Considering Vintage...HELP with specs

I am considering a vintage speedster and have a few questions:

What HP does the 1915cc generate and what is the 0-60 time with the 3.88 transmission?

I am trying to get a sub 7 second 0-60, will this do it?

Is the handling good enough in stock form? (Will it match or better a Civic?)

Thanks for your help on this. Any other recommendations are appreciated. My budget is around $20k. I will be visiting Vintage in April and making my final decision.

Geoff

The suspension is a 1950's design. There is a hot topic on SpyderOwners.com right now on Spyder Handling. I like what Joe Maddock said.
As far as suspension, it's "Really good for 50's technology & really bad for 2004 technology."

You would need a lot of engineering and money to get close to even a slightly upgraded Civic.
-=theron

Sub 7 with a 1915? Maybe, but your motor would have to be fairly 'high strung'. I've got a very healthy 2110, and I seriously doubt that I could break into the 6's. Power costs money.
As for handling, these cars can be made to handle well at low speeds, but I don't care what you do to them, they are scary at high speed cornering. You're still working with a basic beetle suspension.
Ron

Call the builder and pose your questions. I'd be curious what he'd have to say. When I gave my laundry list of handling and performance desires to John Steele, he said, "Send me the car and $10,000.00 and it will be done"

That was two years ago when my car was just a year young & nearly fresh (2700KM) out of the Vintage stable. At that time the tally would have been $17,500 (price I paid) + $10,000 to buy the handling improvements and power I lacked.

Have you driven VWs or 356s to know how quirky they can be? I think we all fantasize about blowing the doors off some jacked ricer, but truth be told, if we hole-shot them at the lights, that may have to be our victory 'cuz if you get out on anything other than big easy banked freeway, a Civic is gonna' suck the life out of you with its handling.
Strap in and hang on

Geoffrey,
Are you looking at other cars as well as Speedsters? From what you have said, I'm not certain that I think that this is the car for you. Also, for what you are looking for I think that your 20K budget is a little thin. JMHO
John H.

If you want the power and torque for low 0-60 times build a 2332 or 2387 and fit a close ratio 901 5-speed transaxle; or turbocharge a 1915.

My daughters new civic really handles. It lack rubber though. Now a speedster is a trip if you like setting it up early in the corner and pushing it through in a four wheel drift with the gas pedal. No, it's unreasonable to expect civic handling, but then, it looks really cool and most civic owners won't want to try it. Yes, you can beat them to the other side of the intersection all day long. Truth is, it's way more fun to drive than a civic and the oversteer, push, understeer, whatever is something an experienced claissic driver can appreciate. What George said on power choices.

you could always buy the civic, cut the top off and put the speedster badges on it.

just a thought

John,
I am also considering a 993. I realize that these are not equals by any means. I plan to own both in a few years but the question is which do I purchase first.

Reasons I like the speedster:
Unique
Lightweight
Brand new
Good value
Easy to maintain
fun toy

Concerns about the speedster:
Build quality
Mushy handling
Too slow
I am 6'2", will I fit?
Easy to spend a fortune on options getting the car I want

It looks like I will have to go with a bigger engine to get the sub 7 0-60. I don't expect the car to corner like a 911 but I don't want a car that's like driving a waterbed down the street. I will call vintage and ask about the 901 trans and 2332(?). I have a feeling this is going to blow the project out of proportion. The $20k figure is a little flexible but as I approach $25 I start to get to 964 $$$ which raises new questions.

Thanks to everyone for your input so far. I am exited to test drive the car in April.

Jack,
What you describe is exactly what I m looking for. Raw, original Porsche rear engine handling.

6'2" will fit, mushy isn't a handling trait and yeah, you can spend $6,500 on a solid Type1 performance engine easy, but it's worth it. Other than that, where do the costs run up? Everything else is VW

I live on the side of a mountain and the road up to my place is tight, with curve after curve. I'll take on almost anything going up or down the mountain. At lower speeds my IM handles like a go-kart. I can't see much getting around these tigh corners faster than me. Long, high speed sweepers are another matter. I won't even try to stay up with Hondas et al on these types of corners. As Dirty Harry once said, "A man has to know his limitations".(or something like that).
As for the 911....make sure you've got some money left over for tune-ups, repairs, parts etc....because Porsches are not cheap to run.
Ron (just my 2 cents worth, or in Porsche terms $2.50)

A 1915cc engine will be a little timid, a 2110 requires a lot less effort to get the car to go when you need it to, really helps in traffic and hills. As for a 2333cc monster...that would be great but you have to figure out the header/heater box issue. A 1.5" exhaust system for a 2110 is the limit any bigger and you'll need a larger, more difficult system if you want to keep the heater. ---
but it can be done.

J-P

A 1915cc is a strong reliable engine . It will run with the best of them and out accelerated many factory cars and still get 30 mpg to boot! The key is to spec out and assembled correctly.
A good case, full flowed with sump, welded #3, balanced crank, mild cam ,lightened flywheel, big valve heads with a mild porting, decent carburation, Bosch 009 distributor and ignition, a good exhaust header system and making sure that the engine is properly cooled..
I used a 1915 for 5 years and ran the tar out of it. The only occassional problem I encountered was a carb getting a bit in the idle circut jet........Alan

A 1915 is good, a 2110 is better. Got to say I can really climb hills with this engine as the 1915 I had to downshift more. A four speed in these cars is tough so it's important to get a very flexable motor for street driving. The 2110 simple has more torque, a good thing for street driving. Just my two cents worth, I've had both motors.

J-p

DO NOT weld the case, it will probably warp, and the new cases are stronger and don't need it. Note that really good handling will only be achieved with an IRS (as opposed to swing-axle) transaxle.

IMO, anyone that likes small engines in these cars hasn't driven one with more power and torque.