As you may know, we had our First Ever West Coast All-Autopian-Staff Present meetup and car show, and I think it was a fantastic success. So many great cars showed up! So many people! I was informed that 70 pizzas were consumed by people, which either means a small group of absurdly hungry people came or there were a lot of people who showed up. Or maybe two hippos, legendary for their hungry hungriness, but I bet I would have noticed them. We will have some video and a story about the show soon enough, but before that I just wanted to show one car that I found especially appealing, for a number of reasons. This ’66 Volkswagen Type 3 Squareback.
I’ve always loved Type 3s because of their fantastic packaging, which I’m just going to explain via this image:
The most incredible part about this car, which belongs to George, who in turn belongs to the San Fernando Smurfs, a local VW group, is that as of 8 pm the night before the car show, this car had no engine installed. But, here the car is, a testament to the power of last-minute scrambling to get something done. I was so impressed.
There’s a lot to be impressed with on this car. It’s riding on bags and has an integrated air tank and compressor, so it can raise and lower, which is amazing, and you’ll notice that far more windows open than the factory ever made. George made custom window pop-out setups for the four side windows and the rear window as well.
Also notable are those two little lights atop the front fenders. Those aren’t technically supposed to go there – they usually live on the sides of the fenders just in front of the doors – as they are German market parking lights. They illuminate, on one or the other side only, when the car is parked on a narrow street, casting white light ahead and red behind, so cars can see your car and not smack into you in the dark.
George is using them as indicators, which I think is great. Automotive lighting is meant to be enjoyed!
Hi Torch,
I’m flattered for your article on my Squareback. This car has gone through some horrible events including being stolen and completely stripped by a Craigslist mechanic. I had it for sale for $1500 and when no one wanted it, I told my wife that I will convert it into an amazing car. She supported me all the way through the project. The result is what you got to see.
George Ocegueda
Years ago a friend of mine used to pull the motor out of his VW bug and work on it on the sidewalk. He could have the motor in or out in about 15 minutes it seemed. This was just around the corner from Gracie Mansion, the mayor’s official residence, on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. I distinctly remember a beat cop telling him that he had better be gone the next time he passed by.
Torch,
I am loving this photo:
(1) Because my first (and second) vehicle was a Type III Squareback (1970 and 71 respectively)
(2) Because my current vehicle is a BMW E82 coupe (which is what is slightly photobombing the ’66 in the hero photo on the passenger side)
If you have more photos (would love to see the pancake and the cockpit), please post them!
Inquiring minds need to know about that vanity plate. My guess is that the intended reading is “Sick-six-six”, and in turn the vehicle’s intended purpose is transporting brass instruments to a ska band’s gigs.
I’m so bummed I couldn’t come up for this. Other plans already existed in the evoCS household and it would’ve been a massive stretch to get to Van Nuys and back to Orange County in time.
/Sigh.
Interesting story back in the late 80s I worked in the circulation department of the Tallahassee Democrat. I had a newspaper carrier who always delivered in a VW Squareback. He always had his delivery one a working backup and a parts/project one minimum. This guy was 6 1/2 feet tall looked like a serial killer and his favorite joke was showing a scar on his head where he said he cut out the 666 number. Funny thing he was the nicest kindest gentlest person and would help complete strangers. I often wonder if people on the large tall spectrum don’t realize how intimidating they are through no fault of their own?
Love good packaging!
I mentally compare every new electric to the type 3, which had to fit a combustion engine and all its shift linkages, exhaust tubing etc. and was still super spacious.
Ha, I figured you would address the fender lights on this, I was pretty sure they weren’t original or in the stock location.
Had a great time up there meeting you all, super glad the inside of GAS was air conditioned! My LTD only required one unintended stop on the way home, for some reason the power wire to my electric cooling fan started intermittently cutting out which required one sketchy freeway-side fix in traffic. After that I was able to drive home to San Diego through L.A. on the 405 at approximately 20 MPH in air conditioned comfort!
It had me until I saw the vanity plate. less so now, but still very nice.
Sick 66. Does that mean something evil or do you just not like vanity plates? Just curious.
Sick I believe is 80s slang for 60s cool, 50s nifty, 70s hot, 80 jangy, 90s rad, 00 actually since 2000 I’m too old to know.
Dave, you are absolutely correct. I didn’t choose the SIKK 66 to mean “666”. It means “badass 66” “Dope 66”, etc. No satanic hidden message intended
Hi JDE,
My specialty plate has absolutely nothing to do with the number of the beast. Sikk (Sick but it was taken already) means cool, badass, dope, etc! I hope this clears up any satanic hidden meaning. Thanks for your comment.
George
This car makes me weak in the knees, especially with those details added.
Wow!
It was great, although only slightly less warm than the surface of the sun.
/I fucking hate the Valley.
I lived in Bullhead City Arizona for 3 years. It makes the valley seem cool by comparison. But the air so much cleaner. Interesting tidbit they have a dozen casinos and a car show just about every week. Mostly gassers and muscle but hey. My Jensen Healey won best foreign car. A Toyota pickup was the only other foreign vehicle.
Man, I was in agony all week. I really, really, REALLY wanted to hop in my Cougar and come to the show… but I haven’t driven that car farther than 3 or 4 miles in about 15 years. It really needs freshening up in terms of fluids, belts, hoses, and tires before I take it anywhere… and on top of that it desperately needs paint. I have all new seat upholstery… still in the boxes, ready to install. I mean, I adore this car, but it’s in a humilating state of benign neglect, and I just didn’t have the time this week to make it even presentable as a project-in-the-works. If I could pass it off as a barn find I could at least hold my head up without paper bagging it, but it hasn’t been in a barn, just garaged for 10 years at my old house, and parked for 5 years next to the garage at my current house. It’s been registered and insured all this time, the tires have plenty of tread and hold air perfectly well (but they’re at least 20 years old), the fuel system from tank to carb is extremely new, and the state of the dash wiring is… well… all of the gauges and most of the interior courtesy lights work fine, but there’s an appalling mess of auxiliary stereo component wiring and even more spaghetti from a misguided remote-door-opening-solenoid system that I thought was fun in my 20s, and I just can’t bear to let any of you guys see any of that stuff. Plus the cobwebs are getting out of control.
But then I remembered that Saturday was my son’s birthday party and I couldn’t go to the meetup anyway. I am so very disappointed in myself. I’ve been wanting to meet you guys for YEARS now.
Just a bit of advice a small portable wet vacuum works great on cobwebs.
Has it been 15 years? I believe your ride is a Blue Convertible when I saw it last in Studio City…
Sorry I couldn’t make it up there from SD to see you all but it seems like it was a grand time. Looking forward to future meets and the possibility of attending.
I have a ’72 Squareback that is in the beginning stages of restoration. Pretty straight and complete, but been sitting for 20 years, so nearly everything needs touched. I love Type 3’s for the same reason, Torch…practicality. A great progression of what VW was doing at the time.
My first car was a red ’72 squareback; bought it when I was 13 with the engine seized. Dad & I rebuild it together and when my birthday rolled around.. well I rolled around in it (in South Dakota 14 year olds can drive, even today.. crazy).
Did reasonably well in the snow, even took it off-roading several times. Great cars!
Also, I totally believe he put that engine in overnight. My mechanic removed my engine and trans in about 25 minutes. I’ve heard of engine removal/reinstall contests at VW car shows with a winning time of less than 4 minutes!?!
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The Squareback was the ideal dog owner’s car. You could put your dog(s) in the wayback, your groceries in the frunk, and still have the back seat for passengers. Only the Corvair Lakewood did it better (with four doors and a deeper frunk since that was the one-and-only trunk on the sedans).
What a car, so beautiful!
Are we allowed to have Autopian meet ups withOUT any Autopian staff? I kinda feel like you have started (continued?) something awesome, and I would absolutely love to join anyone in the Northeast. I live in Waterbury, CT, and am willing to take my 94 Pickup anywhere close.
Of course! I’m all for people getting together to enjoy their cars anytime, anywhere. If Autopians want to get together and show off their cars, hell yeah, do it, and be proud Autopians! Just you know, don’t commit any crimes or treat people badly while using the term. But I’m positive you won’t.
Lime Rock Park?
Glad the show went well! Excited to see more photos in the next few days!
I’m glad the meet-up met your expectations. Planning to hang around and pop up to Monterey for car week? You could meet some great car people, see some amazing vehicles, and get enough content for 3 months.
Yes!
Would love to meet up as I am at Monterey now. If there is a certain time and place before Thursday, would love to do it!
Torch. We need an NC meetup. Get on it.
Okay!
Hi Torch,
I’m flattered for your article on my Squareback. This car has gone through some horrible events including being stolen and completely stripped by a Craigslist mechanic. I had it for sale for $1500 and when no one wanted it, I told my wife that I will convert it into an amazing car. She supported me all the way through the project. The result is what you got to see.
George Ocegueda
I love it. My folks bought a ‘65 and shipped it back to the US. You like AM radio? We wish! It was bare bones and popped out of 2nd gear on hills. When the hood of our white car flew up on the highway, my mom replaced it with a red one from the junkyard. Quite a look.
I always wonder what it is about vintage cars that is so appealing. I absolutely love the designs, the “technology” that they have for their time, and just how thought out and unique they can be.
I work in the industry, so I’m constantly looking at cars, but to some degree the new ones seem all the same. (Looking at you, ultra aggressive truck designs). I guess part of it is just safety regulations making things more standardized, and customer preference, but it’s great to see folks keeping these older rides going.
I would guess the sameness is to do with development costs. That and being afraid to stand out because of said development costs, and it being easier to make money appealing weakly to a large population than appealing strongly to a small population
Ultra-hyper-angry truck designs are a blight. I love older truck designs with lower bed heights and earnest styling with nothing to prove, like a faithful horse eager to stretch its legs.
Agreed! That is my ’94 F150 in a nutshell. It was a former municipal vehicle in Florida (I call her Tallahassee), so light on rust. It is a regular cab, long bed, straight 6 with a blue interior and vinyl floor. She gets a couple thousand miles put on every year as my hauling/tow rig. I just love honest old trucks.
Damn that Type 3 looks clean! I hope we can get a deeper dive into the build.
I think you guys mentioned it or maybe it was just someone who requested an occasional write up of cool car builds. That would be a nice addition to this site.
That is a beautiful ’66, now quick, load it up full of Taco Bell!
Torch, Dad has one of those he has been trying to sell for a while. Be a restoration project, but no rust on it. If that’s your favorite car, just imagine if you owned it.
Oooh! Oooh! Over here! Gimme!
The Type 3 is by far my favorite VW ever, and I’ve been looking for a clean one for years!
How much, and where? Or at least let me know where it’s listed for sale. I’m not trying to steal from Torch, but I have to ask because you have a unicorn in your hands.
Lemme talk to Dad, see what he was wanting for it. Its in Northern Florida though. Not sure how we’ll get communication info to each other considering there’s no edit button. Lemme think on that.
Number Plate = STCK ’66
Car is not stock; the mind boggles.
I think it says, SICK ’66, but I could be wrong.
You’re right, it definitely says SICK ’66
I think the confusion might relate to that second “letter”. To my eye it looks like it says S1CK, using the number 1 in place of an I. Agree that it’s trying to say SICK.