Considering a purchase

Beck is much closer, a bit more money and worth it (trust me).

I'm sure someone in your neck of the woods has one they'd allow you to at least ride in.

Hogan.

It's Kirk Duncan. Actually vertically challenged is an advantage. Your view isn't split by the top of the windshield. (I'm 5-9)

There are several VS's in your area. I am sure some one will chime in here soon. Good luck.

Art

Kirt... that's right. I had the K part right... Thanks. Love how fast people reply here!!

Will, i have done a lot of research on the different builders. Why would you say that beck is better? I have heard they are best for taller drivers and they use different chassis that pass the "bend test" better but Kirt brought that up before I even asked and the VW chassis seem to work just fine for many years. Thanks for your help. 

Hogan, almost.... KIRK.  

(No problems, I had to look it up to reply to your post.)

Haha... I'm not off to a good start here... thanks bud.

 

Here's really nice one. In Cali though.

https://www.speedsterowners.com...5#520207029601966665

Becks are far superior

I agree with what Art said about the split view through the wind shield frame. Your 5' 7" should be a plus. I took all the shims out from under my seats and slammed them right on the floor. Then I shimmed the front two mounts a little to tilt the seat back a little. That made a big difference and it also helped to make ingress/egress easier with the top up. A draw back was the shifter was a little out of reach so I bent it back a little and were good now. I am 5' 10". If you buy from Kirk do two things. Get a tranny and engine built by someone you know and trust and send them to Kirk. Before it's shipped to you fly out and take it for a ride to a mechanic around here and have them perform all the items on Gordon's check list. It's substantial and thorough. Many people on this site have their recommendations for tranny and engine builders out here. My preference is CB performance for the engine and Rancho to the tranny.

Disc brakes all around and sway bars front and rear aren't a bad idea either.

Lots of people on here have other opinions. This is just mine if you buy a VS from Kirk.

Overall he does a pretty good job but he has his weaknesses and being human, these change from time to time. Also, overall, based on comments here, he seems willing to make good on problems. Eliminating those problems before they occur and before final payment happens is highly desirable of course.  This could be said of all those who make these cars I guess.  Overall, my experience with Kirk and his company have been good.  I did find a few glitches using Gorden's list and eliminated some problems before they happened. Along the way I even created some of my own too ! Ha Ha

There may even be a few people on this site that may offer to do the quality control check out for you ?............Bruce

Beck definitely builds nice Speedsters and if you have the money you can't go wrong buying a Beck, but I also agree with Bruce.  Vintage builds nice Speedsters too and you'll save several thousand dollars if you have a budget you need to stick to.   Kirk has built thousands more Speedsters than any other builder out there and will stand behind his cars if you have any issues.

Hogan,

If you like you can go to the top of the page and click on "members". When the page opens you can click on "view as map" select North America and narrow it down by your area. Find an active member and send him a PM and see if you can meet up to look at their Speedster. 

You owe it to yourself to at least look at a Beck as well as a VS. Carey has a few used ones available. 

Thank you. Where are the ones listed in Cary?

You need to do a lot more research on this site and think about the use for the car, your budget, how mechanically inclined you are, proximity to the builder, builder reputation, and service, before, during, and after the build.

I personally would only buy a Beck or an IM and am a loyal Beck owner for 6 years. If you want to talk in detail, PM me with your phone number.
>

Hogan.  I'm not that close to you.  Norfolk VA.  But if you want to see an Intermeccanica I'm pretty close.  As a fake 356 bourgeoisie owner I would be happy to show you what I believe is the pinnacle of 356 plagiarism.   Where is my caviar?

Phil, we eat mac & cheese, no money for caviar, spent it all on...

THE MADNESS!!!!

Hogan I am 5'4" and on my second Beck and have no issues at all. First one I purchased used directly from special edition and took delivery on a brand new build in June. As you can see I have the traditional speedster seat and I sit below the windshield which is quite nice. Like Tom I would only consider Beck or IM and where you are located a trip to Bremen IN would make a lot of sense.

Sorry for my brevity Hogan. 

Carey Hines at Beck Special Edition located in Bremen, Indiana. 

Joe Fortino posted:

Hogan I am 5'4" and on my second Beck and have no issues at all. First one I purchased used directly from special edition and took delivery on a brand new build in June. As you can see I have the traditional speedster seat and I sit below the windshield which is quite nice. Like Tom I would only consider Beck or IM and where you are located a trip to Bremen IN would make a lot of sense.

Joe.   No pad on the dash?   I thought all Becks had the pad rather than the metal strip.   I like yours much more. 

Id be looking for a used, low mile speedy that has been well sorted out and maybe some extra mods that new take a lot of time and $$$,,,u need to know exactly what U want,,winter is soon and prices drop, don't be in a hurry

You're not looking close enough to. They now have a pad and strip. The new pad is modeled after an original Carey has in his shop. Natalie was the first.
>

Hogan;

Do you have a ballpark,  $ in mind?  There exists huge differences in new car purchase $  from the brands already mentioned here.

And are you looking for new or used?

We can talk till the cows come home about quality of one brand over another, but you ought be narrowed down on a price range long before  going much further.

Nothing worse than being a champagne lover on a beer budget. Mistakes will happen.  And a stark reality is, how much can you afford to lose, if the dream evaporates for one reason or another?

Barncobob is offering sage advice.  Hopefully someone soon, in your area, will offer a test ride/drive.

I have no skin in the game, I own a now defunct builder, CMC. 

Art

Used is ok. Hard to find anything close to me. I'll do some more research. As far as price goes, it's hard to say. Everyone loves a deal but I do understand you get what you pay for. On the other hand my gut tells me that if I have to pay 35+ for quality It may be harder to realisticly pull the trigger. Where would I be comfortable...  Id say mid 20s. 

Basically if I'm on a beer budget, at least I'm drinking beer... That ain't a bad thing. 

Hogan,  Should you have an interest for a custom wide body street rod styled speedster that is within your budget. I am in Pa 17202  the build I am finishing will be completed in 3 weeks.

Hogan posted:

Used is ok. Hard to find anything close to me. I'll do some more research. As far as price goes, it's hard to say. Everyone loves a deal but I do understand you get what you pay for. On the other hand my gut tells me that if I have to pay 35+ for quality It may be harder to realisticly pull the trigger. Where would I be comfortable...  Id say mid 20s. 

Mid 20's!? Theron and Anthony both have *excellent* examples in that price range. Alan has a custom wide body in the same range.  Hell, I'd almost sell my frauline for one of those two.

TRP posted:

Hogan posted:

Used is ok. Hard to find anything close to me. I'll do some more research. As far as price goes, it's hard to say. Everyone loves a deal but I do understand you get what you pay for. On the other hand my gut tells me that if I have to pay 35+ for quality It may be harder to realisticly pull the trigger. Where would I be comfortable...  Id say mid 20s. 

Mid 20's!? Theron and Anthony both have *excellent* examples in that price range. Alan has a custom wide body in the same range.  Hell, I'd almost sell my frauline for one of those two.

Will you throw in the five-speed with the Fräulein?

Hogan,

We happen to live not far from SouthPark Mall in Charlotte, NC and for the last few months Kirk at Vintage Speedsters has been working very hard on a special car for us which will probably be completed sometime this week. 

With Charlotte being approximately 2400 miles from Hawaiian Gardens, CA it's difficult to say exactly how long it will take for it to be delivered by transporter but when it does arrive you will be more than welcomed to come by and check it out.

Let me know if you would be interested. 

Cliff Presley   

Buying used is fine if you're mechanically inclined and have some background in general areas  of a restoration. Or at least, know where there are reliable resources to do things that you can't or don't want to touch.

Yesterday I was at the Pomona Car Swap Meet. There was a Speedster Replica there for $15K.

Just on my walk up, I calculated $5K  for it's visual restoration. Paint, Upholstery, No Top. No Tonneau, The Steering Wheel was really corroded and wind shield looked as though it had over-spray from a sandblaster. Didn't look at the tires but no hubcaps. My thought was buy a new one and save yourself a lot of work. With that in mind you would now have a current listing of resources to now add all those little improvements that we all seem to want or do. The plus is that everything is clean. Another is the minimal risk of when you open up something you don't find cancer and have to dig deeper into it to repair something else along with what you originally intended to accomplish. This car yesterday could cost another $15K to have something really nice. There was a real 356C coupe sitting next to it for $49K. A skilled person might be better off to go for that one as a fixer-upper with a fair chance of doubling your investment..........Just some thoughts from your humble servant..........Bruce

 

 

Tom Blankinship posted:

You're not looking close enough to. They now have a pad and strip. The new pad is modeled after an original Carey has in his shop. Natalie was the first.
>

Oh yeah.   I see it now. 

Robert M (Not a Poopiehead) posted:

TRP posted:

Hogan posted:

Used is ok. Hard to find anything close to me. I'll do some more research. As far as price goes, it's hard to say. Everyone loves a deal but I do understand you get what you pay for. On the other hand my gut tells me that if I have to pay 35+ for quality It may be harder to realisticly pull the trigger. Where would I be comfortable...  Id say mid 20s. 

Mid 20's!? Theron and Anthony both have *excellent* examples in that price range. Alan has a custom wide body in the same range.  Hell, I'd almost sell my frauline for one of those two.

Will you throw in the five-speed with the Fräulein?

Gladly... at this point it's a box of parts.  

I'll take the box, Ted.