Cal-Look.com’s Historic Photo of the Week Thread

[John P]

We’re starting a new thread here that features historic photos of Cal-Look cars/events from back in the day. We have a large collection of historic photos (due to the generous contributions of our readers), and it’s about time that we started sharing more of these, building a great thread. 

We’d love to hear from our readers, especially if you know anything about the cars’ builders/owners/histories. Overall comments, of course, are always welcome.

Feel free to add you own photos as well.

Cheers,

John Plow
http://Cal-Look.com

[John P]

O.K., to kick things off, here is this week's photo, submitted by Glenn Miller. It was taken at the Bug-In in 1981. It has a great look - I especially love the Porsche Fuchs, flat, tinted headlight covers, dechromed bodywork, stance and overall look.

Does anyone remember this car?

(Click directly on the photo to see a larger version within this post)

Cheers,

John
http://Cal-Look.com

[garyj]

GREAT idea, John! I've got stuff to contribute also. Let's  see'em folks!

[Kathy Lachance Post]

Great Topic!

I may even have some old photos from back in the day.

[richiew]

Cal look vert,not possible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

cheers richie,uk

[John P]

Cal look vert,not possible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

cheers richie,uk

And they can't run worth a damn either! 

GREAT idea, John! I've got stuff to contribute also. Let's  see'em folks!

Great Topic!

I may even have some old photos from back in the day.

Yes, please post your own historical photos as well!

[J Dotson]

Anybody remember this car, "TT Pink"a 1960 Sedan. It was featured in VW Trends Nov 1990. It was a street legal Pro Street and never saw he drag strip or even driven.Dick Jahn, a freind of mine in Tucson Az bought the car from his best freinds mother after his freinds sudden illness and death. Dick finished putting together the unfinished car, I helped some.The car was only put in car shows as a memorial to his freind. Dick passed away from  heart attack a few years later and his son got the car, he painted it black.Not to sure where it is now.
Below is at Return To The Mountain show in Pheonix...(me kneeling)

[John P]

Yep, I remember that car from the VW Trends feature.

[Donny B.]

I remember that car from the Phoenix Bug-O-Rama.

[John P]

This week's photo was taken by the Forum's own David Ward back in 1984. It looks like Carlsbad, and I believe that is Donnie Bedford's car. I also believe that those rims currently reside in Dave Conklin's basement (he lusted after that car back when he was in diapers).

That looks like a big 'ol BRE side draft turb set-up.

How am I doing, Mr. Ward? Some more background on the photo/car?

Click directly on the photo to see a larger version of the photo inside this post

Cheers,

John
http://Cal-Look.com

[David Ward]

Yep John, you nailed it.  I clicked off that shot in 1984 (I think) while attending a Drag Day at the now retired Carlsdirt drag strip.  I didn't know the owner at the time but I knew the car from VW Trends.  As I recall he ran high 10's with the car.

As I recall, the car looked even better in person.

[kaferdave]

SOMEwhere, I have a very grainy, Kodak 125 film (remember that stuff, that should date the era..) photo of Donnie Bedford's car, going East on Valley Parkway at Ash Street in Escondido (Donnie's home town) with the front wheels ever so slightly in the air... I think he was leaving an SS 396 Chevelle in the dust...

[John P]

That would be a cool photo to see, KD.

I love how clean the car is, despite the goofy offset decklid (needed due to the turbo, I know). And this was during the '80s - look ma', no wink mirrors, louvered running boards or pastel colours! 

I believe that VW Paradise had done some work on that car at some point, or at the very least knew Donnie.

Conklin has those front wheels (the actual ones in the picture) in his basement. They are a weird, 2--piece, 13-inch aluminum rim. They look like DDS, except DDS were 3-piece, but who else would have made them in 13-inch back in the day?

Perhaps Corny will fill us in on the car, as he was in love with it back in the day.

JP 

[Glenn]

Come on Dave, you have to have some of the "Old Phart's" pictures.

[kaferdave]

Those 13 inch aluminum wheels sat, pretty much unnoticed, in the engine building/mchine shop area of VW Paradise for quite a few years, I remember seeing them either when I was walking in to pester Kris and Jason, or walking out.
IIRC, Donnie was a member of the "North County Street Sedans" in the early 1980's, other members included Steve Grant with his turbo'ed Baja and another fellow named Todd, I don't remember his last name, but he had a bright. almost chrome yellow '68 Sedan with color-matched 8 spokes that was in VWT, as well.
John, that photo is BURIED in a box, in the garage, somewhere.....

Photos of the "Olde Pharte" Richard Guarino I got, even as recent as last July...

[Glenn]

Photos of the "Olde Pharte" Richard Guarino I got, even as recent as last July...

I was going to have a picture take of the two of us, but he was hitting on the waitress so much I was afraid to get too close to him. 

[Dave Conklin (Cornpanzers)]

Yeah, Donnie's old car was a big deal to me. I know that there is some debate about the wheels.  traditionally DDS wheels were three piece, but these are two piece.  Yet, nobody can offer up another company that made a welded, spun aluminum 13" wheel back in the day...so, until I am given an option, I will refer to them as DDS's 

Here is an excerpt from a column that I wrote for Ultra VW a while back. 

Way back in 1985 my father brought home a copy of VW Trends magazine which would dramatically influence my thoughts on Cal-Look VW’s.  On page 28 of that magazine was a feature story on a dark blue, almost black, 67 sedan powered by a Kawell turbo motor and owned by a guy in Escondido, California named Donnie Bedford.  At the time I was a 14 year old student completely overwhelmed by my love for cars, especially VW’s!  Not a day went by that a car magazine was not tucked into my school bag to read at lunchtime and during particularly boring classes.  I remember that this magazine stayed in the bag much longer than most.  The story was titled “Street is Neater in the 10’s” and I told all of my schoolyard buddies that I would have a car like this someday……and, I guess I do! 

Twenty years later I was chatting on the phone with Jason Lauffer of VW Paradise when out of the blue I decided to ask if he had ever heard of Donnie Bedford.  Surprisingly, not only did he know Donnie, but he said that Donnie was one of their first employees and had taught Jason to build motors when he was a teenager.  My brief fantasy of unearthing the old blue 67 was quickly crushed as Jason described the series of owners of the car and how it deteriorated until disappearing into Mexico, never to be seen again.  Obviously disappointed, I explained to Jason how influential that car had been and then casually said, “It sure would be cool to have a part of that car just as a memento.  I wonder what ever happened to those DDS wheels?” 

Jason responded, “You mean these goofy wheels over my workbench that I am looking at right now?”

“You are kidding!  You have the wheels from Donnie Bedford’s 67?”

“Yep, and my dad has been telling me to get some of this junk cleaned out of the shop!”

A week later a large cardboard box was delivered to my front door containing a pair of goofy looking 13” wheels still mounted with the same “El Cheapo” front tires as described in that old VW Trends magazine. 

While the car may be long gone, it’s nice seeing the wheels hanging on my garage wall.  Of course I still have that magazine that my Dad bought me years ago and I have this grainy photo of Donny and Dan Haugelstine with their cars at Carlsbad. Maybe someday I will build a replica…..I guess in a way I already have.   As an interesting side note, Dan Haugelstine’s “Grabber Blue” sedan survived unscathed for 20 plus years and is now in Jason Lauffers garage nearly unchanged from what you see in the picture.  If I drop enough hints, do you think that Jason will send me that too?  Nah, probably not. 

[kaferdave]

Dave, I think that old Haughelstine car was discovered by none other than "Sloval", Raipd Russ" "Danger Russ" Hare...I remember it sitting in his drive way for a few months, looking very dusty and dirty... We had a conversation about what Russ should do with the car, and I recall I was saying to change NOTHING that didn't absolutely have to be changed, and preserve that car "as is"..... it was (and is) certainly a piece of San Diego VW history.
If Jason has it now, cool... it's in good hands.
Yeah, those wheels DID have the tires on them, still.... as you walk in the back way into VW Paradise, through the roll-up door, turn around like you were going to go back out, and overhead, just to the right..... there they were.

[John P]

Cool story.

[John P]

This week's submission is from Bob Hoffield. I suspect that this might be the ex-Mahaffy/Ed Craig Split, as I recall hearing from Ed that it was red before it was green (or something like that). Anyone remember the story? Is this that car?

I LOVE how clean it is, with no chrome trim, chromies, a Talbot mirror and a lowered front end. Notice the lack of bumpers OR T-bars. What a beautiful, early Cal-Look car.

If this is indeed that car, I believe that it had a 2180 at one point.

Click on the image to see a larger version inside the post.

Cheers,

John
http://Cal-Look.com

[fiatdude]

Damn - -- just seeing old pictures of Orange county tears me up from remembering all the good times

[Dave Conklin (Cornpanzers)]

Nothin wrong with that car at all!

[J Dotson]

Nothin wrong with that car at all!

What happened with the old cal-look like that...dechromed, one piece windows etc.seems like last 10 years or so folks went to nearly stock looking bugs, maybe nice wheels (big HP motors of course always)...until Rick Sadlers car in the new Hot VW went old look... seem to not see many guys going that route anymore.
Its even happened to me...and i'm not sure either...like the stock look better now i guess.

[javabug]

Lots of people are scared to build a car like that these days.      

[Dave Conklin (Cornpanzers)]

I have asked myself the same question.  of course I am guilty of not dechroming or filling the exhaust, but it is time to get back to real Cal-Look!

The new HVWs is refreshing with the two Cal-Look cars in there.  Both of them are the right years too! 

[John P]

What happened with the old cal-look like that...dechromed, one piece windows etc.seems like last 10 years or so folks went to nearly stock looking bugs, maybe nice wheels (big HP motors of course always)...until Rick Sadlers car in the new Hot VW went old look... seem to not see many guys going that route anymore.
Its even happened to me...and i'm not sure either...like the stock look better now i guess.

I have a theory (for what it's worth) about that. When the Cal-Look cars were being built "back in the day", aside from emulating the drag cars, the goal was a more modern (ie: no chrome), clean look. Other brands of cars had chrome back then, so to dechrome it was different. Nowadays, virtually no cars have real chrome, and what makes a VW standout is to have chrome. Same reasons, opposite results. Again, it's just a theory, and I'd love to hear from some of the old timers.

The Europeans are way ahead of us in building period-correct Cal-Look cars. It seems that everyone in the US leaves the body chrome on. If my '67 wasn't largely original paint, I'd dechrome it in a second.

My 1.5 cents.

JP

[J Dotson]

I have a theory (for what it's worth) about that. When the Cal-Look cars were being built "back in the day", aside from emulating the drag cars, the goal was a more modern (ie: no chrome), clean look. Other brands of cars had chrome back then, so to dechrome it was different. Nowadays, virtually no cars have real chrome, and what makes a VW standout is to have chrome. Same reasons, opposite results. Again, it's just a theory, and I'd love to hear from some of the old timers.

The Europeans are way ahead of us in building period-correct Cal-Look cars. It seems that everyone in the US leaves the body chrome on. If my '67 wasn't largely original paint, I'd dechrome it in a second.

My 1.5 cents.

JP

Sounds like a good theory...Anybody else?

[amchair67]

Personally never liked totally dechromed VWs. The Beetle and especially the Karmann Ghia lose a very important body line when you get rid of the beltline (beetle) or rocker (ghia) trim. The vast majority of once piece window kits don't work well at all (wind and/or water leaks, ill fitting seals, rattling glass, etc). Some people like these features, just my opinion. I don't really even care for bumperless cars, something I'm probably in the minority with. Another popular 70s cal look feature I don't like were the Brougham edition seats (fat biscut).

[Dave Conklin (Cornpanzers)]

If you spent less time pontificating and more time in the garage, that eternal project would get done sometime.  Its pretty bad when you start building a car in one Cal-Look era and dont get it done until another era!   

[jimr]

When (if ever) I get around to restoring my '67 (body and paint) it will be fully de-chromed, including losing bumpers and front signals. No T bars either.

in the mean time, here is one of my favorite Cal Look cars from years gone by.... "Pete's Dragon" circa 1986, 2332cc, Okrasa, Carrillo, ARPM case, ARPM Super Flo heads, 48IDAs, 11:1, 911 fan housing. Ran low 12's @ Fremont on slicks in the 80's. Car was built in Castro Valley, CA.

[jimr]

BTW: if you look closely in the pic from Hot VW's I posted, you'll see the car was then running it's turbo motor, not the 2332cc yet (hence the heaterboxes and VW valve covers).

Somewhere I have pics of the 2332.

[garyj]

Ahh,,,,,Pontificating....
IMHO...You can build a "period correct" thang....OR you can have one....
I'm so illiterate about scanning that I haven't gotten it done, YET!
We are (as usuall) wasting an important part of exchanging info.
This thread should be for posting "OLD" pics ...of what helped US to get here......

[amchair67]

Hey hey, car's just about done old timer.  If a certain Cal-Look.com advertiser and known exhaust supplier wouldn't have taken from last April, until two weeks ago, to deliver an almost complete exhaust system to my door, it would be a there. It is pretty gorgeous, like me, but good grief what a wait!  What's going on with your annual Cornpanzie Underoo Dance Off and Male Mud Wrestling exhibition. Is that happening or what?

[Kathy Lachance Post]

This week's submission is from Bob Hoffield. I suspect that this might be the ex-Mahaffy/Ed Craig Split, as I recall hearing from Ed that it was red before it was green (or something like that). Anyone remember the story? Is this that car?

I LOVE how clean it is, with no chrome trim, chromies, a Talbot mirror and a lowered front end. Notice the lack of bumpers OR T-bars. What a beautiful, early Cal-Look car.

If this is indeed that car, I believe that it had a 2180 at one point.

Click on the image to see a larger version inside the post.

Cheers,

John
http://Cal-Look.com

That is an absolutely beautiful car.  I wouldn't change a thing.

[John P]

When (if ever) I get around to restoring my '67 (body and paint) it will be fully de-chromed, including losing bumpers and front signals. No T bars either.

in the mean time, here is one of my favorite Cal Look cars from years gone by.... "Pete's Dragon" circa 1986, 2332cc, Okrasa, Carrillo, ARPM case, ARPM Super Flo heads, 48IDAs, 11:1, 911 fan housing. Ran low 12's @ Fremont on slicks in the 80's. Car was built in Castro Valley, CA.

That's a beautiful, clean car!