My first speedster

We'd love to see pictures of the chassis.  Where are Covins from?

The were built in the Uk in the 90,s, they didn’t do many speedsters, 30 I believe. They were more well known for their 911 replica. The company doesn’t exist anymore though.

Who built the chassis?

The wide mounting points for the suspension should help with torsional rigidity.  this will be interesting to watch.

Not sure who built the chassis, possibly Covin, I think that’s how they supplied there kits. I’ll be improving it though.

COVIN made a great looking 911 Turbo.  I've seen photos of slant nose and cabriolets too.  Early ones were VW pan based but later were custom chassis with Type 3 suspension.  I've seen maybe 2 for sale in US.  I can see Porsche AG getting upset over the 911 replica!

I wasn't aware of the 356 models.  Your's looks to have the taller D windshield (and maybe windup windows?)

That's quite the project.  Cool that it's a T-3 chassis - That makes it IRS and weren't they a little wider for front foot room?  Pretty nice shop it's sitting in, too!  

Since you're on here, I'm sure you know many of us have built cars from scratch so don't be afraid to ask questions.  The Covin body may be a little different for us but I'm sure we can either answer all  of your questions or totally confuse you - maybe both at the same time!

Gordon
The Speedster Guy from Grafton
(2 towns away from either Oxford, Leicester or Marlboro (Massachusetts)

Congratulations and welcome!

@WOLFGANG posted:

COVIN made a great looking 911 Turbo.  I've seen photos of slant nose and cabriolets too.  Early ones were VW pan based but later were custom chassis with Type 3 suspension.  I've seen maybe 2 for sale in US.  I can see Porsche AG getting upset over the 911 replica!

I wasn't aware of the 356 models.  Your's looks to have the taller D windshield (and maybe windup windows?)

Well I’ve learnt something straight away, I thought the windscreen was odd, so it was from a convertible D? The problem I have that it doesn’t match up to the hardtop. What screen would the hard top use. Does the rest of the car look like converD, obviously not the wings.

@Gordon Nichols posted:

That's quite the project.  Cool that it's a T-3 chassis - That makes it IRS and weren't they a little wider for front foot room?  Pretty nice shop it's sitting in, too!  

Since you're on here, I'm sure you know many of us have built cars from scratch so don't be afraid to ask questions.  The Covin body may be a little different for us but I'm sure we can either answer all  of your questions or totally confuse you - maybe both at the same time!

Gordon
The Speedster Guy from Grafton
(2 towns away from either Oxford, Leicester or Marlboro (Massachusetts)

Thanks for the welcome. The rear chassis is swing axel from an earlier type 3, but I’ll probably change it to IRS. That’s my shop it’s in, I restore Aircooled VWs for a living, but never done a Speedster.

Looks like the windshield corner posts are for a convertible D as well.  The hard top probably wants to see a Speedster windshield.

Good Lord!  We're 12 posts in and no one has done our traditional welcome:

Welcome to the Madness!!! 

Yes, that is one cool, unique Speedster and it's a Wide body as well!. Welcome to the the madness from a fellow Flared fender Speedster owner. What type of engine are you going to use? .

So the red circled items are the convertible D windshield post and the green circled looks like bit for the top between the two.  I've never seen the taller top without windup side windows but I don't see the slot for glass in the doors.

It does take a taller windscreen - assume from a convertible D?  Check the front of the hardtop - a speedster windshield is arched from side to side the D is pretty much flat across.  The top frame and fabric top itself are taller too.

The speedster posts are easy to come by - those D ones are rare.  Someone here on SOC was looking for a pair (or was it just 1)?

@WOLFGANG posted:

So the red circled items are the convertible D windshield post and the green circled looks like bit for the top between the two.  I've never seen the taller top without windup side windows but I don't see the slot for glass in the doors.

It does take a taller windscreen - assume from a convertible D?  Check the front of the hardtop - a speedster windshield is arched from side to side the D is pretty much flat across.  The top frame and fabric top itself are taller too.

The speedster posts are easy to come by - those D ones are rare.  Someone here on SOC was looking for a pair (or was it just 1)?

That’s some great info Wolfgang. Your right it is the convert D windshield, but I’m not sure it was intended for that car, the bottom rail doesn’t follow the same curve on the body. The doors aren’t open at the top, but could they be cut in , also is the D pillar on the door or on the windshield?

@Kerry smith posted:

is the D pillar on the door or on the windshield?

Wanna think that one through again? 

Welcome. Looking forward to watching your progress.  

@dlearl476 posted:

Wanna think that one through again? 

Welcome. Looking forward to watching your progress.  

 

Think what through?

His point is that the pillar has to be solid and stationary which means it is on the body

@IaM-Ray posted:

His point is that the pillar has to be solid and stationary which means it is on the body

Thanks for clearing that up, that’s why I asked!

@IaM-Ray posted:

His point is that the pillar has to be solid and stationary which means it is on the body

Except that isn't the way the UK Chesil does their windup windows.  They put a strange post in the door that mates to the windshield. But they still use a Speedster windshield.

On a D the rubber seal is on those taller windshield posts.  The red D replica I pulled from the internet has something red there - that probably should be black rubber but don't think it sticks out so prominently.   For the D posts to seal they need to be back in alignment with the front door edge - a Speedster windshield is a couple inches forward of the door opening.  I'd see what the hard top mates up to and go with that type windshield. 

FYI, the windshield post in a 1959 Convertible D only year that it was made... which IM makes and calls a roadster has the straight edge of the A pillar making up the windshield frame like the originals. 

In 1959 P made the convertible D and this is the model that is being duplicated but in the unit above there seems to also be a body panel seperating the rubber gasket from the chrome frame. 

look below an original ...look the front signal lighs are not flat as well. 

You can look at one here look

Link didn't work.

@Kerry smith posted:

Thanks for clearing that up, that’s why I asked!

Sorry Kerry, my Wanker sense of humor rarely translates to the Internet. 

And  D after reading wolfgang's post, I apologize. Perhaps that bit does go in the door with a Speedster windshield???

Will that shed some light in the hardtop fit?

try this https://convertibledregistry.com/history.html

This is good image of a real 356 D Convertible -

That colour combo really pops Wolf.

Thanks for the info, I’ve learnt so much in the last 24 hours. Now I have the disission wether to go Speedster with hard top or convertible D, what do you reckon?

Well I think you should try both if you can but at least sit in one and hopefully your body is not predominently torso like some of us and have your head above the windshield.  

Speedster with hard top.

Put that D windshield frame you have on the car (duct tape it together).  Then set the hard top on the car and see if it mates up with the D windshield frame.  The two windshield frames are so different that it will be obvious which frame the top goes to.   Or take a photo of the front of  of the tops sealing surface - it might be obvious from that.  Do you also have the convertible top frame?  Often the D top frame is a scissors (folding) frame  while the Speedster is often just 2 metal bows. Or post photo of it.

You don't have any windshield glass at all?

Kerry;   How tall are you?  The top of the convertible D windshield is 3” - 4” taller than a Speedster windshield.  If you are over 6’ tall it will be easier to get in and out of a convertible D with the top up or hardtop on (if the hard top fits a “D”).

Yes that’s going to be my problem, I’m 6’4” , so looks like it’ll have to be the convert D if I want to keep it.

I do like the hardtop look, what’s people’s opinion on the hardtop speedsters and if I was to sell it on finished, what would be the most desirable.?

If your all legs you should be fine but if your predominantly torso that is the issue.

Just realize the using the Convertible D windshield Implies roll-up windows rather than side curtains as in a Speedster.  If the car has no provision for roll-ups then I’d go with the Speedster windshield and top.  Giving up the Speedster’s looks without the D’s convenience will certainly reduce the car’s desirability.

At 6'4" you can be properly fitted into a speedster , it is fairly easy to customize a dropped floor pan a couple of inches , like a large" paint roller pan  I have done this ( 2.25") on a couple of speedsters.

@Kerry smith

Kerry, this is the floor pan modification @Alan Merklin (aka: Dr. Clock) was referring to. This lowers the mounting surface for the seats.

Click on pics to enlarge...

Thanks Jim  !

The only difference is than the 2.5 - 3" taper shown is I've tapered the forward drop over 5-6" this allows for the front seat bolts to be anchored on the drop and helps in tilting the seat to the correct angle.

Thanks Alan/Jim yes I had something like that in mind. I think I’m going to have a go at the speedster with hardtop first, I am in the UK, so the top may come handy!