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Jim Ratto
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« on: June 11, 2008, 17:52:42 pm » |
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Ever see a car at a show, never to see it again, yet it burns an unforgettable image in your brain? Happened to me all the time when I was younger (and always when I had forgotten my 35mm camera too). I can name off a few, from fairly vivid memories, but maybe what seemed so outstanding about these cars has merely been embellished by mental marinating in my head all these years...
One that comes to mind right now is a ochre-yellow Bug parked with DKPIII cars in 1991 that ran Porsche 911 "cookie cutter" wheels and a dual 42DCNF 2 liter motor. Only saw the car this one time, very nice owner, very unique car. Wonder where it is now.
Another is a black early square-window Bug, again parked with DKPIII cars in 1990 at Costa Mesa Jamboree, sporting BRMS, 2-liter or bigger 48IDA engine, looked very similar to Mason's car, except for a few key details.
For the longest time, Jim Kurlinski's green '67 (then stock height) was one of these elusive "one time wonder" cars, until years later when I saw it in Hot VW's article in late 90's about DQ.
How about you? Any cars that grabbed your attention at one time, only to vanish?
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Oliver Frey
Jr. Member
Posts: 52
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« Reply #1 on: June 11, 2008, 18:12:04 pm » |
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Backcracker Dr.Bondo P/S. Whatever happened to that car?
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Casey
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« Reply #2 on: June 11, 2008, 18:38:46 pm » |
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Not a mystery, but I do miss Scott Smiths' Empi'd out 67' from the 90's
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DKP III
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speedwell
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« Reply #3 on: June 11, 2008, 18:53:00 pm » |
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i remember this one not very cal look , more resto cal , also there's a lot a rare stuff on that car  |
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Jim Ratto
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« Reply #4 on: June 11, 2008, 19:20:40 pm » |
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One car I have always liked and I'm surprised we have no talk about it or pics is John Schuerger's blue drag sedan... a '66 I believe?
I think he is/was running a 90.5mm motor and IRS Bus trans.... down in the 11's
my knowledge is foggy
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Oliver Frey
Jr. Member
Posts: 52
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« Reply #5 on: June 11, 2008, 19:46:02 pm » |
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One car I have always liked and I'm surprised we have no talk about it or pics is John Schuerger's blue drag sedan... a '66 I believe?
I think he is/was running a 90.5mm motor and IRS Bus trans.... down in the 11's
my knowledge is foggy
Not sure if's it's IRS, but it is a Berg bus 5 speed now. Very cool car leaves at 9000RPM  |
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Jason Foster
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« Reply #6 on: June 12, 2008, 06:02:01 am » |
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It has Folts swing conversion.
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STRENGTH THROUGH JOY...........
Der Kleiner Panzers
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Oliver Frey
Jr. Member
Posts: 52
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« Reply #7 on: June 12, 2008, 13:39:09 pm » |
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It has Folts swing conversion.
That's what I thought as well. I have Folts U-joint Swing Conversion as well. Best money ever spent in VW Drag Racing. 3 seasons same R&P; best 60' 1.29.  |
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Sam K
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« Reply #8 on: June 12, 2008, 14:44:15 pm » |
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Jesus, dude. a 1.29 60ft must feel incredible. Anyway, back to cars that disappeared, sometime in '97 or '98, there was this attractive young lady that I saw around town a few times in a what I asasume was an EMPI GTV bug. She was about 5'4", brunette, nice figure. The car, by the way, was a '71 or '72 superbeetle, slightly faded original green paint wth a C-stripe package. It also had chrome sprint stars, EMPI gauges, steering wheel, E-Z-R shifter, and all the wood interior knobs and handles. It had all the other stuff such as gravel guards and bumper overriders as well. |
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JOHN CANALES
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« Reply #9 on: June 12, 2008, 15:15:01 pm » |
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Not a mystery, but I do miss Scott Smiths' Empi'd out 67' from the 90's
THAT WAS ONE NICE CAR FOR SURE!!!!!! |
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THE GERMAN FOLKS VW KLUB
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empicolector
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« Reply #10 on: June 12, 2008, 15:37:26 pm » |
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Not a mystery, but I do miss Scott Smiths' Empi'd out 67' from the 90's
THAT WAS ONE NICE CAR FOR SURE!!!!!! WITH ORIGINALS BRMS NO?  |
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Casey
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« Reply #11 on: June 12, 2008, 17:11:56 pm » |
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pretty sure everything on that car was the real deal. And the paint was like a mirror. He's got skills for sure.
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DKP III
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bugnut68
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« Reply #12 on: June 12, 2008, 17:56:34 pm » |
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Not a mystery, but I do miss Scott Smiths' Empi'd out 67' from the 90's
Where did it get sold to? |
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Casey
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« Reply #13 on: June 12, 2008, 22:46:56 pm » |
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Not sure where the car went, but I do still hear his name from time to time. Last I heard he helped a friend of mine tape off his alloys to paint. Maybe into V8's now days?
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DKP III
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JOHN CANALES
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« Reply #14 on: June 13, 2008, 00:57:45 am » |
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Not a mystery, but I do miss Scott Smiths' Empi'd out 67' from the 90's
Where did it get sold to? THE CAR WENT TO JAPAN. HE WAS INTO CHEVY RAT RODS FOR AWHILE, AND NOW I BELIEVE HE HAS SWITCH TO DOING THE BOAT THING |
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THE GERMAN FOLKS VW KLUB
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Casey
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« Reply #15 on: June 13, 2008, 01:02:45 am » |
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Hey John, so what is your story lately. I saw you wiping on the puple car last weekend. Is that yours? Are you building anything new?
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DKP III
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bmxnut65
Jr. Member
Posts: 79
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« Reply #16 on: June 13, 2008, 02:50:20 am » |
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what ever happen to that blue car that looks like Ratto's?
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Der Kleiner Panzers
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stealth67vw
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« Reply #17 on: June 13, 2008, 04:47:04 am » |
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what ever happen to that blue car that looks like Ratto's?
You've got it backwards. Ratto's car looks like the blue one.  It was classic when the guy walked up to Jim's car with his kid at the October Drag Day and said "This car is a piece of history, Gary Berg built this car in the 80s." |
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John Bates
JB Machining Services
1967 street bug 2020lbs w/driver
12.34 @ 108 mph 1/4
7.76 @ 89mph 1/8
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JOHN CANALES
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« Reply #18 on: June 13, 2008, 05:34:19 am » |
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THE GERMAN FOLKS VW KLUB
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JOHN CANALES
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« Reply #19 on: June 13, 2008, 05:38:41 am » |
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Hey John, so what is your story lately. I saw you wiping on the puple car last weekend. Is that yours? Are you building anything new?
 PURPLE BUG BELONGS TO MIKE NAVARRO, CAR WAS BUILT IN 1989-1991 FEATURED IN HOT VW'S IN 1994. ITS BEEN AT MY HOUSE SINCE I SOLD MY CAR. JUST BRINGING IT OUT FOR A FEW SHOWS THIS YEAR. I'M STILL LOOKING FOR A 54-55 3 FOLD FOR MY NEXT PROJECT |
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THE GERMAN FOLKS VW KLUB
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Jim Ratto
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« Reply #20 on: June 13, 2008, 16:19:13 pm » |
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what ever happen to that blue car that looks like Ratto's?
I heard cat piss eroded it into the salt of the earth. |
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Rennsurfer
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« Reply #21 on: June 13, 2008, 16:38:33 pm » |
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It was classic when the guy walked up to Jim's car with his kid at the October Drag Day and said "This car is a piece of history, Gary Berg built this car in the 80s." |
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"You can only scramble an egg so many ways."
~Sarge
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Jim Ratto
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« Reply #22 on: June 13, 2008, 16:46:03 pm » |
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what ever happen to that blue car that looks like Ratto's?
You've got it backwards. Ratto's car looks like the blue one. It was classic when the guy walked up to Jim's car with his kid at the October Drag Day and said "This car is a piece of history, Gary Berg built this car in the 80s." true story, I'm afraid....  Bates couldn't stop laughing. |
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Jason Foster
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« Reply #23 on: June 14, 2008, 01:39:26 am » |
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I remember one as a kid going to shows with my dad in the mid 80's or so it was red with cream scallops I KNOW you guys remember that one.
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STRENGTH THROUGH JOY...........
Der Kleiner Panzers
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John Rayburn
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« Reply #24 on: June 14, 2008, 02:03:28 am » |
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I also park at Nick's.
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Bryan67
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« Reply #25 on: June 14, 2008, 04:04:37 am » |
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Sounds like Aaron Kahans 67. He is a member of the Shifters hot rod club and works for Rod and Custom I believe.
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If you`re going to do something, do it right.
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Jason Foster
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« Reply #26 on: June 14, 2008, 15:11:35 pm » |
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I think it had cream 5 spokes that car was soooo cool I've no idea where I could find a photo of it but it was at most shows back in the day.
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STRENGTH THROUGH JOY...........
Der Kleiner Panzers
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empicolector
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« Reply #27 on: June 15, 2008, 19:09:37 pm » |
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Jim Ratto
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« Reply #28 on: June 16, 2008, 19:13:12 pm » |
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I met Larry McKenzie because of that car. Sort of... no offense to that car or its owner, but I never ever liked that car. I don't care for cars with lots of items added to them like that. I know it is a certain look that many really enjoy, but it's not my cup of tea. I don't think any hard core "Cal Look" hot rod would ever run all that stuff on it. In the same issue as that blak car was a real true, blue blooded Cal Look hot rod... Mike Smith's red '67 nitrous car. How about some pictures of it?  |
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speedwell
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« Reply #29 on: June 16, 2008, 22:15:34 pm » |
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hot vws published the report of scott smith and mike smith red bomb in the same issue special calook issue feb 94 if i remember well
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