Info needet

Valters:  Even with the WIN number, it will be very hard to tell where that car was build and by who.  It just tells me that it is a 1969 Beetle Sedan.

Can you post photos of the car?  Different builders use different body and interior parts and we may be able to tell from photos.

No one in America builds a Speedster with a 1276cc engine EXCEPT a few that go to Europe because of taxes on engine size there.  

Post some photos of the interior (doors, dashboard, seats, etc.) and someone may be able to help.

Thanks!

I am interested to by this Car, but want to know as much as possible.

Build quality looks very good.

Whats interessting - owner says, that its 1.6 engine, but its registred as 1.3.

Adding pictures, hope thats helps.

Got a close up picture of the crest on the front hood handle?  It may have an old OEM serial number stamped engine case that has been reworked over the years.  A 1200 or 1300 cc would have been single port heads (can't tell by the picture of carbs) and single oil pressure relief valve.  (Not a great base if you want to increase HP greatly). Engine size would not appear anywhere on US title. In US a '69 would have come with 1500 cc single port/single oil relief valves - any rebuild would probably have gone to 1600cc as the pistons/cylinders are more readily available.

Is car currently in US?  Perhaps just the kit was imported from US and build overseas?

Hi!

Thanks for info!

I will try to get more info about engine!

Is it making Replica less valueble, that engine documentary is 1300 cc, but in life 1600 cc?

Storry of Owner is, that Car is build in USA, 3 Years ago imported to Europe and restored. One Guy has bouth it for His wedding, but no longer needs the Car.

I am not such a Expert, but Quality looks very good. Engine started perfect after sitting in Garage from August.

The asking Price for Car is 28000 EUR. What can You tell about Value of This in Europe?

Thanks, Valters

I'm guessing the lower displacement recorded is probably for European displacement taxation?  If you are happy with how it performs - that's all that matters.  In the US seems all owners want more power BUT we aren't hindered by displacement taxes, emissions testing (at least most aren't), or high fuel costs plus hi-performance parts are readily available. You need to drive it to see if it meets your expectations. 

Kafer was never a US manufacturer of speedsters.  I have a VW carb that says Kafer on it.  When car was imported - did it have to meet the 25 year (or 30 year) old import criteria?  If so the major US producers were CMC/FF and IM (FiberFab, Classic Motor Carriages and Intermeccanica).  Each had telltale differences but a restoration could have eliminated them.  All had cast alloy rear engine grill - this doesn't.  FF/CMC used their own crest on hood handle - IM may have too - but easily changed to real Porsche one.  IM front and back hood hinges did have INTERMECANNICA cast into them.  IM used a stick on silver label in passenger's door frame (easily destroyed/removed when repainting car).  CMC used a <2" square gold ID plate affixed by builder (or often not) that says CMC on it. Photo of interior may help but it too could have been upgraded. The flat dash brows with silver trim below is different from others I've seen in US.

That's $32k USD - which buys a lot of more recent builds on US market --- but getting a car to Europe and registered is costly with add on (Shipping, VAT, customs import fees, inspections, registration, etc).

Thanks for Information

So - how are Replicas registred in USA (as Kaefer or as US producer - Intermeccanica or  other?).

Is it possible that this Car is not made by some producer, but build in some Garage ussing just Replica kit?

I think that build and restoration quality looks very good, but I am affraid that Replica with no known history woud not be worth the money and coud be problem to sell the car in future if I deside to do that....

What does KÄFER actually mean in German - I see they currently are a manufacturing company but did it mean something related to VW 30 years ago?

So years ago seems like most kit cars based with a VW pan were registered using the title with VW VIN (Chassis #) and year of manufacturing.  This also enables many to get antique plates (cheaper registration and insurance) plus exemption from emissions.  Some used it to avoid higher sales tax on a more valuable replica too. This last reason caught the attention of many states looking for more tax revenue.  Plus let's face it my 1989 CMC black Speedster doesn't look much like the '71 Orange 2 door VW Beetle sedan it was originally.  It could cause issues with insurance too if you want full value.

So current move is away from VW titling to Special Construction type titling.  This tends to differ state to state though - often since it is built on a junked pan you end up with a title that is branded as Salvage (not especially good) or its title as the year it was finally built and registered (not good since it could have difficulties meeting that year's emissions).

FF/CMCs were probably 90% "home built" (perhaps more - no detail records exist nor do records of total # built exist - but it was a huge company!)  Huge chance that it is a CMC if it's 30 years old. CMC had cars on exhibit in nearly all the major US airports as part of their marketing prior to 1992. Other new companies make partially finished Speedster even now - called Rollers - sans engine and transaxle.  The pan based IMs out of Calif were all IM built (to my knowledge).

If maintained I think it will keep its value - buy a new car and it drops 20% in value the first year or 2.  That won't happen to the Speedster replica.  History won't matter if it looks nice - even a little age patina (fading or paint/stone chips) won't affect its value. There's enough cheap VW parts out there that it is cheap and easy to maintain. Ha, you can always rent it out for weddings! 

I'll be in St Petersburg end of August - if you purchase, swing by and give me a ride! Doesn't look like Latvia is far?

Thaks!

So - as I understand is all about build quality and condition of Car, less about Replica history?

And thats not a problem, that its registret as VW Keafer?

If I will manage to by the Car, You will be allways welcome to take a test drive only it coud be problem to You with Russia/EU Visa (if You go only to St.Peterburg).

Valters

WOLFGANG posted:

...What does KÄFER actually mean in German - I see they currently are a manufacturing company but did it mean something related to VW 30 years ago?...

 

I really don't know all the various builders special touches, not nearly as well as some folks here do , but I see a lot in the engine bay that looks just like my engine.  Which was built for JPS Motorsports, North Hollywood CA (since moved) by GEM, a California engine builder. Many of the Southern CA replica Speedster and VW hobby-shops use a lot of the same components so, nothing really definitive here.

There were so many "flame in the wind" Speedster builders over the years - I don't have enough fingers to count - in US Ryan Motors, Thunder Ranch are known but SnakePit Motors and Starborne? There is a UK Speedster replica site that gives a great background on "all the worlds" companies.  For some, it gives years in production which is helpful if you need to find a car built 25 or more years ago in order to import it.  I was surprised at how many UK manufacturers there were - as I was only aware of Chesil and Pilgrim. JPS founded in 1998 is one of the newer ones - "only" 20 years old!

http://www.speedsters.com/srs-AtoZ.htm