CMC Speedster Advise

Hi all! I rencently purchased a CMC Speedster for $10.500, when purchased however I did not know about JPS or Vintage Speedster, therefore I thought I got one hell of a good deal. Once at home I noticed all of the defects that it had:

1.Needed a new top and hardware
2.New seats
3.Paint Job has some scratches
4.Needs a passenger floor pan
5. and other accessories that needed to be replaced

I really love the car and want to fix it as a new will cost me over $20K. I also almost forgot to mention, the title and registration reads as a 1955 Porsche, does that add value to my car? Also, any suggestion on weather I should keep it or sell it?

Any advise is greatly appreciated.

I don't think it'll cost you nearly that much. Many of us own CMCs that started out as weekenders for other folks, and the replacement market here is great.
Post what you need in the classifieds on this site, and I'm sure there will be offers to help you out for a whole lot less than you think.
As for paint and pans, there's probably someone close to you geographically that one of us has used, and recommendations for who to go to are here for the asking.
Good luck. Post photos when you can.

Oscar...The FUN Begins! Working on these cars are half the fun! Good luck....I hope you enjoy your experience!

Cory,
When do you think you will need the wiring harness?
Al

None of those things prevent you from driving and enjoying the car so they are minor. If you value your passenger that should be your first priority. If its really badly rusted a complete 1/2 pan is less that $100 and maybe 2x that to have someone install it. If minor - paint with POR15 and patch with fiberglass. It is DIY if you have a chistle (I used a $10 air power muffler tool), angle grinder and can take it to someone to have it MIG welded back in after fitting it. There are also fiberglass pans too. The original surface of the CMC is thick (colored) gel coat (not paint) --- if its still that gel coat it can be wet sanded and buffed to a like new finish (do search on Forum). TOP - who needs a stink'in top! -- they're meant to be driven with top down. Seats are very simple and the old ones can be used as template for new covers (or look for Porsche 914 seats).

Fact that it is registered makes more valuable than unregistered car - but other than that no value. Hopefully it has the dual beehive rear lights to qualify as a '55!

Wolfgang, or anybody else,

Do I need to remove the entire fiberglass body to work on the pan?

Thanks

Oscar,
I was in a similar situation. I bought an old IM for $8500 and I've put about $5000 into it and other than a few little details it's almost done. All the work included new paint, new suspension, new wheels & tires, new brakes, numerous engine "tuning" items, new gauges, steering wheel, shifter, the list goes on and I'm currently having the top repaired for about $100. I did some of this work myself but most of it was done by professionals. There is no way you need to put $20k into your car if it is in resonable running condition. All that said, this site is an incredibly valuable resource! These people have helped me through most every process and I am in enormous debt to all. Keep your car and stay right here - everyone here is willing to help.

Print off especially pages 50 & 51 of the CMC build manual so you can see how the VW chassis was mated to the fiberglass body and steel CMC subframe (this is a very massive steel perimeter frame). There are bolts, hopefully silicone sealer and fibergass cloth/resin (later 2 to waterproof the interior - ha, which maybe didn't work on yours!). The job is indeed easier to do when the two are separate but with the aid of an air chistle and a small 3" air grinder it can be done without removing the fiberglass body/subframe. (Air chistle cuts the spot welds holding pan to center backbone and grinder cuts weld at ends and cleans up welds). If you have access to an air compressor both those tools are inexpensive from Harbor Freight and Tools (under $30 together). I used Brazilian aftermarket (JC Whitney) pans when I prepped my chassis. If I were to do again I would use the replacement fiberglass pan halfs and reinforce where the seat and the seat belts mount. Check the driver's side in these areas - you need metal plates or very big washers to disperse forces --- not just small washers and nuts!

Check out instructions at:

http://www.vwinnovations.com/type3.html#floor

Hi Oscar!
As for "Needed a new top and hardware"..... Forgetaboutit! I got my car last Feb and the 1st thing that went into storage was the top, side curtains & hardware. A speedy is a roadster not a convertible!
Drive, tinker & enjoy!

I bought my speedster for $8500 and have invested about $3500 in it for various things. Think about it this way. You have made a down payment and you have to make monthly payments til you own it except your car increases in value instead of depreciating. I know it can be frustrating but sometimes the "new" ones aren't perfect either. Good luck,
Scott

Oscar

I know it can be very frustrating.I got my CMC 2 1/2 years ago and I have put $5000 in it. To be honest with you, YES,it has crossed my mind before to sell it,but every time I look at it, I just can't do it.

No one's blaming you Lambros; your car looks great!

Thank you all!

You guys are great and motivate me into bringing my car up to speed to new condition. I live about 5 minutes away from JPS Motors and John has been tremendous help in hooking me up with some of his friends that purchase parts from him and wish to get rid of their old ones by selling them to me; in addition, he gives some really good advise on how to fix little things in my vehicle, really great guy he is. I also go to Vintage Speedster from time to time to buy parts from Kirk. These little cars are addictive, each week I buy accessories to make it look bettter. My wife actually hates it and tells me that I pay more attention to the car than her, lol.

So far I've spend about $1300 in:

Aero Mirrors
Seats
Front Blinker Lenses
Convertible Top

and more to come. I will however take Wolfgang's advise and priorotize fixing the floor pans to ensure the safety of my passengers. Here are some pictures of my baby....

I like it!!!



Ricardo Thanks

Thanks Lambros! I just checked out your pictures and saw that you have a Spyder, nice, must be hard deciding what to drive on weekends with two beautiful toys. . LOL...

Oscar do you still have your old seats? What kind are they?


Also go to www.thesamba.com www.shoptalkforums.com. Take a look around at both of those sites, there is a LOT of info on how to replace the floor pans. It is not that hard to do.

Bryan

Oscar

I wish.The other car belongs to somebody else.

B T,

Yes, I still have my old seats, I believe they are the originals that came with the CMC kit in black color. The new ones that I purchased are the ones that Vintage Speedsters installs on all of their turnkeys.

How much are you asking?
you can email me at btaylor1211@sbcglobal.net

Oscar - good for you. Silver was always my first choice but I had to settle for red (second) If bt passes on the seats - I'm definately interested! I've been looking for some used ones and it always seems I'm one person too late! Let me know and enjoy your new love. - Mickey
mjdonatello AT comcast.net

Cheers to you for getting your speedster. I too just bought a CMC project car. It sounds like we are in a similar situtation. Let me know if there is anything I can help with. I live in Orange County and I have a little Red faded speedster. Oh geeze she needs work!!

BT,

I am asking $200.00 + Shipping. They are in great shape with the exception of the seat tracks. You can however use the seat tracks from a 1988 through 1990 Honda Civic you cna get them at the junk yard and will run about $15.00 bucks for the pair and and work better than the repros... ((((Got this tip from John Steele at JPS since this is what he uses on his cars)))


Darren,

Congratulation on your new purchase! Any pictures?

Oscar,
Let me know if BT passes - Thanks

Surething Mickey!

Here are some pictures of the seats for you and BT to see.... Also, I just noticed that there is a vinyl scratch on one of the edges of the seat that you are able to see in the picture.

I will keep you posted is BT is interested.

Also, if either of you decide to buy, I have over 100+ eBay feed back as both seller and buyer, you can review my ebay screen name which is: oscarr95

I also have a Dino Wood Steering Wheel that I purchased for $67 in Ebay + $20.00 for the VW Adapter if any of you are interested. Since my entire enterior is black I did not like the way it looked. I will post pictures later on today..

Pictures of Dino Steering Wheel for Sale.

Asking $87.00 (what I paid for Steering Wheel and Adapter) + Shipping Charges.

Oscar,
Those are exactly what I'm looking for! All you have to do is tell me where to send the $$$! As soon as you hear from BT, as I don't want to seem pushy, drop me an email with details. Thanks

BT passed on the seats, therefore, Seats Sold to Mickey... Mickey, I will ship them to you by Saturday as discussed in our phone call.

Don't forget to send me your complete address...

Oscar

Anyone in the market for a CMC/Streetbeast hood,or wiring harness?
Both are brand new.Contact me via e-mail.
Altoid

Hey what seats did you end up going with and from which shop. I'm between the speedster style and the Vintage speedster cushy ones. I cant decide.

Darren,

It was a very hard decission between the ones I had, see pictures that I posted, or the Vintage Speedster cushy seats, but since I take my wife for rides I had to go with the more confortable ones which I thought were the Vintage Speedster. I also had to take in consideration one hell of a deal that I could not pass on the VS Seats. My plans however were to get my old ones redone with more cushion just like the ones that other shops install to keep the original speedster look.

Good luck in your decision.... I posted some pictures that I got from ebay to make your decision some what easier.

Your decision is a mirror image of mine. I like the speedster style seats better. However my girlfriend will be riding with me and she wants to take the car up the coast. So I'm thinking the VS seats will be my choice too. Also I have black interior and I'm switching that to tan. So you got a great deal huh, any chance of passing that deal info to a broke fellow speedster owner......

D

Darren,

The Hell of a Deal was through a hook up via John Steele (JPS). He actually sold some modern upholstered bucket Speedster seats to one of his clients that had the VS Seats, he then gave his client my phone number as he knew I didn't like my bucket seats. The client called me and sold me his seats for half the cost that I would of paid at Vintage Speedster.

I go to JPS just about every other week, if I hear of a good deal I will defenetily pass it on to you.

Post some pictures of your baby so that we can see it.

Oscar

Damn a deal like that brings a tear to my eye. Good job Oscar! Yea let me know I have to make a trip up to jps anyway soon. I'm getting my baby wet sanded and I will neeed all new body gaskets, and gauges, and seats, and and and......