INTERMECCANICA OR SPECIALTY AUTO

I HAVE HAD A CMC SPEEDSTER FOR SOME TIME, BUT NEVER FIT IN THE CAR.I,M 6'5" 270 POUNDS.I,M LOOKING AT A ROADSTER OR CABRIOLET FRO ABOVE MFGR,S.WHAT WOULD BE BETTER CHOICE ON QUALITY OF THE CARS?

The cars are very different. The question about quality is just a part of the equation. IM makes a very good quality car. My car is a "low end" car. It is well made,has been trouble free for 7 years and 15,000 miles, looks like new and is very comfortable for the kind of car it is. I am 6'3" and 240 lbs. I am comfortable in the Roadster seats. I have driven the car 400 miles a day and am impressed with it. IM makes cars that are quite different than mine. My car is all VW suspension and a VW aircooled engine. The new watercooled cars and the 911 suspension and engine cars are a whole different piece of equipment. They are beautiful and impressive in performance and ride/handling, also in cost! I have seen one SAS car in person, and it looked real nice. I can't comment on them other than that. Good luck in your search.

Michael, if it is at all possible, you should try to make the Carlisle event coming up in May. There are currently four examples of SAS cars that will be present, three cabriolets and one coupe. I believe most if not all of the other maker's cars will be there too, including IM. There is nothing like seeing the cars close up on the same day to make comparisons and speak face to face with the owners. After that, you will be in a better position to make an informed decision.
Hoss

Althought there is a little more interior room in a tube versus a VW pan based car - it isn't much and cabriolet gives you maybe 2" more head room. Have you looked at dropping the floor in seat area (2" drop possible for more head room) and going to different seats in the car you have now?

In addition to both SAS and IM cars shown at Carlisle (as well as every other maker), Henry Reisner, President of Intermeccanica, will be showing his IM cars and Carey Hines from Special Edition will be there representing his Beck Speedsters and Spyders.

Unfotunately, the builders of SAS, VS and others usually do not make the Carlisle show, although the Street Beast people will probably be there. We try to beat them off with a stick....

I have to put in a plug for Beck as well. They have resumed limited production of a 356 C Cabriolet that is essentially a resurrection of the Envemo from the '80s using the same molds, I believe. I recently received some pictures from Carey Hines at Special Edition (Beck) that I hope he doesn't mind if I share. These are very correct, custom made cars probably closer to IM in price. They have several power train options.

And a few more, including a finished car.

Found a couple more

Oh, I must say, I quite like that!

angela

Steve, here we come! (Will this even work with him, Angela?)

I GUESS GOING TO CARLISLE WOULD BE BETTER THAN MAKING TRIP TO FACTORY.THANKS FOR INPUT.

I'll keep this simple... IM hands down.

I agree with Justin. Let the Holy Wars begin.

So what's holding you back, Justin? Henry builds a great car, no question about it. Each potential purchaser has to weigh all the pros and cons and make an informed decision. We don't all come out to the same place. I'm happy with my choice and for me that's all there is to it.

Hey Michael!

I'm selling a very nice 2003 IM. It's listed in the Classified section and it may be the best of both worlds for you.

We used to have Beck/Vintage wars all the time over at Spyderclub. They are pointless. Do research, lots of research. Touch them, drive them, price them, agonize over them. Go to Carlisle or Morro Bay, then you can see if you fit them and they fit you.

Then pick one, shut up, and drive the hell out of it. Whatever choice is right for you is the right choice, period. But be man enough to admit, at least to yourself, if you make the wrong choice. Then sell it, don't whine, and buy what you should have in the first place now that you have some knowledge and experience.

If this sounds like a rant so be it, another endless discussion over which is better is like comparing male organs, pointless, 'cause you got what you got, and it feels good when you use it!

I am not sure there is any direction for this thread to go in. This is my quote from this forum on August 8, 2008. Nothing has changed to make me feel any different, so I offer it again.

"As perhaps the only person on this forum that owns an IM Conv D AND an SAS coupe, I have had the pleasure of dealing with both Henry at IM and Steve at SAS. I consider them both to be gentleman of integrity and fine people to deal with. However, IM and SAS are very different companies and much different in approach and philosophy. IMO, it serves little purpose to compare the two or even their product for that matter other than the fact that they look alike (as one would expect with replicas). Each car and its bulder is unique and appreciated for what they are and how they got into my garages. I choose not to compare the cars as I am satified with both and what they offer."

I gotta write down that last statement of yours, Danny. That's one of the better ones I've heard in a while.

Amen.

An IM and a SAS, two beautiful cars?

Charles you are a very fortunate soul!

The Creme Brule coupe will make another appearance at Carlisle in 2009 but this time it is complete. The IM will have to stay at home. See you there.

Roger That!

Charles is right on, to compare the two is pointless. The differences lay under the fiberglass and paint. You can have two different vineyards making a similar type of wine, however, each may look alike but taste different because of the region the grapes are grown, the method and time of fermentation and the wine maker himself. So which ever wine you prefer enjoy it to the utmost. Of course this means Vince likes either Thunderbird or Mad Dog!, lol

If Vince were a wine, it would be described as '...a little nutty, and not too fruity, yet strangely appealing'.

Isn't specialty auto about 1/2 price of Intermecchanica? You might as well go with an original at that point.

Giggle, chuckle, face palm.

Great point, David! You find me a flawless $50K original, and I'll jump right on it.

It's like "Groundhog Day".....

I will also take one of those $50K original concours speedsters if you find an extra one! I am waiting for my IM roadster to be completed. It was just painted in Radium Green. Henry is great to work with. I'll keep you posted.
John

Henry and I spoke today. He has my deposit and my IM-6 should be ready in late March or early April. That is my vote. I sold my real 1960 356 Sunroof Coupe to build what I want........;-)

More like $150K for an original these days.

Dave Mitchell, you sold a 356 that can only climb in value, for a fake that can only decrease in value...I would like to trade bank accounts with you if you don't mind...

Let's see now. Dave sold a 49 year old bucket of potential failures and expenses for a brand new IM 6-banger that he got to completely design and commission himself, and should be able to drive the wheels off of, trouble-free, for many years to come........ I'm with you on this one, Dave. Personal pleasure will always trump resale value for me.

Tom gets it too!

Vince I sold this car:

http://www.europeancollectibles.com/inventory_detail.aspx?@page_inv_id=Po2202

and I sold it because it was not what I wanted. I have lived 356 Porsche's for some time now and a T-5 Sunroof Coupe is at about it's apex in value right now and will not continue to climb. So I traded the value of that car for what I want. BTW have you ever seen a IM-6 for sale? IM-4's sure but not a IM-6 they are far too personal. The replica Speedsters you see for sale all the time are for the most part not even close to what Henry can build and now I will have what I was looking for a 'Hot Rod" when I originally decided to buy a 356 Porsche and then could not build a hot rod out of a numbers matching 14 factory optioned car.

BTW it has nothing to do with my bank account. Yes I have a good job but my toys have nothing to do with the household budget. Buy low and make a profit...........;-)

Stan,

You my friend are correct! Tom gets it maybe Vince will....;-)

Fat chance,

Dave,
The link doesn't work.
I've seen the car...spectacular.
I know Dave...great guy and a friend of mine.
He's getting what he wants...who wouldn't want it?
Dave spent years restoring his sunroof coupe. During that time he built up a rat rod C coupe, which he sold for a profit and donated said profit to a charity in Jim Ward's honor.
He has defended replicas and their owners for years. Now he's joining us. Some of you met Dave at Morro Bay, he drove down with me in his '80's 911 Carrera (which is for sale...beautiful!). And Dave plans on joining the group next year, hopefully in his new IM-6.
Vince, Dave knows the value of things, sometimes it's not all about the money.

You will have to excuse me here, as I am quite conflicted. I'm one of the guys who although not financially strapped, always had to watch what I spent, so the money is a large part of it for me. Raised 4 girls, but had expensive habits (Harley's and Cars)tried to juggle the two, but not always eazy (the kids still think I have to much and they don't, but f them...Also till about 5-6 years ago somewhat of a purist. (concours judge for over 20 years, and many 50's originals) So I still have a hard time with the big dollars for a replica. I'm also not a Porsche guy, but always loved the 356 design, and not caring what people thought made buying a Vintage an easy decision. (but I can't take it to concouse events)
You don't need to explain any of your decisions to me, this is a free country, or so I am told...I'm just a ball buster.....so have fun whatever you are driving....
Oh, I don't believe this "Apex" stuff, the coupe's are just beginning their rise from what I can see..

Terry: Gay amber lenses (with Assmbly) will be shipped tomorrow...

Vince-

You need to work on your delivery, my friend. That was borderline "nice".