Car History

Purchased a 57 Speedster Replica in July from Specialty Sales in Benicia. The car's original owner was the late Timothy Locken. I am trying to get some background on the car. It is silver with black interior. Looks like a VS but Mary has no record. The car had 100 miles on it in February 2005 from service records at Bill's VW shop in Eureka. Bill "Bugdoc" Taylor worked on the car through late 2006. When I bought the car it had 2950 miles on it. It is in exceptionally good condition. Anybody know anything further about the car? Builder, etc.
Really have enjoyed reading the posts and have learned quite a bit about these cars. It really gets a lot of attention here in coastal Alabama.
Norbert Long

So I get to be the first? "Welcome to the madness!" Sounds like you got a sweet deal on a nearly-new Speedy. And I think you never will get tired of turning heads w/ this machine. They will do that. You should plan on testing its raod worthiness this spring and bring it to the Carlisle show. The "crew" would love to see you and the car.

Norbert - Welcome aboard! Post some pics. With the wealth of knowledge (and shenanigans) on this site you should be able to get more info on your new toy!!

Norbert---For some reason Vintage Speedsters doesn't keep build records on cars produced---I don't know why but that's the deal.

A VS is distinctive in a number of ways and if you will post some pictures it will be easy for someone on this site to tell you if it is indeed a VS.

Were there any files available from the seller you bought from? If not see who the seller got it from and call them for records.

I have spent a LOT of time documenting my car's specs. In fact after having it over 18 months I finally learned what brand of carbs it has!
I have a lot of documentation now so a new owner would have a mich better start than I did.

"Welcome to the madness" and show us some photos. Good luck with your car---whatever make it is you are going to really enjoy it!

Norbert - Welcome aboard (Kelly beat me to the "madness" thingy)! In addition to the Carlisle show, you should consider the run on the Tail of the Dragon that we do in October. Check out the thread in "Event" for info on this year's run. You'll find that these get-togethers, while they're a bit far, wind up being high points to your year.

Welcome Norbert. I think your car's I.D. problem is not uncommon from what I've read on this site. If your car runs great and you can get it on the road leagally without a huge hassel you have a winner no matter who built it. If you stay with it you will figure it out with the help of the "brain trust" available here. I've had my Speedster for 1 year today and I'm still looking for more info. on it. Happy motoring, Al

Thanks for the input. I'll take some pictures and get them posted. I have found out that the car has the 1776 engine, mild cam, suppposedly larger valves and balanced. I did get in touch with Tim's brother, Barry, but he did not know much about the car. Most of my driving has been close to home since I need to become more comfortable with the reliability factor. Also, no spare tire but I am working on that. You guys are right, this thing becomes addictive. My wife thinks I have lost my mind and at 66 years old I should be over all of this.
Norbert Long

Norbert, welcome and remember one thing here my new friend.. I will always get older, BUT I refuse to grow-up! This is our mantra here and I am sure you understand excactly what I mean while you're driving your Speedie, and of course do not forget to wipe that SEG off your face when driving your tub!

Speedster "D"

Norbert, you are no longer 66 years old. Once you get a Speedster, the numbers start going in reverse.

ah yes, "The Madness" It is stealthy. It is pervasive. It is not understood by those who have not. It is also known as the Fountain of Youth. It is the bomb . . .

Attached are some photos of the speedster. I hope someone will recognize and have some input. I believe you can pull up more of them under photos and my name. Still trying to understand how all of this works.
Norbert

Norbert---yep, your car is indeed a Vintage Speedster as You figured out from the "2005 Vintage Speedster" you put under your name.

"Tells" that are obvious are;

1. Door panel has door handle inside two horizontal stiching lines.
2. The head on picture shows that the top bow is not seated in the middle like at the sides. This is because Vintage uses no center latch. (Add one or your top will leak.)
3. The body on the right side just behind the front wheel seems to not be straight, it is "bent" to the right. This is on all VS molds.

The red wire from the Alternator is not like what Vintage does---looks like they wind the wire around a pencil to make it like a phone cord and attached at the top of the fan shroud then into the rear. Maybe your alternator was replaced?


Yours is an especially nice car--the extra gauges are sweet. I have no idea what year it was built--why did you choose 2005?

My suggestions;
1. Add a third light on the rear end--on or in the grill. J.C. Whitney has several.
2. Add a right side rear mirror---another safety factor. Get one that actually functions from Stoddard. Anywhere else will be a left hand mirror that won't work as a right side mirror.
3. If it doesn't have one, add a Wolo "Bad Boy" air horn from J. C. Whitney---great safety item and cheap.

What a great fun adventure you have in front of you! You can learn everything you need to know from the great folks on this site.---Jack

Norbert, where is Theodore, AL? If it's in the norther part, I'd recommend meeting up with Jack on his journey to Carlisle this coming May. You'll have an incredible amount of fun with the rest of us crazies.

Jack,
I am impressed. Obviously you know these cars well. I am learning. The reason I believe it is a 2005 is that I have work invoices from Bill's VW Shop in Eureka, CA for work done in April 2005 showing 100 miles on the car. There are several other invoices during 2005 with the last one showing 700 miles. I know the chasis is a 1966 model. Now at least I know it is a Vintage Speedster. I will take your advise and make the improvements. Many thanks.
Norbert

Lane,
I am just south of Mobile near Mobile Bay. I hope to have enough confidence in the car by May to think about attempting a long distance trip like that. I have done a little highway driving and at 60 I feel like I am really flying. There have been some posts about 3:88 rear ends and that is what I may need to get for the highway runs. I don't know what rpm's I can run on a constant basis, 4,000 to 4,500 maybe? From the few times I have done that it may be too much.
Norbert

Norbert--I felt the same way about my first long distance trip but last year I drove from Hot Springs to Carlisle and it was a blast.
There will be maybe 25 or more guys like us that do the trip and it is more fun than I can tell you!

You can make Nashville or Knoxville the first day and I'll be coming across on I-40 and will hook up with you in Nashville or Knoxville.
Last time I made it to Knoxville and hooked up with John Hallstrand and Lane and we drove together to VA where we stayed that night and had dinner with 3-4 others and the next day on to Carlisle.

We have just 8 gallon tanks and you will see about 27-29 MPG so you can drive 180 miles or so on a tank. It's good to stop anyway and stretch.

I don't want to hear about your 60 years old--I'll be 70 in March.
The Speedster bunch tends to be older---John is 60+, Lane still works at 49 or so, the average age is over 55 I bet.

There are exhibits there of other builders like Beck and SAS and a few more---wonderful stuff to see and you'll get a lot of good ideas.
2 years ago Lane actually built his car during 3 days at the Carlisle gathering---with help from others. Isn't that a wild story? The Speedster people who attend are super smart and are a wonderful resource too.

I hope you'll make the drive. We are about the same distance away I think--just eyeballing it. Last time I made a detailed plan of stops because it's sparce out here. Some legs were 190 and some were just 60 depending on where the gas was.

I'll bring my wife this time too.

I think I'd like to stay over another day and see Gettysburg which is very close to Carlisle.

Take a look at Carlisle pictures from last year---look under "events" and look at mid May or so last year. It's the huge Carlisle thread.

Take care---Jack

ps--Norbert--maybe you already have a 3.88 tranny? I think that most cars Kirk at Vintage puts out have them. Maybe some smart person can tell you how to find out. I could tell you my RPMs at say, 60 and you can see what yours are. (Mine is a 3.88).---Jack

Norbert,
Welcome, I read the forums regularly but don't post much. I purchased a speedster from a guy on the forum a few months ago. My car has a '67 chassis with ball joints and a '66 transaxle. Like yours, my car was really putting out some RPM's at highway speeds because apparently the '66 cars had a 4:26 ring and pinion. I made two mods on my car that I would not drive without now. I put on a disc brake conversion for the front (the car now stops!) and got one of those 'freeway flyer' gearboxes you mentioned. I got a gearbox from a guy named Rickey Graffeo in Texas with a 3:88 ring and pinion, also the 'super diff' and the usual upgrades these guys put in the gearboxes. Now at 65mph the car is turning 3,000 rpms and at 3,500 rpm, I am doing little over 70. Also I put in a little taller 1st gear so I don't have to shift into second before getting our of my garage like before. the car is much more fun to drive now and I can hear my wife talking to me when cruising (that is a good thing, right?).
There is a great group here, you found the right place for 'car camaraderie" and expert knowledge ( I am no expert, of course, but there are plenty here).
Enjoy the ride.
Marc

If you want to check our Rickey, here's his website, there are many trans rebuilders that are excellent.
http://www.graffeogearboxes.com/index2.htm

"49 or so" Thanks, Jack. The "or so" part is correct as I am 52. Actually the car was built in 16 hours over the course of two days, mostly by Gordon, his son Chris, Bill Drayer, Joe Soltis, Rocky Cimbrec, and a number of other folks that I now count as friends. It was quite an experience.

Norbert - If Carlialse is too far, you are hearby invited to our fall gathering in the Smokies, which you will find in events under 2(surprise, surprise) "2009 Fall Gathering in the Smokies", or something close. Heck, you're invited even if you DO make Carlisle.

Geez, you'd think by now I could spell "Carlisle".

Marc,
I believe you have the gearbox I need. I am turning about 3000 rev's at 50 and about 3500 at 60. I say about because my tach needle jumps a little. Did you buy gearbox outright or exchanged and how many dollars should I budget? I found someone local that could handle the swap. There aren't many folks in Mobile that can work on the old VW's. The car already had the disc brakes up front which I like.
Norbert

OK-Norbert---I believe that your tires are the standard 165 X 15 ones. If so, and you hve the 3.88 tranny, if you drive 76 mph you should be looking at 3,700 RPMs. If you don't have the 3.88 you will see more than 3,700 RPMs. Let us know what you get!---Jack

Norbert,

I paid about $1,000 outright shipped. Rickey did not want the core and the swing axle boxes like ours are cheap. You could pay less; I wanted the 3:88 gear, a different first gear (closer to second) a "super differential" hardened shift forks and welded synchros. Probably for regular driving you don't need all that stuff, and then the price would be around $700 I think, I just figured as long as I was at it....
Again, there are many builders out there, I used Rickey Graffeo because he was recommended several times by the local VW folks I know, and is an all around good guy and well known in the VW 'race' circles, but most of all was willing to build me exactly what I wanted. He has called me a half dozen times just checking to see if I am happy with the box.
I think Jack's numbers in the previous post are spot on. I checked yesterday and at 3,500 I was going 74 according to my speedo.
Marc