Need some help

Newbie here.Hi.

I have been out looking at some different Speedsters now, a CMC and a Vinatge. I got in contact with a guy who has the car below for sale. I plan to go and see it Sunday, hopefully.
Seller claims that the car is a Intermeccanica, Serial no. 8A0150
But he also tells me it has a VW pan? I thought all Intermecannica cars had beskoe frames.

Please tell me what you think, looking at the pics below. Any pointers what to look for when I go see the car are most welcome

Older Intermeccanicas are pan cars. Not sure when they went to their own frames.

Ok.

Can you still get parts for a car like this then. Like interior parts?

Giday, Lars. I have an older pan based Intermeccanica. It was a kit, built in 1978, serial number 8B0223. There is an aluminum coloured sticker with this evidence on it applied to the drivers door jamb. It was built then finally put on the road in 1983 in Pennsylvania, then made it's way to Utah, then Idaho where I bought it in 2010 with only 8,500 miles on it. It appears to have been well built...kit and assembly. I've put 21,000 miles on it since and nothing has fallen off. :-) Dave Stroud, Ottawa, Canada.

It looks like a nice car, Lars. Check that everything works electrically, turns signals etc etc. Try to get under the car and check for leaks and condition of the pan. How are the carpets...any signs of water damage / dry rot ?Open the doors and check carefully where the hinges attach to the doors. Mine are a bit fragile there in the fibreglass. Note what type of brakes are on the car...discs or drums. Check the engine for anything unusual...oil pressure ok, does it have alternator or older generator. What igniton system is installed, vacuum advance distributor or 009. Is it converted to electronic ignition? What carbs etc is it running, what size engine is it? Does it start, run, shift and stop well? Check the fit of all doors, hoods etc. Any of those panels not lined up nicely with the body ? Is the engine compartment sealed by that H shaped foam from the roadway below the engine? Looking down at the engine you should not be able to see the roadway below. Check that all cooling tins are in place on the engine and make sure the thermostat is installed and working. Ask the seller to put the roof up. It should be a smooth operating roof and be fairly taught when up. Does he have a tonneau cover for it ? Does he have the small tonneau type cover that covers the roof when it is in the down position ? It looks like a nice car...sure like that steering wheel.

Thanks for the feedback. I had an old 1303 back when I was studying, but generally dont have that much specific experince with aircooled VWs.

I Wil ltake some pictures and put them up.

I worry musy about parts. I would like to change the interior to tan leather and perhaps also the top, but where could I get the parts now that the company is out of buisness? Does parts from Vintage or others fit?

Intermeccanica is NOT out of business...alive and well!
http://www.intermeccanica.com/
...but they are a long ways from you.

I know Intermeccanica is still around, but making a different type of speedster now.
what I found was that Automobili Intermeccanica became Apal, which is not around anymore.

Maybe the currect Intermeccanica parts DO fit the old ones. That would be nice!

Lars--to me that is a really fine looking Speedster. It sits "right" which is something many do not do.

What David didn't tell you is that he just completed putting a Subaru engine in his car---what a fantastic improvment that is!

I suggest that you try to contact Allan Merklin on this site who has build as many cars as some full-time manfacturers. He mostly obtains cars and totally re-manufactures them to a super-high standard. They are 100% pre-sorted when a buyer of his geat cars gets one.

Allan can tell you if Vintage interiors will fit your car and about anything else you want to know as he's done them all.

Good luck---the one you are looking at is gorgeous to me.

Wow, that is a looker! It would be a shame to pull that interior being so nice in condition.