Looking For an Intermeccanica Roadster "D"

Hi ,FarSea.  I would suggest that you drive a few cars and be sure that you have someone to maintain the car for you if you don't "tinker" at all.

 

I think you will have to pay AT LEAST the high 30's to get an excellent IM Roadster.

 

Good luck and welcome to the madness.

I'm ( no pun intended ) thinking your budget is too low for that specification but you didn't mention engine type, accessories etc. I've never seen a really good IM roadster in your price range.

 

You might do well to contact Henry at IM. He's quite approachable.

Thanks, Al.  Maybe, I will start learning to mess around with them, but meanwhile, I will have a good mechanic take care of it, once I buy one.

 

David,

I have been looking around for a couple of months and I think with a little bit of luck and good timing, it might be possible.  Of course some of things I outlined above could be flexible.  I would have loved to have Theron's car, which he sold probably 6-7 months ago, but I was not looking at the time:

https://www.speedsterowners.com...1#406060877346841571

 

i think his was 2000 or something around there.

I really miss that car.

Interesting how the market is going. I sold that for 38k, but I would probably get 42k right now.

A quality Intermeccanica is becoming increasingly rare.

 

-=theron

FarSea...got a first name ?

 

Keep the faith...I bought an older IM speedster in Idaho 4.5 years ago and have put 48,000 miles on it since. Paid $6,500 for it with a bone stock 1600 VW engine and drove it home. I did some mods to it since to get it to where I wanted it to be.  

 

I'd like a roadster too and I know of one for sale for a bargain but it's an older model. Might need some work. Deals are out there if you are patient and/or willing to hit the road. This list has many members across the USA and most would be willing to check out a car for you if necessary and nearby.

David says:  "I did some mods to it since to get it to where I wanted it to be."

 

Right.  David did a few little things with his IM.  Hmmm...

 

 

Giday, Bob. I should have said " I did some mods to it since, to get it to where it is now".

 

Not trying to be a smart ass or anything, but all I did is change out the shifter, put a hardtop on it and found a way to install an older Subaru motor on the cheap. I'm having fun with it.

"...all I did..."  Yeah, that's just a little tinkering, right?

A little more of David style tinkering and it will be the first speedster to fly

Are you looking for something like this? This may be your new car.

 

 

Looks good, Rusty.

do you have more info on it?

Or is it your own car?  

http://intermeccanica.com/athi...al-air-cooled-s.html

 

Here is the link on the IM site... it might fit your bill, low mileage looks mint. Ray

Actually David, I think your working your way to be the Canadian Clock maker Ray

Thanks for the link.

i have actually talked to the owner of that roadster on several occasions, but he is very set on his price.   so we got nowhere.

I know that for the square tube frame cars, the used price for a very good condition roadster is at the higher end of your budget. On the other hand it does not take much to add mucho denaro in repairs to make one perfect so sometimes in my opinion,  buying one that is a bit more perfect saves in the long run. 

 

On the other hand, there may be another IM coming on line I would call Henry or email him, the email is on his site, older IM owners upgrade to newer ones and sell there older units via Henry all the time. Ray

Rusty......Are you selling your car ????.....Bruce

Well, it seems to me you've put a lot of yourself into that car, not to mention a couple of windshields.  And, installing a Subaru engine on your own into one of these cars is nothing to be sneezed at.  That takes some doing.

 

And the car is great now.

 

Paul Mossberg took me for a ride in his IM roadster.     I was very impressed and very much liked the car.    Strangely having owned a coupe I'd probably go speedster or roadster next time.  Why you ask, who knows maybe something different.   The negative is the $$$.  Very possibly worth it.   I'd be suspicious of bargains understanding that buying a lower priced car doesn't mean that in the end you save money.   If I do it again you best believe I am going to be very careful to buy the best one I can find (or build). 

 

I guess the short of this is IF you find a good IM in the 30K range better jump quickly because I might be right behind you.     Truthfully at this point I'm going to let the smoke clear before I move again and do a little better job researching.   But yes a good IM at 30 something.  Who wouldn't want that???  

Pretty nice looking IM in yellow on eBay right now.     Odd ad though.   Unless I am missing something there isn't much information on the car.  Most of what is said is just a repeat on information on the IM site.

 

On further inspection I see he does say some about the car.   There you go a buy it now for $42,000.   That's in the high thirties isn't it?   Real high thirties .  If it was as nice as Paul's car..... just saying.     

Make sure you talk to Henry first if you want an IM. He may have several leads already for people who want to sell. And if you see one for sale talk to him about it. I'm sure he knows as much about the car, or more, than the guy selling it.

Thank you for the nice comments John. Wish I could take credit, but the credit belongs to Henry and his team.

 

Ditto what Robert wrote. Talk with Henry!

 

I worked with Henry for almost two years before the right car came along.

 

He knew I was not in the market for a new build, so there was no direct money to be made by IM. But he also sees the importance of having knowledgable and happy IM owners out here in the real world, whether they spec'ed a new build or bought used.

 

Agreed.  I have bought two used IMs through Henry, and both were/have been great cars.  I am currently selling my 2004 Speedster, and he's been great in helping me with that.

 

You could not find a nicer fellow than Henry.  He won't steer you wrong.

Farsea, I was giving your request some thought... It is only by looking at many IM's, if you can find them used, then making a chart of what the value of the IM and options list are worth used and in what condition they are in can you really know what is the real value of what your buying.  Obviously there are cost differences with Overrider bars, larger engines etc etc. 

Thank you all for your feedbacks.  You guys are awesome.

i am new to this site, but I feel like I am an old timer, seeing you guys take time out of your busy days to respond and provide me guidance based on your valuable experiences.  Very much appreciated.

 

i am trying to get in touch with Henry to get some info on the yellow IM on eBay. Definitely not my favorite color, but I will buy it, if he brings price down a little.

the current owner has about 70 or so other cars, so his info on the roadster is a bit sketchy.  I was more interested in Rusty's car, but I have not heard back from him.

 

Saeed

There is nothing worse than buying one of these cars, and finding it does not live up to whatever expectations you may have of them.  Either it's because the car is not that good, or the new owner does not realize what he/she is buying into. 

 

Most of these cars - well, all really, but to differing degrees - require some degree of 'tinkering' and certainly of maintenance.  They are not a brand new Honda, etc.

 

The driving experience is certainly different, but so is the owning experience.  Many of us have gone through a car or two until we get the one we think we really want, and even then we sometimes dream of 'the ultimate speedster'.

 

Just be aware of what you really expect from one of these cars; of the obligations that go with owning one; and of your own personality in terms of what you are looking for one of these cars to do.

 

If it all comes together, nothing is more spirit lifting than a top down drive on a curvy road in a car that gives you what you want.  Of course, having a right seater who shares your dream helps.

 

 

 

Point by point very true.    In my case certainly a degree of over expectation.  As to the need to sort out issues, apparently that's universally accepted as part of it. It is the amount of sorting required and the reality that at the very best it's probably never going to be the right car for me (the JPS coupe). I own a vintage motor home and much of this applies to that hobby as well.  The first one I purchased I realized within a month or so that I couldn't live with it.  By that time I was a member of a group of owners much like the SOC group and in fact it's called the WOG.  I sold the first and bought the second and I just love this second old bus.   It requires a lot of attention but in the end my love for it makes it worth while. I am optimistic that I can and will find the right speedster/coupe or roadster replica . I may have made an equally as bad decision on another car but no new owner should be sold a car by a previous owner or builder with out disclosing the "issues" At this point I have to decide if I can justify spending the money required to buy and own the car of my dreams. The folks on this forum and those I met at Carlisle this year have educated me to the point that I should be able to make a much better choice the second time around.  

 

I've bought and sold a bunch of cars. These are not your new Honda or Toyota.  They are reproductions and I fault myself for not fully understanding that. I should have explored them at last years Carlisle show in more detail.  I looked them over and liked what I saw but I didn't ask questions.  Frankly I felt like I would be intruding into the group of people who clearly were having fun. I should have been a little more forward.  If you can buy a car the first time around that you can be happy with even if it does require some sorting you are better off.  On the WOG (motorhome group) we always advise people who are new to buy the best one they can find and to be aware of the fixer uppers.  For the same reason as here it's typically more fixing then you think.  There are those folks who really like to tinker and can clearly raise one from the dead and with great results.   People who parallel Alan Merklin.  I don't have the skills to do major work on cars.   I've got to find a car that I can have serviced and repaired without causing me consternation.   If I can do that and afford it then I think there is a happy ending for me.

 

Go into this with eyes open and deal with folks who have a positive track record for good service who stand behind their cars.  I am moving forward with a better understanding and a better attitude.     

 

Make friends with the folks on the forum here and sort thru the advice as best you can and enjoy the madness.    (We say the same on the motorhome page) There is some degree of madness in the hunt for cars (any car).  I've been a crazy guy much of my life.  

 

I apologize for my bitching . Maybe my experience will save others from similar.   

 

I will try to be a friend to all with or with out a car.  

Wise words, John, and you are welcome in the group either way.  I was fortunate in that I flew up to Carlisle in 2005 and met the crazies after reaching out to Bruce earlier in that year.  That gave me plenty of time to explore, ride in, and ask questions.  I was doubly fortunate when, several months later, Carey and Gordon approached me with an offer that I couldn't refuse.  The rest is history.

 

Over time things change and what was the right car for you at one time may not suit your needs or desires later.  That's ok as there is room under the big Carlisle test for all kinds.

For me, the issues fall into several categories:

1) Issues with 1950's technology. You can either accept this or not. Those that don't sell quickly. Some can be resolved with upgrades like Subaru power trains, CSP shifters, hydraulic clutches, etc. Some we decide to live with, like Weber carbs.

2) Issues related to low volume, custom builds. These cars don't go through billion dollar development programs and there's bound to be some shake out issues.

3) Part quality. Some of the components available for these builds are top notch and some are not. Even with the same vendor on the same part quality can vary widely (e.g. Chinese tachs).

4) Fundamental design. Some of these designs are fundamentally better than others.

5) Build quality. This is the area I find hard to excuse. Things like computer wiring for automotive lighting is just plain unacceptable.

You can issues 1-3 with any builder, but issues 2, 4, & 5 will be much less with the right builder. The right builder will also bend over backwards to help you resolve ALL issues. Ask me how I know.

> On May 21, 2015, at 9:00 AM, SpeedsterOwners.com <alerts@hoop.la> wrote:
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