My new cab

A couple of weeks ago I visited Specialty Auto-Sports to check on the progress of the car of my dreams and to review the final selection of features on my 1957 356A Cabriolet. The car is described as:

1957 356A Cabriolet Standard body style
Subaru 2.5L 170hp SOHC mid-engine
Subaru 5 Speed manual transaxle
4 wheel power assisted disc brakes
Antilock Brakes (ABS)
Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC)
AC-Heat-defrost - bi-level controls
Aquamarine blue metallic body
Black Leather interior
Dark Gray square weave carpet
Black Stayfast canvas top and boot
Luggage rack with straps
Body side moldings
Tubular over rider front and rear bumpers
H4 Halogen Headlights with headlight grills
Daytime running lights (DRL)
Power windows
Power door locks
3 point seat belts
Cruise control
Badges
AM-FM-iPod
COCO Mats


Steve promised to surprise me with a couple of new features they

I think 170 HP will work for you. I know that Clint's car is much too hot for me. Just strap yourself tightly into the seat. :-)

For this 75 year old, 170 HP may be too hot. LOL

Believe me John, 170hp is more than enough for this 72 year old geezer. The other day I fish-tailed through a right hand turn when I floored it. Even with the super wide tires it was like whooooooah Nellie. Glad there wasn't any cops around.

"Fish tailed at 72"...Hot damn Nolan
Make sure that gets a prominate mention in your obit.

Carl, you have to realize these cars are really time machines. The minute you turn the key and hit the road you return to your teenage years, young chicks smile and wave, and bikers give you the thumbs up. Visions of Mario Andretti, Sterling Moss or Juan Fangio on your tail urge you to push that pedal a little closer to the floor. Your gray hair turns dark again and even grows until you ease your old bones out of the seat. A casual drive turns into an adventure, so enjoy it while you can, I do.

Nolan, we HAVE to trade cars for a cruise at Carlisle. If slipping sideways trips your 'youth' button, you're going to need diapers.

John, did you happen to take any photos of the door panels? Enquiring minds would like to see them.

Nolan---well ststed, my friend. I definitely concur.

Thanks for the invite Cory, but I'm not sure my cardiologist would approve. But you are welcome to drive my more sedate buggy.

Cory - I did not take any photos of the Speedster door panels but I can tell you I was scratching my head wondering what I just saw. As I am getting a Cab I was interested in the Speedster windows but only to a point. The thing that amazed me was the way the top of the door popped open (on the inside) about 1/8" before the window started to come up. The window itself makes moves that would shame a belly dancer in its journey to the top as it makes a tight seal with the windscreen support, the top and the back. I'm not a mechanical engineer but I have a deep appreciation of the engineering know-how that went into this project. I was kinda sorta wishin' I ordered a speedster rather than a cab but then I got to thinking that I have enough trouble getting these old bones into a cab; I can imagine what it would be like for me to get into a Speedster with the top up. Hah!

John, it sounds like you're getting a really well-done ride. Next time the car's in front of you ... Would you mind popping the old flashbulb once?

Nolan, the offer's there. I'll take you for a slow-speed ride, at least. I seem to remember that being on the table 'bout the time you got your leg operated on a few years back.

Cory - the next time the car will be in front of me will be when I go to pick up my car. My wife and I plan to fly down to Knoxville and then bring my Aquamarine Blue cab back up to Rhode Island via the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive. We'll take as long as it takes; a nice leisurely ride to get to know the car. I'm sure Steve will have done more work on the Speedster at that time and pictures will be more meaningful with a glass window.

Excellent. Be sure to drop a line when you're passing through.

John: I'll be up in the Worcester area in a couple of weeks, just before Carlisle, and will be there off and on throughout the summer and beyond. Maybe we can hook up. We used to live at Tiverton Four Corners in RI.

I might be able to sneak away for the car show on Father's day at the Portsmouth Abby if you could make it, but there are a bunch of shows and gatherings in the SouthEast that the TYP356NE club goes to so I'll keep you posted.

gn

Gordon - I met you a few years ago at a show in Massachusetts that the Type356 participated in. I think it must have been the summer of '07. I met Pearl too. I'll definitely try to make the show at Portsmouth Abbey. I might even have my car by then.

Cory - I think we'll be traveling far to the west of the metro DC/Baltimore area but if plans change I'll look you up. I've been following you and the Hoopty for years.

Cory - I just realized you live near a cousin of mine who is in Severna Park. Also, I was stationed at NSA at Ft. Meade in the '50s. I worked part time in a large bingo hall where the comptroller had a 356. He and I used to go to all of the sports car races in the area in 1958 and 1959. I got out of the AF in September of '59 and came back to RI and college. The 356 bug got put on the back burner until recently because of work, marriage, babies, etc., etc.

John, I'll drive out to meet you (any excuse, right?) if I'm not at work that day. I'd love to see your car before it disappears to the Northeast -- and I'd like to have a cup of Joe with you if you have time!

Cheers!

Cory, you're on, a ride in Hoopty will be one of my high points at Carlisle this year.

Er, Nolan...........I think he was offering ME a ride in the Hoopty. You're first after me. LOL. Actually, you'll see him in Carlisle so I guess it's okay if you go first.

Gents, they didn't make one gallon of gasoline and quit. You're BOTH in for a ride.
C'mon, seriously -- I live for this stuff!

Aw..........and here I thought I was exclusive. Shoot! Actually, I want to take Nolan for a ride so he can see how many new things Steve's putting in his cars. Wish I was going to Carlisle but my 50th college reunion trumped the show this year.

Fiftieth? 50-th? Like after 49? College?

Dude, that would make you at least ... Jack's age. Heh, heh ...
We'll see you in Front Royal or thereabouts.

75 last November. I'm going for the oldest 356 driver on SOC. LMAO

Watch it Cory. Remember Nolan's and my theme is "Old age and treachery will always beat youth and skill"

Now ----what were we talking about???

I like that Jack. I guess I qualify. LOL

....you make me feel so young....you make me feel like there's songs to be sung....THINK SINATRA....

I did my 50th at USNA in 2011. Eastman was just partying too much so it took him a bit longer. Heck, they wouldn't even let us party.

Charles..........while you were "partying" at the USNA I was "partying" with the USAF Security Service at Lin'kou Air Station on Taiwan; the home of the 6925th Radio Squadron Mobile. If I told you what I did I'd have to kill ya. LOL

Here's a Cab for you:

http://bringatrailer.com/2012/04/19/mysterious-find-1954-porsche-pre-a-cabriolet/#more-

Well, as I've heard it said around here, "Aw, that'll buff out".

If you'll look above you'll notice that my new cab will have something called VDC. Inquiring minds might ask, "what is VDC?" That was my question so I went on Google to find out and in Subaru parlance VDC is Vehicle Dynamics Control, Subaru's electronic stability control system with traction control. The components of the VDC system are:
(1)Direction: uses brakes to slow down wheels to reduce spin and help control vehicle direction. (2)Skidding: yaw and steering wheel sensors use brakes to slow down spinning wheels and re-direct power to the wheel(s) with the best traction to re-gain control. (3)Engine power: controls engine output to slow spinning by reducing spark to cylinders to cut back power and help re-gain control.

Pretty cool, eh?

Aww John, you had to tell everyone what VDC is. I always thought it was something we were suppose to avoid in Viet Nam.

Yeah, there's even a video about it isn't there? I wouldn't touch that thing with a ten foot pole. LMAO

Nolan probably had his own private bottle of tetracycline ;-)

No Charles, I kept everything in hand,

Nolan was 'Master of his Domain'! 8-)

Now that's discusting...

Isn't the point of a "sports" car to slide a little sometimes, maybe get the back end out a little? Sorry, I don't need PDK, ABS, or VDC. I like to actually drive the car. No offense.