best performance speedster

Which platform would be best for an overall performance speedster for the budget? As in, good power/great handling performance...If your car can handle you can carry more speed into and out of corners.

Ok, so powerwise, I'm probably thinking around 150-160hp...As far as handling, would it be too much to ask to make it handle like a Lotus Elan or at least close to it? (I seriously doubt it since my Miata can't really come close!).

Yeah, I think you could probably make a rear engined fiberglass re-body built with VW mechanicals designed in the 30's handle as well as a new purpose built Lotus. The automobile hasn't really advanced all that much in the last 70 years or so.

Nothing personal, but I think this kind of expectation is why there are SO many 1 year old Vintage cars with 750 miles on ebay. These cars (John H's, as yet uncompleted SAW, excepted) are pretty accurate recreations of actual 356 speedsters, built 50 years ago with modified VW tooling (which was already a nearly 20 year old design by the time 1957 rolled around). If you want a really cool, usable replica of an antique car, without feeling like you are drawing a mustache on the Mona Lisa every time you modify it- this is the car for you. They can be modified to be pretty fast, if you're willing to spend as much for an engine as you would on a nice used Miata. They can be modified to handle really well, for a rear engined car with torsion bars and some frame flex. They can be modified to be passably weather-tight (although the shape of the windshield really limits the possibilities for a good seal) in a "I guess if I have to" sort of way.

They cannot be a new car. They are not "new speedsters" like the new beetles or new minis. They feel "old" even when they are new- most of us love that most of the time. The guys in cold climates usually have a love/hate thing going for three months a year. Forewarned is fore-armed.

A year or so ago I took out a special edition Mazda Miata. This thing had all of the bells and whistles; hardtop, HEAT, power windows, door locks, great stereo, great seats, HEAT, decent power, six speed tranny, good gas mileage, HEAT, four wheel ABS disc brakes, and on and on. I could have bought the car for what I've put in my 84 IM. Would I rather have the Mazda?.....in a word...no.
My wife just shakes her head, and since I've bought the single cab she has begun to mumble under her breath (is this a bad sign?)
Ron

uh-oh, the mumbling?
I got the "How come all your cars need sooooo much work? Why don't you just buy a new one?"
Jeez, I guess she's right. From her view (behind the wheel of a 2003,top of the line Subie Forrester) my cars are a little, old, eccentric, odd...
But that's why I like 'em.
I got an old truck to pick up parts, yard art, and when I'm in that mode, there ain't no big hurry-up.
When the weather's real bad or I'm in a bigger hurry-up, the targa is just right, an 80's platform 911. It has its flaws, but I'm just not all that jazzed (yet) to step up to another turbo carrera, all wheel drive thing.

And then there's the replicar speedster. Quirky, far from weather proof, a bit on the loud side, as good as any of the others I've owned but for different reasons. All of which have been touched on in recent posts, but mostly 'cuz it ain't a Z3 or a Miata or an M2 a S2000, a boxster, or any other homogonizzzed, compromizzzed mass offering where conformity has taken the pencil out of the hands of the designers & builders.

There might be some new breed speedster on the horizon that will come closer to your expectations, but those that are out there now, for the most part are true to the originals, wartzzz and all.
Buckle up

Re Performance - Henry at IM says my new Speedster with 220 BHP 2,387 type 1 VW engine is quicker than the 911 engined cars he has built. He also says low end performance and engine smoothness is amazing, and that ride quality and and handling are faultless (rack and pinion steering, Koni shocks, etc.).

Probably a low 12 second 1/4 mile car with street manners, but it's an expensive engine (custom case, titanium rods, etc.) mated to a selected ratios close ratio 901 5-speed transaxle, and the suspension has custom features also, which all adds up to a lot of $.

Is it that hard to make an old VW to handle like the 60s Lotus Elan or at least something close to being comparable?

I am NOT looking for a car that's comfortable (although that'd be nice), I am looking for a lightweight sports car that can handle really well, with the iconic looks of a Porsche.

Ok, so looking back, I probably only need about 120-130HP...BUT, I do want it to be able to handle.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the car you are trying to compare or replicate with a replicar speedster, in theory, had an altogether different set of dynamics. Weight front to rear was different, littler wheels, live axle rear with wishbone(?) front, but in any event, when we'd go to the autocrosses, the minis and the lotus elans were superior in that jump in and out of cone business, like a go-cart.

There's a different sense about Porsches, real or replicar. You got your pushin' into a corner and your holdin' on for dear life, don't let off the throttle comin' outta the corner and a host of other aquired distinctions depending on power and pedigree. My little Vintage with 130+/- HP is pretty tame I'd dare say in your realm.

I'd love to drive one of those IM/Beck-mobile cars with a frame as opposed to a pan just for giggles and laughs; same HP as I have now. I doubt they handle much better than my pan-based replicar (and I'm not trying to start anything here)but doubt they would meet your expectation criteria either.

You want something that feels like it's riding on rails, then you need to look at newer technology... you want a little more thrill, a bit of uncertainty and a stylish ride you look into 150-160+ HP in a replicar.

You want thump, rumble and a ton of torque, get yersef a Cobracar

Ten-four on the mumbling and all the coulda woulda shoulda,s that come your way from any family members.

A deep breath and another antacid, and I'll be all right.

If you want a visceral experience buy a speedster. Women, won't ever understand why....it's a man thing.

When I want a comfortable,numb, boring driving experience I drive my toyota camry. When I want to feel alive and make some noise it's speedy time!

You're either a speedster guy or your not. Trying to make one of these cars into a cadillac is just silly.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't a Lotus an English car with Lucas electronics....Good chance the Lotus will be in the shop as our replicas are puttin' down the road.

Anybody ever use a "driving brake"?? This was a dune-buggy invention that gave you three e-brake levers: Left, Right and center over-ride for both sides. The purpose was to brake either rear wheel independently to help you steer in sand, but when I had one on my buggy years ago I found it to be SUPER effective in controlling rear end drift in fast corners (and in quickly changing lanes in traffic).

I always thought that a well set up IRS pan-based chassis, with good sway bars front and rear, wider tires (especially, dished OUT at the rear) PLUS a driving brake, would make one heck of an autocross machine! You might need a little weight in the front if it's a Speedster, but I have to tell you, those driving brakes are unbelievably effective!!

Gordon

in my opinion the best platform for the speedster is a turbocharged intercooled 1600 cc type 1 vw engine with electronic standalone fuel injection.

engine type: because being aircooled flat four is classic
displacement: because anything bigger gets unreliable and expensive
turbocharged: because 40-80 hp are not enough, 150 or more sound better
intercooled: so you can avoid detonation and be a 100% reliable turbo motor
standalone fuel injection: because I like driving a car more that I like messing with tuning it
and if I have to tune it I can doit from my drivers seat with my laptop

Steve, I like your turbo idea. If I had another motor built I'd like to go with a turbo...maybe with a 74 or 76 crank, thick walled 88s or 90.5s and fuel injection. (180 hp would be nice). I wouldn't bother with intercooling because I feel it would be too hard to install (for a semi mechanic, like myself), compared to the hp gain. I'd keep the boost down to help the motor live a long and happy life in speedster land.
Ron

Arvin: It is difficult to go fast for cheep. For the amount of time, money and effort necessary to make a pan based car handle near or at an

Any rear engine car cannot be compared to any other engine layout. There is a bias toward oversteer. Even a 911 based car is dealing with this characteristic.

I have been raised with rear engine cars and I love power oversteer and four wheel drift that can be dialed in. An IRS based tube chassis has potential to be a great handling car. There are many modern (new tech) parts that are available to bring one of these chassis up to grade. Using adjustable sway bars, shocks, and camber/caster settings you can make these chassis work great.

People raised with camaros and front engine American iron will find these cars a challenge to bring up to speed.

I agree on the rear-engine car being a unique experience. I don't know a lot about 4 wheel drifts in them, but I do know how to set them up early in a turn, hang the rear out and get back down hard on the throttle to push them through the corner. The are such a gas! It is a different driving experience.

Jack, go to any dirt track and you'll see what you just described.
ed

Rear engined cars make bad drivers look worse.
Ron

Had the pleasure a few years ago of pulling up behind a real, gen-u-wine Lamborghini (dealer plates and all) on a fairly deserted freeway way interchange. I'll admit to crowding his rear end to "urge" him along. The driver's head response looking at his rear view mirror asssured me he knew of my presence. He slowly increased speed as did I. I had my nose buried up his butte for a good mile. As our speeds approach triple digits through the curvy interchange, his looks in the rear view got more and more frequent. When we finally exited the interchange onto a very straight and deserted freeway, I was about the same position I was when it all started. He finally downshifted (big blue exhaust puff) and he was GONE. I guess there are some things a $250,000 can can do better than a VW based pan, but smiles per mile are hard to beat.

Right you are David. I'm sure you were smiling during this encounter and I smiled when I read your account of it. However, just about the time the "blue cloud" appeared, I'll bet that dude had a smile which went from door to door.