, 2008, 08:50:26 am
arf! this car is beautiful ;D
i'm fan of shifter BERG with hurst line lock :o


Title: Re: 54 cal look convertible
Post by: DKKBRIAN on December 20, 2008, 17:44:17 pm
THANKS FOR THE POST FABIAN! I MISS THAT CAR ASWELL. BP


Title: Re: 54 cal look convertible
Post by: speedwell on December 20, 2008, 18:18:52 pm
my pleasure  ;)

fabs


Title: Re: 54 cal look convertible
Post by: dyno don on December 20, 2008, 19:30:58 pm
glenn...you were the ONLY one besides fred that ever did the car justice after it was built..!!  fred is an awesome guy and a brilliant technical mind and has been a great friend thru the years and when that convert was going together it was a pleasure to help with whatever i could...and when it got finished fred took me on a ride on the 22 frwy into the 22/5 turn recommended for 30mph...naw..not fred...nailed it to the floor and took the turn FLAWLESS at 90MPH..!!   after i peeled myself from the seat we laughed for hours after ....that was always one of my favorite cars as well... i brokered a deal and sold the car to ted allen from treuhaft not too long after its build and dont remember what transpired from that point but obviously this post points me in the right direction...LOL  it would outhandle and outstop most anything on the road.... what a bitchin' car..!!


Title: Re: 54 cal look convertible
Post by: Cornpanzer on December 20, 2008, 19:38:02 pm
So, what ever happened to it?  How does a car that was in all the VW magazines just disappear?


Title: Re: 54 cal look convertible
Post by: team97 on December 20, 2008, 23:04:08 pm
So, what ever happened to it?  How does a car that was in all the VW magazines just disappear?


JAPAN!


Title: Re: 54 cal look convertible
Post by: Cheesepanzer on December 22, 2008, 21:40:07 pm
I always thought the front euro plate was funny - 3M TA3  ;)

I thought the car looked good with the 8-spokes too.


Title: Re: 54 cal look convertible
Post by: speedwell on December 22, 2008, 22:39:16 pm
no more stories about that car , glenn  brian ??? some dkk stories with this one ??


Title: Re: 54 cal look convertible
Post by: 58vw on December 23, 2008, 01:21:31 am
aw..remember that car also....very bitchin car...one of my favorites also...when John Mamuscia owned it i had the pleasure of borrowing it a few times and taking a couple of dates out in it....well that car did wonders for the im gettin lucky tonight scene.. car drove like a dream...oh ya..so did the date ;D

inspires me to build one like it one day!


Title: Re: 54 cal look convertible
Post by: Christofe on December 23, 2008, 08:43:36 am
Love the story...

Could someone tell me wich brand are the seats ?

Christofe


Title: Re: 54 cal look convertible
Post by: wolfswest on December 23, 2008, 11:26:36 am
I see the magneto on the right side of the dynamo and not on the left like "most" engines...  ???   


Title: Re: 54 cal look convertible
Post by: speedwell on December 23, 2008, 11:28:50 am
dem the picture in the magazine was inverted  ;D ;D watch  the wiper and the steering wheel they 're in the other side  ;)................. ;D ;D


Title: Re: 54 cal look convertible
Post by: wolfswest on December 23, 2008, 12:10:37 pm
okay, I notice that now, but still I don't understand it how it's done...  ???  ???  WTF  ;D

I also notice a vdo cockpit gauge set, only the best run them...  ;D


Title: Re: 54 cal look convertible
Post by: Jon on December 23, 2008, 12:17:21 pm
Better now? ;)


Title: Re: 54 cal look convertible
Post by: wolfswest on December 23, 2008, 13:33:15 pm
yep that's better, but I still don't understand it...  ;D  sorry guys.

Nice car, like it the most with the fuchs...


Title: Re: 54 cal look convertible
Post by: Cornpanzer on December 23, 2008, 13:59:54 pm
remember, back then they used film and occasionally the negetive would get processed upside down resultiing in what you saw.


Title: Re: 54 cal look convertible
Post by: Sarge on December 23, 2008, 14:32:35 pm

remember, back then they used film and occasionally the negetive would get processed upside down resultiing in what you saw.


FILM?? ???  Great report, Fabs and thanks to Glenn for the cool stories! 8) 8) 8)


Title: Re: 54 cal look convertible
Post by: speedwell on December 23, 2008, 21:35:20 pm
glenn why have you put 4 vent grill on the deckild ,those  look vent for a super bettle decklid ??? correct me if i'm wrong   ::)
and you forgot to share those one with us   ;)


Title: Re: 54 cal look convertible
Post by: speedwell on December 23, 2008, 21:43:37 pm
show car  8) 8)


Title: Re: 54 cal look convertible
Post by: LuftsickTero on December 23, 2008, 21:56:02 pm
glenn why have you put 4 vent grill on the deckild ,those  look vent for a super bettle decklid ??? correct me if i'm wrong   ::)

Maybe Oval 'Vert engine lids weren't easily available back then neither and people were less anal  ;)


Title: Re: 54 cal look convertible
Post by: team97 on December 23, 2008, 21:58:39 pm
This car had alot of little details that involved late model parts. Fred Elliott built the decklid to incorporate the late model theme with the W decklid and the top on the car was actually late model frame work combined with early framework (rear window frame and rear /front header) I was reading the article above and Fred did the dash as you see it in the pictures and I installed the Scat seats and center console along with door panels and a LeCarra steering wheel. (Fred originally had Scheel? seats in it). I've got a couple of stories that I can write about soon.

Glenn


Title: Re: 54 cal look convertible
Post by: LuftsickTero on December 23, 2008, 22:35:37 pm
the top on the car was actually late model frame work combined with early framework (rear window frame and rear /front header)

Don't want to put down the car or anything, but the rear window looks too big for an Oval, IMHO, close the same size as my '60 has. The top frame on the other hand seems to have at least the older style main bow (http://www.wolfsburgwest.com/img/wwpn/151871191.jpg) as the top has higher hump at that point than it would have with post '60 main bow.. Also the rear view mirror (that looks like is lacking a mounting screw) in the Trends article is later than Oval one.

Cool car anyway, really like the 80's stuff and really wish that I could have lived that period elsewhere than in here :)


Title: Re: 54 cal look convertible
Post by: Diederick/DVK on December 23, 2008, 23:06:32 pm
well, i really like that car!! and i definitely have to say, though i'm not a big fan of the 4 vents in general, i really like them on this car!!


Title: Re: 54 cal look convertible
Post by: Zach Gomulka on December 24, 2008, 01:52:37 am
the top on the car was actually late model frame work combined with early framework (rear window frame and rear /front header)

Don't want to put down the car or anything, but the rear window looks too big for an Oval, IMHO, close the same size as my '60 has. The top frame on the other hand seems to have at least the older style main bow (http://www.wolfsburgwest.com/img/wwpn/151871191.jpg) as the top has higher hump at that point than it would have with post '60 main bow.. Also the rear view mirror (that looks like is lacking a mounting screw) in the Trends article is later than Oval one.

Cool car anyway, really like the 80's stuff and really wish that I could have lived that period elsewhere than in here :)

Splitting hairs here, but the fuel tank is from a later model as well ::)

I liked it better with no chrome! ;D


Title: Re: 54 cal look convertible
Post by: speedwell on January 14, 2009, 14:01:12 pm
found another picture of the 54


Title: Re: 54 cal look convertible
Post by: speedwell on January 14, 2009, 14:05:05 pm
2 more at bug in 27


Title: Re: 54 cal look convertible
Post by: speedwell on January 14, 2009, 14:06:50 pm
bug in 28


Title: Re: 54 cal look convertible
Post by: speedwell on September 01, 2009, 17:17:31 pm
found more about hte car in vw classics mag  ;)


Title: Re: 54 cal look convertible
Post by: Brian Rogers on September 02, 2009, 05:34:49 am
I like it with the Mahles, anyone can do Fuchs. Gotta do something on mine. What do you call it? Inspiration or guilt that I haven't been working on mine?


Title: Re: 54 cal look convertible
Post by: Neil Davies on August 13, 2011, 10:20:45 am
This might seem quite random, but bear with me...

I was having a trawl round the net, as you do, and I came across a story on Jalopnik about banned California license plates - http://jalopnik.com/5830513/100-license-plates-banned-by-the-california-dmv/gallery/1 - when something got my interest!

What are the chances of finding a random website, the day after the story is posted, with only one example plate given in the story, and knowing who had that plate? :o

Anyway, looks like Glenn can't have his old number plate back... :D


Title: Re: 54 cal look convertible
Post by: carlito421 on August 14, 2011, 02:52:50 am
I love that line lock switch!