Cal-Look.no - The Lounge Nostalgia Corner by El Dub

EDITO :

WOW!!! Seems you are not dreaming... It takes a while, and BenJ & I apologize for that, but we were were both very busy working on different projects this winter... Anyway, Spring is just around the corner and what better way to begin the year that updating the Nostalgia Corner?

Well, that update is another very special one as it's been years I want to update the early EMPI GTV section with new material I have found over the past years... And here it is guys... Quite probably the most complete reading on those early GTV, aka pre-'68 VW, you will be able to find anywhere, even on the Internet, with never read ou never seen before pictures... I have to send a personal THANKS to my friend Fredo who helped with providing very rare pictures coming from the late Heinz JUNG...

Enjoy that update as much as we did compiling it, as usual ;-) And see you soon there or there...

El Dub & BenJ - March 2025.

THE ONLINE NOSTALGIA CHAPTER...

DON BURNS... Airmighty #43

What about another Airmighty Nostalgia chapter online guys? Here it is with the famous Don BURNS dealership story that I wrote a while back for Airmighty #43...

You will not believe a VW dealership was so dynamic in promoting the little bug back in good old days...

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EMPI GTV SPECIAL : The early years...

20 years... 19 years to be exact... It's been 19 years that I first worked on an EMPI GTV section...

I think time has come for a better look at those different EMPI bugs and the story behind, focusing again on the very very early years of the GTV program : 1965 to 1967... In fact, in those past decades, some new materials came to the surface and I had to share them here... Where would you find them otherwise? ;-) Enjoy as usual...

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SEGAL BUG POWER!!!

SEGAL BUG POWER VOLKSWAGEN...

Following last update and only two known pictures of the SEGAL BUG POWER red Volkswagon, would you believe that BenJ and I found more infos thanks to enthusiastic Xavier SUYS and an old 1972 HOT CARS magazine from his own personal collection with the following slogan : Modified VW's : MAXI fun at MINI cost... Simple bolts-on make the VW a super sleeper on the streets. Just crazy...This is an awesome find if you ask us, as it's evident that this little bug was the company logo caricature with front hood teeth (how bizarre), and the black side stripes... Make sense...

Bill SEGAL from Segal Auromotive Products took a used VW and worked with TAYCO High Performance to build a competitive rolling advert machine on a budget.

What we have here is a 'Segalization' of the Volkswagen... "If hot Volkswagon parts is what you are looking for, we think that Segals project is a great example of what is available, and the application that can be made. The project shows this explicitely by the wat Tayco has taken the parts and engineered the engine for maximum horsepower. Perhaps this initiative that Segal has taken other manufacturers will follow their example and show how their products can be used properly in getting the best blast per buck."

One thing is for sure : BenJ and I can't believe we had to wait 2k20's to find details of this rolling advert machine... Keep mining guys...

DIRTY DAVE I/G BUG!!!

DIRTY DAVE VANDERKE I/G BUG...

It's been a too long time without a focus on old gassers. After all, this very page is not only about 70s Customs ;-).

Well, I think that time has come to have a little talk about one of those early legendary racers : Dave VANDERBEKE, aka DIRTY DAVE from Orange, California. Not probably the best known of the VW racing pioneers, but hey, only a few guys ran in the 11s on those very early times... Dave was one of them, he deserves a tribute here...

Dave gasser started life a a '61 sedan and saw several (understand many...) versions and sponsorship in its life...

Lets go for the full story behind!!! Enjoy...

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BENJ's BRAND NEW CORNER!

FOUR BANGER HANGER STORY!!!

My teammate BenJ just wrote Brian BLY and Nobby SIEGDRIED VW awesome saga .. Follow the full story... Only on the Nostalgia corner...

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EMPI BAJA SPECIAL!

We all devote a real passion for anything EMPI right? EMPI GTVs are our all-time favourite special edition bug (Note for myself : I definitely have to update that GTV section...). Those EMPI bugs appears to be the real deal for many of us, and in fact, they are...

But there is another EMPI special car from the very early 70s that would deserve a little more love these days : the EMPI BAJA series : 500, 1000 and 1000S.

If you dream of building your own EMPI period correct replica bug, I think this is a great path to follow as it would be far easier than building a complete GTV ... Look : some genuine EMPI parts there and there, side BAJA stickers and a stock US red, yellow or white sedan and you're done...

I think time has come for a better look at those different EMPI bugs and the story behind.

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THOSE CUSTOM 70s VWs... RICK HARRIS CUSTOM PAINTING!!!

What better way to update that special Custom 70s section than focusing on period machineries built with custom paintjob in mind... I mean not the wild paintscheme but mild psychedelic and groovy paintjobs smelling the seventies... My teammate BenJ found awesome never seen before pictures of brand new bugs all painted in the early 70s by a very talented young guy : Rick HARRIS. We think you will enjoy those old pictures and maybe they will be a great source of inspiration for your own bug project...

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NOT JUST ANOTHER NOSTALGIA CORNER EXCLUSIVE...

We all knows of Inch Pincher, Inch Pincher too, Inch Pincher of NY, but, honest, how many of you have already heard of another EMPI Inch Pincher? I was the very first surprised to discover pictures of that unknwown Inch Pincher Jr...

I have no details except the pictures here... One thing is for sure after some research... This oval was built and campained on the H/G on Georgia dragstrips and should have raced in the late 60s. Talk about a good start... My two cents : this was a demo race car for the Georgia EMPI dealer shop.

Note the one of a kind BRM rims paintscheme! Is anybody there who knows a little more?

Inch Pincher Jr

THE INCH PINCHER STORY!

THE REVELL INCH PINCHER Too

I compiled the first part of the EMPI Inch Pincher story some time (ok, years ago...) and I still need to complete the race car section... But considering Inch Pincher pictures are now everywhere on the Internet, I changed my plans, and decided to add a space for a long time forgotten Inch Pincher : the Baja EMPI one.

This very special car doesn't catch the attention it deserve today! After all, it's a period EMPI Inch Pincher car too... So have a look at the section I put together and enjoy those rare pictures and facts! Only at Cal-Look.com ;)

As usual, enjoy your reading as much as I did compiling it!

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AUGUST 1968 HOT ROD INDUSTRY NEWS...

We all are collecting old VW magazines. We all knows of the famous VW magazines from back in the days. We also knows of the US cars magazines that sometimes focused on racing VWs on their cover... Usually, those Hot Rod, Popular Hot Rodding or Drag Racing USA are very collectible. But did you know that the great Hot Rod magazine, seeing the ever growing popularity of the little bug, made a VW special issue of its 'Industry News' called 'Small Car / Big Market' back in 1968?

That special issue is full of interesting period facts and that cover is awesome with its full custom bug and the EMPI Inch Pincher side by side. I found that uncommon magazine some years ago and thought it would be cool to share some of its contents here!

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COOL SECTIONS...

MARK & PAUL SCHLEY :

If some of you missed issue #11 of the great Airmighty magazine (shame on you...), here is your chance to read the first part of the interview of Mark & Paul SCHLEY I made earlier this year for the magazine, along with some never seen before pictures coming from the SCHLEY private collection only for your viewing pleasure, as usual.

Enjoy your reading as the story reveals unknown facts and memories and don't forget to share where you read it.

Btw, if you want to enjoy it everywhere and support our hobby, order your hi-class paper issue at www.airmighty.com/.

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THE STUTT BEE BUG!!!

Another Old Racers section...

The Stutt Bee section hit the mainpage again... This is great news as Audley CAMPBELL bee still is one of my all-time fav early gasser...

If you didn't visited it before, here is your chance to read the full story behind the very first Stutt Bee, with some added pictures to feed the regular visitor of this website...

Spread the word : only on the Nostalgia corner!

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HERE COMES DA BUG!!!

At least... At least... After a way too long wait, that ANDERSON Bros section is now online! Such a tribute should have been made many years ago as Here Comes Da Bug was one of the most successful gassers back in the days, but I was needing more material to make an informative section.

Rick & Ron themselves were sooo enthusiastic about my plans that I just kicked up my ass one more time and here it is : the very first part of that legendary gasser history!

Enjoy it and THANKS R&R ANDERSON!

You are OUR heroes!

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CAR CRAFT EMPI IMP...

SAL FISH EMPI IMP

I've been looking for infos about the awesome GORMO trick painted Car Craft EMPI IMP buggy for a long time until I found recently some period pictures with a very proud Sal FISH behind the wheel.

If you are into the Baja races, that name sure sounds familiar as Salvatore was owner of SCORE International, the sanctioning body for the world-famous SCORE Baja 500 and Baja 1000.

Sal used to be Car Craft magazine publisher back in the days and this buggy built with EMPI sure attracted a lot of attention.

HOT ROD SEPTEMBER 1970...

Back in September 1970, the famous HOT ROD magazine made a special buggy issue with a cool 'Roadsters for the 70s - Buggies : new generation of street roadsters' title and an equally cool picture cover with 3 different stylish buggies on a typical californian suburb.

Of course, any sharped eye will recognize the Berry Mini-T and... the yellow GORMO painted EMPI IMP on the left... But what happened to the Car Craft lettering? I have to admit it's a mistery... But it's clearly gone... Let's play the 7 mistakes games : the EMPI seats covers are gone, the rear licence plate light housing is now chromed, and roof push buttons were added on the fiberglass body...

Would you believe that I have found some period pictures of the revamped IMP? I think that the Eric RICKMAN pictures below are from the very same day of the colored HOT ROD cover picture... Enjoy...

NEXT UPDATES...

I thought it might be a good idea to keep you posted 'bout what's coming in next few... months......

BENJ CORNER : Surprise!

COMPANIES : EMPI of NY

OLD RACERS : Wunderbug