Installing speedster windshield frame on a 1960 Cabriolet

It can be done, I think the top of the dash needs to be reworked. The car used on Beverly Hills 91210 was a converted 64 I believe. I would use a Beck Speedster windshield and frame because they are more true to the original with better more authentic  top latches.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/40191...tkp%3ABk9SR-rqhoWZYw

I was looking at that same one, my plan is for the car not to have a top so don't care to much about the soft top. Or i could maybe modify the hardtop I have. I also saw this frame which looks really good but expensive

I have sold several of our windshield frames to the Farmer Bros in CA for this exact conversion.  Our frame is extruded aluminum and not original, but very nicely done and lightweight, which is what they wanted.

You can find windshield kits with and without glass on our parts website www.beckparts.com  They are the same for speedster and spyder.

@chines1 -- I just went to the linked page, clicked on both Speedster and Spyder parts, but couldn't find windshields (or really very many other parts). What am I missing?

https://www.beckparts.com/new-...windshield-frame-kit

@LI-Rick posted:

https://www.beckparts.com/new-...windshield-frame-kit

Thanks.

Got it now -- I need to be on a desktop machine, hover over the "Speedster" in the list across the top to get the drop-down menu, not click the giant "Speedster" button in the middle of the page (which is the only option on an iPhone)..

Your $, your car!  My harsh opinion - As costly as real 356's (especially a Cabriolet) have become and, the fact, that you have all the pieces that were taken off - it would be a shame not to preserve it as original or pass it on to someone who would do the same.  You'll end up with a Frankenstein car that won't appeal to a Porsche-iphile or be seen as a replica.  What will you do to the top of the doors where the door glass was?  What you want to do is a big reason for going replica!  With a VW-based replica, the 901 5 speed has been done and is not tremendously difficult like putting it in a 356.  Upgrades to Brakes and suspension parts are cheap on VW pan.  Price a replacement 356 brake drum or master cylinder.  The Cab's top frame is worth big bucks ($3-5k?) but other taken-off parts probably won't bring much.  Hard top is $4-5k and add attraction on restored car.  Having those original parts makes the return to the original possible - if you had to buy them then probably not cost-feasible.

Find an unbuilt or beat CMC/FF for ~$8k (their original kit price) and use your parts on it - I think you'd be ahead in cost and time invested plus have a lighter, more dependable car.

It's amazing what folks will pay for a rusty hunk of unobtainium 356 FEO2.  Post your same question on SAMBA's Porsche 356 and see the replies you get there.

$125k with 356 engine-

TheSamba.com :: VW Classifieds - 1956 Porsche A Cab factory blue with red

Restored but in Europe $238k

TheSamba.com :: VW Classifieds - Porsche 356 B Roadster 1960 restored Aetna blue Ma

@Stan Galat posted:

@chines1 -- I just went to the linked page, clicked on both Speedster and Spyder parts, but couldn't find windshields (or really very many other parts). What am I missing?

parts page is on the short list for refinement and there is no way (so far) to get rid of the "dead" links in the middle of the page...

If you are going to put on the speedster windshield are you also going to put the speedster dash  with the gauge "hump"

Wolf gage I agree, the thing is this car was always a race car so I'm bringing it back to a race car. With exception will finish interior ( no back seats)and I don't like the plastic windshield so would like a speedster style.

Imperial, no I would no, i would live it was it lived 50 years with the exception of the windshield and light weight interior

I'd absolutely just do what you're doing, @Cbmcrudy. The kind of restoration Greg is talking about would be deep into 6 figures, and in the end you'd have a cabriolet. Not a coupe, not a Roadster -- the frumpy, lumpy step-sister of the family.

I'd absolutely leave the dash as is. If it were me, I'd be sorely tempted to try to graft a Roadster "bathtub" area on the back. A cab with the more upright deck-lid and bigger mouth in the back-seat looks a bit too "El Camino" for my taste, but again -- you do you. A "B" bodied race-car is pretty cool.

You also have a start to an outlaw if you chose to go that way. Emory's outlaw he built for John Oates is a 60 cab, all be it with the roof still intact. Adorning yours with a Speedster windshield sounds interesting.

Your money, your vision, your car.

Have at it and good luck!!

Cool Project ,

Since the front cowl was modified decades ago you are just going to have to work it to go with the Speedster windshield contour ,  not a big deal with all the other work you are doing 

Stan, what is  "I'd be sorely tempted to try to graft a Roadster "bathtub" area on the back" mean? Do you have a picture?  I'm very open to ideas!  

update- bought the Beck frame and glass, will update everyone if it actually fits! I called a few friends and 2 of them also suggested the Beck system, but advised me since the car is steel to weld the bracket the side post fall into, which I plan to do.

If you decide to change out the cowl and dash to the speedster shape and geometry,here are some options for replacement sheet metal.

https://www.356panels.com/dashboards.html

Thank you, the issue is I feel if I change it then what am I left with? Its not a speedster nor a cabriolet.  Figured I was going to leave it 100% how it was, with the exception of the windshield since I plan to drive it not race it. Well maybe a few track days lol

Do it YOUR way, dude!

Guys i'm new to the speedster owner's forum, have to say i've missed out! Extremely helpful group! Thanks for all the advice!   By any chance does anyone know what this kind of roll bar is called, and if anyone sells it?

That roll bar looks to be custom made and is certainly cosmetic only.  That looks to be a Mexico made kit also, so maybe something done by Rafa in Mexico or possibly one of his clients.  I know @Alan Merklin has dealt with these kits first hand (at least once) and may know a bit more about that bar?

Yes, that's a Rafael ... Roll - Show bar configuration, I only used the hoop and the long horizontal bar so after I modified the top frame assembly, it would sit into the tub area.

@Alan merklin thank you for the input, do you have a Picture

Ok in case anyone tries this, the replica speedster windshield can fix the a cabriolet but you need to do work to the car. Here is the pic, received the cab today.  Plexiglass might be an easier way to go

Here is some inspiration for you…

https://bringatrailer.com/list...-emory-speedster-16/

That's a real beauty. Listing says the seller got it in November and put like 400 miles on it. I wonder what the story is.

@edsnova posted:

That's a real beauty. Listing says the seller got it in November and put like 400 miles on it. I wonder what the story is.

The listing is at $500,356 with 9 days to go. I think that's the story.

Sent Rod my deposit yesterday for a outlaw, here is a cab he built with speedster windshield frame. He can close the back to make it look like a speedster.

@Cbmcrudy posted:

Sent Rod my deposit yesterday for a outlaw,

I'm sorry - did you just say you sent Rod Emory a deposit to have him build this car into an outlaw?

No i'm building a  porsche pre-A outlaw

This car was an original Black on Black with Rudge wheels, I'm restoring it to be a black on black race car with custom made aluminum rudge wheels

I 'm probably the outlier her, but the proportions of that car, starting from the seats rearward just seem wrong when the top is down. The car just looks too long when converted to a convertible.

I love Emory's work, in most cases.

Carry on, I'm just blithering

Please share your experience building the car. Sounds awesome. Are the Porsche purists opening up to the Emory cars?  I would think they are. I was going to build a replica of an Emory I liked. That’s the best I got. Gave up on that when I decided I needed a modicum of civility. Convertible D replica for me. Good luck with the build.

@panhandle bob that's not a cut roof, thats an original cab

A while back, I was trying to explain the differences between the “bathtub” area behind the seats on a cab and a Speedster/D/B Roadster.

Those pictures really highlight what I was talking about. A cab looks like a coupe with the roof cut off. It’s an entirely different thing from the doors back.

@stan galat  yes the difference is several inches for sure, on the cab it actually looks awkward if you ask me without the frame on. But that can be enclosed to match the speedster, my understanding is the dash and tub is the only difference

@Cbmcrudy posted:

@stan galat  yes the difference is several inches for sure, on the cab it actually looks awkward if you ask me without the frame on. But that can be enclosed to match the speedster, my understanding is the dash and tub is the only difference

Yeah, so it can be enclosed - but the angle of the decklid is much more vertical on the coupe and cabriolet than on the Speedster and D (and B bodied Roadster). The shape of the deck-lid is different too, if I'm not mistaken.

That means that in order to make it look like a Speedster, all of the sheet metal behind the doors would need to be replaced or reshaped. It's not an easy job, or a matter of getting the extra real estate enclosed under a tonneau.

I'm not saying the car can't be made to look cool without doing all that, I'm saying it can't be made to look like a Speedster without doing all that. How carried away you want to get is entirely up to you.

@Panhandle Bob posted:

I 'm probably the outlier her, but the proportions of that car, starting from the seats rearward just seem wrong when the top is down. The car just looks too long when converted to a convertible.

I love Emory's work, in most cases.

Carry on, I'm just blithering

Sadly, I must agree with that assessment.

It just doesn't look right.

Thats not an issue look at this conversation

More pics

Skills