Difference between Speedsters?

Hello!

What is the differens of the exterior on for example a CMC speedster and a Vintage? I

There are a few others as well, there is Street Beast, (the old CMC guys) that have Speedsters. Member Jerome has one it's nice. Then there is PGO in France. They have an awesome Speedster that can have a 2L motor. Thunder Ranch in the US as well.

As for the differences? The biggest builders are Intermeccanica and Vintage. All builders are as close to origin as possible with their own small differences. For instance, member George Brown has an awesome Speedster from Intermeccanica that has air conditioning, electric windows, gas heat... and much more of the new comforts. A beautiful car. But unless you rob banks like he does you probably cannot afford it.

I think the most important decisions are whether or not you want a pan frame or a tube frame. Both are OK because really you are the one that makes your car more and more customized to your needs. What is fun about these things is you will always be adding and changing things.

But get into the Speedster owners market. It's a BLAST!

Happy holidays

Thanks!

Does Intermeccania still make Speedsters? I

Bjorn

The web site to intermeccanica is www.intermeccanica.com. If you want to check more manufactures click on "makers" on the top of the page.Good luck.
Lambros

You will also notice that underneath the person posting is a name of the manufacturer of the car they have. You can also ask specific people about there cars. This is THE site for information on these replicas. You have made the first step just by finding us!!!!!!!

Add Specialty Autoworks and JPS to your list. And use the search engine to look at old posts specific to the different manufacturers.

Intermeccanica....A tube frame car with a speedster model and a Convertible "D" both with roll up windows available and will pretty much build in as many options as your willing to

Vintage.....A VW pan based car that is cut and modified but very nice for the "price point" they are in....but you do get what you pay for with these cars. I have seen a couple and they were really nice, but very true to the originals and all of their faults and drawbacks.

JPS.....similar to Vintage, but considered by most to be a better fit and finish and more in to making the small changes and modifications and custom stuff a lot of us like.

Beck.....Similar to the Intermeccanica with a partial tube frame and very good about customization.

Specialty Autoworks....Now if its a modern liquid cooled engine you need or desire rather then the VW aircooled engine, you really will have to look at this car. It is also a tube frame chassis car and has rollup windows(cabriolet version). It doesn't have the useless back seat because the engine is utilizing this space, but otherwise can be very true to the original.

Bjorn, I can understand your interest in these fun cars. A word of caution, however, take your time and learn all you can before you jump in. Not only are these cars great, but this website is an amazing resource for helping out with your decision process. Also, it is probably the most friendly bunch of members you are likely to find among specialty car sites.
Lycka till och God Jul!
John H
aka: Johan Hellstrand, the Soderfors Bruk troll

All of the above is just a start point for you.......do a lot of research on the differences and you will figure out exactly what you want and what is important and what is not important to YOU. With these cars certain positive and negative points from each manufacurer may be important to you, but not important to someone else.

Hey John you some sort of International redneck???? A Swedish redneck is one that has 4 old Volvos or Saabs in the front yard.

Go up to the tab at the top of this page and click on Makers. Start there.

Then look up each manufacturer under the forum threads... Beck, VS, JPS, IM, SAW, CMC, Roadline, Thunder Ranch, and Beck, etc. Read those threads like you were about to invest 15-45K, because that is what you are about to do!

Look up members in the registry. If you like a car, write the owner and ask them about the builder and what options to get.

And.... keep on asking questons on this forum!!!!!! These guys and guysettes will offer you some invaluable advice.

Good Luck! And Welcome to our site!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jim

Bjorn, are you in Europe? (wild guess on my part) Theres a UK equivalent of this site also if you haven't already spotted it, might be some helpful info there. Definitely take some time to learn about whats out there, what you expect to get for how much money. THeres a couple of interesting details in the picture you have, original looking wipers and the retaining clips at the top of the windshield. Looks like an old VW steering wheel, but that could be changed.

Good one Mike, I laughed my A$$ off when I read your reply. Nope, no SAAB or Volvo rust buckets in the front yard, just a couple of old refrigerators, a washing machine and a rusting Scania Vabis cab.
trollman
grunt, grunt, somebody pass the mutton.

Greg,

Yes, I

Bjorn

www.356registry.org/Tech/steering_wheels.html

They have some nice steerring wheels.

Bjorn, look in the photos from "dubudee", one shows the original banjo style wheel. I believe the Nardi and other wood rim styles were optional back then.

John you should see a doctor about that Scandia-itis problem.

Okey,

I will check out the steeringwheels.

Nice to here some swedish words in your replys he he ;o)
Do you know som people in Sweden?

Later,
Bj

I'm trying to see pictures of cars from the various manufacturers for comparison. Is there an easy way to do that?

Bjorn, yes my father was from Sweden originally as well as all of my mother's family. I have a number of relatives on my father's side who I have never met as well as my sister's daughter, born and educated in America but now married to a Swede and living outside Stockholm. I have not been in Sweden since 1978 but plan to visit again in the next few years, probably tied to a trip to Estonia.
John H
ps. I really know VERY LITTLE Swedish in case you didn't guess that already ;O)

Felix

Go to "registry" section,also look under" makers".

Lambros

Felix, try these three approaches:
1. Go to the "makers" tab at the top of the page and peruse the builder's websites.
2. Go to the "registry" tab and pull up members who have the kind of car you are interested in. Most owners have photos available on their listing.
3. If you live in California, go to the gathering at Knotts which is in April and you will see an example of just about everything currently available.
Good hunting
John H

Mike, my car does not have air conditioning...

Hey George, my Bad.... you have everything else on that bad boy. It's like you pimped that ride. Anyway you have an awesome set of wheels and did a great job.

Happy holidays

p.s so you do rob banks huh?

When I began looking at replicar speedsters, mostly on eBay, I did notice what appeared to be some differences in bodies... I asked the guy I bought my first one from (the one where the deal fell through) and he said there are some subtle differences in the moulds...some have a little more 'hump' some a little less where the interior cabin/back is...down towards the decklid.

There are numerous comments on the site about the infamous wavy left door on Vintages...which can be addressed with extra elbow-grease when it's being prepped for paint...

Some of the earlier makers weren't too concerned with interior accuracy as to the positioning of the windscreen or the dash's shape & details and as you have noticed some interior door panels and seat treatments are a little more modern, which translates to convenient for the builder...you want more authentic you have to specify the changes and be prepared to pay a little extra.

Overall you won't be disapointed with any of the makers as to the overall authenticity. It becomes a matter of what you can find in your budget!

hi,you lot! read All the books you can get hands on,try porsche
speedster by Dr michel thiriar,and porsche 356 colin burnham&paul
jeffries good int shots of a red speedster! uk book try and have look
at a apal

And sometimes its the stupid little things that end up costing you the most. The bigger items are generally reproduced, but the small things and the rarely requested items get pricey.

If you want to be different then the average person this is easy...if you want to be a little bit different and more detailed then the average replica it gets expensive.

It's the 5/50 rule- the final 5% consumes 50% of the available resources.

I got my badge today.....its great...thank you and it will go proudly in the center position of my new car!!