Ron Fleming's "Sunny" - 1960 VW Ragtop - Ride-along & Interview
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- Опубліковано 7 лют 2025
- On a beautiful day in Southern California, VW legend, Ron Fleming shares his 2332cc powered VW Bug "Sunny" and gives us a ride on the way to a beautiful location to provide a fun interview that not only highlights this 1960 VW Ragtop but also gives us a glimpse into Ron's VW history. Come along for the ride and enjoy the sound of this beautiful car. Then, take a break from your day and learn a little about this personable and positive individual that has embodied the VW spirit for decades and continues to bring smiles everywhere he goes. #vwbug #vw #ronfleming #DKP #FAT
Ron Fleming is a Legend in the VW scene! Thanks for doing this video!
Could not agree more. Glad you enjoyed the video.
Nice I painted that car a long time ago still looks great.
Looks clean Freddy!
Looks clean Freddy!
Such a great interview with an absolute legend.
@@SterlingWheel glad you enjoyed it! And yes, he is a living legend.
The sound was great. Wonderful car and owner.
Growing up in Orange County in the 70s, I had no idea Cal-Look cars were a uniquely So. Cal thing. I assumed everyone modified their cars this way. It wasn’t until I moved away that I realized what a great time and place I grew up in, especially if you love VWs! ✌️
You grew up in the heart of it!
Nothing special about so cal cars. Same cars all over the world. But you make yourself feel special if you like. This is a very nice bug.
Absolutely beautiful!!! I had a 1960, IN 1960. (I was 16 years old). I miss that little bug.
How cool is that!
What a great life this guy's had and what a gorgeous little bug !
Ron is a wonderful person and a joy to listen to his stories. And he certainly has plenty of them! The man can drive too! Total pro!
Great video! People don't understand what it costs to build a classic VW nowadays I have a 67 bug I'm restoring and I have about 17,000 in it and it's not going to have a paint job, Or a very high performance motor just a SP 1600 for now. And I just spent another $600 just on interior peaces and I still need to buy the foam padding for the seats. Enjoy the rest of your life Ron Fleming..
You’re absolutely right. Lots of folks think “hey, it’s a Volkswagen, should be cheap” like it’s the 70s or 80s. And then……wake up call. 😢
They aren’t the bargain cars they once were. Back in the 80’s you could have a nice driver restored car for $1,500. Running Cars were $400. Paint , interior, etc put you up to less than a grand. A rebuilt engine cost less than $400. Those were the days.
@@dubworldvwadventures I remember the days of seeing VWs regularly in the FREE section of the Recycler. I remember I even passed up a 1965 21 window for $750.
This is what it's all about right here! I grew up in SoCal restoring bugs and busses with my dad as our family hobby. Not only did I learn a ridiculous amount of mechanical knowledge at a young age I was also exposed to the great world that is the VW scene. All these years later and I still have a VW and Audi in the garage. Once we have more space I'll be adding another aircooled to the mix. The smell, the sounds, the simple nature of it all. There's nothing better 💯
Love it!! Glad you enjoyed it!
My 67th Birthday is April 23, and trying to help my 20 yr old Grandson with his car, my grandfather and father had the dealership in Fresno in the 50's and the 60's. And I have All the things I learned from my dad and I'm passing them to my son and grandkids.
What a lucky grandson!!!! That’s awesome you’re passing on the torch. So cool.
Whew... What a beautiful bug! I am partial to 60 bugs as I own one. Wish mine was as nice as Mr Fleming's.
Fantastic story teller and a great piece of history 😊
So glad you enjoyed it. ❤
Congratulations beautiful,iam in South Africa
What a great gentleman he is, a charmer
Wow. So that's one of the guys who invented the Cal Look. It is more than 30 years ago that I saw a picture (here in Germany) of a 1960 bug with Porsche 356 rims, which led (for me) to a '57 Oval with the same wheels. In the end I had a 1300cc, brutally loud exhaust from Brazil and painted in mint green. Wonderful car, still regret that I sold it.
That is awesome. Thank you for sharing. And yes, pretty incredible to meet one of the legends in this industry that was a part of creating the iconic Cal Look.
Love the VW community so many great people !!!!
I honestly don’t think that there is another community like the VW community. Seriously. Some of the most accepting, giving, friendly people you will ever meet on earth.
That car is SICK!
You talk about done right! DKP always had the best cars. Ron is an absolute Legend!
Love it Man!
Oh yes. Wow, Ron is such a great, positive and inspiring person. Wish I also had such a beauty of a beetle. Simply enjoy and keep going!
Couldn't agree more!
Wonderful interview with a legend! At 58, I’m going back into VW’s with a 69 Squareback.
Good for you! That’s awesome!
What a wonderful nice guy...was a pleasure to watch this. Thanks for sharing.
Glad you enjoyed it.
What a great guy with a great car❤
Super down to earth, for all he has accomplished! What a great Spirit he has, and you can tell, the car creates balance in his life!.. Awesome.. Keep Rockn’ Ron..
Couldn't agree more!
We Love his guy!!!! Thanks Ron
Ron's a legend really enjoyed watching could listen to him all day such interesting man.🤙
For sure!
Legend. Met him, Keith and Darrell (R.i.P), Years ago in Germany Hessisch Oldendorf and we 4 took a Photo of us all. That Year Darrell bought his Schwimmwagen.
@16:37 We have one or two things in common Ron.
In February of 1985, l bought a '55 in Cranbourne that had been put away by a member of 'The Buggy Association' 9 years earlier so it was a rust free all matching numbers car that had never been in an accident. Painted house paint orange, which we pressure washed off at a servo on the way home. The plan was to keep driving my black '54 daily driver and build a show car in 40 days! We created a Midnight Black and Hebmuller red two toned, chrome wheeled 'hot rod' with all stock chrome. The car was 'Johhny Bee Good' and was driven interstate to South Australia for their 'Day Of The Volkswagen' Show on the same day we finished the resto around midday....bra fitted to stop bugs and stone chips! The next day we were surprised to find the '55 had taken out the 'Car Of The Day' major prize. Total cost was $2000, including the $400 purchase price. Judges remarked on how the project execution placed it above the cars shown, particularly knowing the overall cost. The car went in to do the show circuit in that year, and in '86 appeared in a Toyota commerical and was used in the Petrov Affair movie, but cut during the 'Directors Final Cut'
In '87 the car was drawn and all the features presented in the _'In Type'_ magazine, as l was a founding member of _TYPE VW CLUB_ that came out of the 'Volkswagen Custom Club Of Victoria' in that same year.
In 1991, it appears that it's pure coincidence but the same details were published in VW Trends and titled 'Resto Custom'
The title l had put on the 'look' was _Classic Custom_ as it carried the chrome 'Custom' badge from the '66 Aussie 1300 Beetle.
That's all history now ...
Love it! Thanks for sharing!!!
Great interview!
Thank you!
@@EddyCollins-TZN168 if you're ever in my area, help with your channel!
@@XxStanTheManxX1 you bet. Let’s do it.
Thank you very, very much for this interview. Ron, I hope to see you again this summer. EuroBugIn 2024 in Chimay. Your DFL Club Brother Helge .
Beautiful bug. I especially love the bespoke motor. However, Ron mentioned in the video another VW of his, a bus with a Porsche motor that he had installed himself. This anecdote called to mind a personal memory from the very early 80's. I was an avid Hot VW's magazine subscriber, and I distinctly remember reading about Ron's VW bus with the Porsche motor, and how he would smoke 911's on his way up the pass to go skiing. During this same time, I was renovating a '72 Squareback with the "Cal Look" that he helped pioneer. My "Square" had a royal blue exterior and white vinyl interior plus Vitaloni mirrors and Empi style wheels. It was my first VW, and I loved that car dearly. Thanks Ron for evoking this memory, and for all that you have done for the VW community.
ron's words of wisdom to meet at DKP cruise night , " as long as you like it , that's all that matters ! "
What an incredible story!! Crossing borders and arriving here in Brazil.
What a treat!
This is such a nice man with such a pleasant way of telling about the old days.
This Sunday ended on a high 👏😍
Glad you enjoyed it
What an amassing guy. So much knowledge and such a great attitude to life. Thanks for sharing 🙏
Really enjoyed that, Ron Fleming is a great guy. I'd love to meet him.
Pretty sure HotVWs‘s drag day is coming up here soon.
Such a nice a great person to listen to. And what a car. I have a black 60 ragtop and the sound of his engine engine is miles away from mine, that still has is original 30 HP.
the perfect car
Story sounds familiar when I was a 15 year old. Thanks for sharing
Glad you liked it!
What a great video, Ron is the best! Always a big pleasure to listen to him and his super cool storys and overall chilled vibe.
Stay as you are Ron 😎 Thank you so much for that vid. Best Greetings from the DFL-VW-Club @ Germany. Hope to see Ron at EBI or even better on the cal-look cruise to EBI. ✌️
Couldn't agree more!
had a '61 rag with a super strong 1641 man that thing pulled off the line...man he did straight steal that car, man i wished i was looking then i would've taken it in a heartbeat...awesome vids man subd
61!! Last year of the snowflake taillights. 🔥
Wow great interview. Top bloke is Ron
Glad you enjoyed it!
That was fantastic! So great to see a legend. Got my 1st 56 Oval 56 years ago, he gives me some inspiration to start my next 56 Oval project! Thanks!!!
What a great guy. He fits perfectly in this wonderful car!
💯
I could listen to this man talk for hours and hours, what a great interview😊 absolute legend😊✌️
I know! Me too. Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you Eddy and Ron ❤. I have a 1960 Sunroof same color I so enjoyed this video what an inspiration
This is exactly why I am so into doing these videos and interviews. Inspiration!
Brilliant. Thanks Ron ❤
Glad you enjoyed it.
G'day Ron,
You and Sunny are both legends man.
✌️ Peace from Melbourne Australia.
Love The Godfather of Cal-Look, Ron is Humble and a Great Guy Too...✌🏻
Couldn’t agree more.
Great video with some amazing stories thrown in.
Glad you liked it! That was the intention. So thank you.
Watching from the State of Rhode Island-car enthusiast-have owned numerous older cars-but never a VW-but great story-& great car-peace all!
Wow awesome episode, I’ve never heard some of those stories, living legend thanks for sharing it.
Glad you enjoyed it!
thanks ! eddy', and thanks for sharing ron', wow another great air cooled vw guy', good stories'! thanks and keep on sunny bugin! peace
My pleasure!
12:43...1960 was the first year for the push button door handles. Pre-60 bugs previously had pull out "dagger" style doorhandles.
@@nonelost1 dagger indeed! Especially if the spring is broken and you walk by and hook yourself on it!!
I think it is also the first year for the deep-dish steering wheel.
@@jamesbosworth4191 Correct. Replacing the previous two straight spoke ivory steering wheel with the round horn button in the middle. Also the last year for the "fat" speedometer needle.1960 was the last year for the manual choke 36hp motor, easily recognized by the "high shrill" engine sound when upshifting, and also the last year for the non-synchromesh 1st gear. Perhaps a little known fact, 1960 bugs did NOT have the "Wolfsburg crest" on the hood, but apparently was brought back by popular demand the following year (black and chrome, no longer colored). And 1960 was the only year for ceramic green paint, similar to the one in my thumbnail. My dad had one. I owned a '61, two sunroof '62s, a '63, and a "non-Herbie Generation" ('58-'64) '66 back in the day.
@@nonelost1 Does it look anything like the green that was used on the 61 - 63? I don't see the thumbnail you are talking about.
Grew up in the city of Orange Orange County CA in the 90’s. I was very lucky to have the hot rods, low riders, VW enthusiasts all around me. It’s so hard to pick just one car.
Isn’t that the truth! Too many flavors to choose from.
great video eddy! thanks for posting
Ron is a great guy
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it. And yes, Ron is awesome!
LET ME JUST SAY MR. COLLINS IVE JUST SUBSCRIBED!!!!!!!
AT 67 1/2 YEARS OLD… I LOVE THE OLD SCHOOL RESPECT YOU GAVE TO MR. FLEMINGS…..
HES A PRINCE AMONG MEN…. SOOO SWEET & HUMBLE…. RARE GUY!
THAT BUG HAD ME DROOLING!!!!!
BY THE WAY FOLKS, IF YOU KNOW THE COMEDIAN CALLED “FLUFFY”
( Gabriel Iglasias);
WELL,
HE HAS A COLLECTION OF 18 VW BUSES !!!
THERE IN MINT CONDITION IN A 80 CAR GARAGE IN LONG BEACH!!
WELL HE’S RETIRING FROM COMEDY THIS YEAR……. 2024 ( August )
HES AS FAMOUS AS IT GETS.. BUT.. HE JUST WANTS TO SPEND TIME OFF THE ROAD.
IF YOU GO ONLINE…. HE HAS A TOUR OF HIS BEAUTIFUL BUSES!!!!
OHH I WANT A VW !!!DONT CARE WHAT COLOR….. JUST IN MINT CONDITION……
( sunroof please )… TO DRIVE AROUND CHICAGO ON THE WEEKENDS!!
THANKS AGAIN FOR THE AWESOME CONVERSATION AND CRUSE…… GENTLEMEN!!
( put me in the backseat… give us all a a bottle of ice cold Orange Crush …..
and let’s take her up lnterstate 5 and….. take it slow… we got all day …. boys!!!!!)🚎😎
Thank you so much!
👍🏾🤓
Very cool!
Would you like to come hang out at the upcoming event ✌️
Awesome man and story❤️✌️ beautiful bug to!
Glad you liked it!!
Excellent!
Great visit and chat. I guess in the hobby we’ve all known Ron, but not the full story and conversation like this. Thanks for capturing this time capsule in 2024. Getting my ‘62 vert back on the road now after several years. Hope to see you guys out there! 🍀✨
Glad you enjoyed it! It’s pretty awesome to make these stories last forever.
Nice 60, thanks for sharing.
Glad you liked it.
Ron you spoke about your french friends Kiki des Bois and I suppose Stefan (who is a DKP member too). What a nice and humble person you are and funny too! Always a good word to put a smile on your face 😊 I share his philosophy and we have another similarity when it comes to VW and Classic Porsche but... in '85 when I was about to buy a 2.4S I finally bought my first KG because the price of a crankshaft was worth the price of a full VW engine! Today no regrets about this choice (even with the actual insane price of the Classic Porsche...) because I probably wouldn't have had the means at this period to maintain it because what I prefer is to tinker with them AND drive them! Now have no income to buy it... 😆Thks for this "sunny" interview 😎
Thank you for sharing that with us Willam. Very cool to know. And yes, prices are definitely much higher than I think anyone could have ever anticipated.
@@EddyCollins-TZN168 thks to you for this superb interview. With Ron no surprise we are sure to leave a good moment! Ron is a living legend and we are fortunate to be able to hear his anecdotes. ;-)
Met Ron at the european bug in a few times, great guy
My lovely 60
such a legend
Hey Eddy ! good interview !
Thanks Jimmy!
I remember that car going to 15k on thesamba and also thinking of buying it years ago, called the seller but didnt pull trigger fast enough. It was a good deal at the time.
😢 been there too.
Dang 2332!! Torque monster
It was a blast to ride in!
Thanks!!
You bet!
What an interview you did with Ron Fleming! Is he is still around? Am from away Philippines, but sure wants to get in touch with him.Thanks
Yes, indeed he is still around. I just spoke with him yesterday.
It accelerates pretty well Mom had a 69 bus with the Roadrunner on the front spare beep beep. I was about four and remember going to San Francisco
Love those stories. Cool you remember them from such a young age.
An absolute nice gentleman meet him at last year's Volksworld Show in the UK and they had Darrell Vittones race shop 67 on display at Sandown Park in the main foyet
That’s awesome you had the opportunity to meet him.
NICE CAR!!!
It sure is!!!
Legend!
Class Act! I had a '70 VW bug that I inherited from my Grandparents that was in great condition. It got me back and forth to work and school. I went deep down the rabbit hole and got into Hot VW magazine and bought How to maintain your VW for the complete idiot by John Muir and was fully hooked on VW bugs. I sold it after a few years and I regret that decision to this day 😥.
Such a cool interview! Beautiful 1960 and Mr.Fleming is a gem!
Is this car L87 by chance?
It is L87
Thank you Eddy!!
10:19 : Yay, shout out to Kiki and the French VW Scene! Could the other one been Fabien?
12:45 : Yup, vertical keyhole is a '60 thing only, got the very same handle on my october 1959 beetle.
Great interview. Maybe do these in the same format with the other original DKP guys like Lazenby, Bunch etc.
Thank you. Already in the works! 👍
@@EddyCollins-TZN168 Awesome, you have a great gentle style and you are preserving valuable history
Thank you so much. That means a lot.
Oh yeah!!!
Glad you liked it!
is that pebble gray or pearl white? i have a 1960 ragtop same color that i also bought off of the samba with the same background story! i also won an SCCA championship in the early 90's using a FAT built type IV in a 914.
Ron where can the seat recliner be bought today ?😊
You can definitely look on samba.com or, there will probably be a nice swap meet at bad Camberg in Germany. If you are able to make it, they usually have some of this really rare and cool stuff.
Nice Bug.
Sure is.
Paint work it looks nice the condition of the German lady immaculate. It is clean and the owner look after it
Great video. I’ve just brought you up to 500 subs 🤟🏻
Glad you liked the video! And thank you for the sub! Keeps the wind the wind in my sails.
I rememberd ablack vw which had the turn sighnal on the door post
Yeah, the ones with semaphore are pretty cool
I wonder how many young ones can drive a manual shift nowadays. Few here in Australia.
It’s a good theft deterrent. Only people ripping off old cars are old people.
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
To keep the blood flowing…….”mine!” 😂😂😂
That was the best!!😂
@@EddyCollins-TZN168 He’s a hoot! Great interview Eddy ! So glad YT found you for me. Subbed !! 💪😎
In 1972 at 18 I bought a White 1961 sunroof beetle in beautiful condition butt with a blown motor that looked exactly like this but stock. Using the idiot's guide I rebuilt the motor on my kitchen table. I paid $125 for the car and $100 in parts to rebuild.
That’s awesome!
And the first year for the springs on the front hood.
what is the tire size front and rear?
Where can I access the podcast with Bunch ?
What rims are you running on the 60
What cam is in the motor?
I’ll ask him tomorrow
Spoke with Ron this morning. He said it’s actually a proprietary grind of his. The gentleman that ground cams for him back during the FAT days, did it for him.
Would love to have an engine like this in my 78 super beetle. Grape performance but kind of loud.
@@ollie1464 would definitely be an awesome upgrade!
Der Kleiner Panzers logo is interesting heil?
I sold my last Bug when I was 46 years old because I thought I was too old for it. So stupid.
Well, for what it’s worth, at least you can still get one if you really wanted to, but I hear what you’re saying.
Ironically Sunny is the name of my ‘66 Beetle, painted in a 90s Corvette
That’s awesome!
Is this color lotus white?
No, it’s L87 pearl white
My Standard also 6O
the last semaphores,
has cable brakes and
unsymchronized gear.
(see UA-cam-video)
Additionally have real
SunnyBug 84 😜✌️
@@NewBeatleJohn so cool! I still have yet to drive a car with cable brakes.
Us white hair guys have to stick together.
Interior: Collins
Is pemny still working ? Brents girlfriend im jimmy i youse to work at his store iworked there for couple of month