Engine fire brings 84im back home

I'll drink to that (hic!)

I've been having dreams about turning my IM into an Intermeccaniaup. Think about it; a 356 pickup truck!
The coolness of a Porsche 356, and the utility of a pickup truck. What could be better :-)
I need to do some photoshopping!

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

(I know. Me as the Voice of Reason. Sorry 'bout that. Won't happen again.)

Ron,
Why not just build a 356 panel van like this one?

I just read your post and can't find too much damage to the car. That's a mint condition car in Illinois!!!! :) (Minus the bent rims from potholes)
Jeff

Come on guys, think how cool I'd look driving up to Home Depot :-)
I can see it now....."Load these sheets of plywood into the pickup bed of my Porsche." The clerk, with a stunned look on his face, replied, "But sir, Porsche never made a pickup truck." As I turned to walk away I said, "Sonny, you don't know how wrong you are. I have the only 356 pickup, owned by the black sheep of the Porsche family; Billy-Bob Porsche."

Hello Ron and all,

Well its getting closer! Its got paint and I have purchased the seats and carpet kit.Its wired, engine is in,and I pre drilled and mounted everything before I painted, so it should only be a few weeks I hope. Hows yours coming Ron?

Gary, your car is looking good!
My wife has given me the go-ahead to start putting some extra money aside for the resurrection of 84im. I've decided to bring 84im back to life and see how she compares to my monster Miata. Driving both for a summer should give me a good indication of which I'd rather keep. On one hand, the Miata has handling and performance levels that the IM will never reach, but the IM has a cache that the Miata will never reach. Even draw? Stay tuned.

Gary is that a Vs spedster? Ron I had the same idea with a beetle with thre rar cab of a 49 chevy truck and a pancake engine. I've seen one not far from here. but the guy will not sell eather and yes he has 2 of um.

Porsche did make pannel and a hurst. I sure there are some picture around and it would not be much trouble to duplicate the rear section and turn it into a truck But I would do the research and get pic of one before i did it You need to see what it will look like '

I kinda agree with Cory I'd say yes to a coupe. and may be a pannel but a truck NAAA. It just wouldn't do it for me.

I can state for sure the beetle truck is a good lookin thing if its done wel as the 2 i have seen are. But if Im were to wack up a bug now it would be to make a Himubler. rag top coupe.

VW pick-ups can be so kool!

Ron, Glad to hear its going to be fixed! Make sure you keep us posted.
Barry, No its a 78 IM

Ron, the offer still stands.

Awesome Gary! It's absolutely beautiful! I congratulate you on your fine, fine work!! The wonders of fiberglass.....Anyway; the pictures of the burnt up car appear to be from the '80's; when did the car burn up?

Thanks Cory
I'll keep you in mind as I get closer to getting the new rear clip installed.
Ron

Ricardo,

Thanks for the compliment. The car burned in 1987. The poor guy had just bought it used and driving it home it caught on fire...No insurance and the seller said tough luck. it sat for 2 years in his back yard before I purchased it for 300 dollars. My neighbors thought I paid too much.The good thing is I bought almost everything I needed back in 1990. I just came across a Vintage price sheet in a box from 1990 and its shocking to see how much things have changed... Gary

A similar thing happened to a V8 Miata forum member. The 1999 Miata, with a LS1 (Chevy) engine, caught fire while he was driving it home from the guy he bought it from. A total write-off, and the previous owner said, "Tough luck." He didn't have comprehensive insurance, so he was out $20,000.

One hot car........

How much you want to bet the telephone service was destroyed in that neighborhood! Look above the car, and you will see. Car fires get hot, and we end up replacing cables all the time from too tall vehicles and car fires. Just another reason to install a Halon system. We did a group buy 6 years ago on Spyderclub from Safecraft. 5lb. bottle, tubing, nozzles, and pull cable just over $300. The benefit of this system is no need to open the engine compartment and add extra oxygen to the problem! Smother it, hopefully, and it's out. Check your fuel hoses, filters, and carbs for any wetness/rubbing, and please make sure your carbs are tuned and synched. Also, don't drive around with intake and/or exhaust leaks. One little hiccup is all it takes under the right conditions.

Bump.

So Ron; how is the project coming along?

Presently it's not. I've decided to sell my monster Miata (next Spring), and put the funds towards rebuilding the IM. I ran into Henry at the Vintage Races, and we chatted at bit about replacing the rear clip. I plan on emailing him for prices in the very near future.
I plan on making the IM my retirement project (one year to go).
Ron

Ron - there is a fellow in victoria who has a 356 mold right now. I'm sure you could pay him to get the rear piece made.