Fresh meat!

Hi All,
My name is Bill Daugherty, and I live in Tucson AZ. I am new to this site, and the "replica" scene, but am a long time 356 Porsche owner and 356 Registery/forum member. I never considered a replica car until a few days ago, when I ran into (not literally) Mary here in Tucson. I was VERY impressed with her Vintage speedster she had just purchased, and driven back from Cal.
I am considering buying a speedster rep. and have been doing some research on different companies. I REALLY like the Specialty Auto speedster spcs. (Subaru power, and AC in a speedster?!) Boy, that would sure be nice in Tucson! Does anyone have an opinion on this company?
Also, I have a '55 Porsche coupe (Continental), that I LOVE, but would have to sell. I know there are pros and cons to both, and I have to admit, I'm really torn. Any thoughts in this regard? Are there any previous or present "real" Porsche owners here, and if so any thoughts on that? Thanks for any input.
Bill

We all love the real ones, but mostly I think we buy the replicas for the less expensive maintenance and ease of mechanical work and availability of parts. Also the convertibles get a little pricey for a nice example of a real one and you can't drive it around without worrying about it.

As for the SAW design, we do have one member who has already received one of these cars and I have personally ordered one for delivery in May. This for me is even better because of the more modern engine and the ease of finding a mechanic for the more complicated problems that come up once in awhile. I drove my first replica everyday and I will drive this one everyday until the roads get slick in the winter.

Hi Bill and welcome to the SOC website. You know, we were almost neighbors since my wife and I almost moved to Green Valley about three years ago. But who knows what the future holds.

As far as Specialty Autoworks goes, I personally think they are a great outfit. I live about 40 miles from Steve Lawing's (owner) shop and have come to think of him as a good builder and friend. Steve has been in the car building business for about 25 years and has a lot of fans, mostly in the street rod community.

I am the owner of the first "Subytub" sold and in the field that Steve built and am very pleased with the car. I am currently planning to drive the car to both of the big shows this spring, Knotts Berry Farms (CA) and Carlisle (PA). The show in California would be a fairly easy trip for you and I would highly recommend it if you are considering a replica Porsche. You should be able to see at least one of just about anything currently available.

Once again, welcome to our site. I'm sure Steve O'Brien will speak up also since he just ordered a Cabriolet from SAW.
John H

Hey Bill,

I am so happy that you stopped and took a look at my Speedster. When you walked up you
had a huge smile on your face. I think it's called the "Speedster smile". Not everyone has it but you had it bad. I mentioned this site to you and am glad that you found it. It was a big help to me.

I hope you end up with a Speedy. Maybe we can meet somewhere next week, and go for a ride. I would like to see your coupe.

Mary

We were posting at the same time...LOL

Thanks Steve, John, and Mary (from now on, you'll always be "Speedster Mary" to me)for the warm welcome to SOC! Also, the info. I guess I'll just have to bite the bullet, and make a decision.
I REALLY HATE making decisions like this! On the other hand, if I think about it, it's really not a bad kind of problem! Thanks again, and Happy New Year! Hope to be "talking" soon.
Bill

Bill, welcome aboard. If you find a deal like Mary did, go for it! Our annual west coast meet is in late April at Knotts in LA. All the Manufacturers will be there and many members cars! It would be a great chance to get a look at everything! There will be a SAWster Suby-tub there too (John H's).

Jim

If you were to sell the '55, what do you think it would bring?
Oh, yeah, welcome aboard...where were my manners? I have a Vintage, I'm wideridezzz in the registry...formerly a stock offering converted to a retired racer look...

Paul, you gotta see this 55!

Here it comes!

Bill, Welcome aboard.....The reasons for owning a reproduction become obvious once you start driving it, especially if you already own a real one (356 that is)....
Mary got a great deal on hers, it is a real looker...
What I would suggest is waiting until The Knotts show to be able to see all your options in one place at one time to make your decision.
its not that far off now.. there will also be some used ones for sale I am sure. If you decide that would be best for you... I would also suggest bringing the coupe...who knows, you may be able to trade or sell it right there on the spot.....
You'll find this group is high on the coupe's also ( I know I am..)

Gordon, according to Dr. Thiriar's book (and others), 1955 was the last year for the 1500's; the 1600 and 1600S replaced the 1500's, and the 1300's were also discontinued at that time.

Bill:

My brother had a REAL 1958 Speedster back in the early 60's. If I remember right, it was a 1,500 normal, putting out an anemic 75 hp.

Back sometime last Summer, I gave him a ride in my 2,110 cc replica (very wide 16" rims, beefy sway bars front and rear, and running somewhere North of 140 hp). His only comment was something like: "Jesus!! This is what my old Speedster SHOULD have been like!!!

Took him a couple of days to get the grin off his face.

Gordon
One of the "Speedstah Guys" from Beaufort

Hey Bill,
Paul again... Jim sent me the pics of your coupe. It is nice and as time (rust and neglect) marches on there are fewer and fewer original 356s to be had. I think that offsets the wisdom I grew up with; open air cars outrank coupes.

I've owned three speedsters and a roadster of the Porscheee variety. I have no qualms about driving a replicar these days for some of the reasons posted here, more power being first on my list followed by easy access to parts, whether they are practical or just pretty!

Today I'd love to have an old coupe but it would be fitted with a similar engine to what I have in my replica, no interior to speak of, a track car out of the Emory mold... just for giggles and laughs.

As much as I admire a pleasing stocker like yours, I'm afraid I just wouldn't enjoy driving it with all the soccer moms w/ cell phones in their SUV's littering the expresswayzzz! To my mind if you can't drive 'em daily, they're just a liability.

I hope you latch onto the replicar madness...

A small PS
My best friend from High School traded in his 1968 VW for a '55 Continental in 1969. The local VW dealership got it somehow, tagged it at $8,000. It was painted what I would call a Pontiac teal metalic color of some sort. There were four of us piled in it coming down the Nimitz after a soccer match and Brad was humming along about 75MPH but complaining about how loud the engine was... he was in third. Curious, later I was snooping under the lid. What he had didn't look like any engine I had seen (I drove a '65 multi-window bus at the time)I think he had a transplant in there, all I can picture was the thicker fan housing...when he and Judy got in a family way, the '55 gave way to a '64 olds cutlass. ahhh, the stuff of lust,legends and lunacy