Ron Fleming and the California Look Hot VWs Magazine
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- Опубліковано 24 січ 2022
- Volkswagen Classic produced this interview footage in 2019.
The California Looker
In the 60s, Ron Fleming was one of the pioneers of the “California Look”, still the most popular style within the Volkswagen tuning scene to this day. An interview about the initial explosion of the international Beetle cult.
“I often had the funniest moments at traffic lights,” says Ron Fleming. “I was in my Beetle next to a genuine US thoroughbred beast, twice as big and three times as heavy. And then this bewildered look in my rear-view mirror as the traffic lights turned to green, and within seconds, my lawnmower car achieved a few Beetle lengths between itself and the so-called muscle car.”
It’s 1965, the so-called lawnmower car is a rebuilt VW Beetle called Ovali and Ron Fleming has just founded “Der Kleiner Panzers” (that’s how they actually spelled it), the first and to this day most glorious club of the so-called “California Look” scene. The tuning style, often called “Cal Look” or “Cal Style,” began an explosion of the international Beetle cult. It was initiated in the early 60s by a small group of Beetle aficionados from Orange County near Los Angeles, who, on their own, converted their Beetles into true racing machines. The names of these tuning pioneers have long enjoyed hero status in the Cal-Scene with their tens of thousands of fans worldwide. Joe Vittone and his coral red “Inch Pincher”. Greg Aronson and his “Tar Babe”. The Schley Brothers with their “Lightning Bug”. Dean Lowry in the “Deano Dyno-Soar”. And of course, Ron Fleming with his “Underdog”.
34-years later, Fleming became - for the first time - a guest in Wolfsburg, the birthplace and home of his cult object. The Californian gladly accepts the invitation to a cruise and chat in the cult Beetle “Herbie”, through the Wolfsburg countryside. There is much to talk about regarding the legendary creation of the “Cal Look”. And you don’t sit behind the wheel of a cinema hero like “Herbie” every day. “The first Herbie film, ‘The Love Bug’, was a milestone in 1968. In the USA it triggered a true Beetlemania, which was also noticeable in the tuning scene,” says Ron. “Even though we were already in Beetle fever for many years, Herbie itself had nothing to do with the Cal Look.”
Cheap and robust, compact and cool
Several books have been published on the history and birth of the “Cal Look”, and recently there has been a flood of blogs and fansites. Ron Fleming describes the pioneers’ attitude to life: “We were a colorful troupe who wanted speed, but also understatement. Unlike Hot Rods, popular with racing fans in the 50s, the Beetle hit the zeitgeist of the 60s. “The Beetle was cheap and robust, but also compact and cool at the same time,” says Fleming. “Not a show-off car, but one for individualists.” And as mentioned in the introduction: “You provided some amusing surprises at traffic lights.”
And last but not least: on the dragstrips. The short race tracks, mostly around 400 meters long, on which the fastest accelerators of the tuning scene were chosen, enjoyed steadily growing popularity in the USA from the 1950s onwards. Beetles were initially exotic there, but due to their low weight, they soon began to show their advantages. With more and more powerful engines, the “Cal Look” Beetles on the drag strip became more and more popular.
Less is more - a graphic from the 70s describes distinguishing features of the “Cal Look”.
What distinguishes the typical “California Look” exactly? “Quite simple: leave out everything that is not absolutely necessary. Out with bumpers, rear seats, spare wheels, trim strips, steel rims.” A certain purism combined with clever performance tuning. In order to make the most of the horsepower from the rear-engine of the Beetle as efficient as possible, the Cal-Look-pioneers chose large tires on the rear axle and small tires on the lowered front axle. The “nose-down” appearance of the first “Cal Look” generation was finished.“Our motto was: Minimum weight with maximum performance. And with as much style as possible,” summarizes Fleming. The design of the early California-Lookers was also characterized by painted headlight rings and original monochrome paintwork, sports steering wheels, and an exclusive focus on Type 1 engines.
Stylized design for the entire car
The birth of the collective Beetle fan cult generally dates back to October 20, 1968. On the grounds of the Orange Country International Raceway (OCIR) and the first BUG IN - the first major Volkswagen fan event - was held at which tuners and mechanics of all the relevant models - Beetles and Buggies, Bullis and Karmann Ghias - gathered for a joint meeting. The size of which had never been witnessed before. Until 1983, the BUG-IN was held twice a year and also attracted international attention. - Авто та транспорт
Thanks for sharing Ron. I've been doing aircooled now for about 30years. I'm 58 and a daily driver. Right now enjoying my 68 cal look Ghia
I remember going to all of the Bug-In's that they used to have at O.C.I.R. Some fun times for sure. R.I.P. O.C.I.R.
My first car was a red 68 Beetle, got it back in 86. Got a 71 Super in 89 and a 54 in 91 and still have them. Such great cars.
I'm nearly the same age as you Ron and have been into VW's since 1968. The passion never dies. Currently rolling a 1995 Brazilian, narrow rear hatch, panel van.
I read an article in C&D years ago that stated, there was no purer driving experience than a VW beetle!
Motor, gear shift, brakes and steering wheel!
I love them!
Great post! That smile on that fellas face was priceless!
My baby sister still has my grandmother's 1966 VW bought new off the lot in California with air condition. She wrecked it, then hers husband had it rebuilt better than new off the lot. Took it to a professional vw shop that knew them car's well.
.....pilgrimages from Europe to Orange County to drive the streets where it all happened . They can read about it in Hot VW magazine , but we lived it back in the day ! I remember the beginning of ralleys at the giant Montgomery Ward's parking lot and ending with both sides of the street lined with club cars outside of Shakey's pizza parlor afterward .I remember seeing you at Becker's Bug House ,( our cars were both in his shop at the same time ). As Bob Hope sang , thanks for the memories !
I was just a little kid. But my Dad would drag me around to all the shows and bug ins during the late 70' -80's. I remember meeting Ron and Paul (lightning bug) like it was yesterday. They would all let me sit in their cars. My Dad would take me on practice runs at Lyons .
My Dad is in his late 60"s and is still my go to for VW tech.
Him and Paul still ride motorcycles together.
It seems like most VW guys ride too.
😂I OWN A 1971 SUPER BEETLE VW I ALWAYS ENJOY DRIVING MY BUG. AS MY 82 YEARS OLD I BELONG TO VW CLUB OF AMERICA FOR DECADES. KEEP ENJOYING ALWAYS A BUDDY FROM BROOKLYN NEW YORK RA RA RA
I really enjoyed watching your videos Ron , they took me back to the 70s in Orange County where I was blessed to be a part of the start of the Cal look trend . Grew up in Anaheim and remember when DKPs club house was in down town Anaheim around the corner from Betzs speed & color. Had a '61 bug with Becker paint , Porsche speedster wheels and a 1700 FAT motor . Was in DRF until I went to college in LA . Kept my bug until 1978 , then sold it . Wish I still had that bug today. It's amazing how the Cal look has spread all over the world and how some fans even make pilgrages
1962 Bug Cabrio with a 2110 right here! 🤙🏼😁
Wow! You are cool!
Beetles have a way of getting into your heart and soul....
The Love Bug lives in many across the 7 Seas and around the World.
love and live vws since the 70s,
first ride was a 62 bug, so cal.
id go to all bug ins and frequented auto haus in buena park many times,
i’m 66 and currently restoring a 65 ghia, never gets old.
power to you ron!
i remember der kleiner panzers!!
grew up in gg ca.
Way to go Ron Fleming!!!!!!!!!!! Godfather of the California Look!
Nice!!! I just got bit by the Bug, again! 1st time in '85....
Man, we're same, I love this car because of the simplicity too, it's basic and fun
Awesome , Ive owned dozens of bugs and buses over the years VW are a life style for many of. us.. I'm 66 and I have a Speedster repeca w/ a 2110 cc that hauls ass!!
Ron is the man. I remember the days of Rimco and fat performance.
Luckily Dave at performance orange is still building motors.
We had a pretty wild cal custom vw running arround in our town in the 80s when I was a kid, it had the porsche whale tail, square headlights, chopped top was maroon with splashy neon yellow and orange heartbeat graphics on the doors......I was so in love with that car LOL!
GREAT VIDEO!!!! I LOVE HERBIE TOO!!!!! THANKS FOR SHARING!!!
Keep on getting on Ron 👍
My father bought a new bug with sunroof in 1962. People would stare as we drove by. We loved that car. My family has had many VWs since. Now I go to car shows here in Pennsylvania, and I have pet peeve with these people showing their bugs with roof racks, almost all of them! The bugs I see in your video are the kind I remember in high school, a lot of us had a lot of fun fixing them up. So glad that VW energy migrated to the east. Thanks for the video, it warmed my heart.
Do you ever go to the Flanders NJ show ?
@@snugbug5067, never had the pleasure
@@ljsites It's pretty big, car # wise 300 to 400. I think it's an excellent show. The Central NJ volkswagen club hosts it. It is held on the 2nd or 3rd Sunday in Sept.
@@snugbug5067 thanks, we’re in Lancaster, PA. Not to far.
My first car was a 57 oval you learned how to get every bit of power. From a tired 36hp , it went everywhere even off road
Beauty and fast? ...then i have a Cal' look bug in Mexico! 😍👍🏻
Very cool!!
Legend 😎
Well said, Ron!!
Awesome!
i have a 412 wagon on bags and spokes
posted video on yt
"bagged and shagged funky rare wagon"
i get the elvis face from everyone like wtf is that 🤣
On bags! Oh Wow! You are so cool! Bags!
Very nice.
Love vw and Porsches. Super cool
Genial...!!!
It is impossible to feel bad while driving a bug. ❤ 😀
Great Bug and Gerat Man
Always liked the sound of a stock VW engine,no other car like it. Can you get the horsepower up and keep the sound?
I have a tire question. What do you think would be the tallest and maybe widest tire i could put on stock 15" 1963 beetle rims. Car is stock height. I just want to maybe get more miles per hour on the highway with a taller wheel right now i have 165 80 r 15 as the tire size thanks
👍👍
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what size motors are in those fast beetles
How big do you want to go? Stock 69mm crank can go to 1914cc, but with aftermarket cranks being up to 90mm and 4" V8-derived pistons over 3000cc is possible. I've got a 2007cc (78x90.5) in my street car, and a 2276cc (82x94) left over from my drag car.
@@neildavies2276 No way! Wow! You are so cool!
The car at 20 sec is a Fiat 600, also a Europeanen Classic but not a VW.
That legendary race car is actually powered by VW air-cooled engine.
0:08 Joe Dirt is that you bro ? 🤔
Fiat 600 at 0:21 Little Giant Killer
Don't forget Volksrods. And I don't mean rusty hack jobs.
How many classic VW's have been ruined, trashed, mutilated, de-engineered, or otherwise rendered unserviceable by ignorant people (mostly kids who don't know any better) in order to make them into something they're not ? That's what 'Cal Look' has done to the world of VW. The VW was designed by the BEST engineers in the world....to be a PRACTICAL daily driver.....not a rat rod. It was designed with particular parameters in mind (read the original specifications given to Porsche). As with all automotive designs, it represents a series of compromises, trade offs. WHY can't people appreciate it for that, for its engineering excellence and enjoy it for that rather than make it into a bastard step child ? Once the adolescent has tired of toying, tinkering with his 'Cal Look' VW, it ends up misshapen, distorted, bastardized and UNSAFE. Then no one wants it....The next trip is to the junk yard. Lament the loss of one more beetle !
You are not wearing a mask? Gavin is going to be very upset.