My Beck Speedster Build

Enjoy the build.  It's great getting progress emails and photos.

Lots of decisions to be made.  Have fun.

Sounds like it's going to be a special car! I'm excited for you and will be following your thread!

Since my build is complete and yours is just beginning I will pass the torch of build pictures on to you, @mhickey.  Keep us entertained .

@mhickey welcome to the madness. I am 2x Beck owner and live about an hour south of you in Batavia. Let me know if you have any questions along the way or just want to check mine out and get a drive in. Here are a link's to my build, here, here and delivery day. Mine is similarly spec'd out as yours so you can get an idea of what it looks and sounds like.

@mhickey

'Welcome To The Madness' known as replica Speedster ownership! By the looks of your build sheet, that will be one bad-a$$ ride!

With Carey Hines at the helm, the guys at Beck build cars 2nd to none. Looking forward to seeing pics of you driving that bad boy.

I believe that yours will be on the new chassis with modern suspension and r&p steering, right?  Details of that would be of interest to a lot of folks.

From what I can gather, everyone likes @chines1and that's for good reason.

Enjoy your build. Be patient!

Yes I just ordered a similar car May of this year. Mine will be a Conv D. I am really interested in seeing the new speedster built with the new chassis, suspension etc. I think it will a little different setup than Lane’s 356 C. Obviously the speedsters will have rear engine and I believe the rear suspension will be different from Lane’s car. I’m trying not to think about it too much since it’s 2+ years away but I would really like to see a speedster with the new pieces. My Conv D will be the same car with exception of taller windshield and some other stuff.

@550 Phil, I started a new build in March 2019 that ended up being one of the first with the new chassis, et al. You can see lots of pics in my build thread

https://www.speedsterowners.co...st-beck-build?page=1

Thank you all! Yep, absolutely, I'll post shots of my build as they come through ~ when the chassis is complete, I plan on a trip to Bremen, so certainly more pictures to come!

Lane, absolutely correct - this 356 will be on the new chassis with the 3:88 r&p upgrade and suspension. Carey tells me that they have redesigned the dash as well - so since I have heat, I am looking forward to seeing that new look as well.

Joe, you're speedster is awesome! Really incredible color and interior - incredible build. I will  absolutely take you up on the offer for a visit. I'll send you a PM and set up a date and time. I would love to go over my build sheet and get your thoughts.

Cupholders!

So great to have this forum and really appreciate the support and passion!

Geez Sam, I clean forgot about your build.  We have a regular plethora (love that word!) of Beck builds happ'nin'!

It’s mana from heaven, @Lane Anderson. Everyone posting their pictures and seeing the collective progress is great fun, one of the highlights of my day!

Sam. Thanks. Going to read every word of your post when I get a minute. If I can find a new speedster to look at either in Bremen or wherever I’ll make the trip. I’ve got more than 2 years to find one.

Such a wonderful day! No ... it wasn't delivery day - but darn near something as perfect: Visit Special Edition Day! :-)

A huge thank you to Brad Weis and Carey Hines at Special Edition, Inc. and the entire crew for letting me visit and gawk in wonder a bit at the magic they make out of laminate, metal, oil, ingenuity and hard work! A candy land and dream factory rolled into one!

I am midway(ish) through my build and couldn't be more inspired and excited - but for now, just so grateful and happy to be working with folks that are true masters of the art with the trustworthy character to boot!

The Madness may be maddening - but it is certainly punctuated with good people, craftsmanship, and - thanks to you all here - good camaraderie!

WooHoo!

Love the Joplin-esque one. And the green coupe.

Love the pictures!! And SO MANY Coupes.  Carey and company have it figured out, they make great cars and their customer service second to none.  I can only say that since Henry retired.  Before that it was pretty much a tie.  If I had only known ...

Thanks for the great pictures! I know you can't wait for delivery.

Hello January 1, 2024 I am looking forward the months ahead! This is gonna be my delivery year! Cannot wait for some Spring shake down cruises!

Getting tantalizingly close ...

Matt looking forward to cruising with you!

Enjoy the process @mhickey, I’m some combination of nostalgic/jealous reliving it through your posts.  Can’t believe I’ve had mine for about 2.5 years now.  Just tipped 3,500 miles  on the ODO, but still remember the excitement of seeing Carey and Brad’s emails in my inbox with fresh pictures.  Soon you’ll be trading assembly pics for driving shots, washing updates, glamour shoots, any excuse really…. Enjoy.

Thanks Sam! 👍 Looking forward to a fun summer and autumn of drives! I’ll be sure to post!

A thing of beauty! Getting close now Fellers!

Installed! Gotta early June pick up date

Large congrats, Dood.. you can't go wrong with Carey and his crew. Nice one, big time !

ABSOLUTELY! It has been a great experience and now that we're driving up to the end of the tunnel - I cannot wait to see the finished product! And it'll be fun to ride in comfort! :-))

sneak peak at tomorrow's ride! i've been thinking about this for so long that now i am nervous! i think i'll actually shave and make myself look presentable! a big thank you to brad and carey at special edition for putting up with me and my fussing - truly you have been so awesome and patient! okay! final pics to come! wish me fun on the maiden voyage home!

(.0\_|_/0.)

Most excellent

Very nice!  Is the color black or very dark blue?

Black 🖤 👍

Im diggin that motor..color reminds me of my CAT forklift(not that its a bad thing).

Outstanding. That motor is snazzy!

Fantastic day! First off a big thank you to Carey and Brad and Special Edition for making a big dream come true! Also thanks to Joe Fortino for being such a stand up guy and true SOC ambassador in encouraging and helping me and still being here for me as today I drove home in my triple black Beck! So many thoughts - as I drove west on Rt. 6 headed to Chicago getting my sea legs back with the manual it was a very visceral, analog feeling to be actually apart of the machine, listening, rowing the gears, anticipating the engine reaction and actually working my legs on those pedals. By the time I hit downtown Chicago, I was pretty smitten - this is what it means to drive - and so I threaded north on Lakeshore and further onto Sheridan toward Lake County. So many smiles, rolled down windows to say they loved the car, high fives and thumbs ups. It is a thrill to drive and a joy to bring pleasure to other drivers and passersby. So, aside from a left face sunburn, no harm done - just a perfect day! Thanks all! Happy to have The Madness in my life! 👍 More pics to come!

That's a beautiful car, @mhickey.  Don't let any inevitable sorting issues discourage you.  Enjoy it, but remember that everyone else is an idiot so you need to drive defensively.

Oh, and you should probably bring it to Virginia for this year's Tour de Smo' - Blueridge Edition.  Drag Joe along while you're at it.  You can link up with His August and Imperial Majesty, President Stan, of the People's Republic of Stanistan, and caravan.  Hey, that rhymes!

Congrats on the new car. So that was a 3.5 year wait on the car. I had ordered a car with Carey May 2021. After 1.5 years of waiting Carey told me that instead of a 2.5 year wait it would be a 3.5 year wait. Looks like that estimate was correct. I probably would have gotten my car in another 6 months. Cancelled my build when he told me 3.5 years. Bought a used intermeccanica which I should get in a few months after my engine is done. Sounds like your car was worth waiting for. Enjoy. Wow. 3.5 years.

And if at all possible try to make it to Virginia in September. Should be a blast. I’ll be your travel guide for the routes.

@550 Phil, I visited Carey last week.  He took me on a 2 hour tour, I was very impressed with his operation.  He told me about a 3 year wait on a new order, as long is it wasn’t a 904, which I think he said is about 5 years.

Thank you all! Had a lot of fun blowing around town over the last couple of days. Have some "to do's" yet this coming week -- Illinois registration and title, taking it over to my local shop to familiarize them with the Beck, and scheduling the ceramic coating.

Yes, the total order to production to delivery time was 1,254 days - but who's counting?

Thoughts on order time: I ordered in 2021 which was prime Covid Purchase time for lots of goods -- including speedsters and RVs (which Indiana is famous for) ... These items require a lot of fiberglass and resin and skilled labor ... all of which got shocked. This all jumped my timeline from 2-1/2 to 3-1/2 years for the order.

Yep, there were totally points when I was frustrated (the heart wants what the heart wants) -- but Brad at SE explained what was happening. He emphasized that they were working at the "speed of right" because they take pride in their work and customer relationships and the cars they build.

And because I was working with SE and Kevin and Carey and Brad -- and because I knew from everyone here in SOC what a quality reputation they have not just on the build but the post purchase services -- I was happy to wait.

Special Edition even held their initial pricing -- even when I said to Brad I'd have no problem taking the increase knowing the world had gone pear shaped. He said no, it's not who they were ... and that's character.

So yep, it was a long wait ... and I absolutely admit: picking up the Beck I was worried I still had The Madness bug in me after all that time ... However the kick I get driving it, finding the shift points, hearing the engine and even just looking at it parked ... Well, it's still there all right

... Okay, I'll shut up and get some picture posted later this coming week!

Thank you all!

Many thanks for the update, M. Stories like your's give the SOC community the background from experience that is golden.

Carey has shown his character in interactions with our little group and it's good to hear from a recent customer that his business still follows his leadership.

For those who can wait, it's vital information! Thanks again.

P.S. What's your first name?

I think Carey and the Beck team are a significant contributor to the health of our hobby.  As a whole, the kit car/replica world has been shrinking just about everywhere.  I first noticed it during the 2008 crash, but I'm sure it was trending before then.  Now really only the Speedster/Spyder and Cobra groups seem to show signs of life - something I attribute in a large part to the involvement of major manufacturers (e.g., Beck, Factory Five) in the hobby itself, not just as sellers of a product.