Looking for a coupe

I would like to buy a coupe (turnkey) to use for a daily driver and have been researching builders I have seen 4 seat coupes (original) for sale on EBAY and know that few of them were made that way. Do any manufactures make a replica with 4 seats for those rare days I have to pick up an extra person? I have searched the Beck and SAS sites and they don't say specifically but looking at the photos available I assume the answer is no.

Thanks for your help

Ryan

SAS will not provide a coupe that will fill the bill if you need four seats. Even for the originals, small person that I be, I can say from experience that the back seats are not for normal sized people.

SpacemanSpliff,

I am a newbie to. Where do you live SoCal? If you live in the UK there is the Chesil brand (think I spelled that right) it has 2 back seats but is a little weird IMO as in not correct and you will have to pay dearly for it. My neighbor just got a 4 seater Mini soft top and she loves it if you need a 4 seater.

Dave

Even the original, steel coupes could hardly be considered "4-seaters".

Sure, they had a "jump seat" in the back, but, realistically, there was almost zero leg room (the front people had to pull their seats way forward if someone intended to sit in back).

The rear seats were hinged forward and mad a shelf for a reason - luggage. You could even get a set of luggage matched to your interior for those "longer" trips.

And if you carry your luggage on the back rack I know where you can get some dynamite leather straps !!!


(NOTE: this is a bald faced commercial comment)

Happy Trails,
Dusty

Hey Ryan, I hear that JPS is going to start making a coupe with a back seat. Check them out....

Now THAT'S the Vince I know....8-)

Hey Vince, check this out!

My JPS Coupe has the rear jump seats and I have had my 7 year old son & my 11 year old son back there, but they were NOT comfortable. OK for a 10 minute run to the ball field, but not much more. With the passenger seat all the way forward the 7 year old could sit reasonably comfortably, but it won't work when he gets much larger. I am 6' 220 and need the driver seat all the way back leaving absolutely no legroom in the back. The storage space is pretty nice compared to a speedy (with no passengers in the rear).

Why do I get that feeling Vince will somehow manage to break in a coupe back seat and report said event(s) in full living color?

Thanks for all your help I will look at JPS although I do like the way SAS builds the cars without many used parts. (and not to far from VA) The web site of course says that they are the best but what are the real advantages/ disadvantages of the VW build up vice all custom?

I realize the rear seats will be very small I only need them to hold small child very rarely.

Ryan, I suggest you research some of the threads on this website related to the builders and, particularly, the coupes. I believe that you'll find a lot of useful info.

I opted for the SAS Coupe. No back seat but 100 other reasons to go with SAS.

Yeah, the JPS back seats come with a really cool option: a built-in bidet!

funny, although I have to go to Dictionary.com for the word "Bidet".
---
bidet

noun
a basin for washing genitals and anal area
---

Hey Vince -- wash THIS!

Ryan, don't get tunnel-vision when you're looking at replica coupes. There are scores of original cars in daily-driver shape or that need a little work for under half of what a new replica will cost.
It may actually cost less to turn one over to a body shop for tin work than to have one built of fiberglass.
For example, the coupe in these pictures, sans engine, could be driven every day with a 2332 for less than the cost of a used Boxster.

Interesting note; I saw in one of the classic-car magazines that four-cylinder classics that have slumped in cost until now are again in vogue with the car-buying public. Hang onto those 914s and VW wagons, kids ... They might pay off the house note before summer's over!

Ryan,
There is (or was) a JPS Coupe replica for sale in VA.
Please contact John Magyar 757-340-1989 in Virginia Beach.

I am sort of kicking myself for not buying a 356A coupe I saw over the winter- excellent shape-$24,000!

Found a JPS in the local area. Said to the the first coupe JPS ever made. Going to check it out tomorrow....sounds like a good deal as far as all the upgrades and supposedly has had all the bugs worked out of it. Garage kept and only has 1899 miles on it. Does anyone have any knowledge on this particular car...I believe it was at the last show....and does anyone have an idea on the value of the car? Thanks and looking forward to the responses on this one! ~ Ryan

We've seen it -- check out the Carlisle results. That puts you near Norfolk?

Talk to Warren at The Bug House in Virginia Beach (757)497-8080.
He did some work on it.

the most important question about Coupe #1 is: why is it for sale? Not 2,000 mi in a year and bye-bye? Has to be a reason or three. S/N 001 of anyhting may not be just what you expect. Be careful.

I have seen the car and spent quite a bit of time talking to the owner. I have Coupe #2. My understanding from talking at length to John was he felt he had the all the bugs worked out and was pretty happy with the way the car was working now. Best to talk to him. He is a straight shooting guy and will tell you his tale directly. Judge for yourself. I believe his reason for selling falls outside his experience with the actual car.

I did talk to john and he is a very honest guy and the car has just lost its appeal for him. The car is very nice I went to look at it today. As much as I like the look of the car I wasn

Ryan, I sat in both the JPS #1 and #2. I had the same problem as you with the #1. I'm 6'1" and did quite have the leg room. I sat in the #2 which is not a VW pan but a tube frame. Big difference. Plenty of room. I have the same problem with my pan framed speedster. My foot keeps hitting the gas tank.

SAS uses a tube frame thus there should be plenty of room for a 6' person.

Ryan,
I own coupe #4 and am slightly over 6' tall with a 33 inch inseam. JPS suggested the speedster type seats instead of the standard coupe type and they allow me very adequate space. If you like the car and the price is right you might consider just swapping out the seats as a solution.

Builder Steve (SAS) told me that his original plan for the Speedster he was building was to accomodate a 6' 4" driver. The tube-framed layout, I think essentially the same on all his cars, uses an original 356 floor pan and has a pedal cluster that can be moved back and fourth several inches. This was handy for me, being the first cash customer and 5' 5" tall. The pedals had to be moved all the way back for me to reach and obviously I don't have any space issues. It's still a task getting in and out just like all the 356 replicas, especially for these old bones.

Ryan: Contact Tom DeWalt directly.

Ryan,

Coupe #2 is for sale, and not because of my issues. They are on their way to getting resolved thanks to the east coast brain trust and (finally) JPS willingness to participate. I am selling because of business circumstances. RV business is very bad. I want this car to get a good home with someone that will hopefully be an active SOCer. Talk to any of the guys working on the car if you want. As they say - not rocket science - all can be fixed. It adds up to a great opportunity to both get a nice car and make a bunch of like-minded friends. Come up and take a look for yourself. I think everyone is still on board to get r done. PM me if you have any interest in the car.

I'll be happy to walk you through each issue and what needs to be done.

Tom

Ryan
Tom's car is a great car
you should really consider it
the price is awesome