There is a 30 year old Steve Lawing Specialty Auto Works car currently on Bring-A-Trailer. https://bringatrailer.com/list...356a-speedster-1300/
In a comment the seller states this: "the original builder, Steve Lawing of Specialty Auto Works and I have spoken and he will make himself available to answer questions as necessary..."
Replies sorted oldest to newest
Sure looks like a pan-based CMC to me (and a poorly built/maintained one at that). AH, I'm see --- law-less Steve built the CMC for a customer by the paperwork.
Here's one of the shots of the door opening with the CMC gold id plate. Plus the rear engine grill looks like a one-piece CMC hibachi one and CMC hood handle emblem.
@Troy Sloan posted:There is a 30 year old Steve Lawing Specialty Auto Works car currently on Bring-A-Trailer. https://bringatrailer.com/list...356a-speedster-1300/
In a comment the seller states this: "the original builder, Steve Lawing of Specialty Auto Works and I have spoken and he will make himself available to answer questions as necessary..."
Someone should ask how many cars are in the queue.
There will be a lot of older speedster homebuilts or Intermechanica or CMC cars coming on the market now that the price of speedster reproductions has skyrocketed. Guys are doing quickie restorations on them and trying to cash in. But I’m one that says that it’s up to the potential buyer to do their research and be able to distinguish a quality older build that’s been done well, from a jazzed up problem child. An older build can be restored properly and made into a nice car, but you still have to understand what is quality on close inspection.
LeadPedal I think you are right about these old CMC cars coming up for sale. Some of these cars were bought for next to nothing 20 years ago when speedsters were only cool to a few of us. Now when someone waves $25K in our face it's pretty tempting.
@WOLFGANG posted:
That latch backing plate is how you can tell (from this great distance) that this is a Kwality build.
That's Kwality with a capital K.
Everything from the combination of assorted (and missing) hardware to the fine masking job on the paint to the screw running in on an angle just speaks to the care and concern the builder took in screwing this one up together.
It's quite a thing.
@Stan Galat posted:That latch backing plate is how you can tell (from this great distance) that this is a Kwality build.
That's Kwality with a capital K.
Everything from the combination of assorted (and missing) hardware to the fine masking job on the paint to the screw running in on an angle just speaks to the care and concern the builder took in screwing this one up together.
It's quite a thing.
At this point, I just want to put a slotted screw in the available hole, just for fun.
It's unbelievable the money these cars are pulling. When I bought my speedster 6.6 years ago, I didn't see it as an investment, but rather just something fun.
@Kevin - Bay Area posted:At this point, I just want to put a slotted screw in the available hole, just for fun.
It's unbelievable the money these cars are pulling. When I bought my speedster 6.6 years ago, I didn't see it as an investment, but rather just something fun.
That should continue to be the situation. I don't want to ruin a good thing by overthinking it.
@Kevin - Bay Area posted:At this point, I just want to put a slotted screw in the available hole, just for fun.
I'm right there with you. A man could drill out a rivet or 2, put a straight slot in one, a spline drive construction screw in another, and a tamper-proof toilet stall screw in a third.
The more I look at it, the better it gets.
Did George from Texas screw this together, maybe?
Love it! I guess it's my turn today. Thanks, may I have another?
Keyboard warrior much, buddy?
I woulda used nothing but Tyraps to hold it together.
@Stan Galat posted:I'm right there with you. A man could drill out a rivet or 2, put a straight slot in one, a spline drive construction screw in another, and a tamper-proof toilet stall screw in a third.
The more I look at it, the better it gets.
You guys are killing me. I’ve spent 4-5 years cleansing my Spyder of atrocities like that. The best yet was a brass 1/4” barb to barb fitting jammed on the end of my clutch pedal spring and run through the floor because the hook on the end had broken off.
I’m saving the stacks of washers under my spring plate caps for when I finally get off the pot and lift my rear end up and/or install adjustable spring plates.
@JasonC posted:I don't think so.
Word is out that a cowboy that goes by the name of DannyP screwed it together with lots of wheel bearing grease and a dab of Neverseez to make sure there's no "cold welding" going on.
Jason
No way, Jason, @DannyP would have whipped out his MIG welder and tacked those heads to the the plate to make sure they didn't work loose and then safety wired them (sorry Danny, I think the ref just threw a piling on flag on me).
Another seller that should have taken the money and run. DMR @$30K.
dlearl476 I agree ,that's a whole lot of money for that car. As a Canadian, I always do the conversion and $30K US dollars works out to $41K Canadian ,+ shipping, + duty + brokerage fees,+ 13% sales tax on the Canadian $ value!!
Not a $30k car. You are looking at $6-10k to bring it up to my expections. A tired old std CMC interior - ugh. I see side curtain but no top or frame -- although invoice has charge for a canvas top in 1994. There's just a single hole either side where the top attaches. I see same car/seller is now listed for sale here on SOC. As owner of CMC - glad to see prices rise.
@WOLFGANG posted:Not a $30k car. You are looking at $6-10k to bring it up to my expections. A tired old std CMC interior - ugh. I see side curtain but no top or frame -- although invoice has charge for a canvas top in 1994. There's just a single hole either side where the top attaches. I see same car/seller is now listed for sale here on SOC. As owner of CMC - glad to see prices rise.
“Asking $52,000.00” 
“I was born at night…”
Go ahead and ask!
The VM speedster on BaT (C9C seller) has already hit $70k on the opening day. C9C definitely knows the BaT audience.
The bidding on the black outlaw VS is starting to heat up with two days to go. It will be interesting to see where that VS ends up.
By no means am I comparing the awful SAS speedster to either of those cars. Just making an observation.
It's clearly a CMC though, not an SAW/SAS or whatever it's called. Debatable whether who built it adds or detracts from the value.
Steve built a few CMCs before he decided to become the Bernie Madoff of the replica world.
It's great that Lawing remembers the car......
@Panhandle Bob posted:It's great that Lawing remembers the car......
Is it, though? Can somebody get a gag order on him? He'll only use any media platform to fleece someone else.
@DannyP posted:Is it, though? Can somebody get a gag order on him? He'll only use any media platform to fleece someone else.
That was meant to be a sarcastic comment. I found the statement in the post that he remembered that specific car to just be laughable.
This car is now being advertised on our site, with a raft of provenance...
If he remembers that car - how does he sleep at night when he remembers all the money and dreams he slashed by taking significant deposits with no intent to ever deliver SAS/SAW cars? Or is his memory lost there?
@Panhandle Bob posted:That was meant to be a sarcastic comment. I found the statement in the post that he remembered that specific car to just be laughable.
From what I understand, he completed so few cars, maybe it’s easy to remember them?
I'd wager he remembers what he built, but conveniently forgets all his marks...
