Considering buying, want to pick some brains.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1957-Porsche-Speedster-Replica-/221193930610?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item33802f8772

Go to the Articles section and read Paul Harford's article first.

Find somebody on the site who is close demographically and knowledgeable to act as a mentor and give you the straight scoop. (A couple of guys with nothing to sell you will step up, I'm sure).

Go to Carlisle if you can.

Drive a few of these. Try to drive as many different manufacturers and power  train configurations as you can.

Ask questions, lots of questions. If you ask them on the forum you will get a plethora of great information, a modicum of BS, and meet some great people who will help you immensely.

WTTM, MUSBJIM will explain when he sees this.

Good Luck, you're in the right place for help on replica Speedsters!

You might also take a look at MrMom's car as well as the one you are already considering. Start comparing and once you have seen enough cars with enough options you'll feel pretty comfortable.

Contact Troy Sloan and DRClock on the site as well. They turn out some pretty cool refurbished cars as well. Both guys have been doing this for years. They have good standing in the Speedster community. They have a stake in selling good cars and aren't going to forget who you are the way a dealer might.

Ask about the new car manufacturers and stand back. Everybody has a favorite!

Wow, that was pretty fast. I read Paul Harford's article yesterday... twice.

This may seem naive, probably because it is, but if these are all built off a VW pan, have a VW suspension/engine, etc, how much difference can there be, and is it really noticeable? I know there's a difference when you talk about a 1600cc and a 1915ccor 2110cc, freeway flyer trans verses stock, etc, so where are the differences between the manufacturers and how are those differences assessed, by convenience features, seat of the pants?

I hope that doesn't come across wrong, I'm just trying to understand what I'm comparing - apples to apples - and how to compare so I make as informed a decision as possible.

This group seems a lot like the VW community, only smaller, from what I've been able to gather from the last several days of trolling your web page here. I miss that, it was a lot of fun doing the get-together's, shows, and cruises, plus the tech days were very helpful.

Mr. Mom, I'll have to schedule a visit sometime in the next few weeks. Gotta say I'm not a fan of those seats. Any chance you have others that are closer to the smaller seats I'm used to seeing in Speedsters (at least the few I've seen that is). I do like the color though, much more so than the white, and of course the price difference from the one here in San Antonio could maybe have an impact on my decision making process, possibly.

Again, thanks for the quick responses. Looking forward to hopefully owning one soon.

Go to the Makers section, visit the linked websites and carefully read all the various car builders descriptions of the features on their cars. There are plenty of distinctions to be drawn. Classic Speedster vs. Widebody, tube chassis vs. pan, aircooled vs. water cooled Suby's, various suspension options, colors, wheels, mirrors, tires, luggage rack or no, driving or fog lights and how mounted, third brake light options, seats, carpet, coco mats, radios, it goes on and on just like everything else.  

The higher end cars have custom frames, little if any vw pan used except maybe enough to qualify to use the vin #. Look at their various options.

Having driven several, you will see a world of difference even between cars with the same drive train because they come from different manufacturers or have been customized.

Spend some time in the gallery and the clips section of this site. The variations in these cars is stunning to see.

I consider myself a novice when it comes to these cars. You won't believe the level of expertise you are going to find once you start asking specific questions.    

I thought JPS used a chrome strip across the dash and not the padded rubber either side of the dash eye brow?  Or is that only on newer ones?  Dash looks surprisingly like my CMC dash.  Not that I'd mistrust a used car dealer.

Ad is pretty much a cut and past from JPS site car specs.

Bob, thanks. I was thinking very narrowly in that I assumed all were VW pan and drive train. Completely left out the tube frame and water-cooled offerings despite having read about those just yesterday... senior moments are happening more frequently these days.

Wolfgang, they did clip that straight from the web page, and have it printed out and laying against the windshield. I want to say I saw "JPS" somewhere else when I was looking at the car, might have been on the VIN plate inside the drivers door, or something under the hood or decklid, but can't recall. I'll take a closer look when I take it for a spin Saturday, and if I imagined that then I'll be sure to ask why they believe it to be a JPS production.

Reading through some of the threads here concerning cabin heating, is it normal to have to add an aftermarket solution? The white one I'm looking at has heater vents in the foot wells same as a Bug, although I have no idea how well they work.

I'll spend some time going through the manufacturers web pages so I can cut down on the "basic" (newbie) questions. I've checked out some of the gallery pics, but haven't looked at any clips yet, so I'll hit those up as well. I really can't stop looking at these now that I realize I may very well have one in my garage soon.

Thanks again for all the responses.

Id pass on that car and wait for a nice VS to come on the market for that price.

Just as a for instance, Joe Soltis mentioned earlier this year that he might be thinking about selling this...now here's a nice one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RynPjqX_F1c

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vL-ylCKDOs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f12L5F4jDYM

There are other cars out there other than Vintage Speedsters.  Depends on what you want, and what you are willing to pay.

That is most definitely NOT a JPS.  Everything in the interior screams that it is a homebuilt CMC.  In that case, the price is waaaaay too high.

The heater vent on the side channel is a good clue for the CMC argument. If they had posted an engine firewall view I'm sure it would have revealed the bump or stand off on the firewall.

I told you you'd get lots of help!

The car you are looking at appears to be a CMC to me as well.

Heat in these cars can be hard to come by, but not impossible. I understand that DRClock has a fix that generates a comfortable cabin temp if a car isn't getting the job done. If A/C becomes an option you want, there are plenty of guys who can give you good advice on that.

I live in the upper midwest and my Vintages heating system is useless. Air conditioning occurs when I have the top down only.

Financing...that's a difficult one I think. I may be going out on a limb here, but I would guess most guys here haven't financed their Speedsters. Many of us here are old geezers that have squandered our life's savings on such foolishness. At least that's the road I'm on.

"Sorting"...it's figuring out why the hell the thing doesn't run like every one else's car does who have spent months, years and money figuring (sorting) out. To quote someone hear, "It's a slippery slope" or as Stan usually says...oh, I forgot, but he is quotable too.

BTW, Keith, we have an alternative universe on Facebook...it's more of this same stuff, a little less technical, but a good place to see more pretty pictures and who knows what. Mostly all the same guys and the ones that use Facebook for whatever reason. I think this will link you there: http://www.facebook.com/groups/252843904750388/ Then there's a sub-group to that, more international in flavor, more cool pix etc.: http://www.facebook.com/groups/37365812134/

In short, we're everywhere!

Oh, and ya, Todd's car is getting sorted out the hard way in my opinion.

"In short, we're everywhere!"

Kinda like germs.

Now here's something that I find amazing...

http://austin.craigslist.org/cto/3575270651.html

That's right up there with the real thing. Can someone really expect to get $43,000 for a 356 replica?

Now then, something a bit more realistic as far as my range goes, and this one is well within my range...

http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/cto/3615691952.html

Anyone need a kidney? I have one for sale or trade for that one in dallas.

Way less than "the real thing" given what I've seen the "real" ones go for. I don't think the IM is priced too unreasonably because the build quality is so good (which translates into a high $$$ figure). Us guys (we guys?) sometimes get drunk when buying toys. I've got to the local liquor store to play the MegaMillion tonight....

It's only money.......

WaywardPluto-

Dude, you've got a lot to learn.

Sorry, Pluto. It was Kieth you were quoting.

Kieth-

Dude, you've got a lot to learn.

X2.  There are Speedsters, and then there are Speedsters...

Keith, don't confuse coupes with convertibles.  Real convertibles are MUCH more expensive.

For some examples check out 356s on ebay: 

http://motors.shop.ebay.com/Ca...rksid=p2041548.m1305

"Real convertibles are MUCH more expensive". Or perhaps more correctly true Speedsters (4,145 produced) are more costly than Convertible D Roadsters or Cabriolets.  Funny years ago, I had a Karmann hardtop Knotchback coupe - which was a 2 year only Cabriolet with a factory welded on hardtop.  It seemed to be the black sheep of the line - until someone figured out that the hardtop could be cut off and you were left with a cabriolet.  They are rare yet still not popular.

I've noticed the coupe prices are starting to creep up too.

GROUNDHOG DAY!!

Heck, for the price of that pristine Intermeccanica, a guy could own a REAL 356!

Like this nice basket-case coupe for example:

Honestly Kieth, reading this thread from beginning to end, I'd recommend you not buy a replica 356, especially if you think you'll be getting a loan. They're just not that kind of car. If it's a toss-up between anything else and a replica, get "anything else". Serious compromises have to be made in nearly every area of the entire process.

If something else will scratch the itch, buy it. If not, I'd recommend driving a few of them before you buy.

Forewarned is Forearmed.

Greg:

Where can I find the number of Speedsters imported to the US in 1959?

I know in '59 Porsche was transitioning to the new body and there were only a few Speedsters brought in, but my brother had one and I'm curious about it.

It was a 1500 "normal", IIRC, and my Dad loved to drive it when my brother was off in the Air Force - "Just to keep it limbered up!"

Gordon:

Have you tried this site:  http://derwhites356literature.com/

I looked in Johnson's book, The 356 Porsche - A Restorer's Guide to Authenticity, but could not see any import numbers.

Seems they clouded issue by including the Roadster D in production numbers.  Wish I had kept VIN of the '62 Knotchback I had.  Paid $300 in '74 for it in Newport News, VA - it had chrome Karman Ghia bumpers, no brakes and a STOP sign patch in floor --- but it ran great. Did some work and sold it for $1700.  

http://porsche356registry.org/...-models-by-year.html

Lol, what a fun crowd. Yes, I'm fully aware that even a barn find, original unrestored 356 Speedster can easily fetch low $100K; and I've also gathered that IM's are at the very top of the reproduction Speedster market. But, I'm also aware that for $43K asking price of that particular IM you can get a very real 356 coupe, not a repro (as well as a very nice 911, or Lotus, or for an additional $13K a brand new Audi TT RS).

But thanks for the very entertaining "education"... it was worth every penny.

I also drove the white Speedster at the local dealership, for the experience of actually driving driving one. It was actually fun, and despite being 45 degrees I really didn't get that cold, and it wasn't as windy as I had anticipated. The biggest issue with this car was the typical Beetle numb and wondering steering. The 1776 engine was also barely sufficient, but it still held up with traffic. The brakes though, while the peddle was very firm, wouldn't be effective in an emergency, absolute stand on the peddle with both feet stop. So that would be my only real concern, most especially with the way people drive hear in SA. When you take a hard look at the car you really do see a lot of little issues with the body/fit lines, paint chips, etc. With any luck I'll hear back from the guy in Dallas, otherwise I'll wait to see what comes available.

Keith

Does this mean you've been educated out of the desire to get a replica?

Stan's always right.