"2300cc Custom Built /w 330 HP Turbo" on ebay

That car is so not what a Speedster is about. I do like the exhaust tip, though. _{(Seriously, it's probably the only thing that I like!}

I'd really like to see a picture of a 32 or $33,000 VW engine (trans isn't a 5 speed so it's gotta be $3,000 tops. The pic of the car in front of the erupting fountain is kind of cool. And I agree, Wingd (sorry, I don't remember your first name), the more subtle offset stripe looks nicer. Al

ALB posted:

That car is so not what a Speedster is about. I do like the exhaust tip, though. _{(Seriously, it's probably the only thing that I like!}

I'd really like to see a picture of a 32 or $33,000 VW engine (trans isn't a 5 speed so it's gotta be $3,000 tops. The pic of the car in front of the erupting fountain is kind of cool. And I agree, Wingd (sorry, I don't remember your first name), the more subtle offset stripe looks nicer. Al

Al, when I see the headline "2300cc Custom Built /w 330 HP Turbo" I got kinda interested to have a look at a $33,000 engine and tranny. I was thinking Mendeola suspension etc. I like a fair bit of the outside and almost nothing of the interior but I appreciate someone else's creative decisions even if I wouldn't have made them myself.

btw, it's Gary

Not a widebody guy, and I won't speak to what he spent (or what he wants), but I really do like integrated scoops/headrest fairings. They look as good (or better) as any I've ever seen. The interior, while also not my cup of tea, seems to be very well done. Typically, when somebody goes off the rails and tries to improve on the original, and it ends up looking pretty bad. I don't think this one does. 

The exhaust tip Al references really is very nice. It's a shame this is built on a pan, as evidenced by the VW title. I can see how someone could end up with $35,000 in a turbocharged Type 1, but there are certainly better ways to spend that money.

Regarding the paint: to me, either way is just variations on the same theme. Sometimes more is just too much.

All in all, an interesting build. It will be interesting to see how much it brings.

Stan Galat posted:

Not a widebody guy, and I won't speak to what he spent (or what he wants), but I really do like integrated scoops/headrest fairings. They look as good (or better) as any I've ever seen. The interior, while also not my cup of tea, seems to be very well done. Typically, when somebody goes off the rails and tries to improve on the original, and it ends up looking pretty bad. I don't think this one does. 

The exhaust tip Al references really is very nice. It's a shame this is built on a pan, as evidenced by the VW title. I can see how someone could end up with $35,000 in a turbocharged Type 1, but there are certainly better ways to spend that money.

Regarding the paint: to me, either way is just variations on the same theme. Sometimes more is just too much.

All in all, an interesting build. It will be interesting to see how much it brings.

I think he'll be LUCKY to get anything more than the 30K starting number(?)......

"That car is so not what a Speedster is about."

I am always at a loss when I read something like the statement above.  As a reminder, none of us is in charge of this cool hobby.  What I like and seek are what works for me.  That's all I can ask.  I don't seek approval from others, and I try not to judge the taste of other guy's builds.

While we all have opinions, they are ours only.  None of us speaks for the hobby in general.

Go to a car show, be it in the midwest or left or right coast.  You will see some wild examples of what car guys and gals can do.  Some cars will appeal to me more than others, but I try to appreciate the workmanship in a car, even if the style doesn't appeal to me personally.

Every car should be what the owner wants it to be.  Hot rod guys have always gone against the grain of acceptability.  That's what customization is all about, not accepting the status quo.

My replica is approaching what I want it to be, but I'll never really be done playing around with it.  I hope yours pleases you as much as mine pleases me.  If not, keep trying, but remember that your opinion on your car is the one that matters.

^ that. Jim Kelly for President. 

I am grateful that the owner has promised that I will "...NEVER SEE ANOTHER CAR LIKE THIS ONE." 

I hope he/she gets every penny that they want for it, and the new owner is ecstatic about the car.

 Ten pounds in a five pound bag as I see the car. 

Jim and Stan are correct. Nobody is in charge. Do what you want, and we all should applaud ingenuity and great skills put to the test.

That being said, it is interesting to discuss results and reflect on options. I have learned a good deal from those conversations on this site and have my mind changed several times about things both stylistic and mechanical. I expect that will continue to be the case.

The challenge in posting is to express opinions in a manner  that is respectful and not snarky. A lot is lost, and much assumed, when face to face or voice to voice communication is absent. All the subtleties, all the innuendo, most of the clues behind what is written are gone.

I hope we give each other a break once in a while by assuming the best intentions until proven otherwise.

Ooops......just fell off the pulpit !

Panhandle Bob posted:

I am grateful that the owner has promised that I will "...NEVER SEE ANOTHER CAR LIKE THIS ONE." 

I hope he/she gets every penny that they want for it, and the new owner is ecstatic about the car.

 Ten pounds in a five pound bag. 

(especially NEVER)

I find it kind of cool and an interesting modification to the original.  Is it my imagination or is the front badge tilted  

Jim Kelly posted:

"That car is so not what a Speedster is about."

I am always at a loss when I read something like the statement above.  As a reminder, none of us is in charge of this cool hobby.  What I like and seek are what works for me.  That's all I can ask.  I don't seek approval from others, and I try not to judge the taste of other guy's builds.

While we all have opinions, they are ours only.  None of us speaks for the hobby in general.

Go to a car show, be it in the midwest or left or right coast.  You will see some wild examples of what car guys and gals can do.  Some cars will appeal to me more than others, but I try to appreciate the workmanship in a car, even if the style doesn't appeal to me personally.

Every car should be what the owner wants it to be.  Hot rod guys have always gone against the grain of acceptability.  That's what customization is all about, not accepting the status quo.

My replica is approaching what I want it to be, but I'll never really be done playing around with it.  I hope yours pleases you as much as mine pleases me.  If not, keep trying, but remember that your opinion on your car is the one that matters.

I know, it's my opinion, and mine only, and that's fine. To me a Speedster is a (somewhat) bare bones performance machine, devoid of almost anything that gets in the way. Most american hotrodders/customizers don't see the stripped down, simplistic approach of what the car is and jazz it up with all the stuff that they would do with a custom or hotrod, and while I can appreciate the workmanship that goes into it, it "clutters" the car up and misses the mark of what a Speedster is. No apologies here, guys.

DITTO: what ALB said

Al,

No apology is called for.  One of the many great things about this site is that it is populated by reasonable people, and reasonable people can disagree.  My concern is that your statement sounds like something one would expect on the PCA site, where condescension, narrow interpretation, and elitism rule: my way or the highway.  Shades of St. Ferry and the anointed German engineers.

It seem contradictory to me to espouse purity of design on a replica site.  Our cars aren't Speedsters.  I like what I have, but it's not a Porsche, and has no Porsche or Speedster badges.  When I go to a car show, I don't park in the Porsche corral, because I don't drive a Porsche.   I also understand that I'm in the minority in the above opinions.  My philosophy: your way works for you, my way works for me.

Car guys don't like to keep it between the fence posts, as far as design is concerned.  The designers of '32 Fords, '40 Willys, and '50 Mercs would be surprised to see how their creations have been modified over the years, eh?

Our hobby attracts all types, but many of us are approaching our "use by . . ." date, partly because we couldn't afford it earlier with financial obligations elsewhere.  In the big tent approach to acceptance, I hope we continue to attract more and younger hobbyists, irrespective of whether I agree with their design choices.   

Actually Jim, I find myself always wanting to say that my car is an IM... I don't have any badging except IM but it does get difficult at times to explain what the car is... At times the short answer is a 1959 356A ... replica due to time constraints... Other times to a knowledgeable person inquiring I might give more details but I never really pretend it is a P. car ... and finally sometimes I just DUCK so I go unseen ...  

IaM-Ray posted:

Actually Jim, I find myself always wanting to say that my car is an IM... I don't have any badging except IM but it does get difficult at times to explain what the car is... At times the short answer is a 1959 356A ... replica due to time constraints... Other times to a knowledgeable person inquiring I might give more details but I never really pretend it is a P. car ... and finally sometimes I just DUCK so I go unseen ...  

TRULY...more than anything else, an IM Roadster is, as someone once suggested, one VIN number shy of a real CONVERTIBLE D. Ferry himself would likely agree and applaud the replica and would very likely be driving one himself

One journalist said somewhere IM builds the best 356 as he was comparing to an original 50 year old car.   But even that comment is subjective  

IaM-Ray posted:

One journalist said somewhere IM builds the best 356 as he was comparing to an original 50 year old car.   But even that comment is subjective  

VERY ACCURATE...when I did my PPI before buying my IM6(had 2 inspections), it was done by a master mechanic who works on LAMBOS, 959 Porsches, and McLarens and he could NOT believe how well the car was made....he could not believe it was a replica/kit car type which is what he expected to see but described it as a complete exacting engineered car. He commented on the quality of build, that most parts were over spec, and the gaps and detail were perfect. Of course there were some minor oil leaks and one or two minor oversights but I was very pleased with his assessment which is consistent with most IM builds. The second inspection was done at a Porsche dealer who actually does some motor installs for Henry and it was more for my peace of mind specifically to the flat six build, which also passed despite a few leaks and needs(tuneup/WEBER issues). I agree with that JOURNALIST

I LOVE THAT CAR!

The seat backs look exactly like my stomach Abs!!  

Gordon Nichols posted:

I LOVE THAT CAR!

The seat backs look exactly like my stomach Abs!!  

Everybody's got abs like that. They just live under a varying level of padding.

Round is a shape

If the suspension is stock VW, that will be a handful!

I get where you're coming from, Kelly, and I whole heartedly agree with you. As El Presidente Stan has said, it's a big tent, with room for all. It may not be my cup of tea, but whoever owns the car is welcome to join the fold, if he so chooses. I still think it's "overdone", but that's just my opinion.

PS- And yes, they're Speedsters. Says so on the side of the car, ya know...

JiI (Jeff in Illinois) posted:

If the suspension is stock VW, that will be a handful!

No specifics given but "modified front and rear suspension system and rear end"

Unique outlaw. Looks really well-done, probably by a body and/or interior specialist. The fender flares, turtleback...all exterior is highly custom. Stance is right. 

Like you guys I'm curious about the engine. 

I'd love to see this one in person.

Stan Galat posted:

Gordon Nichols posted:

I LOVE THAT CAR!

The seat backs look exactly like my stomach Abs!!  

Everybody's got abs like that. They just live under a varying level of padding.

I, for instance, used to have six pack abs. They are now the shape of a keg.

I guess if you go non traditional , the sky is the limit. Does not speak to me, but to each their own.