Currently negotiating on a Vintage Speedster - few questions

Hi All,

I am in Australia and down here 356 Speedsters real or replica are a rare beast indeed. A friend is selling a suburb Vintage Speedster replica and I'm thinking of buying it. It had a genuine 1600cc 356 motor fitted a couple years ago. He is happy to take it out and subsitute it for a VW motor and sell it to me like that. Do you believe the Porsche motor is worth the extra $6K?

Is there anything in particular I should have checked on the car. I'm brand new to air cooled motors BTW.

Cheers,

Cal.

NO....

Why?

Get the VW engine and keep your 6k as a savings. The P-356 engine is good for bragging rights but the parts are very expensive to repair. I know there is a healthy Air Cooled VW presence in Australia. You can build up a VW Type I engine for cheaper.

Good luck with your hunt.
Dave

I'm hoping the engine would never need a repair. It was rebuilt under 20000kms ago (it came out of a 356A coupe). Why not just stick a VW motor in it later if the worst happened?

You asked a question, we answered it....why spend 6 Large that you don't need to....
I'll tell you what, send me the money if you have that much to blow for no reason...

I mostly agree with the previous post. What is the total cost of the car? What are the specs, builder, year built, etc...

Save the 6K, why have a slow P motor in a replica. Or....buy the 'P' motor and sell it on Ebay....$$$ but put a nice VW engine in the car.

Go with the VW engine and pass on the porsche engine.

6K would get you one HECK of a Type one motor!

that's the 2.1L+ turbo territory

Cal,

Its a freaking replica, its built on a VW pan. A great little sports car but even if you tart it up with Porsche badges, Porsche engine and obsess over the little correct details, its still a VW.
So put in a nice VW engine that will kick a$$ compared to a 356 engine.

Again good luck
Dave

If I had an original, I would want a Porsche motor. With a replica, I would stick with VW. I don't think anyone would care if you have a Porsche motor in a replica anyway, once they hear kit car, they get dissappointed.

Agree leave the 356 engine for a 356 restored. Althouhg, they come stock with a few more HP - to rebuild/maintain they are quite costly. Hop up parts are readily available for VW T1 engines (even for T4 - abeit more costly). Plus you can get far more HP -- for a fraction of 356 parts prices.

Get them both, use the T-1 for driving, clean up the Porsche engine, mount it on a block of wood and put it in your foyer or family room.

I did that with a Coventry Climax engine, the one with Lady Godiva on the oil cap. Old Jaguar engines look good also. A pool of black epoxy to simulate an oil leak would also be arty.

Michael, If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were crazy....
Hey wait a minute, I don't know any better...so you must be crazy..
And so is Cal if buys that 356 motor....

356 motor anything with "P" on it will cost you big bucks stay with the VW motor and dress it up with a "P" oil filter can w/ replica braided "lines to no where" etc. if need be ~Alan

The car was manufactured by Vintage Speedsters in the US in 2001. It then had a VW 1600 in it. In about 2003 it had the 356A motor fitted as the owner is a Porsche collector. Please be aware that there is only a couple of Speedsters in Australia and only a handful of replicas. The asking price is $36K with a stock VW 1600 fitted or $42K with the Porsche motor. This car has been built to a very high standard and authenticity. The only give away is the handbrake location. A ratty 356B coupe is worth $50K here and a real Speedster $200K+. So putting a value on it is hard. I figured I buy it as is with the 356 engine and then perhaps fit a VW unit later and sell the 356 motor.

Cal-Contact the people at Vintage; they're highly regarded. They've done RHD cars I believe. With shipping, tariffs, and Aussie registration, do you know how much difference there would be in price?
Vintage is listed under the "makers" tab at the forum top heading.
ADD-I'm wondering if they have a representative down under?

Cal

There is an outfit called RC Speedsters in Austrailia. They have a nice youtube video add with a Subaru WRX turbo engine.Just google RC Speedsters. Don't know the cost, but it is a pretty blue beauty with flared fenders.

Cal...with everything that's been said, you are still trying to justify the 356 motor, you didn't want advice, you wanted verification that the 356 motor is worth the price...it's not....
Just do what you were planning all along and buy it as is...

I've been in contact with Kirk at Vintage Speedsters. Due to current customs regulations and also ADR's they can no longer ship turn key cars to Australia.

I've seen the RC Speedsters, but they have only built 1 without flares and from what I can tell, it isn't of the standard of the Vintage Speedsters. A Suby turbo would certainly get along though. I have a race car though and this is not what I'm after in my Speedster! :-)

Any way around this ...."no longer ship turn key cars to Australia.?"
(remove motor after build and ship separately?) Just asking, and I'm sure Vintage would work with you? If they shipped out of Canada is there a way of "beating the system?"
Also-if you bought the existing Aussie Vintage, I don't think the extra money for the Porsche motor is worth it; 356 parts are hard to find-I'd imagine worse down-under. If you think it's all there and see some potential for re-sale/use when the market "bears" it, then maybe-but it's a pure judgement call. Now go have yourself one those Aussie beers for us "up-abovers"!

Cal, don't let Vince get you down! That 356 motor is just the ticket! Even though your car will be a fake like mine is, you can at least experience the pleasure of spending a fortune for less performance and reliability like real Porsche owners! You can go to a shop where some guy with a German accent will find you a worn out part off a rusted POS and sell it to you for more than a set of CB Performance WedgePorts would cost, install the part for the same labor as Pat Downs would charge to build you a 2110 Turn Key, and and then insult you by saying " I don't like working on dese FAKES!" Keep the 356FAITH!

Cal-It's 12:35 tomorrow (23rd) correct?
Time here in So. California is 7:35 pm, the 22nd

It's now 1.30pm Tuesday the 23rd and I'm at work so unfortunately can't enjoy one of those aforementioned beers!

Man I don't know what to do now.

The current turn key basic car from Vintage Speedsters is $22K USD, which is $28500 AUD. I'd have to pay for shipping which is about $3-4K and then pay duty of 10% on the car + the shipping, making it some $35750 AUD for a base model. This car has quite a few extras.

Cal, buy the frigging car, you'll get years of enjoyment and the money will become less significant....

Yep, that's why I'm selling an investment fund to pay for it. It's not giving me any enjoyment!

Cal-you're getting down to brass tacks here; a good thing! (old expression, not sure where it came from- what's the Aussie version of that?)
But I digress. The price difference is pretty close and, you could specify some particular option, pick a color, AND for not too much more some engine upgrades etc. Also you could discuss a finder's fee, or referral fee with Vintage for future business. I certainly can't speak for the owner's-no way. But they build a nice Speedster which should get some attention. (Don't know the $$ on an Aussie-built Subaru powered version but I'm thinkin' a souped-up VW powered Speedster has got to be competitive). And performance upgrades are available from all over the world. The sky's the limit with these toys.
Now go have that beer!

Bought it with 356 motor.

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Cal, welcome to the madness! I hope you enjoy your new toy! Glad you found one, now drive it like you stole it!

Cal - glad it all worked out for you! Now, go and enjoy many miles of top-down cruising in your new ride!!

Peace - Out!

Thanks fellas. Picking it up in the morning.

NOW go have that beer!