Finally bought a Car.

I am finally going to own an Intermeccanica. I went to Carlisle this year with no car and felt like a boob. I have been looking at replicas for about 11 mos and finally have pulled the trigger on the 1997 Intermeccanica from Hawaii. Dave Dowlings car. The car should be in California by tomorrow and in my driveway by July 15th the latest. The anticipation is killing me. The MA DMV was very helpful during my advance trip to see them and told me exactly what I needed and said that registration should not be a problem. I am just hoping the inspection goes well.... Anyways, I am beyond fired up and look forward to going to Carlisle next year as a real Speedster Owner not just a wannabe. I'll post pics once I get the car and it is registered....and has an inspection sticker.

Chris,congrats that looks like a nice car. Welcome to the madness. Looking forward to seeing you at Carlisle next year. Happy motoring!

PS You didn't look like a boob... or even a beehive

The best thing you did was coming to Carlisle and be able to check out a varity of speedsters as well as ask questions in person. Congrats on your IM~
Welcome to the maddness and enjoy your Christmas in July! ~Alan

I hope you got a good deal on the car, 'cause I don't want to think about what it costs to get a Speedster (or any car) half way 'round the world. I hope it all works well, and no bruises. And of course: Welcome to the madness. My first Carlisle visit was sans car, as my build was significantly delayed, and I know the feeling. But you know what? The cars are indeed cool, and having one is so very much better than not having one, but it is the comraderie and character of the folks (highest possible marks there) that make the Carlisle week end what it is. I'm just sayin' . . .

Chris - "Welcome to the Madness". Now if you can just survive the wait for your new ride to arrive!

Chris--HOT STUFF!! Congrats on getting the IM---you did good, my friend! Nothing like starting at the top--that's for sure.

It was nice to meet you and your wife at Carlisle and I'll look foward to seeing y'all at Carlisle next year.

Why not join us for this year's Smokies run in the mountains near Asheville? There should be 1 dozed or more cars. Marty G. drives from Chicage and I drive from Hot Springs. Hope you can make it!

Jack Crosby

Hey Jack,
I'm surprised you didn't offer to drive him to Honolulu in your speedie to pick his up. Your not getting soft on us , are you?

Congrats Chris I thought my wife and I were the only wantabe's at our first Carlisle.Sorry we didn't meet you or if we did didn't relize we were in the same "tub". I still haven't pulled the trigger, someday when I find the right one at the right price!!!

David, have someone build what you want, it doesn't even have to be complete but to a point in the assembly process where you could complete the build then adding on the extras at a later date.

"I still haven't pulled the trigger, someday when I find the right one at the right price"

David, Can't help but wonder what your requirements are since there has been some killer deals on this site lately...
from 9K to 24K, some real beauties...

Just a thought, David - Alan Merklin has three project cars that you KNOW he is going to sell as soon as he's finished. Work a deal with him to build it out the way you want it and have it for next Carlisle. He's not so far from you that you couldn't come to his place to look the projects over.

Chris, Welcome to the Madness! Great deal you made, seems to me!

David, I know where you can get a screamer for a better than decent money. Check with Mickey for specifics.
If you were on the Left Coast, you could call about the Teal Deal.

Unrelated -- Jack Crosby, please drop me a line. I'm in St. Louis; hooptypilot AT gmail.com ...

Congratulations Chris. Looking forward to having you cruise and party with us in Carlisle next year.

Thanks guys for the ideas and encouragement, I don't think being in the northeast helps matters regarding availability. The better half really wants a cream or now she is thinking bronze both with dark brown interior(Good luck), also roll up windows (she says it gets cold up here even in the summer) I would really like a water-cooled engine, because I'm not very handy with motors, all for around $30,000. OK you can all get up off the floor, stop your laughing, it

Tom--now that is funny. With my Type IV engine I believe I could make the Honolulu drive---that is, if it was paved!

Vince--you are so right about Speedster offerings--where were all these deals when I wrote the big check??!

Welcome to the IM Madness, lots of going around this summer!

Chris:

A belated welcome to the madness.

There's another IM in Shrewsbury (Bill Pickering jr.) and I've seen a chrome yellow (think school bus yellow) Vintage tooling around Shrewsbury that I haven't caught up with yet. I have my CMC here almost in South Grafton, Boston Bob Elliot has a VS in Hopedale which he usually brings to the Volks/Vair show at Heberts Mansion in August and I have heard about three others that seem to keep themselves hidden most of the time. You may want to look into joining the Northeast TYP356 club in greater Boston - nice group of 356 nuts who (mostly) don't look down their noses at replicas.

You asked in an email about a VW mechanic and the best I've heard of is Jim Wolcott over in Rutland, MA. I don't have a phone number for him, but his email address is vw at charter.net Heard a lot of good stuff about him and he's not afraid of multi-carb VW engines. Honestly, I've never used him for anything more than parts as I do all of my own work, but he's someone I would trust my car with (that says a lot).

Folks - Chris Schofield was kind enough to bring down the Raffle prizes that my son, Chris, provided for the Carlisle raffle - poster montages of past Carlisle events - so he was a member of this madness even before he bought his IM!

Welcome to the group, Chris, and Chris and I are looking forward to seeing your Roadster when it arrives. Call me - I'm in the book under Grafton.

Gordon
The "Speedstah Guy"

Thanks Gordon. I will definitely contact Jim Wolcott. I look forward to connecting with you once I get my car on the road. It has made it to Cali and should be leaving for Mass by 7/8 the latest. Thanks again.

There are certainly some great deals on IMs at the moment! I have even been looking into one, it already has a big TIV that I built in 1998 installed.

Someone needs to out drive Jack, to get that done I might just have to do it myself!

You can start the process by joining us for the Smokies cruise in October. Check out "Early thoughts on the fall run in the Smokies" in the"Events" forum. Jack and Alice will be there.

Lane, I'm starting to think you work for the Asheville Tourism Board or the National Park Service ...

Can ya tell it's the first one of these I've put together? I think I have "non-participation" anxiety.

Sorry for the thread hijack, y'all.