Newbie trying to build speedster

Hello All,
Well...I am 20 years old and I have recently been building up my Honda Civic SI as a show car. After dropping about 10 grand into it, I decided that I should stop and build a Speedster (my dream car). I have been looking around at the turnkey kits but a. they are too expensive and b. i wouldn't get to work on it. Therefore, what do I need to begin with to build the speedster. I understand that most of the chasis can be used from an old beetle...is that correct? Where is the most cost effective place to order the exterior body from? Do you suggest purchasing the rolling chasis and just do the engine myself? Let me know where to go because I am so lost! Thank You and Happy Easter,
Elliot

This is an excellent place to begin looking, since everybody here was in your shoes -- minus the Honda -- at one time or another. I started a hundred years ago with a '72 Chevy Nova, and eighteen cars later I'm building my own.
Check the Makers tab up top there, on the right, and then have a look through the registry folders (top left) to see what's out there. There are lots and lots of these cars on the streets, several makers and cars in all kinds of configurations.
The truly nice thing is that the lend themselves to creative change, if that's what you like, or you can go nuts trying to make as authentic a replica as possible. I like all of them.
My own car was a Classic Motor Carriages late-series Bug-chassis with cut pans. My suggestion -- since that company went out of business a while back -- is not to get one in poor shape if it's a CMC you wind up with.
There are plenty of good ones, but mine was crap. I'm happy with it now, but I've spent more money making it right than it would have cost me to build it from scratch.
Everyone here is helpful, but you'll have to sharpen your questions and narrow what you want out of a kit before you'll get pointed, specific answers.
Welcome aboard!

It depends on what you can/want to do. Go to the Library Tab and download one of the CMC Build Manuals; that way you'll see the level of difficulty of the build. If you want to tackle the build yourself you can search for an uncompleted kit either in the classifieds here or on Ebay. If it's money you want to save, the consensus among those that have built their cars from scratch is that you end up spending about the same or more than if you'd bought the turnkey in the first place; so it's really a matter of what's your desire. Check this one out:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Porsche-356-speedster-project-car-replica_W0QQitemZ4630047072QQcategoryZ6428QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

This one looks like a good foundation too:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=302454

Elliot,

As I've said to others, welcome to the madness. Since you obviously want to built it, I won't suggest buying a used one. You didn't mention what you budget is, or just how skilled you are with fabricating. I haven't built one myself (yet), but I am getting the Beck that we're all assmbling at the Carlisle, PA show. I strongly recommend that you attend this show as all of the manufacturers except Vintage will be in attendance, and there will be enough Vintage Speedster owners there to fill you in. Here's what I know from all of my research, but keep in mind that NONE of this is 1st hand experience:

- Intermeccanica and Specialty Autoworks appear to only offer turn-keys. Wonderful cars, both of them, but I don't believe they offer kits.

- Vintage only recommends their kits for professional builders. If you're very talented, you might give them a try, though.

- Of the four manufacturers that advertise their kits three are Beck (Special Editions), JPS Motorsports, and Thunder Ranch. JPS offers the choice of VW pan or proprietary tube frame. Both Beck and Thunder Ranch are tube frame only. All three have excellent reputations.

- Street Beasts is a little different. They offer several stages of kit, and are probably the least expensive. However, the general consensus is that they have some quality issues that will require quite a bit of fabrication and rework to overcome. Still, I've seen some beautiful cars resulting from these kits, so it can be done. Just take a look at the metallic blue Speedster on the Carlisle website. That started as a Street Beasts. Oh yeah, I believe Street Beasts used to be CMC.

** PERSONAL OPINION WARNING **
I like the fact that the Beck is available in a kit that is already painted and has the interior, wiring, top, and much of the trim installed. All you do is add drivetrain, finish the suspension, and complete the trim. This is their Deluxe kit and is what we're building at the show. We expect to be driving the car by dinner time on Saturday. Come watch!

Speaking of quality, Elliot, this is what I got for $16K in 2001. If I had known then what I know now, this work I'm doing could have all been avoided. (From the "Then and Now," file.)

Building one (or rebuilding to your dream) is not difficult --- more time consuming. Like someone said downloading one of the build manuals is good start to get idea of effort required. Gotta laugh at the CMC advertising which said it could be built in 40 hours (200 or even 400 is more accurate). I suspect 30% of the FiberFab/CMC kits sold were never completed. Sad to say mine (16 years in garage) is one -- just got off on other projects. I'd recommend buying one that is 90% complete (ha, all are advertised as 90% completed with recently rebuilt engine!) CMC kits sold for around $8k. You often see them on ebay for $4-6k so that is economincal way to get started. Just make sure all the basic parts are there - thinks like the windshield assembly can be costly. Delivery can easily add $1k so find one you can pick up fairly locally.

Wolfgang, amigo, am I helping you put that thing together this summer or what?
Do I need to come to Springfield with a trailer?

Boy, it might come down to that! I'm afraid you'd show up with your saw-z-all though. I mean yours was actually running and on the road when you got it. The end result is going to be awsome and truely unique when done though. I am closely monitoring your progress - the pictures are great. Your deadline of Carlisle is a real "driving" challenge.

Thanks, Wolf. I have to re-iterate the cheering section here is a really big motivator toward getting this thing on the street before the PA show.
Seriously though, I work in Arlington - so you're not all that far away. I'll work for a few delicious and refreshing beverages along the way, and I'll promise to leave the reciprocating saw at home.
Open offer. Do you have any recent photos of the overall progress?

Elliot, where are you geographically?

Elliot, pre-1967 Beetles are collectible cars for VW enthusiasts, as is frequently pointed out in VW rags. However, I think that many Speedster builders look for 1969 and later pans that incorporate the IRS suspensions. This is only one factor; your best purchase might be finding an example with the best pan, usable suspension and drive train components that you can find.

Be advised, as many sage builders have found, that if you are going into this process to save money, forget it, since you most likely will not. If your goal is to enjoy the building process and to learn, building is probably the best route. You may even be able to find an abandoned project that you can pick up quite reasonably, possibly with a lot of the hard stuff already done.
my 2 kroner
Hoss

Thank you guys so much for all the information. I have been busy this week with school, therefore unable to reply back.

Economically, my money is being saved up for the build of the speedster. I do not want to purchase a turn key, I have though looked at the rolling chasis (i think it was called a deluxe kit). I rather not buy it though.

I have also been looking at pre-1967 beetle's for their use in building the speedster. I want to build this speedster, instead of buying most of it done (not that anything is wrong with that, I just want to learn how to do it myself). I have a shop to work out of and people to help me when I am in need of it. I don't really have a time table on when this needs to be completed. Although, I go to law school in a year and a half and would like to have it done by then. I wish that I could make it out to PA for the show this weekend. I would love to watch you guys working on the speedster. But, I live in Chicago and it is difficult to get away during school.

Currently: I am looking for the Beetle as I said before. Pre-1967 is what I am looking for...what is the ideal year for using it to build a speedster? I heard pre-67, but I could have been misinformed. What is a good price for the beetle. I know that I am looking for no rust, and possibly a good working engine (not sure if I will use the engine yet). Any information you guys can give me is definately appreciated and I look foward to working on this project during the next year or two, while keeping you guys informed with plenty of pictures (showing what is going wrong!).
Thanks again,
Elliot

What do you think about these? http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=303303
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=302454

p.s. here is the show car that I am finishing up right now

Eliot; that link you posted is for a '68 convertible; I wouldn't waste a convertible to build a Speedster replica. I bet there's lots of chassis available for your purpose; the Samba is a good place to look, maybe even junkyards, as long as they have the title. As Hoss said; some people prefer the '69 and later independent rear suspension because it offers better handling but if you want to stick to the original Speedster stance stick to the '68 and earlier swingaxle suspension. I bought my turnkey with the older style transaxle and installed a camber compensator in the back which eliminates swingaxle "wheel tuck" and improves handling 100%. The other good thing about swingaxles is that there's so many more of them as compared to IRS's that the parts are more plentiful and thus less expensive and there's also less parts in them to break; just ask the VW drag guys. All in all you can use any year Beetle or Karmann Ghia chassis (in that case you'd have to replace the floor pans since the floor pans in Ghias are wider) for your project. Good luck on your build.