356 coupe

Good luck!  Real or Replica- and if replica, will you buy used or brand new, custom built?

TheSamba.com :: VW Classifieds - 356A Coupe Replica

A little rouge ----

Fill out the Dream Car Locator on my website, www.cloud9classics.com and I will let you know if/when I have any used ones coming in.

@WOLFGANG posted:

TheSamba.com :: VW Classifieds - 356A Coupe Replica

A little rouge ----

OK I'm weird but I love that ....

Thanks for the info. Definitely looking for a replica, new or used but no projects.

@WNGD posted:

OK I'm weird but I love that ....

I like it as well!  Yeah, the grey carpet did nothing for it, but (for me) the red is too much.  I think something neutral with a brown hue would have been right- the ivory paint is white with a beige (brown) tone.

Please do some searching on here regarding unethical/criminal behaviour by some replica builders.  Too many people have lost thousands attempting to buy new from two specific builders.

Let's cut to the chase.  There are only two builders to buy a new car from: Beck (Special Edition) and Vintage Motorcars.  Unfortunately Vintage is no longer selling Coupes (someone correct me if I'm wrong) and Beck is only going to do custom builds in limited numbers, plus their waiting list is at 3 years.  Coupes are just soooo much more difficult and time consuming to build.

I believe @RoyP resells Vintage cars and he may be able to find you a used Vintage Pre-A (there weren't many made) or maybe sorted used JPS.  Check elsewhere here to see why new JPS Coupes aren't recommended and stay far, far away from SAS/SAW.  There are only a handful of Beck Coupes out there and they are high end builds with the associated prices.

The reality is that replica Coupes are rare so if you're firm on a coupe you will need to be patient.  As an alternative you could consider a Convertible D with a hard top and get the best of both worlds.  I've had a Speedster and a Coupe and I think I'd go the Convertible D route if I were to do it again.  Of course those are extremely rare as well.

So the operative word here is "patience".  Good luck and Welcome to the Madness.

@Lane Anderson Lane you can buy speedster and make the coupe top 👍🤙😊

Also very rare are the Brazilian-built Envemo '65 C Coupes.  So authentic they say Porsche said they could sell them.  These weren't sold as kits but as coach built cars. They made D's too.  You occasionally see one come up here but also on the Brazilian market and they can be imported.  A/C wasn't option and original engine was only 1600 cc BUT years have past since 1980's when they were built.

Oh yeah, I forgot about those.  If you can find one it will likely be a project needing some age-related work, but as Greg (WOLFGANG) said, it's a good option.  One correction: they were made as Coupes and Cabriolets, not Convertible Ds.  The Cabriolet tops are nice enough that one of those with a bigger engine and A/C would be a good option as well.

@PaulEnvemo is currently building some coupes isn’t he? Maybe he’s far enough along to put someone on the waiting list.

Yes, I think you're right.  Based on what I've seen I'll bet they're pricey but worth it.

We are only doing T5 and soon T6 roadsters at the moment and just added a very improved 550 spyder .  Will also be adding a ‘vert D to the line up.  No coupes.

@PaulEnvemo posted:

We are only doing T5 and soon T6 roadsters at the moment and just added a very improved 550 spyder .  Will also be adding a ‘vert D to the line up.  No coupes.

What did you do to improve the Spyder?

@GMAP, a T5/T6 Roadster is the same as a Convertible D but with the later body style. Very much worth considering with roll-up windows and a better top than a Speedster.  A/C would do fine in one.

@LI-Rick posted:

What did you do to improve the Spyder?

Took an old thunder ranch, cut it up and redid the entire body. It was completely out of balance. One side higher than another. Redid the frame to make it more original appearing.

@PaulEnvemo posted:

Took an old thunder ranch, cut it up and redid the entire body. It was completely out of balance. One side higher than another. Redid the frame to make it more original appearing.

Any changes to suspension, or same old front beam/swingaxle rear?

@LI-Rick posted:

Any changes to suspension, or same old front beam/swingaxle rear?

Rear irs with coil overs. Front in basic form/standard configuration beam .,,but we developed a rack and pinion independent front set up too if someone wants to go that route.

@PaulEnvemo posted:

Rear irs with coil overs. Front in basic form/standard configuration beam .,,but we developed a rack and pinion independent front set up too if someone wants to go that route.

I regret that I can only like this once.

@PaulEnvemo-

Did you happen to fix the clamshell, so the car doesn't look like the batmobile?

Also (and most critically) - original wheelbase, or Chuck Beck extended style?

I will post pictures. The original rear clam shell was a disaster. One side at least an inch higher than the other. Same for the front fenders. We are using the same thunder ranch wheelbase.

Lots of corrections surgery to get the body balanced. We also made a gas tank cover that replicates the original. We used this now modified  donor body as a plug for new molds.

Y

@PaulEnvemo posted:

We are using the same thunder ranch wheelbase.

It might be easier to ask what the wheelbase is. I’m unfamiliar with what TR had.

Paul, I’m not seeing those last two photos. (And I’d love to)

Any pictures of the rear suspension? Double A arms?

First one we are doing is basically a torsion bar delete coil over conversion kit “a la” Porsche 911.  We have a design all set for double wishbone. Will post pictures as we get final design completed.

Wow!