Guys,
Just searching for an IM 'Turbo' car, not a 'GS'. I know Henry doesn't make this model anymore, but was wondering how many he made and who here has one. How do they like it? Does anyone have pictures?
Thanks,
Kelly
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
Guys,
Just searching for an IM 'Turbo' car, not a 'GS'. I know Henry doesn't make this model anymore, but was wondering how many he made and who here has one. How do they like it? Does anyone have pictures?
Thanks,
Kelly
Just searching for an IM 'Turbo' car, not a 'GS'. I know Henry doesn't make this model anymore, but was wondering how many he made and who here has one. How do they like it? Does anyone have pictures?
Thanks,
Kelly
Hopefully someone out there owns one or has pictures of Henry's 'Turbo' car. How many were built?
Thanks,
Kelly
Thanks,
Kelly
Here is Frank's Turbo, is that what you were looking for?
http://rennsport.ca/E_membership/adsinfo/1994_Porsche-Intermeccanica_RS.pdf
I found that car while trying to dig up some info on my current car. There is not a lot of info out there on Older IM -GS, RS and Turbo cars with the P car Sixers but here is where it was noted that the construction process evolved over the years:
Around 1979 and '80 a design and tooling was developed for the construction of a massive neo-classic sedan with a 129 inch wheelbase on the Checker (of taxi cab fame) chassis. During this time, however, the California economy experienced a downturn and the market for such a vehicle collapsed. A more succesful project for 1980 was the design for a soft-top conversion kit for the Ford Mustang being sold through Ford dealers.
A visit to Vancouver, B.C. was paid in 1981, foreshadowing a move there the following year. Before this took place Frank developed the glassfibre-bodied Roadster RS, a replica of the 1959 Porsche Convertible 'D' (D for Drautz), based again on a VW Beetle pan.
So, in 1982 Intermeccanica International Inc. is born in Vancouver and the Roadster RS goes into production. Quite a bit of these were made and they were mostly sold to Japanese and U.S. customers before some structural changes were made to the RS, including the replacement of the VW pan with a newly developed tubular chassis, arguably making the car an improvement over the Porsche itself.
the Roadster 356 (or RS)(I.I.)
Later on the RS was further refined with the addition of fender flares, a modified front, a hardtop, a new steel tubular chassis and the use of the mechanicals of the 6-cylinder Porsche 911.
Henry Reisner, Frank's eldest son, has learned the trade from his Father and has been successfully running the business for some time now.
the Roadster Turbo
Currently Intermeccanica International offers a choice of the following high-quality hand-built vehicles: The Roadster 356 (RS), the very aesthetically authentic replica of the 1959 Porsche 356 A Convertible D, and the Roadster Turbo, which looks like a mixture of Porsche 356 and modern 911.
Source:
http://www.team.net/www/ktud/intermeccanica_history.html
http://rennsport.ca/E_membership/adsinfo/1994_Porsche-Intermeccanica_RS.pdf
I found that car while trying to dig up some info on my current car. There is not a lot of info out there on Older IM -GS, RS and Turbo cars with the P car Sixers but here is where it was noted that the construction process evolved over the years:
Around 1979 and '80 a design and tooling was developed for the construction of a massive neo-classic sedan with a 129 inch wheelbase on the Checker (of taxi cab fame) chassis. During this time, however, the California economy experienced a downturn and the market for such a vehicle collapsed. A more succesful project for 1980 was the design for a soft-top conversion kit for the Ford Mustang being sold through Ford dealers.
A visit to Vancouver, B.C. was paid in 1981, foreshadowing a move there the following year. Before this took place Frank developed the glassfibre-bodied Roadster RS, a replica of the 1959 Porsche Convertible 'D' (D for Drautz), based again on a VW Beetle pan.
So, in 1982 Intermeccanica International Inc. is born in Vancouver and the Roadster RS goes into production. Quite a bit of these were made and they were mostly sold to Japanese and U.S. customers before some structural changes were made to the RS, including the replacement of the VW pan with a newly developed tubular chassis, arguably making the car an improvement over the Porsche itself.
the Roadster 356 (or RS)(I.I.)
Later on the RS was further refined with the addition of fender flares, a modified front, a hardtop, a new steel tubular chassis and the use of the mechanicals of the 6-cylinder Porsche 911.
Henry Reisner, Frank's eldest son, has learned the trade from his Father and has been successfully running the business for some time now.
the Roadster Turbo
Currently Intermeccanica International offers a choice of the following high-quality hand-built vehicles: The Roadster 356 (RS), the very aesthetically authentic replica of the 1959 Porsche 356 A Convertible D, and the Roadster Turbo, which looks like a mixture of Porsche 356 and modern 911.
Source:
http://www.team.net/www/ktud/intermeccanica_history.html
Thanks Chris,
That is the picture and writeup of the car I was looking for.
Do you or anyone here have an idea of how many of these were produced. I don't mean with the Porsche engine, just the body/chassis combination?
Thanks again,
Kelly
That is the picture and writeup of the car I was looking for.
Do you or anyone here have an idea of how many of these were produced. I don't mean with the Porsche engine, just the body/chassis combination?
Thanks again,
Kelly
Kelly,
I am far from an expert but, I think there was something like 14
I am far from an expert but, I think there was something like 14
Thanks Chris,
I really like the look that IM took with this car. I liked it so much that I did a search on the Porsche concept cars. I see that it takes ques from the 356B Super 90 front end, the 695 concept, and the 901/911. To me it looks like if Porsche had made one, it would have been around 1961-62 time frame. Of course, they probably would not have had the flares, but they look right for it to me.
I really would like to find one for a project to try. If I could get one with just body and suspension parts, I would like to use the engine that Jake Raby is building for me. But, I don't think I will have any luck with that. I will just have to go ahead and build my Karmann Ghia into my 'Speedster' using the parts I have already.
Is there anyone out there that has a roller? It would really be nice if Henry has a shell with frame mated in the back of his shop that he needs to get rid of ;-) !!!
Thanks again for your research.
Kelly
I really like the look that IM took with this car. I liked it so much that I did a search on the Porsche concept cars. I see that it takes ques from the 356B Super 90 front end, the 695 concept, and the 901/911. To me it looks like if Porsche had made one, it would have been around 1961-62 time frame. Of course, they probably would not have had the flares, but they look right for it to me.
I really would like to find one for a project to try. If I could get one with just body and suspension parts, I would like to use the engine that Jake Raby is building for me. But, I don't think I will have any luck with that. I will just have to go ahead and build my Karmann Ghia into my 'Speedster' using the parts I have already.
Is there anyone out there that has a roller? It would really be nice if Henry has a shell with frame mated in the back of his shop that he needs to get rid of ;-) !!!
Thanks again for your research.
Kelly
Just wanted to say that I think I finally figured out which Porsche the IM 'Turbo' is modeled after. After closer examination of a couple 356 Porsches, it seems to me that it looks very much like the 1962-65 356SC which is the 356B/C body. What do you guys think. The fenders are very close. I found several pictures of cars on Traderonline.com and one 62 on Ebay that if you look closely at the fronts, they are very similar.
I really like the looks of that car. It is not as rounded as the older 356A series and yet not as sharp as the 901/911 series.
Just wondering what you guys thought.
Kelly (Cohibra)
I really like the looks of that car. It is not as rounded as the older 356A series and yet not as sharp as the 901/911 series.
Just wondering what you guys thought.
Kelly (Cohibra)
Give me "rounded" any day. That's classic, man. I liked the new look too (the first B's), but in this day of look alike spam in a can boxes, the 356A's and 356 pre-A's are truly classic. What say, my brothers?
Hoss
Hoss
Hoss,
I like the 'rounded' look also. I also happen to like the 'B' and 'SC' look also. It is just that all the makers happen to make the 'rounded' look of the 'A' and 'Pre A' models and that makes them all the same. As you said; spam in a can...
I learned to drive in a 1957 Porsche coupe when I was just 14 in North Carolina in the mid 60's. My very first car of my own was a 57 VW cabriolet. I love 'old' style, but also happen to love all Porsches and would like to see a manufacturer make a 'B' or 'SC' version. I just happen to think the way the headlights fit in the fenders is right for me. Check out www.intermeccanica.org. You can see pictures of Henry's Roadster and 'Turbo' model and I hope you can agree that they both look good. If I could get Henry to make me a 'Turbo' model coach, I would jump at that chance. I like being different. Everyone and I mean everyone (makers), has a 356A or Pre A, and there really aren't any 'B' or 'C' (which to me are the same) out there.
Kelly
I like the 'rounded' look also. I also happen to like the 'B' and 'SC' look also. It is just that all the makers happen to make the 'rounded' look of the 'A' and 'Pre A' models and that makes them all the same. As you said; spam in a can...
I learned to drive in a 1957 Porsche coupe when I was just 14 in North Carolina in the mid 60's. My very first car of my own was a 57 VW cabriolet. I love 'old' style, but also happen to love all Porsches and would like to see a manufacturer make a 'B' or 'SC' version. I just happen to think the way the headlights fit in the fenders is right for me. Check out www.intermeccanica.org. You can see pictures of Henry's Roadster and 'Turbo' model and I hope you can agree that they both look good. If I could get Henry to make me a 'Turbo' model coach, I would jump at that chance. I like being different. Everyone and I mean everyone (makers), has a 356A or Pre A, and there really aren't any 'B' or 'C' (which to me are the same) out there.
Kelly
Kelly
I think Karl (from this forum) bought an "ENVMO" replica a while ago. Do a search and see if you can locate the thread. Envmo (probably spelled incorrectly) was a replica of a B/C Conv. that was made in Brazil and was reputed to be a very high quality repro.
ed
I think Karl (from this forum) bought an "ENVMO" replica a while ago. Do a search and see if you can locate the thread. Envmo (probably spelled incorrectly) was a replica of a B/C Conv. that was made in Brazil and was reputed to be a very high quality repro.
ed
Ed's right. We had an Envemo show up to Carlisle last year, the first one I had seen in the flesh, so to speak. Mitch Plapp of this website drove his to the gathering last year and impressed us all with his high quality ride. When I first saw it, since it was a 1960 B Cabriolet replica, I thought it was an original. It was one beautiful automobile.
Unfortunately, these cars are no longer built and have not been for a number of years. They come up for sale on ebay infrequently and are often located in South America.
BTW, wasn't some south of the border company preparing to produce new issue versions of a similar car a while back? I seem to remember pictures being posted within the last year but can't remember the particulars.
Kelly, as far as "spam in a can" goes, the phrase doesn't really seem to fit since there are so few 356's nationwide and especially in my little corner of the world where most people have no idea what they are. The only way I could see that you could get that impression is when there is a gathering of the faithful (infrequent) or by reading the builder's advertisements.
IMHO, 356's, replicas, originals or what have you ain't no spam even in the most commonly produced form.
my 2 kroner
Hoss
Unfortunately, these cars are no longer built and have not been for a number of years. They come up for sale on ebay infrequently and are often located in South America.
BTW, wasn't some south of the border company preparing to produce new issue versions of a similar car a while back? I seem to remember pictures being posted within the last year but can't remember the particulars.
Kelly, as far as "spam in a can" goes, the phrase doesn't really seem to fit since there are so few 356's nationwide and especially in my little corner of the world where most people have no idea what they are. The only way I could see that you could get that impression is when there is a gathering of the faithful (infrequent) or by reading the builder's advertisements.
IMHO, 356's, replicas, originals or what have you ain't no spam even in the most commonly produced form.
my 2 kroner
Hoss
I believe that Carey Hines said the cabriolet that they were trying to produce was based on the Envemo molds. Unfortunately the fellow (in Mexico, I believe) who was to provide them with some of the necessary parts was murdered, placing the whole project on ice for the time being. Too bad, the prototype was gorgeous.