how fast is your speedster?

Pedal to metal, go till iPhone GPS says OH NO!!!! (For me 98 mph with 1600) Or till right hander (wife and/or Least favorite child) is sucked out!

 

;-)

 

going slightly downhill past Lawrence Welks Village.

130 mph, actual. The aerodynamics are the the limiting factor. Dropping the front, filling the tank, and being very, very aware of what the front tires are doing is a pretty good idea.

Mine is a 2008 VS, with a 1915cc motor with duel single barrel Kadrons, basically the stock 1915 cc motor that Vintage puts in its cars, with a freeway flyer 3.88 tranny.  I used the GPS speedometer in my iphone5.  On I15 near the Nevada/Arizona border at night with the freeway empty of traffic.  My speedster reached 98 mph and would not go any faster after near 4 minutes flat out with the pedal to the floor.

My 2006 Beck with a 1915 built by Pat Downs is supposed to have ~125 hp.  I have only driven it up to 90 or so, but there was quite a bit left in it.  It will cruise all day (I know because it has) at 80+, and it will get there quicker than a '77 Corvette 350 4-spd (I know because it has).

Dyslexia Strikes 89mph not 98! and whatever % down grade on north I15 past uncle Larrys. 1600 dual Kadrons, Engle110, CVD Dizzy,Stock heads, Empi Peashooter exhaust. Probably a Tailwind as well!Trans either F.F. or really tall 4th.

 

Motor not mine came with SpeedBucket

I've been up to a 100 a few times and it wasn't very enjoyable.  The front end got very light.

On the other hand, my V8 powered Miata was rock steady at 100.

I do most of my driving around town with the top down and get my jolly's accelerating from stop lights.  0-60 is more important to me.  Mine is 6 seconds.  I always hit 45 way before I'm ready to.  I love the acceleration!

My 2.2 Subaru IM hits 100mph with out too much effort but I usually shift into 5th and then back off. I have the Porsche 914 strut front suspension(not sure if it makes it more stable). 

 

A little bell goes off in your head that says " your driving a fiberglass car and there is probably a cop after the next corn field anyway:-0. Reality sets in.

 

 

I have a 1600, with a 110 cam, Dual 34 ICT weber carbs, and an EMPI exhaust. The trans is from a 73 super beetle. Would I be safe to say I can run 75-80 without any big issues. The reason I ask is the car is still in the restoration process, and I have not driven it accept around the parking lot. It will set you back in the seat in first gear  LOL

Mine dynoed at 140 MPH ---that's dynoed, so there's no parasitic wind resistance  so it's not the same as tooling down the highway. Can anyone say what 140 Dynoed would translate to as on the road?   I have had it to 95 and it was rock solid.  I don't own it for cheating death but for running interstates at 80-85 all day long with no complaints.

 

Frankly the cars with flat bottoms make me wonder if they can go airborne with the right combination of wind, speed and bumps in the road.  Like water skis on the water. I'm just sayin'.

Ron- How much caster is in the front end? For a VW based car to behave properly that fast, shims are normally needed behind the bottom tube to get it up to where it needs to be (5-7'). Beetles normally came with only enough caster (2 1/2-3') to be safe up to about 70 or 75mph. Any more caster and the steering wheel gets a little heavier in the parking lot; the 105lb little old ladies would have complained and VW didn't want that.

 

You'll have to drive it to find out; a 1600 (even lightly hopped up) doesn't have a huge amount of torque, and the motor will be working harder to keep you at those speeds.

 

And Jack, you have a good point; anybody with a pan based car that wants to go really fast, make sure the caster figure is up there and reread Stan's post above. My Cal look beetle (front dropped a healthy 4") had very little caster and the one time I had it above 100mph (down a long hill) it was almost uncontrollable. It felt like a crosswind could have deposited the car in the next lane before I could react and I backed off pretty quickly. Al

Al, it wasn't that the car was squirrely; it felt a bit floaty, like it needed a small front spoiler or more weight.

That was when I first owned the car.  The second time around I've installed caster shims, but I haven't had a chance to really open her up.  It's hard to to that with the engine not in the car. 

Getting my car up over 100 mph is no problem.  The engine has a lot more in it, but I don't want to go there....I've driven for several 100 mi at +/- 80 mph on the speedometer (+/- 75 mph per the GPS) with a lot of attention and both hands on the wheel.  At above 75 mph the comfort/enjoyment level goes down geometrically.    I like this car for going slow while feeling that I'm going very fast.

FWIW - a lot of things can go wrong VERY QUICKLY in a plastic Speedster going too fast!!

 

Be careful out there my friends!! 

Good info, everyone. I am looking into a Speedster for Spring 2014.  I spend half year in LA and highway/freeway speeds at 60+ mph. I like driving from LA to Vegas on highway 15 and average speeds 70-80+ mph. I know my old 1993 Miata (some suspension mods) could do 80mph easily and I never felt unsafe in a small car, regardless of steel or a glass body.

 

Oh, looking to trade in my Mustang GT in the near future; nice car but nothing special and sucks up gas.

104.7 through the radar gun at the end of the front straight of Roebling Road race course near Savannah (about 1/3 mile).  I was still accelerating, but was beginning to trail off and ran out of straight (let's face it - even type 3 brakes have their limitations).  It feels lighter above 70 mph, but the lift generated by this wing-shaped body is tremendous.  

 

I was chasing a Carrerra C4 and had him nailed on the curves but was slowly left behind on the straights ( even so, he was scared ).  2,110 with dual Dell 40's match-ported from the carbs to the heads, engle 120 cam and Berg extractor exhaust.  34° max advance on a Magna-spark ignition.  3:88 R&P with a .89 4'th (which says I'm all done around 120 mph).

 

7.5°s caster on the front beam and it's rock-steady at any speed, although a bit heavy in a parking lot.  

 

Jack: The standard conversion from flywheel HP to braking HP is to multiply the flywheel figure by .85 to get to wheel hp (Although the best thing is to get onto a rear wheel dyno). 

 

For the record:  One of the most frequent questions I've heard at non-Porsche car shows is "How fast will it go?"  If you have to ask this, then this car might not be the one for you.  Top speed is not what these cars are all about.

 

 

Have no intention of ever driving my 69 VW based JPS over 75 mph, assuming it can even go that fast .... if I have a need for speed, there are other cars (Porsche, Corvette ect..) that are much more suited for high speeds.

 

I am old, and I want to get older.

Gordon---I wasn't clear in my post.  I wasn't asking about converting flywheel HP to brake HP.  I was asking about how you would convert 140 mph on a Dyno to mph on a highway.  From my flying days I know it's pretty significant but have no idea what a connversion factor would be.

 

Thanks!

I don't think driving at 70-80 mph is neither fast or dangerous ( highway speeds, straights ). I just want to be sure a kit car can cruise 80mph comfortably all day without the engine blowing up or the glass body shaking.  I have only driven a speedster around the block but I have been a passenger in a Factory Five Cobra and the Cobra was rock steady at 80mph (mustang used parts) from LA to San Diego (about a 2hr drive, mostly straight highway).

 

 

 

 

Highway cruising is no issue.

I have driven my VS from Seattle to SoCal, and another road trip from SoCal to my vacation house in the mountains near Salt Lake City. My speedster does fine at speeds between 65 to75 mph with occasional runs up to 80 plus. The car does not track as true as a modern car, and tends to follow grooves and is easily deflected by bumps. The driver needs to stay aware and active in steering the car, not eating a double cheeseburger while sending a text and driving. It is an active driving experience, enjoyable is a different way than a modern car. I love driving my speedster, either putting around town or on the open road.

215 mph.

then I woke up

 

I have around 38000 miles on my car, quite a bit of it on the expressway on the way to/from Carlisle seven times.  I guess that adds up to about 10k miles or so.  I tend to cruise at 75-80 because the car smooths out and the engine actually seems to get a bit quieter at that speed, despite the high revs.  I actually enjoy driving it on the expressway, but I do prefer a few curves to make it interesting.

"I wouldn't think they (Speedsters) would be much fun on freeways"   Bart--That's exactly where they are the most fun!!!   You have no idea about what fun is until you leave Hagerstown, MD as part of the ever-growing "Southern caravan"  of 10-12 Speedsters on the way to the annual Carlisle event.

 

Two cars going cross country is a blast too.  So is one car non stop from Washington DC to Hpot Springs Ar. 

         

 Dave Stroud can give you an MBA on long distance Speedster travel and Lane Anderson isn't far behind!

 

Of course you need a sorted car for these thrills.

 

 

To each his own...I like to drive the twisty roads with a lot of elevation changes and shifting and braking and avoid freeways if at all possible ...

 

and no doubt there are those that enjoy both. 

 

I am not intending to be argumentative or critical, just expressing my opinion and preference having lived my life in the mountain west and along the Pacific Coast where roads are seldom straight.

 

If I had to make a long drive involving a lot of freeway and high speed driving, it would be in a ZO6 or another modern GT car that is quiet, powerful and creates a lot of downforce. 

178km/h was the speed that I was trapped at by the fuzz. 

 

Only did it once because I got off on a technicality, now I'm just happy to hang around highway cruising speeds. 

 

2.0 8v water pumper. 

 

 

Freeway traffic here in TX can get pretty quick.  I've had my 2332 JPS Coupe up to 80 to 85mph for a stretch, and it is rock solid.  Still lots of power left.  Biggest issue is at 85mph the wind begins to buffet and "drum" quite badly with the windows down.

I have not pressed beyond 85.  Because of the rpm, and noise, 70 to 75mph is where my JPS is most comfortable for highway cruising.  I have no worries on the highway keeping up with traffic.

 

Not a Speedster; mine's a TD replica. More drag, longer wheelbase. Mine's on a '69 pan and has (or had, until last week*), a 1966 1300cc, single port case that at some point in its 250,000-mile life had been embiggened to a massive 1500cc. 34 PICT3 carb. Heater boxes and regular exhaust. Dynolicioused it at 46 horsepower one day a couple years ago with my wife in the car. Zero to 60 that day was about 21 seconds but, to be fair, I was short shifting it.

 

I told you that so I can tell you this: 85 mph on the clock, which is about 80 mph for reals. It happened more than once, and one time it happened by accident. On flat roads, 70 was no trouble and 75 wasn't usually. On flats. In the mountains it was a different story.

 

My car sits a little lower than stock and has a single set of caster shims on the bottom beam. Stock skinny sway bar on the front, stock VW steering. Control at 75 is not an issue, though the car does respond to cross winds.

 

Also: my car is much lighter in front than most speedsters. The nose is long and light, the spare tire is hanging off the back bumper. Everything about the way it's built would make it want to do wheelies (if it had more than 46 horsepower, that is). The tires are 165 80r on skinny Mangles, just like a Bug. Still, she does not feel particularly squirrelly at speed.

 

Bottom line: with a Speedster--any Speedster--set up properly you will be able to stay with modern traffic and go plenty fast when the spirit moves you.

 

Just remember: the consequences of an error in these cars are, quite literally, grave.

 

*see: http://bridgetmgtd.wordpress.c...irst-engine-mock-up/

65-70-75 not bad and perfectly doable...but anything above that and the front end just gets too light for my liking and you better stay pretty focused. Theoretically my car should probably get up to Stan's claim to fame (really Stan? ), but I'm certainly not going there.

Well, Stan, come next summer, I'll have to try to verify this statement, seeing as our cars are fairly similar...

 

I saw 110 mph a few times ond the speedo but I am not sure if it is true. 1915 cc, w120 engle, magnum 44 heads(40-35.5)1:1.25 rockers

I sold my Speedster about 2 months ago but on a few occassions did get it up past 120 on the speedo. While I don't recommend going that fast for more than a few seconds, it is a definite must when a Vette or Mustang feels like showing some muscle.

 

Up to 120, it was a good 2 to 3 car lengths faster than either and the most fun was seeing their faces afterwards and then letting them know it's just a little 4 banger VW.

 

I do miss it and will own another one sometime down the road.

Dan, may I ask why you are asking this question? 

Hi, Hoss, I am looking to buy a used convertible car for Spring 2014 and I have never owned a kit car. I drive a lot on open freeways & highways in good dry weather (LA & Vegas) and I hope a speedster will be able to go 70-80mph for long stretches without stressing my safety. And yes, there will be some stretches I will be pushing 90mph.

 

The plan is to drive it for at least 2 years, have my fun, and then sell it for the next toy. I guess I want an all purpose convertible-fun, fast when I need to be, good on gas, and just plain cool for cruising.

 

Oh, I am a safe driver; I pay close attention to weather, fatigue, road conditions & other drivers. 

 

 

Dan - You shouldn't have any problem with the standard Speedster set-up cruising @ freeway  speeds between LA and Vegas. However, an external oil cooler & thermostat fan is a must, particularly on the long incline from Baker to the summit at Mountain Pass (Elev 4,700'). 

 

Drove our VS (1835) all over a lot of the Colorado Rockies (10,000') without a hiccup!

I would have thought that the subies are much faster than the aircooled bunch...

Looking at this thread it does not seem so...what am i missing?

 

Ps: i try to keep my 2332 below 85 mph...seems plenty of power left though..

You can make a bug motor insanely fast.  These guys haven't even hit the tip of the iceberg.

The limiting factor with my water cooled swap is the transmission. I think that's the same deal with most of the guys running conversions on a beetle box.