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bubba
Samba Member
Joined: May 09, 2004
Posts: 2533
Location: Florida
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 Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2005 8:28 pm Post subject: |
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damn, I'm lost again  |
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Teeroy 
Samba Member
Joined: April 20, 2003
Posts: 3823
Location: Eastern WA
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| Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2005 10:32 am Post subject: original inch pincher at panic |
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Inch pincher 1 was crashed , usable parts were used on Inch Pincher 2 . There was a picture of the remains of #1 behind the shop , in the EMPI history story one of the mags did in 04 (I think) . TROY
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Bugshakk
Samba Member
Joined: May 29, 2006
Posts: 1
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| Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2006 3:55 pm Post subject: Inch Pincher ~Wolf in Sheeps clothing~ |
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Dear Inch Pincher Gurus; First of all I had trouble with the trailer. But the car did make it to the show @ appox 1:00 to 1:30pm Ask Dyno Don or Garry Justice. Or the NHRA photographer from that time era, what he thinks. He saw the car coming down the street on the trailer & shut down his booth instantly, to rush toward the DDS car. He handed me a picture through the window; and said "heres what it used to look like." The picture was of DDS H/G car #2. This picture was never in any magazine. The picture showed Dean driven the car at the Dallas Finals. The weird part about it is; there is a Headliner in the car. Will explain to those who believe, later. Second of all if you were looking for the Inch Pincher 2, No wonder you didn't see it. This is OG Inch Pincher #1. And it still retains the Oval window. Deano, was the guru geinius cheif engineer @ Empi. Do you think he would cut the Oval window, out of his creation? The car that gave Deano the biggest real smiles of his life. There is a paper trail to this story. It's not easy to find all the pics, but I did. And I have the car & the Pro Chassis-tilted body Ghia, that was Originaly built by Deano in Arizonia @ D&D Auto; Dean Lowery & Don Cossey. Cossey snuck the car away from Dean; and sold it to the Coppen Bros. The Creeps named the car; Turbo Terror. And tried to take credit for the first Tube Chassis Ghia Drag Car on the west coast. The car is in November 1989 VW Trends mag., it' the mag. with a yellow bug and 2 chicks in bikinis on the cover. Why does everyone ALWAYS have to take the credit for someone elses invention? Well anyways if you know anything about Dean Lowery, and the early days of VW R/D this is all too familiar; EVERYONE was always taken the credit for Dean's inventions. But anyone who knows the true story knows that Dean Lowery, was Guru #1 and cheif engineer for Empi! Like his daughter quoted, "he gave so much to the sport of Drag Racing and expected nothing in return." A person would most likely get this kind of attitude and personality because he had been robbed of his pride through his workmanship, for almost everything he invented. What a terrible thing to do to such a humble nice man; who in my openion is the #1 reason that VW's are probably the most loved car in the world. Some pay back huh!!! Ego, is a terrible thing, it deffinately wasn't in his Book of Morals. Deano, proved that he was the king on the Drag Strip & in his heart & soul that was all he needed. So, know think real deep; He was the creator by God given talent who designed, built, & raced the Inch Pincher; into the NHRA history books! [/b]
Last edited by Bugshakk on Fri Jun 30, 2006 11:59 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Mango Juice
Samba Member
Joined: February 11, 2001
Posts: 908
Location: U.S.A
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| Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2006 7:35 am Post subject: |
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Well I personally spoke with Don on the phone regarding the EMPI single cab "INCH PINCHER" Hauler he found and he thought he found the remains of one of the EMPI cars???
At the time he qouted me a price of between $10 and $20k for the truck...I'm not going to give the exact price but he did tell me the serious people who were interested had not stepped up to the plate.
Now if Don still owns the truck I would figure since time has past since we last spoke the truck is more valuable today....as far as the EMPI car remains he mentioned it could be possible.....Don is everywhere!!
I posted a photo of the truck with the "Inch Pincher" on the back at an event in the samba gallery...after studying the photo and the photo of Dons find....other than paint everything looked the same.
These photos were taken in the 1966 racing season...it looks like a big window car to me??
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splitpile
Samba's Worst Speller
Joined: May 03, 2000
Posts: 5927
Location: back to living where hell meets the suface
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| Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2006 12:03 pm Post subject: |
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| Mango Juice wrote: |
Well I personally spoke with Don on the phone regarding the EMPI single cab "INCH PINCHER" Hauler he found and he thought he found the remains of one of the EMPI cars???
At the time he qouted me a price of between $10 and $20k for the truck...I'm not going to give the exact price but he did tell me the serious people who were interested had not stepped up to the plate.
Now if Don still owns the truck I would figure since time has past since we last spoke the truck is more valuable today....as far as the EMPI car remains he mentioned it could be possible.....Don is everywhere!!
I posted a photo of the truck with the "Inch Pincher" on the back at an event in the samba gallery...after studying the photo and the photo of Dons find....other than paint everything looked the same.
These photos were taken in the 1966 racing season...it looks like a big window car to me??
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Don still has the truck and still hasn't set a price. Once he does set a price it IS sold. Money was at the plate when he listed it for sale, he just couldn't set the price, the money is still in the wings waiting on him. Of course unless he sets some outragious price, it won't be cheap and hopefully not overpriced.
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Mango Juice
Samba Member
Joined: February 11, 2001
Posts: 908
Location: U.S.A
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| Posted: Fri Jun 30, 2006 9:12 am Post subject: |
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Hi Ronnie
When I was qouted the price it would have been sold at the time of the ad but I have no interest unless the remains of one of the EMPI cars he might have found come with it 
Maybe the price that was quoted to me over the telephone
when he ran the ad was too high for some of the people seriously interested in it???
Glad to hear he still owns it  The price just went up
Talk soon, Rich. |
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Mango Juice
Samba Member
Joined: February 11, 2001
Posts: 908
Location: U.S.A
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| Posted: Sat Jul 01, 2006 9:02 am Post subject: |
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Bugshakk are you trying to tell us your blue oval car with the DDS wheels is the actual EMPI "Inch Pincher" oval car from Riverside California?
Or is it you are saying it is a DDS #2 built "DYNO SOAR"
I'm a bit confused here with the photos and information you are posting...I will re read your posts. |
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Mango Juice
Samba Member
Joined: February 11, 2001
Posts: 908
Location: U.S.A
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| Posted: Sat Jul 01, 2006 10:08 am Post subject: |
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Ok....after reading this thread regarding Bugshakks find of the original "Inch Pincher" #1.... one thing comes to mind.......show us some detailed photos 
This would be the most interesting find....you could put up a "Big TOP" circus style tent and charge admission at the next BUG IN .....I would definately pay to see it |
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snotchback
Samba Member
Joined: February 20, 2005
Posts: 676
Location: EMPI-land... USA
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| Posted: Sat Jul 01, 2006 5:58 pm Post subject: |
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I've known Blase at the Bug Shakk for about 15 years, I've seen the Blue Oval bug "Inch Pincher" and all his VW parts, cars, ect.......trust me he has a-lot of RARE DDS, EMPI, race cars, I'm talking about A-LOT of shit!....He asked me to help him post some of his stuff here but I didn't make no time  . I've seen all the evidence that he has and in my opinion it's the "Inch Pincher #1" if my opinion means anything. By the way Blase wants to meet you "restojohnny" you know me Johnny so if you want to see the car for your self, let me know. Trust me if he dose'nt know you he wont let you in the back of the shop.
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Mango Juice
Samba Member
Joined: February 11, 2001
Posts: 908
Location: U.S.A
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| Posted: Sun Jul 02, 2006 8:05 am Post subject: |
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It sounds like he owns a great collection
He emailed me and offered to allow us (Resto Johnny, Robert and I ) to view the car in person
Going to take him up on the offer as I have to pick up some ghia floorpans from KGP&R in Ventura soon so it will work out great!!
Seems like a nice guy to take the time and let us check out the car....I wonder if he will let me photo it?? I will keep you all posted. |
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restojohnny
Samba Member
Joined: February 13, 2004
Posts: 2828
Location: SPLITSVILLE , SON !!!!
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| Posted: Sun Jul 02, 2006 9:31 am Post subject: |
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It's alway's a cool to meet a fellow collector especially one who keep's his stuff and not sell it all like HMMMMMMM ME I'm down Robert so just give me a call you got my # I'm free ANYTIME 
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** HELL YEAH I'LL SELL IT TO YOU**
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MAGNESIUM BRM HOARDING BASTARD !!!!
$$ SWAPMEET MAFIA $$
48 split $$$$
53 LHD, LH cargo door standard kombi
54 Pre-A Porsche
55 oval ribbed door non-semiphore
56 semiphore ragtop
63 notchback (work in progress)
67 original Empi GTV beetle convertible !!
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67 convertible ghia (work in progress)
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Mango Juice
Samba Member
Joined: February 11, 2001
Posts: 908
Location: U.S.A
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| Posted: Sun Jul 02, 2006 9:39 am Post subject: |
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| Just returned his email and I have your number Johnny so we will keep in touch to set up a meeting with him ....Pomona is coming up too so maybe we can hook up the Friday before......see you soon Johnny! |
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restojohnny
Samba Member
Joined: February 13, 2004
Posts: 2828
Location: SPLITSVILLE , SON !!!!
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| Posted: Sun Jul 02, 2006 1:06 pm Post subject: |
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| Mango Juice wrote: |
| Just returned his email and I have your number Johnny so we will keep in touch to set up a meeting with him ....Pomona is coming up too so maybe we can hook up the Friday before......see you soon Johnny! |
That would be PERFECT!! We'll talk soon "Chef Cantu"
_________________
** HELL YEAH I'LL SELL IT TO YOU**
O.G. POMONA VULTURE
MAGNESIUM BRM HOARDING BASTARD !!!!
$$ SWAPMEET MAFIA $$
48 split $$$$
53 LHD, LH cargo door standard kombi
54 Pre-A Porsche
55 oval ribbed door non-semiphore
56 semiphore ragtop
63 notchback (work in progress)
67 original Empi GTV beetle convertible !!
67 deluxe walkthru (work in progress)
67 convertible ghia (work in progress)
"STAY OUTTA MY BACKYARD !!! " |
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BugtheBuilder
Samba Member
Joined: July 01, 2005
Posts: 8
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| Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2006 4:54 am Post subject: |
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I've been following this thread for a while. Are there any pictures or updates on the blue car suspected to be the original "Inch Pincher"? I find the story fascinating!
Thanks,
Shane |
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bugnut68
Samba Member
Joined: June 10, 2003
Posts: 4180
Location: Eugene, OR
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| Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2006 9:35 am Post subject: |
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| I'm confused as to how an oval-windowed car could be the original Inch Pincher when there are numerous photos that show it as being converted into a big window? Was the oval section possibly replaced at some point? |
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Dave
Samba Elder
Joined: July 11, 2002
Posts: 2712
Location: The Forest Moon of Endor, in the Redwoods
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| Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2006 12:08 pm Post subject: |
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Ryan, if you look at some of the Glenn Miller photos of the car, right after it retured from the Nassau Grand Prix, and got converted into a drag car, with Solid color (no paisley roof) Raders, and very few decals, you will see it was definitely an Oval Window. In conversations with Joe Vittone (I am still in contact with him to this very day) it was an Oval Window to begin with.
According to Joe, the car was DRIVEN from Riverside, CA, to Florida, for the boat ride to the Bahamas for the Nassau Grand Prix.
And I don't think there's much future in trying to tell Joe Vittone he doesn't know what he's talking about... he's 81, and his body is giving him some trouble, but believe me, his mind is still hitting on all 4...
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53 0val
Samba Professor
Joined: July 03, 2003
Posts: 11396
Location: Irvine, CA
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| Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2006 12:34 pm Post subject: |
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It is a fascinating story, but at this point.......that's all it is. A DDS car, maybe......The Inch Pincher, not likely.
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bugnut68
Samba Member
Joined: June 10, 2003
Posts: 4180
Location: Eugene, OR
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| Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2006 1:59 pm Post subject: |
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| Dave wrote: |
Ryan, if you look at some of the Glenn Miller photos of the car, right after it retured from the Nassau Grand Prix, and got converted into a drag car, with Solid color (no paisley roof) Raders, and very few decals, you will see it was definitely an Oval Window. In conversations with Joe Vittone (I am still in contact with him to this very day) it was an Oval Window to begin with.
According to Joe, the car was DRIVEN from Riverside, CA, to Florida, for the boat ride to the Bahamas for the Nassau Grand Prix.
And I don't think there's much future in trying to tell Joe Vittone he doesn't know what he's talking about... he's 81, and his body is giving him some trouble, but believe me, his mind is still hitting on all 4... |
I gotcha, Dave, I just thought I'd heard somewhere that at some point along the line the rear window had been carved out...this is an interesting saga, to say the least, nonetheless! |
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Dave
Samba Elder
Joined: July 11, 2002
Posts: 2712
Location: The Forest Moon of Endor, in the Redwoods
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| Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2006 2:49 pm Post subject: |
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| bugnut68 wrote: |
| Dave wrote: |
Ryan, if you look at some of the Glenn Miller photos of the car, right after it retured from the Nassau Grand Prix, and got converted into a drag car, with Solid color (no paisley roof) Raders, and very few decals, you will see it was definitely an Oval Window. In conversations with Joe Vittone (I am still in contact with him to this very day) it was an Oval Window to begin with.
According to Joe, the car was DRIVEN from Riverside, CA, to Florida, for the boat ride to the Bahamas for the Nassau Grand Prix.
And I don't think there's much future in trying to tell Joe Vittone he doesn't know what he's talking about... he's 81, and his body is giving him some trouble, but believe me, his mind is still hitting on all 4... |
I gotcha, Dave, I just thought I'd heard somewhere that at some point along the line the rear window had been carved out...this is an interesting saga, to say the least, nonetheless! |
It may be, Ryan, that the ORIGINAL "Inch Pinher", the one that Dan Gurney drove in the Nassau Gran Prix, was, (acording to Two Vittones and a Lowry before he passed away)an Oval Window Hardtop Sedan. Early Photos of the car @ Nassau, and the "early" race car shots by Glenn Miller, among others, bear this out. Then, at some point in time, the "Inch Pincher"got a big ('58-'64) back window. Since there was no dash left in the car to speak of (it was a race car, so all uneeded weight was removed including the dashboard) it's hard to tell now if it was whole new '58-'64 body, or if the Oval window section was removed, and a later rear window grafted in. The latter seems more probable, as back in those days, nobody thought anything of removing that stupid little bar from between the back windows of a '38-53 Sedan, to make it look like the newfangled Oval Sedans, so saying that someone wanted to update the looks of the Inch Pincher by added a newer back window section, while maybe not provable (yet) seems quite plausible.
By the way, I talked with Richard Guarino today (8-03-06) and he said to tell everyone hello
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"Those that matter, don't mind,
and those that mind, don't matter" |
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BugtheBuilder
Samba Member
Joined: July 01, 2005
Posts: 8
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| Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2006 4:36 am Post subject: |
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Come on RestoJohhny and Blaze lets see those Inch Pincher pictures!! You may have just found the VW "Holy Grail" !! It sounds to me from your initial pictures that th original "Oval" Inch Pincher body may have been removed when they switched to the "Big Window". This seems like a logical argument to me.
Why would Dean Lowry and the EMPI crew go through all the trouble to hack up and weld in a new rear window onto the beloved original "Inch PIncher" when they could easily swap on a newer big window body shell?
Show us some pics!!
Last edited by BugtheBuilder on Thu Jul 26, 2007 4:51 am; edited 1 time in total |
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