Beginners' Questions

I have already found reading your postings helpful, so as a beginner at this kit car game, I will look forward to further communications. My son and I are both quite ignorant about cars and see building one together as a baptismal by fire way of learning. We have two neighbors who have built/are building cobras. I also have an old German mechanic who knows German cars backward and forward. We live in the San Diego area and have been to the Thunder Ranch shop, met the guys there and liked what we saw and heard. We are quite certain that we want to build a Spyder. The names of Beck and Vintage come up on the website a lot more frequently than Thunder Ranch. Any advice about the manufacturers? Thunder Ranch has the advantage of being just a few miles from us. However, I don't want to sacrifice quality, service or price just for convenience.

Also, do the manufacturers differ much in the clarity of their manuals?

Getting a little ahead of myself, a friend saw a subaru motor in a Speedster. Does anyone have any experience with such a motor in a Spyder?

Thanks for your help,

Keith

Keith,

I think you'll find this site a treasurehouse of info. The folks here are GREAT!

I don't own one (YET!), but have been learnt a bit here.

Thunder Ranch Spyders are built on the Beck frame, and T.R. is the only "major" house which sells kits to be built. Both the Beck and Vintage are now solely turnkey now, so if you want to get your hands dirty, the T.R. is the way to go. If not, then since the TR and Beck are virtually the same it is a matter of wait-time and/or locale, as both are very good quality. Vintage has a different frame, providing rear suspension alternatives, and from I can gather is a premier builder also.

Tom McBurnie (of T.R.) is VERY reputable and knows his stuff. You can check with the San Diego Chapter of the PCA (Porsche Club) as many of the folks there are familiar with him and his work (their Monthly magazine "Windblown Witness" did a write-up of his RSK a couple years ago with race reviews).

Search the forums for a couple weeks and you'll find some very helpful info. A few personal, flaming "discussions" as to which is better (along with some fab comedy!), but I think most will come to the same bottom-line... beauty is in the eye of the beholder, just settle on the one YOU like best: it's your money, and YOUR car.

Welcome to world of the Spyder

Although the TR is the only commercial group selling unassembled cars there may still be other individuals who have purchased kits and are selling them unassembled.

The following post appeared in the "Classified" section of this site on 4/29/05. You may want to contact this individual and/or post a "Wanted" ad in the classified section.

"If you are interested in putting together a brand new BECK Spyder, using your own labor (and saving BIG $$), then consider this.

There are several brand new BECK "body packages" for sale right now. They are complete, with top, side curtains, complete interiors, wired, gauges, wheels, battery, etc....everything except the engine, transaxle, and 5 tires.

This is not a fire sale. I simply have several of these that I do not have the time to complete.

I may be reached, for further details, at Interamerica@mchsi.com"

Hi Kieth,

I'm in Carlsbad and built a Beck a couple years ago (a very old kit that wasn't completed). No experience building a car but mechanically inclined and love cars. If you want some tips, a hand, etc. just let me know.

Bert

Tom, Terry and Bert,

Thank you for taking the time to respond. I appreciate your encouragement, Tom, about Thunder Ranch and Tom. He did seem very knowledgable, but then it doesn't take a lot for me to be impressed. I will continue to read the forums and Terry, I'll get in touch with you as well. Thanks for letting me know about what you have. Bert, Carlsbad isn't that far from La Mesa so if you don't mind, I will probably contact you.

Thanks again,

Keith

Keith,

To clarify...I DO NOT have the kits....I cut and pasted the contents of a post from another thread.

Good luck,
TMc