How can I prepare?

I have been lurking here for quite some time and want to say I am truly impressed with the SOC community on this board(help/advice/ideas/etc..) and am ready to take the plunge into what I hope becomes a lifetime of joy with these awesome cars. My question is this....

Can someone with little automotive background undertake the task of assembling a speedster bought in 'roller' condition? I have searched high and low for any cousre on VW engine build/repair and have found none..is this soemting you just have to learn by trial and error?

Should I just seek a used car and begin there by tinkering or is jumping right in head first the way to go? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I am hoping to add to the East Coast guys numbers as I live in NJ!!!

Thanks in advnace and I look forward to coming to Carlise and other events.

Justin Klemm

Justin,
There are sooooo many things to consider. Is this going to be a project or a driver? Are you afraid of turning a wrench? Do you have patience and money? ect.....
I would say the biggest things to consider are - If work needs to be done on the car, and you're gonna do it, do you have the tools? And if not, can you afford to pay someone to do the work?
As you've already mentioned, there are a lot of people on this site with tons of knowledge. If you are motivated then you have all the help you need right here. These guys got me through a complete front and rear suspension/brake swap! Not to mention the countless other occasions I've called on their help.

Mickey:

Thanks for the response. This would ideally be a car I would drive as much as possible. I would desire practicality over anything. While I have no automotive exeperience I am willing to learn. I own no tools but an empty garage that is begging to be used :)....I would rather spend money in that area than on having someone else work on my car. Besides, I feel a major part of getting invloved in this 'hobby' is to learn to work on your own vehicle.

Thanks again and I look forward to learning more!

J. Klemm

I think your thought of buying a used car would be your best bet.
With little automotive knowledge you'd have a handful with a roller.
Keep an eye out for a used Vintage Speedster to enjoy and tinker with. Every now and then a really good deal surfaces for a used Vintage.

~WB

Al Shapiro's beautiful black Speedster (a CMC by Alan Merklin) may be coming up for sale. It's gorgeous, and it's in New Jersey. Might be worth a look.

Best if you have a dependable primary driver (dependable Honda,Yota or VW) or can fall back on public transportation (or a friend). Bill, of course, means any vintage speedster - you'll just pay more for cream of the crop (Evenmo,IM) and used ones after many years all need about the same renewing. Here are a few good books that will get you started and keep you out of trouble -

Tom Wilson - How to Rebuild Your VW Air-cooled Engine
Bill Fisher - How to HotRod VW Engines
Keith Seume - VW Beetle Perf Handbook
John Muir - How to Keep Your VW Alive

Luckily I work from home.....can sneak into the garage to 'visit' anytime..no commute! Thanks for recommendations on the books...will get on those immediately. Going to be out in Cal next week...plan on stopping by VS to see the operation.

J. Klemm

buy a used driver and see if you like it, building one IMHO would be a real PITA if you are not used to the "intricasies" of these gems

Justin:

At the top of this forum is something entitled "Ready for a Speedster Replica?" YOU NEED TO READ THIS!!

If you have little or no mechanical ability and no tools and would have to "learn the trade", so to speak, along with learning how to use the proper tools, then restoration of a "roller" is totally beyond your means. You would spend frustrated YEARS trying to get it road-worthy until you finally give up and sell it as-is, just to get rid of it.

MUCH better to buy a fully running used car which needs little or no work (like Al Shapiro's old car, if that's still available, and others that show up on here from time to time) to try out the car and see if you really like it.

BELIEVE ME: Liking how these cars look (they are awesome, aren't they?) and liking how they drive, maintain and behave are two, totally different things. These cars are ABSOLUTELY NOT the same as buying a Mazda Miata, hopping in and driving away. Not by a long shot.

So buying a used Vintage Speedster and seeing what they're really like and then deciding if it's for you (with all of it's eccentricities) or not makes a LOT of sense. That way, if you don't really like it you can probably sell it for what you paid and chalk it up to experience, or, if you DO like it you can trade up to exactly what you learn that you want. Either way, you're ahead.

Make sense??

By all means, though.....visit Kirk and Mary Duncan at Vintage and see their operation. As lots of questions and get educated. Everyone on here trusts Kirk as a straight-shooter....

Gordon
The "Speedstah Guy" from Beaufort

Justin, I have used one for sell

Gordon:

Sound advice...thank you. I have read the article...several times...a great place to start. I do beleive that a used speedster is the way to begin...the roller idea is wishful thinking and a desire to learn as much as possible.

I have some idea of what I am getting into as I owned several MG and MG Midgets over the years. While certainly not a 'kit car' and far from it....I had my share of problems with each one. MG's are difficult to deal with to say the least especially in the transmision category. Thanks again for the advice. Gerd...how may I get details...email is jfklemm@yahoo.com



J. Klemm

MG Midgets? Did I hear Midgets?! I've had a couple, but my Speedster is much more fun - and (a little) less upkeep. I do love the way a Midget steers and sounds and.... Ah, I love pretty much any old sports car. I'll see if I can scare up a picture of my last Midget and post it. I guess I deleted the one I had.

"Welcome to the Madness" is our standard greeting for newbies. Glad to have you aboard. Gerd's car is gorgeous, although I've only seen pictures. Al Shapiro's car is also gorgeous, but more traditional than Gerd's. Either of them would be a good choice. Just remember what Gordon said - these aren't Miatas. They require commitment and reward it in spades - not to mention the membership in a wonderful community of like-minded crazies that comes along with it.

Justin,
You are more than welcome to come down to Wilmington, DE and check out my car. I went the route these guys are suggesting you go; I bought used and over the past 3 years built it to what I wanted, learning all the way. I didn't discover this site until AFTER I bought my car. I was lucky. I ended up buying an old IM for $8500. I had no idea what I was buying other than it ran and it was the right price. It was a pretty solid car that I've built (with the help of a friend and these fine folks) to a car that I think is every bit as nice as one would hope for outside a new higher end build.
I'm very lucky to have a friend with an auto repair shop so I get to use his shop when I need to do work, not to mention his on site expertise. So you will also have to invest in a good set of tools, a good jack, jack stands, ect..... because you WILL have to work on your car. The great part about it is there is no question you can come up with that can't be answered by someone here.

Gerd,
Are you selling your car? What are you going to get, a coupe?

Just pull the trigger on a new turnkey VS for about $24-$27K.....plan to keep it for a while....you may be $7-$10K higher than used but it is worth it!!! You pick colors, design, motor, trans, interior, etc.

Just my .02

coupe de ville :)
not actively selling but I have a few tire kickers.
if the right person comes along and wants to buy then I will build the coupe. Have colors, body style and engine decided.
The speedster is running so well its hard to let go.
Had a guy who wanted it on consignment. After I got off the floor from laughing I hung up the phone. problem is that the weather allows for almost daily driving. and now I got Billy just 3 miles away from my house

billy shut up and design a pool

I agree with Billy B. If you are sure you want one, get it exactly like you want it the first time and you'll probably end up saving money. That said, be sure to do tons of research so that you get it right when you do pull the trigger. Look at lots of cars and talk to lots of owners.

Justin,

I've done 14 speedsters to date "as a hobby" some more difficult than others. The advice here is good advice.
Do purchase a used speedster, enjoy it for a full driving season. then decide, if you want to have one built from your "wish list".
BTW ..AL Shapiro's black speedster does have a new owner in Switzerland.
I would be glad to talk with you, email me and I'll reply with a phone number drclock at pa.net ~Alan

Hello Justin,

I'm 50 miles from you -email me at bruceyoung5atyahoo.com

Justin, 1 year ago I was in exactly the same place you are now. I bought a used Speedster that was in decent driving condition that needed some work done to finish it. I have been tinkering around with it and it is getting better and more reliable slow but sure. Half the battle is having a place to work on it. I think another important thing is having an air-cooled mechanic somewhere near by who doesn't mind working on your quirky little car. I am still looking. I've been able to muddle through most stuff with the help of the guys on this site, but there are few mechanics around here who want to get involved with a "kit car". Check around your area and find out if there is someone who can bail you out if you get in over your head. Just a thought, and it is a form of maddness. Al

Justin, if you have any connection to Uncle Sam, there are usually full-service auto hobby shops on military bases. That's what I do; we take the Hoopty to Ft. George G. Meade, Md., and work on it there for a couple bucks an hour in shop fees.
Full tools, lifts and the like. Everything you'd need.
As for buying a used car and learning about the components that way, the experience is half the benefit. The other is you'll keep your own records and learn about the life expectancy of each component as you replace pieces along the way.
I bought a POS for twice what Mickey paid, but it's been a grand journey making what I wanted out of it. Pictures are below -- and, believe it or not, they're all of the same car.
Get a digital camera, if you don't already have one, and post pictures of what you're considering. I'd be willing to be that pictures in company with questions will get more direct, probably better and more accurate, answers to your questions.
If you're looking at a car on the East Coast, we're probably familiar with it. On that note, don't spend $52K on a Ford White, flared-fender Speedster with a Torch Red interior. ... We know the guy who built it (don't we, Alan?). ;)

Who ............me ? :)

Justin (Grady), I tried to email you and it got kicked back. Could you email me at bruceyoung5 AT yahoo.com? I have a question for you.
Thanks