How do you confirm a car was built by VS?

Attached some photos of it.  Dash, interior, engine.  There are some things that VS uses that identifies them.

Like a curly red wire to the alternator/generator.  Easily replicated.

Bump for a newb.  However, if we don't have access to the cars in question we can't post photos--

How about posting some of the authentic VS 'tells' with known true photos, or detailed list.

Thanks!!!

Here is probably the most characteristic tell.  The red wire to the alternator.

You can always ask Kirk!

Dash trim and chrome do not extend all the way across the dash.  Door panels have smaller pocket that doesn't extend all the way across the door and the stitching angles upward toward the front of the door.

Again, these are things that can be done to any Speedster, but are typical on the Vintage Speedsters.

Post pictures.

i always thought it was the placement of the side mirrors on the body (not doors)

Just ordered a new one from Kirk. The 'turnkey' car comes with driver's side mirror only, mounted on the door. If you want a passenger side mirror too, the viewing angle is bad if mounted on the door, so BOTH mirrors get mounted on the body.

Maybe that wasn't always true, though.

Hate to bother a busy business man when we have such a great forum of knowledgeable people.... Unless, Kirk is super cool and receptive to such intrusions???

Yes, but I have been doing this mod on all my VW's for the last 20 years...

---

A forum search revealed something about front fender body work error from the mold of a damaged Speedster used to make the mold.

Long story short, I DID purchase the VS Speedster in question, and so far it is looking to be the real thing.  I will post pictures soon.  Will do a photo shoot over the long weekend.

Ronin, why not just e-mail the VIN number to Kirk and ask if it's one of his. He is a busy guy, but email lets him respond at his convenience.

That's really the only way to know for sure, and now that you own the car, he'll probably look it up for you. He could also tell you what engine was originally installed and other options, too.

These are cars that folks like to fiddle with, so any number of mods could have been done since the car was new - many of them improvements, some not so much.

You'll probably get a better read about what you've got by having an experienced air-cooled VW mechanic look it over than by knowing whether or not it's a genuine VS.

Enjoy the car. I'm eagerly looking forward to taking delivery on mine in a few weeks.

- Mitch

Mitch, Mitch, Mitch...  It's been discussed many times on here.  Kirk doesn't keep those kind of records.

Mango.

Kirk will place mirrors anywhere you want them.

Yep, I can confirm.  I got a response back from a Mary? at VS could not track by VIN.  I also gave the the PO's name, but it turns out I am now the 3rd owner.

No worries.  --- I have been working on and restoring Aircooled VW's and Porsche's for 25 years. I even owned a Euro Car Tuning Company for a short time  --- There is nothing on it I can't fix.  :-)

Ronin,

Sorry if I mispoke, mispoke, mispoke.

While I'm just getting started in 'the madness', the cool thing about this forum is that there's bound to be someone here who has the answer to just about any question.

And half the time, that someone is Troy.

- Mitch

I have a Vintage Speedster too but find it kind of ludicrous that Vintage doesnt keep some sort of record of the cars they have converted.  California went to task in 2001 or so investigating how "kit cars" were being registered, and a number of people and businesses in California got to be in the, uh, "spotlight". The Attorney General spcifically looked at a number of kit cars with illegal titles, and cars with original titles that had been so altered they didnt resemble the original car (Those of you with inquiring minds can review "Ship of Theseus").  This caused a huge issue for Boyd Coddington and other builders in California.

Perhaps they just dont have time to respond to all the "hey did you build this?" requests.

Probably more than half. It was easy enough for me ... I posted pictures of ours and turns out it used to belong to Troy!

with  Vintage you have to keep on trying-when I bought my used 2006 tub two years ago I called with the floor pan serial # and asked if  they built it. The lst time I was told their records don't go back that far. On the 2nd time I spoke with a different woman and she confirmed within a few minutes that they had built it. She even sent me a copy of the original invoice. I have spoken with Kirk-if he has time he can be helpful, if busy abrupt.

Joel

Thats what I figured.  They have to have records.  Too bad they cant just post that stuff online.  Your access would be your VIN.  If they built it, it would show you the details, and you could print an invoice/details. If the VIN wasnt valid, it wouldnt let you in.  Simple app.  Would also be fun to sort that data - most popular options, colors, etc.  I'm a geek, what can I say.

Seems it would be easy for them to set up online form that you complete, pay $20 to cover research look up and you get order and build info.  Seems if they are using used VW chassis' the VIN would have to be recorded by law.  I can understand why getting it immediately over the phone would be difficult.  Wish SOC had place to store this info.  I would like to see how many of each vendor is represented.  Know FF/CMC built a lot of bodies but never saw an actual #.  Each was shipped with a Certificate of Origin so that info must exist in FL system at one time.

I agree with you. Vintage already has an Owners section established on their website so building a database interface wouldnt take much time or skill. Pay $20 and print a "window sticker" and a Certificate of Authenticity or something like that and it would pay for itself.  SOC in turn could link to it, directing newbies to that link (or series of links to similar builders)