Raby-Powered Beck

I just got an email from Kevin Hines, to whom I had sent the ad from the dealership in SLO. He said the car was a "very special build with an unusual history." Meaning that it could be good or bad news. At least he and his son, Carey, remembered the car.

He asked that I call Carey late this afternoon. Carey has the real scoop on the car. I'll report back as soon as I find out what's up.  

...maybe it was owned by James Dean!

I just got off the phone with Carey Hines. He said the car was originally built for a customer in Hawaii. The guy in Hawaii didn't feel he needed heater ducts, so they were never placed, but an electric IR heater was ultimately installed beneath the dash. Before the build was completed the man had tax problems and pulled out of the build after having requested constant changes. The car was then sold to someone else, but ended up in Los Angeles with another buyer.

The car definitely has a 2615 Type 4 Porsche engine with a Rancho-built transmission built to pro-street specs. A1 Sidewinder type 4 exhaust system. True Nardi steering wheel. The in-dash VDO gauges were common in racing cars, but not usually in cars sold in showroom floors. Carey recalled that the car dynoed at between 225 and 235 HP. He thought the front calipers had 4 pistons, but that they might have had only two. The rear setup was from a VW Golf.

Koni adjustable shocks on all four wheels; the front end is stock adjustable VW. Carey thinks that maybe the swing-axle has a camber compensator. He thinks he remembers that Jake's engine came at a cost of around $22,000-25,000.

He remembers that there was some type of fuel delivery problem, and that the west coast mechanics could not figure out how to tune the complex Raby system. Carey advised that the very complicated fuel injection setup should be scrapped and carbs installed to end the apparent fuel delivery problem. He said this might have been done since the car ended up on the west coast, but he didn't know the exact status at this time.

Since there have been at least two owners since the car was built, Jake Raby doesn't want to have anything to do with the car. Even so, Carey said that the car was a steal at $30,000 since so much work went into the build and that the original work was quality.

I'll look at the car and drive it, but I frankly think that the complexity of the car may rule out my buying it due to my limited mechanical ability. This might be a good car for someone who is intimately familiar with fuel injection systems, their programming, etc., and who knows how to get the car to run and keep running properly. High-end mechanical systems are nice, but can be quite finicky.

That's my take on the car, and I think Carey would agree. We didn't get a chance to talk for more than five or ten minutes because he had to leave to take the kiddies out for Halloween. The information he gave me was valuable enough for me to seriously question whether I am the right person for such a complex car, and I am reticent to plunk down $28,000-$30,000 in order to find out.

Barry-

You're afraid of the engine, but I'll tell you what-- buy the car, and I'll buy you a Subaru conversion by anybody you choose. I'll take the Type 4 in exchange.

I'm serious. You can "dialog" me, or shoot me an email at stangalat@yahoo.com.

Switching out to carbs wouldn't be that big of a deal, in my opinion (but what does bozo know?). My car has been running like a top with my Dells, never a problem...well, once, it must have ate some crap in my gas tank, but 10 miles later the carbs cleared themselves up. But talk to Stan...I'm sure you guys could work something out.

Thanks, Stan. I'll keep that in mind. I'll let you know after I check out the car.

Barry

Be careful what you wish for, Stan.  Have you priced out Jake Raby's Subi engines? 

Yeah, that was a pretty stupid thing to say. My fun bucket has a limit, and I'm getting pretty close.

Barry- You've got mail, 'ol buddy.

Thanks, Stan. I sent you a reply.

Problems with fuel injection on a high performance air cooled VW engine......sounds familiar. 

So Barry....how was your test drive?

Just returned home after visiting the yellow bomb in San Luis Obispo. Beautiful warm California weather throught the two-day "tour" of Southern California.

As for the yellow Speedster: what a dog! The first thing I noticed was the ill-fitting engine deck lid. The sales rep brushed it off: "Carrera deck lids all fit that way." Of course, he didn't know that I knew better, but I said nothing. Appearing stupid can sometimes draw out good information that would ordinarily remain hidden.

The car hardly runs, although the service manager said that it had received extensive tuning by his in-house mechanical staff. The sales rep, who subsequently took me for a ride into some beautiful vineyards that surround SLO, said not to worry....the engine ran rough when it was cold. Riding shotgun, I hoped that I had brought my AAA card because I frankly thought we might have to walk back to the dealership. As for the engine's power and acceleration: anemic, and for a 2.6-liter Type IV Porsche engine, a real shock.

The front end of the car shook all over the place and I remember thinking that Beck would have never sold a car in this condition and the thought ran through my head that one of the owners must have abused the car in some way so as to make it handle so badly. After having driven the car back, I was happy to get away from the torture. The best part of the drive was getting out of the car.

The brakes sounded as if the pads had completely worn out...it was kind of a metal-to-metal sound. Not good. Shifting was difficult enough for me to suspect that something needed work somewhere between the shifter and the transaxles. Of course, no history was provided, so who knows what problems were present.

The 5-wides consisted of adapters that had been added to the 4-lug pattern, drumskins added, and wheels added to the setup.

The interior was so-so; I noticed several areas where the carpet was peeling away from the fiberglass. I don't know if the car had been stored outside or what. Maybe I am too anal about how I take care of things, but IMO, the lack of care by the previous owners showed that the yellow "bomb" bombed out.

The price had been "upped" to over $30,000, but as far as I could see, it will not sell for any amount, unless someone wants to buy it for parts or unless some newbie buys it because he has a passion for yellow, or an "oldie" who is a mechanical masochist. Maybe the dealership or the owner wanted to play the psych game of thinking that just because the price is higher, the quality will be better. Sounds like what they do in winery tasting rooms with the tourists.

Conclusion: This car is not only overpriced by a huge margin, it might not ever be drivable unless thousands of dollars and hundreds of man-hours are used to bring it up to even minimal standards we expect from replicas. 

http://www.smithvolvo.com/used...0034f625aecf5ff8.htm

ouch. does not sound good at all.

Barry, thanks for the review.

Sad....I was following this thread & rooting for you....sounded like it was a really special build when new.  Hey Barry..... one better suited to you will turn up!  

No problem. I saw and drove a very nice car in Rancho Palos Verdes that had only 700 miles on the odo. Very nice car built by Vintage Speedsters. This would be a nice car for anyone starting out in the Speedster game.

The car came with a $300 California Car cover and antique suitcase that strapped to the carrier that attaches to the deck lid grill. Silver with black interior. Car was virtually new, althought it was completed in late 2011. Asking price is $30,000. It's on  L.A. Craigslist. Black and yellow original plates are also included in the sale.

I am no longer interested in another open-topped car, but this would be an excellent buy. Car has a 2100cc engine and other goodies. The owner emailed me more pictures and information. If you PM me with your email address, I would be happy to send them on to you.

http://losangeles.craigslist.o.../cto/4124803724.html

Well you did your research........two test drives. Probably saved others a trip to SLO too.  

So are you now thinking a coupe? 

Yes. We have gone the open-top route and enjoyed both Spyders. I decided that although the Speedsters offer more room and practicality than the Spyder, it doesn't allow for as much creature comfort in colder weather and on long trips in questionable weather.

Maybe I have become a wuss, but a car that could be closed up and into which I could pile more "stuff" is higher on the scale of every-day use....at least for me. After driving the coupe and a Speedster on the same day, my thoughts were confirmed. We loved the Spyder while we owned it, but it did have space and comfort limitations, and we found that we often left it at home as a result.

I may even look at a 912 instead of going the 356 replica route (horrors), but hope I would still be welcome at some of the SOC meets. You guys are more fun than some of the stodgy people I met a month ago at a local Porsche club event, and after driving to L.A. from our motel in Venture, where we stayed Friday night, checking out cars at three different L.A. locations, then driving 400 miles more to our home in northern California, my wife and I both don't think we could have done it in an open-topped car.

I have a friend here in Santa Rosa who owns a 1969 912 and a '61 356. I will drive both cars next weekend, then make a final decision. The needle tilts toward the 912, though, merely because of its originality and that these cars can be found at prices similar to many of the 356 replicas, without Subaru-power, of course.

Regarding the 912:

Lot's of guys have often said it, and it bears repeating: if ANY car besides a fiberglass replica scratches your itch-- buy it. There are a lot of compromises involved in owning one of these.

A 912 will hold it's value MUCH better than any new replica.

Hey Barry......I'm with you.......I'd a least want roll-up windows.......so a Roadster could work for me, but I like the Outlaw Coupe look too, where maybe a sunroof would be nice. Comfort on a long trip is a good thing!

Barry:

Lots of nice IMs out there, with roll up windows (electric even), and very good weather protection.  You can get a nice one for about the same money as what you are talking about here.

Just a thought from a happy (used) IM owner.

Here's are some comments from other IM owners:

https://www.facebook.com/Inter...a?hc_location=stream

Agreed.  You have to drive what you enjoy.

Not bad prices on 912s:

http://www.hemmings.com/classi...sforsale/porsche/912

Thanks for the recap, Barry. I guess the carpeting was just the tip of the iceberg.

Too good to be true. Hopefully you've left Stan off the hook. That red, '68 912 being auctioned at Mecum looks pretty sweet, as well as a few of the others.

I am shocked to hear how "abused" that car sounds to be...  I can tell you first hand that when it left here it was one of the fastest/tightest/best stopping speedsters I had built at that time...  Sounds like it needs a TON of TLC...

Airkewld BAD Series brakes have a bolt pattern that bolts onto the hat, but they are from a 5 bolt to whatever you need... I can see how they'd be mistaken for adapters, but if they do actually go from a 4 bolt to wide five, then someone has changed the brakes out as well.

As for ALL louvered deck lids being ill-fitting (we all know that is BS) you should forward this picture to the salesman.  LOL

As I mentioned, it appears that the car had suffered some major abuse, and I definitely would never believe it left the builder that way. That being the case, the owner or owners must have played a large part in getting the car so screwed up. Carey Hines would never have delivered this car in the shape it is in today...not even close. Carey has a reputation for honesty and for being a straight-shooter. 

I don't know whether the owner or some incompetent mechanics he hired made such a mess of the car's running and handling condition, but the ill-fitting engine deck lid hints that the rest of the car had been abused. The SLO dealership should be ashamed for even offering the car for sale in its present condition, and especially so for trying to pawn off its faults as those that could be easily remedied to someone else who would never know the difference until it was too late.

I saw the car and sent a msg to the owner so that I could get more information on the car. Haven't heard from him yet. I have never attended an auction, and if I were to bid, it would have to be over the phone. Darned if I'm going to plunk down any money, though, unless I can get some more information on the car, which is nothing short of stunning!

http://www.mecum.com/auctions/...190&entryRow=419

As for Stan, his comments and opinions have always been appreciated....at least by me. Stan has owned replicas and knows their quirks. When Stan states something, I would be quite careless to dismiss what he says. I had a chance to purchase his Speedster many years ago, but chose to go the Spyder route. Big mistake, but at that time, I didn't know Stan or his good reputation. I was just another newbie who had to learn the hard way. Thanks to guys like Stan and Carey (plus several others), I'm still learning.

The car is not listed on the Smith Volvo website any more. Anybody have any idea where it went?

I'm guessing in for repairs. Stan, maybe they want to part it out to you.

When I was there a week ago, they said if I didn't buy it they would send it back to the owner. Frankly, I think they were glad to get it off their hands.