Opinion on this Thunder Ranch car

The pictures look quite nice although I think the weight quoted (1500#) is a bit low.  The one that was weighed at Carlisle one year was a bit over 1700#.  The power (150hp) may be a touch high - or not.  Not sure where TR cars are in the market so I can't comment on the price except to say it may be a touch high (but it IS a dealer) although I wouldn't think it's way out of line.  You may be able to negotiate down.  Since TR is no longer in business you are kind of on your own there.  Don't know if that's a factor for you or not.

take this with a grain of salt - i'm a bit grumpy today.

looks like something was done to the rear tail lights.

there will be rear rubbing with that rim/tire setup at that ride height.

150hp --> BS.  that is the worst exhaust you can fit on a T1.  if the builder did that - i'd question the quality of the engine insides.  who the hell mounts an oil filter upside down?

are those front turn signals painted?

nice bumper fitment though.  i like the bright white colour.

overall - nice car, but i sure as **** wouldn't pay $33K for it

Thanks for the input guys. When I was drooling over these cars about 10 years ago Thunder Ranch was a high end builder. Rock West has the business now and I think they are using TR components. I spoke with Rock West last year and they said they were making improvements on the TR design, though they didn't have any cars finished to show me.

TR was like Beck, in that they built their own tube frame.... and they were expensive 10 or so years ago.  I don't see the oil filter mentioned above. Unless you mean the oil over flow thing mounted on the firewall.

My drag car is a 2276 and is 195 HP at the wheels, but it has high compression and not suitable for the street. I too question the 1500 pound weight so they might be full of it. I do like the Porsche fan shroud. 

I was hoping someone here may be familiar with this particular car. 

That thing on the firewall may be the fuel pump or filter, though the pumps are usually under the fuel tank.

Beautiful car.  The exhaust and cooling system leave a lot to be desired.  I'd challenge the statement that you'd need to spend 75k to build one of this caliber.   I think you'd need to know more about the motor before you could call it a race motor. 

The price... man... um... it's been for sale for a very long time.  Not a lot of Thunder Ranch cars come up for sale, so it's hard to set an exact comparable price. Depending on the motor builder and transmission I sort of feel like maybe it's overpriced.  I'm not sure any motor builder worth his salt would use that fan set-up on a 2275. They are not known for stellar cooling of the heads/cyls. 

Mid to high twenties if the motor is solid. Possibly?  Thirties - now way. 

FWIW, this ad has been on CL for months. For a long while, they were reposting it every day, but now it looks like it was last posted about three weeks ago.

i think the 'recently lowered' price has been the same since the first posting.

Right. This was the ad that over used the word 'Bespoke'.  No experience was spared to recreate... blah... blah blah. They ditched the hyperbole and lowered the price 5k. 

New ad. Same car.

PaulEllis posted:

Thanks for the input guys. When I was drooling over these cars about 10 years ago Thunder Ranch was a high end builder. Rock West has the business now and I think they are using TR components. I spoke with Rock West last year and they said they were making improvements on the TR design, though they didn't have any cars finished to show me.

TR was like Beck, in that they built their own tube frame.... and they were expensive 10 or so years ago.  I don't see the oil filter mentioned above. Unless you mean the oil over flow thing mounted on the firewall.

My drag car is a 2276 and is 195 HP at the wheels, but it has high compression and not suitable for the street. I too question the 1500 pound weight so they might be full of it. I do like the Porsche fan shroud. 

I was hoping someone here may be familiar with this particular car. 

WIX filter on the left is upside down.

I just weighed my car with yesterday. It weighs 1744 lbs. It was full of gas, spare, jack & lug wrench, tools,  side curtains, extinguisher, tonneau cover and water bottle. It's a VS pan based IRS with a 2110 engine, Rhino cased tranny with ZF LSD and all the other HD stuff to help keep it together. The 2110 with all the parts from CB and a 1 &5/8" A-1 sidewinder dyno'ed an honest 132 hp by someone who does not just record "flash" readings to get a higher number.  Hope this helps.  I have no idea if a similar Beck would be heavier or lighter. It would be kinda nice to know though.........Bruce

All good points. I finally spotted the upside-down oil filter. That would make it messy when changing the oil. I too have heard that type of cooling system is suspect. Living here in Phoenix, I require the finest cooling system. I just like the look of the "Porsche" fan shroud. Everyone seems to use the 2110 rather than 2276 or 2332, undoubtedly because they cool better.

I have $25k to spend, so I just need to find the right car to spend it on. Trying to have patience..... I don't want any regrets. 

Note the location of the hand brake. That might indicate that this is a vw based car and the tube frame may just be the framing integrated into the fiberglass body but the seller doesn't know the difference or,  worse yet, is being less than forthright. Imagine that from a dealer.......

The upside down filter canister doesn't make sense. I noted the tail lights as well. Weird.  

Talk to Troy or DRClock. They might have something in the works.

Couldn't you just about get a new Vintage for $25k?  If you can scrape up another $5k you can probably get a slightly used Beck.  Look on the Beck site.  There are used ones that have been thoroughly gone through by Carey.  The extra $5k would be worth it for a tube frame Beck.  Or o/w talk the Troy or Dr Clock.  I really doubt a TR is a tube frame. However Rock West Racing does state that they use a tube frame on their web site, so maybe.  I think RWR is the company that has the old TR jigs.

Phil IM356D posted:

Couldn't you just about get a new Vintage for $25k?  If you can scrape up another $5k you can probably get a slightly used Beck.  Look on the Beck site.  There are used ones that have been thoroughly gone through by Carey.  The extra $5k would be worth it for a tube frame Beck.  Or o/w talk the Troy or Dr Clock.  I really doubt a TR is a tube frame. However Rock West Racing does state that they use a tube frame on their web site, so maybe.  I think RWR is the company that has the old TR jigs.

Used Becks are 34K, 35K and 38K on their website now. I haven't seen a decent Beck for 30 or under in forever.

Troy, Dr Clock and Theron are your very best bets for a well sorted Speedster for 25K, that seems to be where theirs sell.

The $34k Beck is a pretty black and tan with wide 5s.  You never know if the owner will take $30k unless you ask.

Would someone help me out? What am I not seeing with the tail lights?

Todd here in the Central Valley, TBONED911, has a TR Speedster and it seems to be very well built. They have a different method for attaching the tonneau cover. Instead of snaps it is slid into a channel if I remember correctly. The front signal lenses aren't painted. They're just the cheap plastic lenses sold online, Sierra Madre Collections has them. They say they are clear but they look white to me.

The way that the tonneau/top is attached is the one thing I don't like about the Thunder Ranch cars.

Is the tail light issue that they appear to be mounted slightly higher than others?

Phil

If you're talking about the 2011 Black Beck listed on their web site for $33k, even if they agreed to take $30k, the tax would put it back up to 33. I assume there would be sales tax if its sold through Beck.

There's always death and taxes.  Sales tax will vary from state to state.  And then there are the mods required to make it YOUR car.  We could go on all day.  Beck isn't going to take any less if the taxes are more in your state.  In VA I buy the car without paying taxes in the state it is purchased and then I pay the sales tax of 5% when I register it.  So if I got the car for $30k I'd have to pay another $1500 sales tax to register.

I wonder who built the engine? I love the look of the cooling fan, but ...hummm? There is 2235 (being towed home) and then there is 2235 (oh boy!) I drove a Thunder ranch here in Atlanta about a year ago. Fast , cute, but kind of a scateboard. It felt light weight (quality) and not well planted to the road.... But that is just one guy, driving one car... so ... I hate to 'cast aspersions' on what is probably a good car. 

Yeah, I really need to drive a few of these cars for myself.

PaulEllis posted:

Yeah, I really need to drive a few of these cars for myself.

Yes sir you do! You're in Phoenix and we have several members from the area. At the top of the page click on the members tab and you can narrow it down using the map. PM them and see if you can meet up.

Re "upside-down" oil filters. Note the name on this cam cover. I'm not saying it's right...

Apparently you can buy filter canisters with an anti-drainback valve integral?

I just became a paying member so I think I'll take your advice and contact people near me to look at their cars.

PaulEllis posted:

I just became a paying member so I think I'll take your advice and contact people near me to look at their cars.

If you're not sure how to do the map feature just ask.

I figured out how to use the map and send a couple of messages. I looks like the majority of members in my area seldom visit this forum making me wonder if they still have their cars. Hopefully someone will get back to me.

Paul,

@Cory McCloskey is a new member here who lives in Phoenix. He just got a VS and is pretty excited about his new ride.

@IMDoug is also an active member here who lives in Scottsdale. He doesn't post but he visits. He's a super nice guy with an IM.

@dsrtfox Used to post quite a bit although I haven't seen him recently. These guys might be able to help you out.

Is that a real Porsche shroud?  Doesn't look like a Bernie Bergman.

Ron O posted:

Is that a real Porsche shroud?  Doesn't look like a Bernie Bergman.

May not be a BB, Ron, but Porsche (or VW, for that matter) never made a shroud like that for the type 1, and I don't think you can adapt a 911 unit (I suppose you can if you throw enough time and money at it, but that's another story). FAT Performance may make 1 and then there are several European versions, some of which work better than others.

PS- As was mentioned, the Bergmaqn 911 style fan/shroud doesn't cool even close to evenly (either the front or rear cylinders don't get nearly enough air, as well as the side to side imbalance) without a lot of work (for one guy's journey to make it distribute cooling air somewhat evenly, read here), requires an external cooler (not a big deal in itself), has no provisions for a thermostat/flaps assembly, and takes significantly more horsepower to drive, as that fan moves a lot of air. IIrc, European bug owners like the 911 style shroud as it's the only thing that moves enough air to keep the engine from overheating during extended high speed runs on the Autobahn.

I like this car, worth a trip to take a closer look and test drive...

PaulEllis posted:

I figured out how to use the map and send a couple of messages. I looks like the majority of members in my area seldom visit this forum making me wonder if they still have their cars. Hopefully someone will get back to me.

 

Paul - this looks like a very nice car. I'd have a look to see if it is indeed a tube chassis. The front and rear bumpers seem awfully close to the body.

Somehow my gut says this would be more reasonable if priced at $24,500 but perhaps there is way more to this car than meets the description.

Yeah, I think 24-28k seems right. Great looking car. Not 33k great.

Hey, @PaulEllis !

(And thanks for the shout, RobertM!)

Right now, I'm watching the guys wash my little Beck at Scottsdale Rd and Pinnacle Peak!

 I've got nothing to do at the moment… If you want to take her out and see what 2110 feels like, I could swing by your house within a half hour. Looks like you're down near Metrocenter, right?

Shoot me a text, or call me: 623.512.5563

Sorry for the thread drift, but Cory your car's looking awesome! I'm so tempted to go for a spin, but my Speedster's stuck in the garage (per usual. Hopefully soon there will be three of us, Mr. PaulEllis!, and some nice cool[er] weather!!

Hey, Doug!

October's coming! My crazy honeymoon period with my tub allows me to drive it even in 100+ temps... I hope it doesn't wear off next summer!

Just hooked up with @PaulEllis by text -- will be swinging by in a few minutes to meet him for the first time , and to let him drive my little love...

looking forward to your Speedster's return to health, Doug! We'll be driving together soon!

Apologies, all, for the hijack. We now return you to your Thunder Ranch discussion, already in progress.

Cory McCloskey posted:

Hey, Doug!

October's coming! My crazy honeymoon period with my tub allows me to drive it even in 100+ temps... I hope it doesn't wear off next summer!

Just hooked up with @PaulEllis by text -- will be swinging by in a few minutes to meet him for the first time , and to let him drive my little love...

looking forward to your Speedster's return to health, Doug! We'll be driving together soon!

Apologies, all, for the hijack. We now return you to your Thunder Ranch discussion, already in progress.

 

I feel like a real Hollywood Matchmaker!

Just got back from a drive with Cory. Great car, lots of power. A woman pulled up next to us at a stop light and was obviously really, really agree at someone. Cory was in the passenger seat and thought she was mad at us (she was on his side of the car). Cory said "who us?" and we learned she had been cut off by someone behind us who had apparently waived a gun around. She was really mad..... then she hesitated a moment and said "don't I know you?" She recognized Cory as the Fox 10 weather man and forgot all about being mad. She whipped out her phone and started taking pictures of a local celebrity.

It was an interesting test drive to say the least. Thanks Cory.

LOL Paul!

She was really wound UP, wasn't she?  Thankfully, my very minor celebrity  status acted like a soothing balm... LOL

 Great, meeting you, friend!  Looking forward to seeing your ride whenever you make your decision! 

Paul, if you're uncomfortable being followed and photographed by strange women, maybe a Speedster isn't for you.

That is less likely to happen in a Camry or a Prius. The Prius gets great gas mileage, too, and that keyless entry system is just the bomb.

That's really funny. Imagine Cory's situation, everyone notices his cool car, and if not that, they recognize him. First one, and then the other, not necessarily in that order.

The car is incredible and really fun to drive. Being to tall could be an issue. Perhaps the pan area where the driver's seat mounts can be lowered an inch or two and the seat bolted directly to the floor. Cory also has a long torso so I'm sure he'll be addressing that in the near future.

I'll be nailing down my own car very soon and it's great to know someone else in the area to cruise with.