Red Fiberfab on the Samba. 12k

Spoke with the Seller the first day it came up for sale, he has no idea if the 1641 runs as well as condition of trans ( not in car ) however he is firm at $12k and that with the motor / trans unknowns is over priced. Body has ac ouple of bolts to the pan and that is it. It will cost another $6k  to paint and assemble..one can buy a nice clean running speedster for that $18k total.

The seats are just a tad rudimentary but the cushions are all there....

BUT - Webers $800, disc brakes $1000, real 356 gauges $900 and nice roll bar $600.  

I have bought this speedster.  Since I have a VW full time repair shop, not worried about engine or transmission.  I know, this will be a long term project.  First thing I need is a new windshield and rubber gasket, if not included with car. I like the small engine and if needed, can rebuild it.  There are many speedsters for sale with the cheaply built 1915cc size engines. I never built this cheap engine due to many problems which will happen, unless one spends a fortune on buying a new case and good cylinders and pistons, which the cheap engine do not have.  I find the 1915cc engine has a life span of perhaps 10,000 miles and my engines last 90,000 miles.  You get what you pay for and the base 1641cc I have built up in the past, ran 14.2seconds in 1/4 mile @ 90mph in a full bodied 1972 Beetle, so who needs bigger ?  My 1776cc ran in my 1969 Bug, in mid 12seconds at 102 and was street legal.  I will build up to 2110cc and those produce over 150hp, with good parts.  Well, except for the location of the speedster, the owner has been good to work with and communication was excellent.  Looking forward to seeing my "new" speedster in my garage , next week.  Excellent web site.  ---George K. ---

I forgot to mention I have already located a good paint shop , who has done many jobs for me and gives me a break on pricing.  Figure only $2000 or less for a professional paint job. On the interior and top, have a trim shop to make up the convertible top, custom made with good material.  So, I can finish off this speedster and get it looking good, by doing most of work by myself.  One of my customers installs glass for a living and I will use him, in trade  for work on his 1968 Beetle, to help me with the windshield installation.  One can save money with friends. I owned an IM back in 1993, but had to sell it, to pay off the ex-wife. Sad story and really missed that speedster.  22 years later, getting a speedster, again.

George that's awesome. Can't wait to see your progress on the build.

There is an aluminum strip needed at bottom of windshield too.  I'd put it all together before jumping to paint it.  Did it come with build manual? Donating members can view/download manual at the RESOURCES tab.  Looks like a great unmolested project!  You may find you can wet sand and buff the body up without painting --- and still be able to drive it this Summer. LOL, you're less that the advertised 40 hours to complete - more like 24 hours!

Since the engine is unknown, even thought it was rebuilt, I will more than likely tear it down to be sure all the parts were put in the right places and put together properly. It has to be wired and a windshield replaced and seats covered and top made and also I want side windows, so plenty of work , ahead of me. Do not thing 40 hours would finish off this car. I will try the wet sanding, but have a friend who owns a paint shop and does me low cost jobs, but good work. I send him plenty of customers, so he helps me on cost.

----George K. ----

George,

This unfinished red speedster came from Weston Connecticut, literally just down the road (15/20min) from me. I thought of dropping in to take a close look at it but I'd just be a 'tire kicker' taking up his time.

 

Did you see it before purchasing? Where do you live, and how was it transported?

Only seen the same pictures everyone has seen on the Internet. I talked some with the man and wrote a few emails, with questions. Most were answered.

I live just South of Houston, Texas, about 1700 or more miles from where the car is located. So, having it hauled here in enclosed carrier, on Monday.

Don't bother the owner NOW, as he has to install the engine and get the car ready for shipment. Please, don't bother him as he does not work fast. The transport will be there, for sure, on Monday, so the car has to be ready for shipment.

The missing windshield is the biggest thing that concerns me, time wise and money wise. I doubt any other person would buy a replica with a missing windshield. I had no idea , at the time, how expensive the windshield was. I work on old VW's for my only income. So, engines, brakes, transmission and wiring is no big deal to me, but that glass concerns me. I have a customer who install vehicle glass and his suppliers had no listing for the needed windshield glass. But, he said he would help me install the windshield, so at least, that helps this situation.

I will be one of the rare people driving my speedster as much as possible, more than likely, not in rain, but all year long. I thought about taking off for one week, to drive my other vehicle up to Connecticut and tow the speedster back, which would have saved me lots of money, but I have customers to take care of and full time business, so just impossible to do that. So, had to get a transport service and enclosed, which cost $500 more, because the car has no top or side windows to protect it from the weather, mostly from rain. I don't want anything getting wet, when transported.

Once I start on finishing up the car I will try to learn how to post pictures of the progress on the web site. I guess, some might find that interesting. Someone asked me if I had an assembly manual. Ha,ha. been working on cars since age 16 and building them from the ground up all those years, now I am 69 years old. That's a long time and don't need any assembly manual. I do custom wiring on Volkswagens and put in stereos, power outlets, AC systems, fans, power windows, disc brakes, etc. Just update them if the customer has the money. I build last week a 2387cc engine for a 1956 Porsche Speedster replica and doing an engine for a Puma kit car next week. Years ago, I installed a 2110cc into a Speedster kit car and also put in power windows and AC system. I don't understand someone wanting the AC, but we did it. Not much space for AC in the kit cars. That was all custom work. Nobody , that I know of, makes an AC kit for the Speedsters. Thank you for your interest in this project. ----George K. ---

Carl - You could have towed it down for him - my place is right on the way!

 

Try this place for parts - or SE/Beck or VS -

 

http://vintagespeedsterparts.com

 

Windshield is only $155

I bought parts from V Parts a week ago fast shipping ..However, tried to buy a windshield frame from V' Parts on Thursday the price was ok at $165 but they wanted a whopping $75 handling charge AND another $85 to ship.

Thanks, Guys, for the web site information. ---- George K. ----

Compared to other retailers, those prices are reasonable. Beck has the glass and frame parts, but price is high. Same thing for Stoddard, they stock the windshield, but too much money. You have to watch out on the aftermarket glass as it might be small on thickness, which leads to cracks. ---George K. ---

Marketing 101...under chapter heading: "Strategies to increase profits"

 

"Adding a 'Handling Charge' will increase profit margin,  but keep it separate from advertised retail price to give the illusion that the item is competitive with other sources."

 

"Do not combine Handling and Shipping costs together so they'll be rationalized by consumer as separate, explicit, expenses."

 

Now how many windshields do you think V Parts would sell if right up front they said... "We're adding $160 to the item's over-the-counter retail price of $165 for a  total of $325" ????   

 

   

 

I think your best bet is Carey Hines/Beck Speedster. He has a special box for shipping he developed to lessen chances of breakage.