Good rep 356 readily available?

SAS builds a unique beast, but almost all other manufacturers have water-cooled alternatives.  I am very partial to Becks (www.beckspeedster.com) but Intermeccanica (possibly above your price point) and JPS will also do water-cooled cars.  Whatever-they-are-now Coachworks appears to be, um, less than trustworthy.  I'd stick to someone with history (Vintage, JPS, Beck (Special Edition), SAS, or Intermeccanica).

 

Based on my own experience I'd say contact Kevin or Carey Hines at Special Edition.  They'll treat you well before, during, and after the sale.  I believe their prices are comparable to SAS.

I'm as biased as Lane and agree with all of his comments.  Nobody has ever treated me better before during and after the sale than Carey Hines on ANY product. You can't go wrong.

hts,

You'd do well to not be impatient.

Sit on your wallet and keep an eye out for Carey Hines to announce that a "previous owned' is in his shop being checked over... and will soon be on the market  

If you send me a dialog I'll send you my phone number.  I would be happy to discuss with you.

If you send me a dialog I'll send you my phone number.  I would be happy to discuss with you.

Intermeccanica has one for sale on their website.

http://intermeccanica.com/athi...cooled-roadster.html

Thank you Ron, but at $50k, that's way above my $25k price point. I also think that I'd prefer a rep with a Subie engine as opposed to one of the VW ones--thanks. 

For obvious reasons, I'm with Tom and Lane. Can't go wrong with Carey and Kevin Hines -- for a real 356 or a replica.

 

Anand

The car Ron linked to was indeed $50K. 

 

In this hobby-- you don't always get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get.

hts - Your $25k price point will pretty much limit you to used, unless Vintage still comes in under that.  Not sure any of the Subaru-powered cars would meet that price point.

 

After we talked, I came to a couple of conclusions assuming you don't change your price point:

1) Suby engine is out of the question

2) Used Vintage/JPS/ or CMC kit build are probably your only choices

Getting one that's been gone through by one of the big flippers here like Troy Sloan or Alan Merklin will give you the biggest bang for your buck with the least amount of headaches.

If the madness gets you though and your price point goes up, the next step up would be a good used Beck from Carey. http://beckspeedster.com/usedbeckinventory.html

That would be an awesome combination of product, value, & customer support that can't be beat.

I didn't have the patience to wait for a good one to pop up, but maybe you will :-)

Let's be clear about SAS; they are not an "assembler" but rather a licensed manufacturer.  Among our limited numbers of owners, there is one future owner who found the best of both worlds by purchasing a used SAS cabriolet while waiting he is waiting for his special order to be completed.  To me that's a very cool if unlikely scenario for you.  Don was just plain lucky finding one in an estate sale. 

 

Your price point, at this juncture, sounds like you will be looking for a good used example.  One of the Subi-powered cars, which are still pretty rare, is probably not an option for you.  Our resident flippers are indeed a good choice and there is plenty of help on this site to keep a VW engine running well.  Between that and John Muir's book, you will be well outfitted to get the job done.  It worked for me keeping my VS running before I purchased the "SAStriolet" in 2004.

 

Good hunting! 

How about this one? http://bit.ly/1fe6vIO

 

 

I don't understand the cautious reluctance of considering a Subaru engine installation. Is it cost/complexity factors?. David Stroud put one together with nickels & dimes and bailing wire...and has toured the Northern Hemisphere in the thing!!!

 

COST? Because of Japanese taxation policies we're flooded with low mileage, very high quality built engines with whopping torque & horsepower, and with an envious (major trouble-free) projected lifespan . Now, Just consider the expense of rebuilding a Type1 of acceptable performance and durability...Quality German parts are a$$tronomical, and Chinese products, though more affordable and available, are of erratic quality...and of course factor in the builder's competency.

 

INSTALLATION? All the required nuts & bolts, adaptors,& water cooled plumbing items are readily available along with 'follow the dots' diagrams/instructions and enough experienced advice for the asking to keep you on track with an end result that's less expen$$ive than a comparatively anemic type1 rebuild!

 

My 2110cc VS is closing in on 80K kilometers...every burp, cough and screech sets me on edge...especially when I'm beyond my AAA towing radius. But, I intend to drive it until it sours on me...or until I scrape together enough coin to finish a warm 'working' garage with a hydraulic lift (old bones and a bad back) 

 

I've got an EJ22 sitting on the sidelines waiting for its number to be called...There's a couple of boxes of odds and ends that I've yet to figure out, and a  Kennedy adaptor on the horizon along with the efforts of an ECU guru who'll splice me up what's required. Eventually someday - somewhere in this Northern Hemisphere - I'll probably bump into David Stroud!   

 

 

 

Good on ya, Carl.  I think the reluctance to consider a Subi swap is decreasing.  Much of it is based on industry intertia.  The a/c engine builders are comfortable with the platforms they build, they have the tools, knowledge, etc.  A notable exception is Jake Raby, who is not afraid to forge a trail into the hinterlands.

 

It is an economy of scale question, isn't it?  There are thousands of Subi running takeouts in shops all over the US and a large cadre of YOUNG guys that seem able to scrounge up enough cash/credit to fund their hobby of making fast Subi engines even faster. 

 

I'm not suggesting that the Subi swap is the final answer for all replica owners, as many knowledgeable guys will always want air-cooled.  More power to them!  For me, though, the scales weigh much more heavily on the Subi water-cooled end: better cost, quaility parts, increased reliabity, lots of Subi tuner shops, and the real sleeper: thousands of young enthusiasts who provide the market for continued r&d in the industry.

 

Of course, my ability to tell the future is not the best.  I laughed out loud when I first saw bottled water.

 

"My concern with that one is 1) smallish engine, especially with AC"

 

The ad says the engine is 1.9L which makes it a 1915 cc (stock 69 mm crankshaft with 94 mm pistons and cylinders).  That's not considered "small" for a T1.  To go larger requires a costly stroker crank and other supporting "go fast" modifications. When the AC isn't on it just adds a little weight.  

 

BUY FROM TROY OR ALAN

TOM BONEY IN CHICAGO HAS A NICE ONE FOR SALE

hts:

 

Tom Boney's car is a really nice example of a classic Speedster. Period color paint, great tan/linen colored interior and impeccably cared for car. I have cruised with Tom at two events in the last year and the car is really a nice example.

 

 

I spoke with Troy yesterday (real nice guy and I very much like the idea of buying a Speedster that's been sorted out by someone like Troy who knows what he's doing). I don't know Alan? 

 

How do I get info. on Tom's car (is it posted for sale here?) and contact him if interested?

tom I get a referral fee

Tom Boney's car is probably just what you need. Great car, great guy and I think he's asking well within your budget.

More Boney...

Tom Boney's car moving: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ovwXCpL-T8

Tom told me a few days ago that he had sold his car.

 

Also, maybe I misunderstood, but I thought you mentioned that you were only interested in a widebody.  Like I said, I may have misunderstood.

Hi Troy--you are correct. I am primarily (won't rule out non-wide bodies) interested in a wide body replica, but I don't believe the others here knew that, nor did I know that Tom's wasn't a wide body.

 

Pls let me know as you get closer to finishing up your current wide body project--thanks!

hts - you can't go wrong buying from Troy! He has a keen eye for detail and is a stickler for doing things right! 

hts-

 

Your approach is really wise. Buy a used (but easily resalable) car, drive it for a year or 2-- then (and only then) build a new one if you want. You'll have a much better idea of the stuff you really need (as opposed to the stuff you think you need).

 

When I got into this hobby 13 years ago, it was the fact that VW would install AC that reeled me in. I couldn't imagine driving a car in the Midwest without AC (the heat in summer here is like being wrapped in a soaking wet blanket, and stuck in an oven). I called Kirk Duncan at VS and talked with him-- he thought the option was a waste on his own cars. I bought a basic used one- 1776, vinyl seats, no options to speak of. I had the car for less than a year, and figured out pretty quickly that what I really wanted was significantly different than what I thought I wanted. I went through an excruciatingly painful build with JPS before I arrived at Henry Resiner's doorstep for my "keeper". Some guys hit one out of the park at their first at bat-- I had to go 3 and 2 and tip a couple of foul balls before I hit my home run. I suspect that there's a lot more guys like me than not.

 

Everybody's requirements are different, and you won't likely know what yours really are until you've had a car for a while. I had lunch with Marty G yesterday near Chicago-- we both have Vancouver Intermeccanicas, but his car is "about" something completely different than mine. When you stop to think that his car and mine were built by the same team of talent, and consider how different the purpose and particulars are, it's easy to become aware of how broad the spectrum can be.

 

Baskin-Robbins has 31 flavors (actually I've been to their website-- they have 61). You might not know what you like until you try a few. I think it's really smart to not get in so deep that you can't get back out without getting hurt financially. 

Stan is on the money.  I probably hit a triple because a) I chose Carey as my builder (pure dumb luck due to his proximity) & b) the input from folks on this board during the build process.  I scrimped on a few things that I eventually changed, like rear discs,oil cooler, & short throw shifter & I added some things after getting some seat time, like center stop lamp, hydraulic clutch, breather box, center drain plug, cylinder head temp gauge, modified heat, heated seats, and custom side curtains.

Only "mistakes" were mirror placement, battery cutoff switch, & zip out rear window.

The 1st one is minor & the other 2 are things I really didn't need.

Overall, really happy with the result & not much to regret.

Stan is on the money.  I probably hit a triple because a) I chose Carey as my builder (pure dumb luck due to his proximity) & b) the input from folks on this board during the build process.  I scrimped on a few things that I eventually changed, like rear discs,oil cooler, & short throw shifter & I added some things after getting some seat time, like center stop lamp, hydraulic clutch, breather box, center drain plug, cylinder head temp gauge, modified heat, heated seats, and custom side curtains.

Only "mistakes" were mirror placement, battery cutoff switch, & zip out rear window.

The 1st one is minor & the other 2 are things I really didn't need.

Overall, really happy with the result & not much to regret.

Often, when I post from my iPhone (which is most of time) I get double posts.  I don't know why

I will add that I like everybody's car, but wouldn't trade.  Ruby is probably the only car that would tempt me to cheat on Natalie.

I will add that I like everybody's car, but wouldn't trade.  Ruby is probably the only car that would tempt me to cheat on Natalie.

hey vince is selling his widebody. send him a message