Lane's Beck Coupe #1

CORRECTION: My fuzzy memory just cleared and I recalled that Carey and I have been talking about the possibility of a coupe project for a couple of years.  It only became real for me last May.

Lane, this is really exciting!

Looking forward to following the build.

Congratulations, Lane.  It's quite a ride having a car built 'just for you', and there will be a ton of decisions that have to be made.  Keep a good record of all emails, phone calls, and photos, as you will want to have them handy, both for checking back on things, and for documenting the process.

Thankfully, you have a bunch of experts on here who will be glad to give you advice on every little question you will have...and then some. 

Enjoy the ride.

Lane, great, can't wait to see pics of the Coupe. I know it will be a quality build !

Very cool Lane, I can't wait t see how this turns out. I may or may not have seen the coupe body in the shop last spring. 

Good on you, Lane.

But you do realize there are less complicated ways to get a five speed, right?

 

Joe, they just did the prototype body recently down at Chuck's shop in GA, so what you saw was probably from an earlier project.  They are currently fitting the window glass to the body.

Pretty exciting!

You freakin' rule dude!

Congratulations!

Sweet!

I'd love to see a near full roof sliding canvas sun roof like my old 1957 VW bug had (otherwize you noggin will get pasty white!)  They actually didn't leak.

But, will it have "Bee Hives"?

Lane, Great news I love coupes.  Before my two IM's I had only had an original coupe and was trying to get one built everywhere, then I tried an IM roadster and I fell in love with top down motoring  I would have to have have two cars ...mrs says no.... for now Ray

I've enjoyed the open air in the Speedster, but our summers here can be brutal and my dermatologist keeps reminding me of those pesky positive biopsies, so it's coupes for me!

I'm really happy for you, Lane. No more brass thingys. I know how you loved those.

Well there are concessions to be made and AC is one of them... I mean AC in the car  

But I do like that sliding roof Heir Wolfgang suggested that would allow you evening cruises under the stars Lane... Last time I checked the UV index is low under the Yareach, also known as moon. Ray

Lane Anderson posted:

I've enjoyed the open air in the Speedster, but our summers here can be brutal and my dermatologist keeps reminding me of those pesky positive biopsies, so it's coupes for me!

And it's not a BGT...  

True, but I still like 'em!

Wow! Luck you Lane, sounds very cool. I was there a few months ago and they must have had it hidden across the street somewhere as I know I looked at all the cars he had at both shops.

I did see a few chassis being worked on though, hummmm...

Pete 

The way of the (our?) world:  Subie, Subie, Subie. Would it not be cool if Subaru got off their asses and sold a crate motor??

Lane, as to  those pesky biopsies: you CAN wear a hat.

Oh what an exciting time this will be. Have you had any discussions about soundproofing?  This could be a really big deal inside that closed box.  Thinking of the treks to Carlisle, and such.

And I vote for beehives, with real bright LEDs inside.

If things go as planned (always a dangerous assumption, I know), I'll be at Carlisle with my Subi coupe, and plan to share whatever I have learned about what to do, what not to do.  The list will be extensive.

Beehives would look kinda weird on a 356C recreation.  Here are the vitals that Carey posted on the other thread:

"The body is the T-6 B/C coupe.  Tube chassis.  Dual a-arm front suspension with custom spindles to accept your basic VW or conversion VW (Wildwood et al.) brakes.  Bottom mounted a-arm rear suspension with parallel trailing arms.  Adjustable coil overs all around.  The overall suspension design is much like our current production GTS, which was all derived form the Chevron B-16.  Manual rack and pinion steering.  All trim items are sourced from Porsche Classic Parts and considered OEM restoration parts.  It uses all original glass.  Steel reinforced windshield frame... and we just finished a custom die so we can extrude a drip rail... :-)

The chassis was built in such a way that we have multiple engine cradles in both mid and rear engine configurations.  The prototype and first production cars will all be slated for mid engine Subaru.  But the coolest thing is the way Chuck designed the multi-use chassis.  Simple change of the engine cradle allows for 6 cyl 911, 356, ACVW, Subaru.  A different set of inner panels and change the rear trunk panels to engine bay panels and it is rear engine with 901, 915, reversed Suby or VW IRS gearboxes..."

Ah choices!

Here's a picture of a real one in Oslo Blue with oxblood interior.  I guess it was just restored as the tires have cute little booties on them.  The second pic as a GT in Bali Blue.  And finally, the third pic is an unfinished restoration (the same as the first?) in Oslo Blue.

 

I think I like the middle one, darker blue. So sayeth the guy who was lead-pipe sure he wanted a dark blue Speedster until he figured out he really liked dark red better. Actually went to a P dealer and perused the back lot where they stored the Boxters, and therein saw a lone Carmona Red car amongst a sea of black and silver ones.  That sort of did it for me.  One thing about the dark blue is that in some lights and certainly at night, it looks black.  And I did not want a black car.  Yes, so many choices.  With all that fancy running gear under the FG, you will be the envy of the SOC, and star of the show at Carlisle.

As to the beehives: it is YOUR car Lane, you can have whatever you want.  Who says they would not look good on C-style coupe?  Who you tryin' to fool, anyway??

Thumbs up Lane.  Keeping me motivate to get well.  Been home from work all week.  Nasty Flu and upper respitory.  I never miss work unless on vacation or driving my tub so you get the the point?  I feel like death is knocking.   

Olso Blue if you plan to go even mild outlaw.  Don't take design advice from  a rocket scientist.  Guys that smart don't wear the same color socks.  Just kidding Kelly, well, kinda.  Looking forward to seeing this one come to fruition.  

Happy for you Lane, at least I won't have to wait till I'm dead to get a mid engine speedster now.

What's an "Outlaw" without Bee Hives, just another coupe!

Lane:  The third in your set of three pictures is an original coupe that came out of Meister Restorations in New Hampshire (the same guys now reproducing the aluminum 550 Spyder) and the owner of the car (Allen and in the photo) sits on the Board of Directors of the TYP356ne club with me and Peter Venuti.  He's a nice guy and VERY proud of that, now finished, car so I've emailed him for any photos he might have and will either post them or send them to you via email.  If he's willing, I'll hook you two up so you can talk about your cars - he's very Porsche-knowledgeable and a research-oriented kind of guy, about to retire as Chief Surgeon at Boston's largest Veterinary hospital.

Stay Tuned

And BTW:  We have several 356's in the club in Bali Blue and Oslo Blue.  Scan through some of the photos here and you'll find them.

http://www.typ356ne.org/photos...hp?/1448/category/51

OK Lane what's it going to be??  A straight-up "Coupe", or an Outlaw??  Just the way you like it, or all Original- P-looking?  Decisions, decisions . . .

There will be some outlaw things in this car besides the driver.  Carey and I haven't worked out a lot of those details yet as my car is months away and they're still developing the prototype.

Gordon, I thought I remembered you sending that picture.  Anything you can provide would be appreciated. 

Sounds like a plan, Lane. 

Danny...have you seen what dad is doing with our inheritance money?

Lane, you do know this is a "Speedster owners Club", Do they have a "Coupe Owners Club"?

 

Congrats man this is going to be fun to watch as your car is created. Do share lots of photos and details...

I couldn't be happier for you, Lane. With a slightly wider rear stance, you'll likely have wider wheels and that means ....tone down the body colour to a correct Slate Grey type of attitude and yet be towards authentic with some cool edge.

Smooth power, 5 gears, heat and AC....get the colour picked out and then face 6 months of advice of what wheels you need. .....nice spot to be in, Amigo. You're in the drivers seat. Get it right and done your way.

 

Lane are you going to do a facebook build page?

David: Wheels may be stock to keep things in budget.  I am looking at a couple of other upgrades but have to be realistic.  I know what I'd like (Minilites) but they're quite pricey.

Todd: Probably, but we're a long way off.  I don't expect them to start on it for a couple of months yet.

crhemi (Bill) posted:

Lane, you do know this is a "Speedster owners Club", Do they have a "Coupe Owners Club"?

We're an easy going bunch; I vote Lane (and his new car) can stay!

You know, GERD was a coupe owner too. I think they are a "special" faction of the group.
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