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Intermeccanica questions

FM Former Member
Alohas,

I was reading the information on IM's website about some of the equipment that their cars are fitted with. One thing I noticed is that A/C is an option, and these guys don't seem to be afraid to install it with confidence. My experience with VW's is that anything that saps power from the ACVW engine, is bad and an A/C unit would clutter the already tiny engine bay of a 356.

Their description says that the condenser is a front mounted unit. Since I have nill experience with 356's or A/C on ACVW engines, can somebody explain this for me? The condenser is what runs off the engine, correct? How could IM have a front-mounted condenser? Is it an electrical unit running off the battery?

A few other questions:

How well do the roll-up windows seal on these cars? This is the major feature that IM offers which appeals to me. If I bought one of these I would drive it everyday, rain or shine. Is the top a good quality unit? Is it similar to the Karmann tops used by VW in the 60's as on the Ghias? Hopefully not like an MGB top or similar.

I've noticed that almost no Speedster/Roadster replicas have any sort of roll-bar installed. Did these cars ever come this way from the factory, or was it an aftermarket accessory? I'm supposing most people don't install one due to aesthetics, it might look funny. Does IM or anyone else offer this in an attractive version for the cars?

I can't think of anything else at the moment. I know I could probably just ask IM, however, I'm not at the buying stage yet (far off) and don't want to mislead any manufacturers about possible business at this time. I'd rather hear it from the guys that have to deal with these cars everyday.

mahalos,
Joel
Original Post

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FM Former Member
Alohas,

I was reading the information on IM's website about some of the equipment that their cars are fitted with. One thing I noticed is that A/C is an option, and these guys don't seem to be afraid to install it with confidence. My experience with VW's is that anything that saps power from the ACVW engine, is bad and an A/C unit would clutter the already tiny engine bay of a 356.

Their description says that the condenser is a front mounted unit. Since I have nill experience with 356's or A/C on ACVW engines, can somebody explain this for me? The condenser is what runs off the engine, correct? How could IM have a front-mounted condenser? Is it an electrical unit running off the battery?

A few other questions:

How well do the roll-up windows seal on these cars? This is the major feature that IM offers which appeals to me. If I bought one of these I would drive it everyday, rain or shine. Is the top a good quality unit? Is it similar to the Karmann tops used by VW in the 60's as on the Ghias? Hopefully not like an MGB top or similar.

I've noticed that almost no Speedster/Roadster replicas have any sort of roll-bar installed. Did these cars ever come this way from the factory, or was it an aftermarket accessory? I'm supposing most people don't install one due to aesthetics, it might look funny. Does IM or anyone else offer this in an attractive version for the cars?

I can't think of anything else at the moment. I know I could probably just ask IM, however, I'm not at the buying stage yet (far off) and don't want to mislead any manufacturers about possible business at this time. I'd rather hear it from the guys that have to deal with these cars everyday.

mahalos,
Joel
FM Former Member
No, the compressor is what runs off the engine, the condenser contributes to cooling. I think Henry uses a smallish Japanese rotary compressor that will work with dual Weber carburetion and not clutter up the engine bay too badly. Condenser in front works well and keeps an external heat source away from the engine.

The IM A/C is probably the best thought-out system offered on replicas, but that being said, I did not (and would never) order A/C on my IM.
TheronTheron Site Administrator
Rollbar questions:
Few cars have good rollbars because it is so hard to do correctly. Time and time again, I have seen replicas with rollbars that are too small, have little bracing or are bolted to the pan where they will most certainly snap in an accident. Often these type of rollbars may actually do more damage than good, by collapsing over. In order to get a rollbar that will actually stand you will need very heavy steel and some bracing, forward to back. this usually means loosing the passenger seat with a brace up to the front kickpanel. It will also require uprights that are far enough away from your head to avoid impact with your skull. Having an upright directly behind or next to your head almost certainly means serious injury in a rear end accident. However, there have been some on this site who hav fabricated, strong, beautiful rollbars on there own. Unfortunately, testing a rollbar is like testing matches. You never actually know if it's a good design until you need it.
-=theron
FM Former Member
Thanks for all the replies,

I suspected that A/C on one of these cars might be more of a pain than a benefit. I also thought that the rollbar dilemma was probably due to the small space a driver would have to work with in order to build an effective one. I wouldn't want to forfeit my passenger seat or have some huge mangle of tubing cluttering around my head. That being said, its pretty much a gamble driving around in these cars sometimes, correct?

A buddy of mine had an MBG in high school, and he was always worried about passing semi-trucks or driving on really windy days, he thought it would flip, and without a rollbar, well...

mahalos again,
Joel
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