mfg. of my speedster

I bought a beautiful speadster at an auction. The registration is a 65 v.w. It does have a serial # plate inside the door. How can I determine who mfg. the car ie: the kit mfg.?

We'll need to see photos

First thing is to look at is the upholstery on the doors. If there is a dual seam about 2 inches wide that runs parallel to the floor, then swoops up at an angle - it's a Vintage Speedster.

if the wire going to the alternator is red and curlyqued it is a VS

Cast aluminum "Hibachi" one piece engine grille is FF/CMC give-a-way. Original CMC seats were the butt-tight Speedster buckets with the twin seat belt vent holes. Post some pictures and we'll iod for sure. CMC supplied a gold serial number id plate but it was up to builder to pop rivet it on and most didn't.

Bruce.. who cares.... Welcome to the MADNESS here... whatever or I should say whomever built it will be MORE than happy to help you in the maintenance of it here as well as all the other knuckleheads here that are MORE than willing to give you their point or perspective... Bottom line is that YOU drive that sweet tub all over the place and get that SEG off your face.. that will probably NEVER happen because I still have that grin and I've been here over 3 or 4 years now.. DAMN .. that's a while... POST some pix ASAP too. We love to see new tubs here and tell us were you are located so we can get you in on some of our runs if your near by, or even if you're NOT!

Bob - that curly red wire was (is?) also present on JPS.

No, JPS has a straight red wire...

If the hood badge says "Classic Speedster", it should be a CMC.

Nope, in 2001 the JPS had a curly red wire. I know. It melted due to a bad internal alternator connection.

NEED HELP BIG TIME: This might be a good post for me to ask for help on. I have a problem with CT DMV. My Speedster is a CMC, the listed VIN, which I got from the NY Title and person I purchased it from is S002695 and it was titled as a 1994 Porsche Custom. I have had this car registered this way in CT for 5 years.(Picture in my profile) Now, they have exempted kit cars from emissions but want me to go through reinspection now, etc and then get an assigned vehicle so they can list me as a "compostite".
My probmem is that as mentioned above, the VIN plate does not exist for this number on this car. I don't have a clue where to look for any other ID number. What I am wondering is if someone here knows if the CMC has the type of VIN listed, if that number is stamped someplace on the body so I can show the inspector it, etc.
This car was originally assembled in Alabama for a NY person, then sold to the person I bought it from. I've spent a lot in 5 years and am freaking at the thought of them telling me, "too bad for you".

Here's what the CMC id plate looked like - you can buy a blank OEM Reutter id plate and stamp it with your number. Klasse356 carries them. Send to me and I can stamp with Harbor Freight metal stamp die. If applied with pop rivets they look factory. I've never found the CMC id stamped any where in the fiberglass. FF-FiberFab also has id plates available(FF preceeded CMC by couple years).

http://www.fiberfab.us/dataplate.html

Isn't the CMC put on a VW chassis, if so, the VIN should be in the usual spot..

Funny thing, I was looking through the pictures and came accross your car and the ID picture you sent.
I can order the Fiberfab plate, do you know if they will ship it unstamped, I also have the stamp kit which I used for my street rod ID plate.
I really appreciate your input.
The Fiberfab site says the info was stamped around the car in some cases. I think I will place it on some of the cars internal box framing that is embedded in the fiberglass. I have heard that this is a good idea anyway, just in case someone makes off with the car the SN is all over the place in locations one might not think to look.
What do you think>?

It is on a VW Chasis. I have not tried to take the rear seat out to see if that part of the pan is visible through the body: would be a real pain to get to if it was not. My recollection is that the VW VIN was stamped at the rear of the tunnel, anyone know that for sure?
For some reason, the NY State DMV registered this car using the Sxxxx number from CMC and then CT regegistered it. It is only now 5 years later, that they are telling me I have to get it inspected, etc. What a pain.
Perhaps, the Fiberfab plate is a good idea with the CMC info on it.

Here's where VW chassis number is stamped - under carpet ~4" ahead of rear seat. Sounds like the CMC Certificate of Origin was used vs the VW title so VW chassis # probably of little value except to id year of chassis.

Steve:

As Wolfgang states, what you've been using for a VIN is actually the CMC Order number. Unfortunately, you can't even track down the year of manufacture with it as they were often assigned randomly (The Letter refers to the person who took your order originally (and who got the sizeable commission) and the number is whatever he/she tacked onto the order for tracking - the sequences were different for each order-taker).

Wolfgang's attached picture shows the exact location on the central tunnel of the VW official VIN number. You may need to roll forward the tunnel carpet right ahead of the rear seat and use a piece of sandpaper on it to make it legible, but it should be there.

That may bring up a secondary problem; if it's been registered using the CMC order number as a VIN, the CT DMV may hassle you a little when you change to the correct number (I don't know what you've been using for a title - THAT should have the correct VIN on it). In My Experience, explaining what's going on in a concise way should get them to understand AND make them want to work with you to make things right. (But, then again....) I also think that CT recently adopted the SEMA regulations related to registering a Kit or Modified (read that hot rod) car in your state. You might benefit from finding the SEMA site and reading up on what CT has been up to. Try here: http://www.semasan.com/main/main.aspx?ID=/content/SEMASANcom/HomePage

Good luck, and don't be afraid to ask more questions. Where in CT are you? We may have someone nearby who might help.

gn
The Speedstah guy from Beaufort

Hey guys, thanks for the help. CT DMV knows they made a mistake when the registered it this way. I acutally have a CT Title that uses this number. The Emissions folks know it should be exempt. They want to inspect to make sure that it is put together right; all seems good to me and I've been working on cars 40 years.
My rear seat is bolted down, but I'll pull it to see what's up there. I am not sure if the body is solid under there or not; never had it out.
Sure is a bad surprise at this point. But, since it has been registered 5 years I am hoping that they will work with me and go ahead and assign a number. Just to be on the safe side, I am going to get a FF ID plate with the number that was used when the car was registered. I can't believe this; this car went from Alabama construction to two NY owners then me in CT: all titles were for the same number-I kept a copy of the NY title and the windshield sticker just in case.
Hopefully this will end with a valid CT VIN and new title, then no more problems.
One last thing, I am in Plymouth, CT close to Waterbury. My office is in New Britain, CT. close to Hartford.

Steve, no need to pull the back seat. Not sure how you'd do that anyway as the backseat is part of the molded body. The # is on the hump in front of the rear seat. Just pull up the carpet off the hump. You should find a stamped # and the access cover for the shift coupler right behind it as Wolfgang's pic shows above.

~WB

Thanks for the info again: am out of town, will check on this next week.SW

Hey all
I found the chassis number today, it is a 73 type 1. Hopefully, all will go well with my inspection. I'll update when it is over.

Hey folks! Well today was my day at the CT DMV for the "inspection". Since I'd been titled/registered before I did not have to produce ownership documents, but we did have to specify the vehicle SN, the chassis number and the engine number. I had the FF SN plate with the original FF/CMC SN on it, so no problem there. And, you folks helped me with the chassis number location. The engine was easy, right in your face.
They checked everything including alignment and brake effectiveness. then they put it on a lift and inspected all mechanical/electrical systems, welds, etc.
The good news is that everything was perfect and I now have a new CT VIN assigned to the Speedie! Glad that is over.
My next project is going to be to put sway bars on it, front/rear. And, then a few little things. But, I'm about done.
I wonder what I should start on now? OH GOD, Speedster Fever......

get your wallet out.