new IM Speedster pics

Awesome color choice George!
-=theron

Very nice paint George! Got anymore pics of the speedster seats? Wonder if Henry would sell a pair of seats?
Jerry

When is the car expected to be all done?

Thanks guys - the acid test for the paint color will be looking at it in sunlight after it's delivered.

Jerry, I'm sure you could probably buy the bare seat shells and mounts from Henry (reinforced fiberglass), but the finished result would depend on who upholsters them (IM uses a professional outside upholstery shop).

The car will probably be finished sometime before the end of October.
(Message Edited 8/28/2003 2:26:43 PM)

Thanks for posting the pics. I may order an IM in the winter. I'm not sure yet, but I am getting the bug. Watching your build via this forum & reading of other's visits and purchases is stoking the fires!

George, I agree. Your color selection looks great. And I like the 3rd point mount. Looks pro all the way. Keep posting!

Jim
(Message Edited 8/28/2003 5:24:00 PM)

George,
My imagination is running wild. I am beginning to see the finished car in my head; This is going to be one stunning automobile. Congrats! I don't see an IM on my horizon, but I sure envy those who do. If I ever get serious about looking around again, I'll keep Henry in mind. But I'll also look at the cars built here in Knoxville. I'm still not sure what to think of Sabaru power, though. Finding one to look at would be a challenge too. Anyway, I'm excited for you and do indeed keep the digi-pix coming.
John H.

Posted four pics of my Speedster buck-naked just back from the paint shop in the "FILES" under George's IM Speedster. The color is silver with a slight blue cast. I'll post more when I have them as the car progresses.

You can see the smaller holes in the dash for the three instruments and clock to the right of ignition and cigarette lighter. I don't smoke; the lighter's 12V power source is there for a G-meter, radar, or my broad-band Air/Fuel meter. "Porsche" dash script and 1956 Meister Schaften badge will fit with that clock location.

I added a picture from Henry that shows in general how his Speedster buckets look and the 3-point inertia seat belt mounting.

We're all born naked, wet, and hungry before things start to get better; at least the new car isn't wet and hungry.
(Message Edited 8/29/2003 2:45:48 PM)

John, according to the SAW sight they just finished one, would love to hear what you think of it.....go take a look and report back to all of us.

I'll try to get over there next week. Hope it's still there.

I think a replica 356 with a Subaru motor would be great. 165 hp and a modern heating system would be very nice. I wouldn't care if it has a water cooled Subie motor instead of an air cooled motor. Can you imagine stuffing a WRX motor in it? It may be heresy to some, but it sounds good to me.
Ron

Amen to a fuel injected/turbo Suby powered Speedster.

Ron & Erik,
What you say makes perfect sense. However, one of the things that I like about Algebra is that he doesn't make perfect sense. The primal noises emitted from this car are part of what makes it what it is. You would gain a great deal by using a water-cooled Sabaru vs. an air cooled type something, and a WRX motor.....hoooo-ha. I am happy to take on the assignment to go have a look and have enough time off next week to pull it off. I'll report what I learn and take digi-pix if permitted.
John H.

Now, if you could get a Subaru powered 356 replica to sound like an older MGB...that would be sweet. I owned a 67 MGB, many years ago, and I loved the exhaust sound/tone. Was it just something about the MGB motor? I don't know, but it sounded a heck of a lot better than my 84 IM with its 2110 motor, 1 5/8" Magnaflow etc.
Ron

I know what you mean Ron, I had a 56 TR3 that sounded deep and throaty!!

BD

Back in the early 70s one of my friends drove a British racing green TR 2, which was really hopped up. Man, that car could go!
Ron

Two more pics - it's beginning to look like a car...

George:

My '53 TD had the same mods and same camshaft. It was a great car to drive.

Bob
(Message Edited 9/4/2003 3:32:01 PM)

TR2 go? The only TR2 I ever saw that even began to be quick or fast was one running a 2.2 liter big bore kit and a Judson supercharger. In the mid 1950's I could beat stock TR2s with my 1,250cc 1948 MGTC (MG had the TD MK II mods and factory AEG122 camshaft).
(Message Edited 9/4/2003 4:02:16 PM)

Lookin' Good George! Although without the fat fenders it looks a little anorexic. Just kidding.

I like the early style "beehive" tail lights. Especially since most of the replicas out there have the tear drops.

Just out of curiosity, how are you getting her home when she's done?

Have Henry send you a picture when the windshield is mounted, my car really didn't start looking like a car until then.

Keep us posted!

Jerome

George,
Re: Your new pictures- don't look now, but somebody rolled your car already!

I LOVE beehive rear lights. Fifty bucks a pop, times four, but worth it. (Though Henry's may be more expensive for his Lexus Speedsters.)

Is that a big scratch by the back lights?
Ron

Nope, that was just my eyes blurred from jealousy.
Ron

With all the work on sourcing authentic parts, I noticed you used LUCAS lights and not SWF. I have LUCAS on mine, but they are also used on old Mini's and other English cars. Other than that minor observation....that is going to be "one helluva car!" Are you going to use drop in windows or Henry's roll-ups? I am going to go drop-in's when he builds my new one. ( I mean 4th one)
Look forward to more pics.
Ben

Jerome, probably going to drive it cross country from Vancouver back to Maryland.

Ben, I'm getting the electric windows for better visibiliy since I wiil occasionally be driving top-up in heavy commuter traffic and possibly bad weather.

I'm not concerned that the beehives are Lucas as long as they give 90% of "the look". I'll try to find some NOS German ones later.

The red thingies behind the horn grills are an aftermarket set of Hella horns in case I need to get a wayward driver's attention.

I got an email from Henry this morning telling me that his employees are getting really picky about build details for my car - one of his guys searched through four sets of chromed aluminum Euro bumper guards to find a "perfect" set for my car!
(Message Edited 9/5/2003 9:51:22 AM)

Ron,
Your comment on the '67 MG exhaust note is classic. When the best thing you can remember about the MG is the sound of the exhaust, it says something significant about the car (and a lot of other Brit cars of that era! Probably the reason the exhaust sounded so good is that the air was extremely glad to finally get out of that darn car!

We had an MGB. I think theyu put a decent header on it. If you took the rear muffler/resonator off it really sounded good. When I was racing a bugeye, I made headers, 3 individual equal length pipes going into 3 megaphones and exiting thankfully out of the right side of the car. That really sounded great and added a bunch of power over 6K.
ed

The main problem with MGB's (after they redesigned the engine in the 1960's which got rid of the awful pre-world-war two 3-main crank and rod lashup) was that the bodies were made out of extremely cheap Russian steel which rusted out in a heartbeat. There are industries in England that grew up around making replacement body panels for rusted out MGB's.

The main problem with MGB's (after they redesigned the engine in the 1960's which got rid of the awful pre-world-war two 3-main crank and rod configuration) was that the bodies were made out of extremely cheap Russian steel which rusted when exposed to a light case of morning dew. There are whole industries in England that grew up around making replacement body panels for rusted out MGB's.

I copied over a pic of my Bivens wheel (photo from Kazuyuki's "trip to IM" folder) into my IM folder. Henry says more pics coming soon...