Deal On An IM

Oddly, the add doesn't make mention of windows and I can't see winders on the doors. Had thought all IMs had ind up windows.

The really early IMs had side curtains.  Since that build year isn’t mentioned that could be the case although the low mileage makes that seem unlikely.  The ones made in recent years have power windows and I’ve seen the switches in several places.

Thanks. Learn something every day.

Other than the key ring - I don't see any IM indicators like INTERMECANNICA cast into hood/trunk hinges or an IM sticker on the passengers door opening or the hood handle.

This one definitely has power windows. You can tell by the scrapers on the door and the rubber weather strip that's attached to the windshield.

@Richard31 posted:

Oddly, the add doesn't make mention of windows and I can't see winders on the doors. Had thought all IMs had ind up windows.

Richard, on IM models with the roll-up window option, the tell-tale would the rubber trim on the windshield (green arrow)...

...the power-window regulator would be located somewhere on or under the dash, or disguised as a door handle (red arrow)...

...and the driver and passenger would close their respective doors withe the door-pulls (yellow arrow).  

I agree with @Troy Sloan that this is a very nice car for a fair price!

I think Henry used to put the power window switches under the dash in the "olden days".

And yes, judging by the door tops and foam rubber on the windshield, that one has real up/down windows instead of side curtains.

Henry usually puts the power window switches under the dash - two on the driver's side, one on the passenger's side.  However, he has also rigged up the switches attached to a window winder handle, so that you slightly pull the handle, and that activates the windows.  This is similar to what Jim shows above.

This particular car has a lot of original 356 features.

The VIN stamp on top of the dash - driver's side - reads IM13549 or something, and that can be taken as proof of manufacture.

It's interesting the car is a speedster, but has Convertible D door panels.  German square weave wool carpets, much thicker seat bottoms, indented kick panels with leather accents, IM leather key fob - all Intermeccanica characteristics.

IM style slotted floor for the brake and clutch pedals.

Intermeccanica is thrown around as the manufacturer quite often without specifying which company.  

There is Automobili Intermeccanica which is an early Fiberfab/CMC style VW pan car and there is Intermeccanica International with tube frames, roll-ups windows, etc.

-=theron

@Theron

This one has a flat tunnel.  Does that confirm that it's not on a VW pan?

@Theron posted:

Intermeccanica is thrown around as the manufacturer quite often without specifying which company.  

There is Automobili Intermeccanica which is an early Fiberfab/CMC style VW pan car and there is Intermeccanica International with tube frames, roll-ups windows, etc.

-=theron

This is confusing to pretty much everybody-- how to differentiate between IM/California and IM/Vancouver, or if we should at all. Frank Reisner had a hand in both companies-- as a partner in IM/California, and as the sole owner of IM/Vancouver before his son Henry became a part of the business.

I guess I always thought of IM as being 3 different companies-- IM in Turin Italy was Frank Reisner as an Italian metal coachworks (the Apollo, etc.). IM in California was Frank trying to make a living in SoCal by producing fiberglass Speedster bodies which were accessible to more people. IM in Vancouver was Frank trying to get control of his life back, and build something that split the difference between the bespoke metal coaches of Europe and the more plebian Speedsters in California.

Once Frank sold the Speedster molds and rights in California and moved to Canada-- the cars he built for a long period of time were all Roadsters (Convertible Ds). The not to compete agreement forbade Speedster production for a period of time, and his skillset allowed him to easily do rollup windows, etc. For several (many?) years, all IM/Vancouver production was Ds. 

Also, to further muddy the waters-- in the early 1980s, IM/Vancouver had a couple of years of pan-based Roadster (Convertible D) production in Vancouver before switching to a tube frame. Ron O'Black's car was in this pre-tube frame Vancouver period. But all of the things we think of as "IM" markers were part of the Vancouver production.

... but generally, yes-- Theron's bifurcation of the various permutations of "IM" tells holds true.

Sorry, guess I should have specified.
My best guess is that it is a newer International with roll-up windows, based on what I can see from the floor, kick panels, door paneling, under dash and even serial number.   Could be a great car for anyone outside of California.  In California you will need to go through the SPCN process for registration.
-=theron

Also: The car in question is definitely an IM, yes it's a tube-frame car, and yes it's a screamin' deal.

As Dr. Carley noted, the door cards are "D". This is not that unusual-- lots of people (me included) like the utility of pockets in the doors, and got their Speedsters with alternate door card configurations.

The car is a speedster, with the seals on the windshield frame, and rollup windows.

Definitely looks like a new IM - same as the 2019 recently bought by new SOC member

https://www.speedsterowners.com/topic/new-im