Newbie needs help

Hi folks. Last weekend after more than a few beers my buddy and I decided to get a kit and build a Speedster. We're both pretty experienced wrenches so we were hoping to get a donor VW and do all of the work ourselves. However, it seems we can't find a company that supplies just a fiberglass body to mount on the pan. Are there any vendors out there who make these parts for say $1.5-$3k? Any advice would be helpful and thanks for having such a great forum.

Locate a CMC that has been sitting and unassembled or you can purchase Vintage Speedster deluxe kit. ~Alan



DELUXE - Kit Configuration


Partially assembled, Vintage Speedster in either flared or classic style body.
This kit takes significant time (months) to assemble and will require the owner to supply an entire VW donor automobile. Expert fabrication, welding, electrical, assembly, body and air-cooled engine experience are needed. This is not a step-by-step assembly and will require unplanned fabrication that is unique to each build. This configuration is best left to very experienced builders.
-Windshields are pre-assembled and fit to your car.
-Outside and inside door mechanisms are installed for hood and deck lid.
-Seats and door panels are pre-fabricated
-Carpet cut and trimmed for easy installation.
-Wiring harness is pre-installed and color coded.
Every hole has been pre-drilled and cut out, including headlights, taillights, decos, etc.
Frame - Steel sub-frame. pre-riveted and hand glassed into body
Body - "Handlaid", reinforced, high quality fiberglass body, ready for paint
- Doors, decklid and hood are pre-hung and custom fit to each car.
Lights - Headlights, parking, tail and license plate light
Bumpers - Front and rear bumpers, includes moldings
Glass - Safety glass windshield, frame, posts and rubber seals
Trim - Side moldings, horn grilles, rear deck grille, authentic emblems, hood handle, door handles and mechanism, hood release cables and mechanism, dash grab handle, rearview mirror, door mirror
Top - Canvas top, bows and hardware, front bow, side curtains, tonneau cover
Wheels - Set of chrome wheels and caps (moons or crest)
Interior - Seats, carpet and upholstery package in choice of several colors
Pricing $13,900.00(US)

We have more time than money unfortunately. Our goal is to minimize initial cash outlay in blind hope that youthful ignorance and PBR will allow us to overcome the difficulties of being broke 24 years olds.

From my experiences, if you can find a CMC that has been unassembled and collecting dust, Look magazines, lawn furniture, year books, golf clubs and Christmas decorations, it takes a rock bottom overall minimum investment of at least $9k to build a basic speedster. ~Alan

HA - More time than money! My CMC kit was $8 back in 1989! So forget new - easily 50% more now. Guess you could borrow one make you own buck/mold and go to flashing your own parts but resin and cloth would be $2k easily. Ya might get lucky on a wrecked, burnt one or distress/divorce sale though. Check ebay and craigslist. Beer and building a car aren't complimentary.

Make that $8K plus $1.4k (vastly inflated by CMC) shipping.

Greg, Looks like the $400 went to ship and a G note back-handed to CMC :) ~Alan

I do not think $3k will buy a body. It might if you find someone who is parting out an old kit.

I'm doing a one-piece-at-a-time type of build right now. I'm pretty sure it's not going to save me any money over buying something like a Vintage Speedsters or even a Beck kit. I'm okay with that.

Anyway, if you want to save money and get a running car on the road ASAP, I'd say to buy someone else's project. I know that takes a lot of the fun out of it, but if you are limited by accessibility to parts due to location, garage space, tools, etc., it may be the best way to go.

That's all JMO, so take it with a grain of salt. I'm also interested in hearing about the various body suppliers. I've talked to two of them over the phone so far. Both have very gracious with their time and offers of supporting me on this project.

Have you checked the classifieds?

DrClock - You are exactly right on shipping. Way back I told CMC I would handle shipping myself. I arranged shipping thru my brother's commercial account for exactly $400. When I called CMC back to ask when it would be ready for pickup and give them my shipping contact info, they claimed they had already shipped it COD for $1400! Fortunately, when it arrived it was via PILOT trucking ---same shipper my brother scheduled. He called PILOT and got the shipping swapped to his bill (and his company absorbed my shipping cost).

There are some $2k-4K bargains out there - you just might have to redo some shoddy work. Nice thing on CMC is if gel coat is still intact it can be buffed to decent finish saving a $2500+ paint/body prep bill.