anyone own a vintage speedsters widebody

Ronald, generally, there's some more to the question than that.
Some folks here do. I don't. What's the question, specifically?

How's it ride?
How's it handle?
What width of tires do you need?
Can you get Chevy bolt-pattern brakes?
Will it fit through a 48"-wide garage door?
Can you register them in Alabama?

What do you need to know?

Yes

My standard Speedster is about 60" wide so I don't think a widebody will fit through a 48" door.

Maybe Cory has a Speedster-bodied golf cart?

This will fit..

48 inch door? No problemmo!

Bwaaahahahahaha

Troy, that's hysterical!

hi thanks for the photos..
what i want to know is im thinking about buying a widebody from vintage speedsters..
I would like to know how happy current owners are with the car..
Is it reliable?
Is it fun to drive?
Would you buy it again?
Hows the quality?
Would you recomend me buying one?

I own one and have had 4 others pass through my hands in the last year. What would you like to know?

Here are links to pictures of all of them:

http://kvan.hopto.org/orangespeedster.htm

http://kvan.hopto.org/blackspeedster.htm

http://kvan.hopto.org/pewterspeedster.htm

http://kvan.hopto.org/midnightbluespeedster.htm

My car: http://speedster.hopto.org/

I'll take a wild guess at where Ron is from, what he does and his religion. Am I close Ron?
New Jersey
Real Estate
Catholic

I like the ultra wide body on one that Marty G had --- Awesome fat butt!

https://www.speedsterowners.com/files/view.asp?sf=Mioprimo&f=Sandy-356+07-26-09%2Ejpg

Ron your car is your car, nobody will tell you what it should look like, not even Kirk.. and he builds the damn things... we all own dif cars, but I happen to own a VS and I love it.. some may have other opinions and that's cool too, but I know what I like and I like what I bought over 4 years ago and still running hard... wide bod is off the hook! good luck my friend...


Speedster "D"

I know of no one on this forum who has anything bad to say about Vintage or the folks who own it. That's a pretty good endorsement in my view.

Just be realistic in your expectations. These are low volume, hand-built cars, and they WILL have sorting issue that need to be dealt with.

David
How many miles have you put on the car?
Do you have classic insurance?
Also what motor do you recomend.
Thanks for your input

Ron - did you read:

Ready for a Speedster Replica? - (Everything you need to know)?

wolfganf
Do you know anyone in the New Jersey area with a wide body from vintage speedsters

Max Zimmer

Ron
Many folks on this site are more than willing to help you with your questions. That is what we do here. However, it seems as though you have not done very much research here prior to you asking some very basic questions that are probably pretty much answered already. I would suggest that you do a little homework, and then, if your question has not been answered, I am sure you will get a host of opinions. You will then have to sort out which ones you like. My opinion of widebodies is that those who own them, love them, those that don't seem to favor the more traditional look. Which look do you like? Only you can answer that one.

Troy, you clever devil, that is a very funny picture.

Warren
your right im just starting out doing my homework ....just wanted to know how well built are the cars from Vintage Speedsters..the quality and are they reliable ...they look great ....i just dont want to buy a money pit..
thanks for all your input
Ron

Ronald, my first car of the 356 variety was a Vintage Speedster that I bought one year old from someone who lived near me in Illinois. It had about 3400 miles on it and I definitely had some sorting issues. I had to learn about the care and feeding of VW engines which is not a major undertaking and with the help of John Muir's book and the good folks on the website I had it running like a top in no time. You HAVE TO stay on top of the maintenance issues and you will most likely be rewarded with a dependable car.

That said, the previous owner of my VS prepared me by saying that "this is a basic sports car". I found this to be true in that weather protection was laughable; it leaked in the rain and provided almost no heat. Although a good car and nicely constructed, I did not see it as a long trip car, not impossible mind you, but not for me. And that's why I have something completely different now.

Would I buy another one? Surely, if only I had a fourth garage stall. But if I did have the space, I would be looking at a Suby-powered Spyder. Woo Hoo!
my 2 kroner
Hoss

Ron - I will throw in a couple more points to consider. If you are going to use this car as a cruiser, that is, not drive it too hard, any model of VS or JPS will work. If you plan to drive it a little harder, i.e. some track time, autocross or the like, you will need to go to a beefier frame, better brakes, and engine, etc., like a Beck or any car with a sturdy undercarriage. Pan based cars worked for years for VW and they will work fine on a car that you plan to drive like a VW. In my opinion, the finest frame, body and overall build is an IM, but you will be paying 3 or 4 times the money. I do believe the best bang for the buck is still a VS. Kirk has really improved his product since I bought my 2006. But, again, how are you going to drive this car? That is what you need to ask yourself before you pull the trigger.

Warren
Thanks for your input what is the company you mentioned im
ron

IM = Intermeccanica

http://www.intermeccanica.com/

You may have to cut and paste to get there. It is a very cool website.

But this one is cool too.

http://www.vintagespeedsters.com/

Here's another one:

http://www.jps-motorsports.com/

Oh, and Ron, you are not done with your homework! I know you are excited and want to get in to this, but read man, read a lot.

...and continue to ask questions as often as need be.

Hey Wolfgang, you forgot http://www.beckspeedster.com

Did you guys forget about SAW? :-)

Ron.
Like others have said, you need to do the reading. It is pretty clear that you haven't if you have to ask what is IM?

These cars are very cool and flashy and it is easy to get enamored with them when you first stumble on to them. However, based on how frequently we see very low mileage cars offered for sale here and on eBay, its clear that many new owners just as quickly become unenamored with them.

After the newness wears off, you will find that owning one of these cars is like owning a motorcycle. You don't take them out in bad weather and they have very few of the features of modern day vehicles. If, after 6 months of owning it, you find that you are still wearing a SEG everytime you drive it, you are probably in for the long haul. If you find that it is spending most of it's time sitting in the garage, we will soon see it listed for sale.

So read up Ron, which you will most likely have to do anyway to figure out what SEG stands for.
Troy

Ronald--my Vintage does NOT leak in the rain.

Although the originals advertised the top as an "emergency top" it was not designed like a Miata convertable but you can see lots of info right here about how others have waterproofed their Speedsters.

Hey Lane, did you mean Hey Warren? I loved my Beck and Carey was so great to work with, even though I didn't buy it new from him. Thanks Carey, not forgotten.

Ronald, don't let these guys scare you...Buy a used VS or even CMC, and see if these little jewels are something you really want, the investment is small compared to a new one and in six months if you still have a chubby every time you get in it, the re-sale will be about what you spent initially, and the time researching the prices and build time of the various builders, will give you all the info you need....
I'm on my third tub, first was traditional (VS), second was a wide body (CMC/FF), third is a super wide (VS)which I love...
I would only buy a VS (if you want to know why, email me)

Ron,

I agree with Vince. Here is my used CMC, still smiling after 10 years.

You're right Warren. Senior moment.

Lane, you're too young for senior moments my son.

And Jack Crosby, you are fortunate to have the advantage of years of development and new ideas for sealing leaks on Speedsters. What I remember back in the day was folks not venturing out in the rain or talking about the best ways to dry out a soaked cockpit. I don't remember anybody talking about blue painters tape back then. You live and drive in a good era my friend.
Hoss

Jack
your vs speedster dosen't leak in the rain? how did you do it,
ron

.....stays in the garage bwaaahahahaha

He's the inventor of the Car Condom.

Jack is not only the Car Condom President, he is also a client.

LOL