Questions about upcoming Speedster rental on Turo....

From the dash I'd say it looks like a Vintage, although the age, and thus the builder (Kirk Duncan or Greg Leach) can't be determined.  The engine could be anything from a 1500 to 2300 VW or even a Subaru.

To add to what Lane said above, without seeing the engine compartment we have no way of knowing what engine is powering the speedster. I will say in my experience there is a night and day difference between a Speedster replica powered by a VW engine and one powered by well sorted and engineered Subaru engine with a transaxle that has gearing to match the Subaru power band. This could be a Rancho Pro Suby 4 speed or the Subaru 5 speed transaxle. I had a VW powered Speedster replica that I had converted to Suby power by Special Edition, and it made it into a entirely different and better driving car. Some like the feel and authenticity of an air-cooled engine but it felt like a toy car verses a real sports car that was immensely more enjoyable to drive. If I were in the market for a Speedster replica and had the time money and patience, I would drive one with VW Type1 power and a well-done Subaru powered car to help in making the decision.  I commend you for renting a one first. Most of us didn't do that and many were unhappy with the car they bought or had built for them. At this point a good Speedster replica is a substantial investment. Not the $9K I paid for a Turnkey CMC back in the early 2000's.  Good luck with you research mission.  I recommend you ask the owner of the Speedster you are renting for the engine make and size and any other details about that particular build. There is a big difference in quality and performance and resale price from builder to builder. The lowest being Classic Motor Carriage or Fiberfab and the highest being Intermeccanica, Vintage and the Special Edition built Becks. The late model Beck Speedster are and some of the Intermeccanica cars are built on purpose-built frames and upgraded suspensions as compared to being built on a shortened VW Beetle Chassis or Pan.

That's a Kirk built Vintage Speedster from more than 10 years ago based on the interior.
-=theron

@Jimmy V. posted:

To add to what Lane said above, without seeing the engine compartment we have no way of knowing what engine is powering the speedster. I will say in my experience there is a night and day difference between a Speedster replica powered by a VW engine and one powered by well sorted and engineered Subaru engine with a transaxle that has gearing to match the Subaru power band. This could be a Rancho Pro Suby 4 speed or the Subaru 5 speed transaxle. I had a VW powered Speedster replica that I had converted to Suby power by Special Edition, and it made it into a entirely different and better driving car. Some like the feel and authenticity of an air-cooled engine but it felt like a toy car verses a real sports car that was immensely more enjoyable to drive. If I were in the market for a Speedster replica and had the time money and patience, I would drive one with VW Type1 power and a well-done Subaru powered car to help in making the decision.  I commend you for renting a one first. Most of us didn't do that and many were unhappy with the car they bought or had built for them. At this point a good Speedster replica is a substantial investment. Not the $9K I paid for a Turnkey CMC back in the early 2000's.  Good luck with you research mission.  I recommend you ask the owner of the Speedster you are renting for the engine make and size and any other details about that particular build. There is a big difference in quality and performance and resale price from builder to builder. The lowest being Classic Motor Carriage or Fiberfab and the highest being Intermeccanica, Vintage and the Special Edition built Becks. The late model Beck Speedster are and some of the Intermeccanica cars are built on purpose-built frames and upgraded suspensions as compared to being built on a shortened VW Beetle Chassis or Pan.

Thanks so much for your detailed response. In regards to what builder I'm going to go with if I do decide to pull the trigger, I have narrowed it down to VIntage and Beck, and I have already decided to go with the more powerful Subaru engine, though I'm not sure if Vintage offer that as an option? Beck look like the more affordable option, though I will obviously be speaking to both to see what the final cost would be for the spec I want. As for driving a Subaru powered car, assuming the one I'm renting the on Saturday isn't that, I have no idea how I'd go about getting my hands on one to drive. Any advice on that would be appreciated.

Are you sure that there's actually a car available. With Truro, you paid in advance, I've used the service twice with no issues but this could be suspicious. Did it have a lot of reviews?

@Theron posted:

That's a Kirk built Vintage Speedster from more than 10 years ago based on the interior.
-=theron

Yeah? What about the interior gives it away for you?

@WNGD posted:

Are you sure that there's actually a car available. With Truro, you paid in advance, I've used the service twice with no issues but this could be suspicious. Did it have a lot of reviews?

The car has since been disabled but the booking is still going ahead. I didn't pay in advance, I don't pay till tomorrow. Doesn't have a lot of trips but has several positive reviews. I'm in contact with him literally as we speak. All good.

Agree a VS.  The chrome trim under dash covering, no padded dash eyebrows above that trim, squared off door trim for side curtains, and their signature luggage rack.  Best guess on engine is 1915 cc - as that is cheapest (most popular) performance upgrade (94 mm vs 85.5 pistons and leaves but otherwise stock).  Could be 1600 cc (60 hp) or anything.

CMC/FF were sold as DIY so build quality is upon the builder.  Probably the most widely sold Speedster kit up to 1992.

@WOLFGANG posted:

Agree a VS.  The chrome trim under dash covering, no padded dash eyebrows above that trim, squared off door trim for side curtains, and their signature luggage rack.  Best guess on engine is 1915 cc - as that is cheapest (most popular) performance upgrade (94 mm vs 85.5 pistons and leaves but otherwise stock).  Could be 1600 cc (60 hp) or anything.

CMC/FF were sold as DIY so build quality is upon the builder.  Probably the most widely sold Speedster kit up to 1992.

What's CMC/FF?

Classic Motor Carriages and Fiber Fab.

Owner just sent me a photo of the engine bay...

What are we looking at here?

@Michael McKelvey posted:

Classic Motor Carriages and Fiber Fab.

TY!

The curly red wire confirms it is a Vintage.

@Michael McKelvey posted:

The curly red wire confirms it is a Vintage.

So it's going to be a 1600CC or 1900CC engine with either 60 or (?) HP?

I guess I’m lost.

Everything about this car says “Kirk and Mary Vintage Speedster” with the usual VS 1600/1915 “impossible to tell without taking it apart” VW T1. That’s really as close as you’re going to get.

We know, because everybody who’s answering has been here forever. In the case of Theron, he started this site more than 25 years ago. He knows what he’s looking at.

Also: the Vintage Speedster you will be driving has almost nothing to do with Vintage Motor Cars, which happens to be located in the same building.

Different owner, different process, different engines.

Good luck with the research.

Screams Vintage!

Just go drive it and then make up your mind.

@Stan Galat posted:

I guess I’m lost.

Everything about this car says “Kirk and Mary Vintage Speedster” with the usual VS 1600/1915 “impossible to tell without taking it apart” VW T1. That’s really as close as you’re going to get.

We know, because everybody who’s answering has been here forever. In the case of Theron, he started this site more than 25 years ago. He knows what he’s looking at.

Also: the Vintage Speedster you will be driving has almost nothing to do with Vintage Motor Cars, which happens to be located in the same building.

Different owner, different process, different engines.

Good luck with the research.

Yep thanks I've been doing a lot of reading here and if I'm not mistaken Vintage Motorcars are located here in Southern California. Vintage Speedsters used to be but Kirk ended up selling the business and it moved to Arizona before being run into the ground by some cop and are now out of business? That a pretty accurate summation of events?

@Panhandle Bob posted:

Screams Vintage!

Just go drive it and then make up your mind.

Will do. Extremely excited.

It looks like a VS from when Kirk and Mary Duncan owned and operated the business.

The engine size may be written on the front of the fan shroud (the side facing the front of the car/firewall) if it has not been repainted or replaced since it was delivered.