Dig out old California Look photos from the early 90's.....

[Jim Ratto]

My own post about Brody's orange car reminded me of some other cars from the past that I used to see at Irvine when my friends and I used to visit from Nothern California. Of course there were the DKP III cars of the time, but there were other cars that had the Look too, also very cool, tasteful cars. One car in particular was a yellow '67 that had 911 Fuchs, a Berg 5, and a 1904 with Clyde heads, K10 and 48s. The things that stood out about this car were the Empi rear seat, and the car had a black ragtop....which personally I didn't care for. Another cool car was a pre-68 Bug, kind of an ochre yellow, with white-painted cookie cutters, and big cc engine with Berg 42's and other go fast stuff. At this point in my VW life, I was really worked up about the Cal Look thing, and back then, I only saw a handful of these cars on a limited basis....once a year. These were favorites of mine, that seemed to disappear from the limelight. Some of the DKP III cars really got my attention back then too, like Henry Olleker's white Bug when it had gasburners on it, and a HUGE muffler....car looked bad ass mean. Jim Kurlinski's green '67 really did it to me too.....from a distance, looked like a nice clean '67, but on closer look, you'd see the real BRM's, the Berg 5-speed shifter, the enormous merged header and muffler and the IDA monster under the deck. Sure, the old Cal Look was all about doing away with bumpers and moldings, but these cars were super-clean and under the radar in the late 80's and early 90's, with their sedate exteriors and 180+hp motors hiding under the lid. Seeing Kurlinski's '67 in the middle of a bunch of slammed pink, graphiced, Bugs, that were more rolling sound systems than hot rods, was a refreshing splash of cool water for me back then. Ok, I'm off track now...

Just curious if anybody knows these old cars, or maybe share some of your old favorites that we never hear about anymore.

Thanks guys,
Jim

[javabug]

Henry Olleker's car is definetly one of my favorites, but with Fuchs as that is how I first saw it in the magazine.  I know the yellow 67 you are talking about, I have the VW Trends with it in.

Also, in the Feb. 1996 VW Trends coverage of the Great Canadian Bug Show, there's a pic of Stan Tiffin's oval window.  Dechromed, Porsche Glacier Blue, and anodized Fuchs.  Unfortunatly, its not a great shot, as the doors are open, etc.  WIsh I could find a few more pics of that one.

[The Ideaman]

Danny Gabbards Ghia was it  for me.  I'd like to build a clone someday.

[Frank LUX]

Hmmm,

Danny Gabbard's KG was the Best KG i've ever seen!!!

A little out, but Did Dave Mason ever got a feature in Hot VW's?

Frank

[Frank LUX]

Hmmm,

Danny Gabbard's KG was the Best KG i've ever seen!!!

A little out, but Did Dave Mason ever got a feature in Hot VW's?

Frank

not sure, but I remember his car was in Volksworld in 1993 or 94? Same issue as Keith Goss chop and Ivan M's beige '67.

I know that....Thanxs...

Frank

[The Ideaman]

Dave Mason's car is fast, but a probably a liittle rough for a feature.  The paint is checked and crazed, and the Britax sunroof just doesn't look right to me.

[Frank LUX]

Dave Mason's car is fast, but a probably a liittle rough for a feature.  The paint is checked and crazed, and the Britax sunroof just doesn't look right to me.

Yep, its not the cleanest car around but its got Attitude!!!

BTW, that car on the picture is Not Dave Mason's Car...

Frank

[The Ideaman]

Oops, you are right, wrong picture.  I can't find the one from dragday a couple years ago.

[Diederick/DVK]

i really really like this one for some reason, have it on my pc as well, one of the first pic i saved when i got into VWs.

btw, for the younger ones on here  (such as myself) it's always nice to see some pics of those cars that were in Hot VWs back in the days when i was still in primary school... 

[streetvw]

has anyone got any shots of Danny Gabbards lowlight KG?

and what about Mike Smiths red 67 as featured in Hot VW's with Angie Vondahurst and Scott Smiths 67's? 

[Rick Meredith]

Here is a picture of Javier's 54....not the best pic, but you can get the idea. This car was built over winter of 1990-91

Where?

[Rick Meredith]

Could it be this one???

[Rick Meredith]

 Hey, if your friends can't pop  ya one, who can! 

[larry mck]

I still have my red 67 bug. It was raced in the first DRKC races, but the competion got too tuff and I built a new car. Jim you forgot that back in the 90's the Bergler was in northern cal. It was even in your garage for a little while.

[The Ideaman]

Last I heard of it was when it was in Steve H's shop in San Jose before VW Performance relocated to Phoenix.  Just a shadow of it's former self.

[bathing ape]

Hmmm,

Danny Gabbard's KG was the Best KG i've ever seen!!!

A little out, but Did Dave Mason ever got a feature in Hot VW's?

Frank

show us the ghia!!

[louisb]

What ever happened to Johnny Salgodos (SP?) black '67. Happened to be going through an old copy of Volksworld and ran across the feature on this car. Always thought it was pretty mean looking car.

--louis

[nicolas]

What ever happened to Johnny Salgodos (SP?) black '67. Happened to be going through an old copy of Volksworld and ran across the feature on this car. Always thought it was pretty mean looking car.

--louis

i think it was somd to a friend of his... it says something about it in his vwtrends feature of his red car that he build afterwards. i think it even ran the club stickers (der zottigheid kafers...) as well. since they where in the same club.
and if my memory is correct i even think johnny bought a different car first, but sold it to art guttierez to salvage his 67. but it is a longshot... i have to check the magazine again

[speedwell]

the red car

[Dave Galassi]

Where are the pics??? What about Dyno Don's 400HP maroon KG with 8-spokes, big turbo motor, slicks?

Other stuff from 80's we never hear about any more...

ARPM
DeCoppen Bros
Caravans To Sac Bug-A-Rama
Baylands Raceway in Fremont, CA

what else....?
Who remembers this stuff and more and has old pics to show?

Dear Uncle Jim:

Just so that we give credit where credit is due, that BEAUTIFUL Ghia was built by John Howe, in San Marino.  It had, without question, the most amazing and deep candy paint I have ever seen on a car, bar none.  Dyno Shop power, original 8 spokes we found at Intershows and a host of other goodies. Got Fast?  It did.

John Howe and Derrick and Chris Houghlin used to hang out at my garage while I was building the Notchback in the early and  mid 80's.  They all lived within a mile.  Derrick had a Turbo'd '63 and his brother had a sea blue '66 with a 1914, both with plenty of beans to back up the growl.  John wanted a car too.......thus the Ghia.  There were no holds barred on that car.  Derrick was working for Jim at the Dyno Shop at the time the Ghia was being built, thus the connection.  Jim and Dave (Barnes, still there at the time, and creator of another 80's car, Outstanding...) had also built the long block for my Notch. 

John soon had other fish to fry and put it on the sale block.  The rest is history.  Dyno, then Japan as I recall, as that was the trend at the time.  Another nice car built in the San Gabriel Valley.

Hope I didn't get too off topic.  Shoot me an email when you get a chance Uncle Jim, might have sumth'in for Frank's engine.

P.S.  Yes, Danny's Ghia was pretty as well.   Wait until you see what he's building now.......

[jasonx]

My own post about Brody's orange car reminded me of some other cars from the past that I used to see at Irvine when my friends and I used to visit from Nothern California. Of course there were the DKP III cars of the time, but there were other cars that had the Look too, also very cool, tasteful cars. One car in particular was a yellow '67 that had 911 Fuchs, a Berg 5, and a 1904 with Clyde heads, K10 and 48s. The things that stood out about this car were the Empi rear seat, and the car had a black ragtop....which personally I didn't care for. Another cool car was a pre-68 Bug, kind of an ochre yellow, with white-painted cookie cutters, and big cc engine with Berg 42's and other go fast stuff. At this point in my VW life, I was really worked up about the Cal Look thing, and back then, I only saw a handful of these cars on a limited basis....once a year. These were favorites of mine, that seemed to disappear from the limelight. Some of the DKP III cars really got my attention back then too, like Henry Olleker's white Bug when it had gasburners on it, and a HUGE muffler....car looked bad ass mean. Jim Kurlinski's green '67 really did it to me too.....from a distance, looked like a nice clean '67, but on closer look, you'd see the real BRM's, the Berg 5-speed shifter, the enormous merged header and muffler and the IDA monster under the deck. Sure, the old Cal Look was all about doing away with bumpers and moldings, but these cars were super-clean and under the radar in the late 80's and early 90's, with their sedate exteriors and 180+hp motors hiding under the lid. Seeing Kurlinski's '67 in the middle of a bunch of slammed pink, graphiced, Bugs, that were more rolling sound systems than hot rods, was a refreshing splash of cool water for me back then. Ok, I'm off track now...

Just curious if anybody knows these old cars, or maybe share some of your old favorites that we never hear about anymore.

Thanks guys,
Jim

JEFF ALBERTI FOUND A PICTURE OF YOU GUYS DKP IN A HOT ROD MAG.

[stealth67vw]

wish I could dig up some pics of Frank's red '67....with 1914 power. Engine looked cool too, he had one of the industrial Brazil shrouds, with Holley reg bolted on top...two mighty 48IDAs on Scat Traks, all engine tin match painted ruby red to the body of the car. Berg linkage, Santana pulley and a 2-1/2" Flowmaster.
That car revved like a motorcycle!!!!

I still have that shroud at my dad's.

[stealth67vw]

wish I could dig up some pics of Frank's red '67....with 1914 power. Engine looked cool too, he had one of the industrial Brazil shrouds, with Holley reg bolted on top...two mighty 48IDAs on Scat Traks, all engine tin match painted ruby red to the body of the car. Berg linkage, Santana pulley and a 2-1/2" Flowmaster.
That car revved like a motorcycle!!!!

I still have that shroud at my dad's.

got pics?

I knew you were kinky, but why do you want pictures of my dad?

[John Rayburn]

Jim I think Dave has a good shot of his car in that configuration going through the traps at palmdale. He has it on his toolbox at work... We'll have to hit him up.