IM and Beck are the body styles the same?

I LOVE the red IM car that hoffman has in his folder:

https://www.speedsterowners.com/files/download.asp?subfolder=/Hoffman/SpeedsterR1.jpg

https://www.speedsterowners.com/files/download.asp?subfolder=/Hoffman/speedster3molens_147.jpg

https://www.speedsterowners.com/files/download.asp?subfolder=/Hoffman/SpeedsterR3.jpg

Now compared to the photo of the Red speedster on the Beck site:

http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=9058237&uid=4304287

To me they seem VERY different. Is it just a wheel tire and drop combo or is the IM body more "sleeker" if I buy a Beck can I make it look like the IM speedster in hoffmans folder?

I am looking at the "details" of the cars. Is the body the same? I know both are built on different non-vw frames and is the IM perhaps longer or sleeker frame and body wise then the Beck?

Drop the rear end a touch, get a different top that doesn't fall into the back and BAM you got the same look. Sure the frame may not be the same although they should be close since Beck/Chamonix also do tube frame design. So go nuts!!! The body should be the same. IM does do a lip in the wheel well that's pretty neat but the shape, size etc.. you cannot tell the difference in a picture.

The IM is using 16" wheels. That alone makes the car look different too.

The bumpers on a Beck are a bit smaller and stand a little further out from the body. That'll have a subtle affect on the look as well. Also, the IM pictured had the overriders, while the Beck doesn't (they can be added).

So its just the drop and the 16 inch rims that make it look different? Does anyone know if you can drop the Beck as low as this IM:

https://www.speedsterowners.com/files/download.asp?subfolder=/Hoffman/SpeedsterR1.jpg

And where do you get the 16 inch rims and low profile tires for the 5.5 wide tires? Are those just Stock rims like on the beck without the hubcaps and lower profile tires?

From this picture the IM looks like it has much wider tires in the back. Can the beck clear this?

https://www.speedsterowners.com/files/download.asp?subfolder=/Hoffman/IMG_0339.jpg

Drop the back and get some wide five rims; Hoffman's IM has original 356 rims (I don't know if they are indeed 16" since only the earliest models were 16", maybe the tires are less tall). That alone will make a huge difference.

Shawn, that last picture is of a car leaning left because it's turning right. My Beck is every bit as low as the one in the previous picture. The pics in my gallery show the front as it is now, but I have lowered the rear about an inch from what the picture show. The top of my rear wheel rims is level with the edge of the wheel opening.

This pic shows he has 4.5X15 rims.
http://speedsterowners.com/files/view.asp?sf=Hoffman&f=4%2E5x15wheels%2Ejpg

Thanks for the replies.
Yes I think its:
1) the angle of the pictures
2) the non-chrome rims w/o hub caps
3) the lower profile tires.

and yes hoffmans picture does show that they are 15 X 5.5's

Since Lanes Beck can go that low (thanks Lane) I think I can replicate it. Where do you find the low profile tires for the 15X5.5 rims? I dont see any on tirerack and the ones I find online all have a taller sidewall.

Thanks again for your replies. Do you think this will also apply to the watercooled Beck?

I have 185x60 15s on 15x5.5 rims on my car. That's as wide as will fit in the fenders. The rear track may change a bit for the watercooled cars, so I'd suggest you go straight to the source and contact Carey at Special Edition.

Why don't you just buy an Intermeccanica?

Thank you! Ron. My thought exactly!

Most likely those are 16" wheels that he has on. In his photo gallery there is a picture of a front wheel that looks like mine and that is 15". I got 185x65-15 on mine(5.5 wide).

Hello Ron and Howard the reason I cant get the IM is I want a Water cooled car and need an automatic(leg problem since birth) I emailed IM and they said that they cant make their new Water cooled an Auto so the only other options was SAW or Beck for a water cooled car. I am still debating but am leaning toward Beck right now.


Lambros thanks for the pics. Are those the "wide 5's" I keep reading about? Where did you get those rims from and do you think they will fit the Beck?

Thanks

a lot of it has to do with the beck pictured using the post 67 suspension (4 lug) and the other one pictured using the 5 lug and being lowered slightly.

It makes the world of difference in how aggressive it looks.

Shawn
Yes,those are the wide 5's. They come in 5.5 and 4.5 width. Also they come chromed or painted. Mine are 5.5 wide.
Of course you can use them on a Beck. Visit Beck's site and click under "photo album",there is a blue one with wide 5's.

I got mine from a local VW shop for $60 a piece. You can order them on line from many VW vendors. I also ordered the drum covers from CB performance for more original look(they were around $90 plus shipping).
Ricardo (Impala) is using the exact same set up as me.

If you need more info on where to get the wheels them let me know.

Hello guys, let me explain you something about the wheel issue. The wheels on my IM indeed are early 16"x3 1/4"(!) Porsche wheels, which were widend by the former owner of my car into 6 inches (all four). I guess the real 356 purists won't widen them that soon, because they've become rare and for that reason, -of poursche-, quite expensive. Dale Bates once shot a nice close up of a rear wheel.
About the chromed 15" wheels, they were just temporary on the car during the SVA-test. (look at the silly side marker!) Those days the 6" frontwheels touched the stabilisation rod when they were fully turned in. Now they don't anymore. (Solved by mounting the rod the other way around!)
About the car. The front and rear can be adjusted in height. The front is almost in highest position, which doesn't really show because of the 16" rims and the rather flat tire (195x55). What I like is to have the line of the low rocker molding in horizontal position.
The body indeed is very sleek. That's really one of the IM characteristics.
For some recent pictures made by my English friend Adam have a look at:
http://web.mac.com/adam356

Wow!! Beautiful photos Mart; great cars and an amazingly beautiful city!! Looks like you guys are really having a lot of fun!!

+1

Thanks for the info Mart
So I guess in other words without finding those rare Porsche 16 inch rims and then modding them to be 16X6 there is no way to get a similar IM to look like yours?

Do you know if anyone sells 16X6 inch rims? Will a 16X7 inch rim fit in the IM body without rubbing?

I guess what I really like is that with a 16 inch rim you are able to get a lower profile tire in there and that makes a huge difference in the look of the car.

Mart I notice that in this picture:
http://web.mac.com/adam356/iWeb/Site/Photos_files/DSC_0021.jpg

Your speedster looks brighter then the right one. Is it just the camera playing tricks?