Is that a .....?

I never quite get used to the interest a speedster can ignite in a "non-car" person. Pulled into the grocery this afternoon. A good looking woman parked next to me asked if this was a "Kar mine Gee yaw"? I said no, only parts from a 71 VW. She says, "Oh you restored it then?" I had to explain the body was thrown away and replaced it with a bit of fiberglass. I find it amazing how many people know the Ghia name, and haven't a clue as to what a real Ghia looks like. It happens a lot, probably to all of us. It was a nice compliment from a non-car person.

David,

That is so ironic, one of my neighbors asked me the same question, "is that a Karmann Gia"? When I told her it was a 356 Porsche Kit, she was still confused and walked away as though I was lying.

David,
I get that same thing all the time. Depending on the circumstances I try to explain but mostly I just say thanks.

Okay guys! Since we are on this topic, what do you say when some one asks "What year is that Porsche" do you tell him the year of the so call kit VW Pan or the actual Porsche year?

Just thougth I ask as I still don't know what do respond with.

1957 Porsche Speedster... and I never tell is a replica unless they ask me. I really have lots of fun with this one!!! ~ Esther

It takes too much explanation to go through the replica stories.

Lots of people have no Idea what a 57 Porsche Speedster is.
Unless they're as old as me or a Car Buff, they have usually never seen one before.
I was getting gas one day, when a excited lady pulled up in a SUV and asked me what kind of Car is that. This is the first one I've seen. Is it a 2007?! Who makes it, where can I get one? She looked like she really wanted to know so I told her the Kit Car/replica story.
She was disappointed when she found out it wasn't a production model that she could get from her Ford, Cheby, or MB dealer!

I worked in an office that included a Sales Dept. One of the Sales Ladies (Blonder than most) asked me if that cute little care was mine and is it a Miata, and maybe you can give me a ride and take me to lunch in it.

Now I just tell them it a '57 Porsche Speedster and let it go, unless they ask!

Greg

When I have time to explain,... I tell them is a replica.
For the most part is a '57 speedster.....made by Porsche if they ask.

Usually,the most common question is ; did you restore it yourself?

Here in Spain, it is not that different, but here almost no one old or young, car buff or not, have ever seen a Speedster, replica or not, or even a 356, so you can imagine, sometimes it is almost embarrasing to drive it.

Also one of my other cars is a 1995 Mx-5 and also here gets a lot of attention, although not as much as the Speedster. I took it last week-end for a 1400 km trip and two different people asked about the car, and nobody could believe it has 11 years now and that the design is from 1989. Of course from new I keep it pristine. You guys are too used to see miatas on the street, but here people don't usually buy a small two-seater as a second or third car, therefore is not quite common.

The Gia thing has happened to me a lot too. And you know...I never thought about it until just reading this post, the PCA guys with their real 356 cars must get hit up with the same Karmann Gia question too.... I wonder which they hate more being asked if it is a kit or a Gia????

Be honest Speedster owners.........
How many of you have learned to "avoid eye contact" when you don't have time to talk with a stranger?

A Karmann Ghia??????????? wao!!! that car does not look anything like a Ghia, but again there are a lot of Sheila's out there lol. ~ Esther

Ok Greg. But did you take the blond to lunch?

As lots of you say, my car gets confused with Ghias a lot; I've always felt that 356's and Karmann Ghias are blood brothers; very similar in feel and look. As for avoiding eye contact as Ernie says; that's why I use my car with the top up a lot; I feel my privacy isn't violated that way. Even putting gas in the car at a station can turn very uncomfortable rather quickly and red lights are a torture also. I put up with all of that because when you're out on the open road with the top down the feeling is unique.

I'm going to point at my jalopy and say, "She's a mutt."

Mutt! That is hilarious!

Ricardo, I share the same experience with you at Gas Stations and worst traffic lights. My 11 year old get really embarrased due to high attention that my Speedie gets and asks me to put to the top up. Funny how we all share the same experiences.

I get just the opposite. EVERYONE thinks that my daily driver Ghia is a Porsche . . . probably 'cause of the headlamps.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TeamEvil/DSCN0184.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TeamEvil/DSCN0186.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TeamEvil/DSCN0187.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TeamEvil/DSCN0189.jpg

12 or so years ago my first replica was a decked out chrome yellow Bradley GT .
At a Mickey D's drive thru window the two minimum wage kids argued intensely that the car was a proto type " New Beetle ":)

I've had a few Karmann Ghias in the past (one with an aluminum V8). Few people knew what if was then, but now my neighbor keeps asking how my "jia" (speedster) is coming along. I gave up correcting him.

TC -
One of my Ghias had similar rust...UNDER the paint - for a while (ended up with a ground up rebuild).

still one of my "all time" favorites.....
although I did wish it was a "low light"

"... decked out chrome yellow Bradley GT ..."
Could you REALLY do that to those? Deck them out, I mean? I wanna see a picture!

And TC, what's that under the bungees on the roof? Plugs and wires?

Here ya go Cory.

TC..do you really drive that ghia??~ Esther

Vince; that Ghia is bitching! Is it a '67?

Robert,

Ricardo, yes it is.....

TC, those are great!

Vince - that '67 Ghia looks great! Perfect for cruising the coastline!

TC - with regard to your rides, I really admire the way you think totally outside-of-the-box!

Robert - your results with that Ghia are outstanding, cool pic! Was that pic taken in the Seguaro National Park?

David - as for public interest when you're driving the Speedy, the most common question I get is from the cops "...is that stolen?"

Peace - Out!

TC..it would be fun to put one of your little guys at the rear windshield wiper of my Mercedes SUV aiming out so when I'm being tailgaited I can squirt them with water. lol

Neighbor has an extra windshield washer bottle that has kerosene set up to inject into the motor ....what a riot when he gets tailgated !

TC, not to be rude but if you parked your daily driver here in Ft Lauderdale you'd have to move it every 15 minutes or else it would probably be towed away by the cops thinking it was abandoned.

They are both KEWL cars...

Next year's daily driver:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TeamEvil/375622a3.jpg

Remember the Jefferson Airplane song

Vince & Mike - Nice looking ghias. I had a '58,'66,&'70. Fun cars.

Jim - The photo was at Picacho Peak, Arizona. Are you familiar with the area? I was in a car club that had outings to many places in Arizon, even inside Old Tucson, where many of the old westerns were made. Here's a couple more photos (scanned, so not very good).

Hey Robert!

My familiarity with that area comes only by way of my daughter graduating from the university there. I'm sure she spent more time with her friend's at Dirt Bag's bar than she did studying. LOL!

Anyway, cool pics of the bugs in Old Town Tuscon!

Peace - Out!

When people ask, "What year is that?" I typically give them a smart-ass response like, "It depends exactly what part you are referring to". They really get puzzled looks then. So I clarify, "the state of California says it is a '71 VW". That really baffles them, cause they kinda know wat a VW looks like - and this ain't it!

Last year I stopped in a roadside rest outside Reno for a bladder dump. A stranger complimented me on my "new truck" (it's got some custom graphics on each isde). I said "Thanks, but it's ten years old". He was shocked. I wax it, but I still haul gravel, brush and lumber, cause - Hey - it's a truck.

When people stop and ask me about my car I usually just say "Yeah it's a civic... did you notice the dent in the back?"

It really isn't that weird though because I'm new to the speedster world and I drive a civic.

Cool username Nathan; I'm a big fan of The Who myself.

After the Ghia question I tell them it is a vw in a tux.

You guys crack me up! LOL

I got to tell you guys! I am in LOVE with my little speedie. I just got pulled over by a Burbank, CA Police Office just to find out what year was my car and to tell me tell me what a beautiful car I had.

I of course told him it was a 55 Speedie. I should of told him that it as a VW in a Tux just like Ben suggested. LOL