Eric Birkys 70 yellow/white empi 8 spoke car, lets find it !

[Russell]

the one with the louvers in it, cheers

[stealth67vw]

Are you talking about Eric Birkey's bug? The last time I saw that car, it was beat to crap with cracked bondo every where and primer spots. I saw it on Mission Boulevard up the street from Buggy House.

[speedwell]

ok russell   

[speedwell]

 

[Fastbrit]

Eric;s father, Arnold Birky (not BirkEy), used to run Top Fuel dragsters. There is a memorable photo of his car suffering a monumental blower explosion. Met him back in '88 or '89. Very nice guy.

[speedwell]

 

[Russell]

Right guys this ws the car that got me in too VW's so we need to find it. There is a small reward for the person who can supply me the contact number of the current owner !

Lets see how good the lounge really is...........

[luftkafer]

Russell,
I live near Birky's Bodyshop where Eric did the car. Last I remember he worked at a paint store down the street. He mixed some Glasurit Gulf Blue L 390 paint for me years ago.
From what I heard through the grapevine was that the car was in L.A. beat to shit as stated above. But that was years ago. The car may have been sold to a relative of Eric's if I remember correctly.
I can ask around for you.
Erich

[Ivan]

Eric's car was featured at the time that the '64 I was building was in the paint shop, and gave me the idea of having different colored wheels - it also confirmed what I had visualized in my my for the car - the darker color needed to be at the back of the car as the white wheels at the back didn't work for me. I can remember thinking about copying the louvers in the wings - but then I worked out two things firstly the cost and secondly how shit the car would look after a bit of mud came through the louvers after a bit of rain. it was inspirational to me as a young kid who knew no better.   

[mr. warehouse]

Eric was / is a good friend of mine.
Erics dad still races Tor Fuel. One of his crew / drivers has a shop just across from mine.
He actually helped Arnold and Eric build the Holey Moley that is now for sale http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=502688

Eric is long gone out of Santa Rosa and VW's. He moved to Oregon quite a few years ago after a stint at Hawleys Paints in Santa Rosa then a bicycle shop in Rohnert Park which he owned.
When he got out of VW's I bought everything he had. The only thing he kept was his Westy.
That car bounced around quite a bit locally after Eric sold it, then it slowly wade it's way South.
I asked around a bit after I saw this thread and as far I as I can tell the car is no more. After numerous owners, minor wrecks, multiple engines, and new owner mods it was finally parted and scrapped

A funny side note :
From day one that car had a plexiglass back window. Eric was 99% done with the car and ready for it's first show, but he couldn't find a nice rear window for it so he cut a piece of plexiglass and put it in. Last time I saw it that was still the case.

[Russell]

Thanks for the info, sound like another replica for the future.

So did they race holy moley then ?

[mr. warehouse]

Thanks for the info, sound like another replica for the future.

So did they race holy moley then ?

Yep. Quite a few times according to Mark.

[Jim Ratto]

I hate that yellow car.

[Rick Meredith]

I hate that yellow car.

Don't sugar coat it Jim... Tell us how you really feel! 

Actually, I'm glad someone said that. I was thinking it. 

[Jon]

I hate that yellow car.

Don't sugar coat it Jim... Tell us how you really feel! 

Actually, I'm glad someone said that. I was thinking it. 

But you love that mirror...  right? 

[Rick Meredith]

I hate that yellow car.

Don't sugar coat it Jim... Tell us how you really feel! 

Actually, I'm glad someone said that. I was thinking it. 

But you love that mirror...  right? 

Only if you wanna buy one!

[SlingShot]

I hate that yellow car.

I agree. It just screams 80s

[stealth67vw]

I hate that yellow car.

Don't sugar coat it Jim... Tell us how you really feel! 

Actually, I'm glad someone said that. I was thinking it. 

X2. One of the worst era's for "Cal Look" bugs

[Rick Meredith]

I hate that yellow car.

Don't sugar coat it Jim... Tell us how you really feel! 

Actually, I'm glad someone said that. I was thinking it. 

X2. One of the worst era's for "Cal Look" bugs

I don't know that I agree with that. There were plenty of nice traditional Cal-Looks built during the 80s... this wasn't one of them.

[speedwell]

yes there's so nice cal look go to this one http://cal-look.no/lounge/index.php/topic,2447.0.html

[Jon]

I don't know that I agree with that. There were plenty of nice traditional Cal-Looks built during the 80s... this wasn't one of them.

There was even nice looking "eighties lookers" built in the seventies.... like Mark Dean's 67

[2manytoys]

Wow, those pics bring back memories. Greg hit it on the head with Eric and recent history. I first saw the car at Baylands I think when we were in the same show class.  Eric with the yellow car and me with the Green M&M (pre chop top) I think there is show coverage in that issue too from Baylands, not sure. That was when the had a Daily Driver class, and show judges. I have that show and awards on video, beta tape I think.

Last I saw the car is was beat severly. I think he and his dad did the body and paint. 
Picture that yellow and green beside each other at a show,...hard to miss

[Jim Ratto]

Wow, those pics bring back memories. Greg hit it on the head with Eric and recent history. I first saw the car at Baylands I think when we were in the same show class.  Eric with the yellow car and me with the Green M&M (pre chop top) I think there is show coverage in that issue too from Baylands, not sure. That was when the had a Daily Driver class, and show judges. I have that show and awards on video, beta tape I think.

Last I saw the car is was beat severly. I think he and his dad did the body and paint. 
Picture that yellow and green beside each other at a show,...hard to miss

M & M Green was always a favorite of mine, but I remember it as a chop top? 

[Zach Gomulka]

I hate that yellow car.

If you cant say anything nice... awww fuck it. I hate it too!

[2manytoys]

M & M Green was always a favorite of mine, but I remember it as a chop top? 
[/quote]

Thanks, me too I miss that car.



Back then, I was building cars named after candy,...smarties I think in Europe. This is a pleasanton show.  The green was chopped after a minor accident when a van hit me. I was driving it everyday to work about 40 miles each way.

I don't think Eric's Yellow/white car was at this show. It was about 1992? The Red M&M went to Japan, remember that buyout.

[Russell]

Guys

That yellow car was what got me really hooked on bugs and as i have been cultured over the years, my eyes have been opened to our cal look style....... however im sure you all remember your first ! and i bet at the time she was fine. Only looking back you must think WHY ?  eh jim ?

[JK Fab]

Here is some real COOL info on Eric's dad Arnold.

http://wediditforlove.com/Birky.html

[2manytoys]

Great link Jeff.

[Jon]

Guys

That yellow car was what got me really hooked on bugs and as i have been cultured over the years, my eyes have been opened to our cal look style....... however im sure you all remember your first ! and i bet at the time she was fine. Only looking back you must think WHY ?  eh jim ?

My first dream car was the Super Dumper, so I'm sort of going back to square one...  but I used to like it for all the wrong reasons 

[Russell]

I agree great link Jeff, even they had VWs way back when...