Sad to Say . . .

The Green Coupe is sold.

After moving to Indiana, I had the car gone over by Carey Hines at Special Edition. I then posted on eBay and as a result of all the interest generated, I sold it. Got pretty much what I wanted for it. There were 3 serious buyers trying to buy it after the auction ended and I'm sure I left some money on the table. The new owner was well aware of the car's history.

I must say it was finally all sorted out and working great making it very sad to sell it.

So now my sights are set on Carlisle car-less this year, and on saving my pennies for one of Carey's new Convertible Ds (in the works). Roll-up windows & water-cooled/5-speed (I hope).

My company was sold this month and my job changed yet again . . . but at least I have a job. I will be traveling the southeast regularly - SC, NC, TN, MS, AL, GA, FL are my territory. Lane - you can expect a visit sometime.

Eeeeeexcellent!!!

Now the slate is clean and you can start a new project when the time is right. What's the diference between a D and a cabriolet?

Tom......If you hit Atlanta, give me a shout.....I'm about 60mi north...

Marty, the D is essentially a Speedster with a higher and squared off windshield, roll up windows, a different top and good weather sealing. The Cabriolet, like my car and I believe the one Cary is developing, has a number of distinctives, which include: The windshield frame is molded into the body, not bolted on and is painted body color. The top extends approximately 5 1/2" farther back into the rear deck giving it its distinctive top line. The instrument panel, unlike the D, resembles the coupe instead of the speedster. Overall, the interior appointments on the originals are a little more plush. The Cabriolet was Porsche's original soft top design and was available almost from the get go. And yes, weather sealing is very good.

Carey's working on the D, but it's not ready yet, and the economy has him moving kind of slowly on it. He has the Cabriolet available now. It's a 356C version, and it's basically a resurrection of the Envemo Cabriolet. It's very nicely done, and quite expensive. They will only make them in limited numbers because they are labor intensive, and all of the little trim bits are costly. I'd looooove to have one.

Tom,
I'm glad and sorry you sold your car, but good luck on your job and looking for a new ride. Hopefully the new ride will be all you hoped.
I sent you a email given to me by Cory about you engine shroud - did you receive? dlschu42@comcast.net

Tom, Where will the green coupe be calling home now?

~WB

Tom, all's well that ends well, I say. Good that you still have a job, so many don't. I know you will get something nice when it's the right time. Come to Carlisle and have a ball.

BTW, that sounds like a nice new project, and you are in excellent hands.

Regarding the D that Beck is working on. It looks like this has been done before; is there still major fabrication necessary to make the change? This UK version looks decent. Just currious.

Marty G.

http://www.speedsters.com/marque21.htm

It's more complicated than just a new windshield, new top, and roll-up windows. There are also much cushier seats. Since the Beck floor is slightly higher than others, the new seats would put you up a bit high. I think they're reworking the chassis to lower the floor.

Bill,

The Coupe is headed to Texas - Austin area.

Tom,

Well, you had a plan, and now it is executed. Do you think we will have "lost" the Green Coupe, or will the new owner sign up here and participate in our unique brand of madness? Did he/she say? There are so many SOC fingerprints on that car, it would be good if it stayed in the fold, so to speak.

And so now on to the further plan: a new rag top 356 of one sort or another. Hopefully the $$ from your Speedster and the Coupe have been salted away into a special "Tom's toy car fund", and when the time is right, you'll be back into it. Hope so. And I will look fwd to our reunion in Carlisle this spring.

Stay well, and keep in touch.

Tom---so- we have the last chapter on the Green coupe. It was a good read and we all took vicarious pleasure rooting for a good outcome for you and I guess an outcome and end of this story clears the deck for your next experience. I'll say this--it was a georgeous car and
without the hitches you ran into should have been the dream car you were seeking. I know you were terribly mixed as you saw it leaving your driveway but look at it as relief and something you will nver have to look at again and grit your teeth over. That will remove any trace of lingering pain. At least I hope so for you.

I was impressed with the outpouring of assistance that was there for you. I doubt that many groups or "clubs" would have done a fraction as much.

I want to see you at Carlisle with or without a car this spring and look forward to seeing what your next adventure will be.

Oh--congrats on selling the family business and congrats on the new gig. You sure didn't take much time to land on your feet! Says a lot for you.

Happy new year!---Jack

Thanks Jack, Thanks Kelly. The sale of the Green Coupe was bittersweet.

The new owner was well aware of the story of the car as he is a regular visitor here, albeit a quiet one. He asked me to keep his name private and has told me he shies away from posting. He was well informed about my car.

As for the business - I need to clarify. I was certainly not clear. My family still owns and runs the business with my brother at the helm. I am out but still have a stake in it. Not worth much right now, but with luck it will again have value. My leaving paved the way for them to survive. The business simply could not continue to support all the families.

However - the company I went to work for was a victim of the credit crunch. Despite being nearly debt free and owning a large asset portfolio, they had their working capital line of credit drastically reduced when B of A bought their bank, and then they were unable to secure financing to replace that working capital. The result was they were forced to sell the RV division to Forest River. Forest River is owned by Berkshire Hathaway and has no cash issues as Warren Buffet has (just a few) bucks to spare. They pretty much got a steal - buying the RV groups assets for a song. The purchase killed the job I had. In 90 days I went from AVP of Dealer development, added National Sales Trainer to my responsibilities and then suddenly I was nearly was on the street. Fortunately I got a sales position and am now responsible for the southeast US for one of our product lines. Up-side is a fantastic earning potential even in a down market. Downside is a ton of travel to that region. Today was my first day as an official employee of Forest River.

Oh well - beats being on the street and the money will QUICKLY (hopefully) fund my new Carey Hines built car.

Tom,
Step out on the water,take a leap of faith and buy Al Merklins' Speedster that is currently on e-bay. If you still are interested in a Carey Hines built car, you will already have a car to sell with a great deal of equity.What a steal,and you already know about the quality of the builds by "Merklin The Magician". I will be the first one to start a chant.Buy Al's car,buy Al's car!! Come on guys,a little encouragement!

Tom - Best of luck on your new endeavor! You do what you gotta do! Hopefully, things will work out that you'll be able to make it to Carlisle (on a more enjoyable note) and discuss your next SPeedy plan with everyone while enjoying some of Danny's brew!!

If things work out with my business (same economic crunch as everyone else), I will try my best to make it to Carlisle again. I had such a great time at the last one I gotta do it again!!

Take care - keep in touch!

Jim---waddya mean TRY???? I sure hope you can be there!---Jack

Jim, I have Teri checking out the prices to see if it is an option for us...between me, you and Gerd, Carlisle would never be the same.

Thanks Jim. I sure hope you can make it. I plan to.

Al, I wish I could. It is a steal. But I'm flat busted until I start to sell some stuff. Heard you have a sweet new ride . . . What did you do with your Merklin the Magician built black beauty?

Vince, I hope you get to Carlisle too!!!

Thanks Jim. I sure hope you can make it. I plan to.

Al, I wish I could. It is a steal. But I'm flat busted until I start to sell some stuff. Heard you have a sweet new ride . . . What did you do with your Merklin the Magician built black beauty?

Vince, I hope you get to Carlisle too!!!


Leon, I am SURE to be in Atlanta - probably many times!

Tom, if it's any consolation, they're sending you where it's WARM!
Freezin' our butts off up here. Good Luck and sellin' to ya!

~WB

Yelp I did the D conversion on my own with excellent results. Tricky ,but with care and planning .Its doable I used Suzuki regs and resplined the cranks for Vw handles. Except for the factory VS heater, The car is exzactly the way I wanted it.

Wild Bill:

Tuesday night, January 6'th, 8:45pm and it's still 64 wonderful degrees outside, here in the Southland.....

Nyaaa, Nyaaaaaaaaaa!!

Bill,

I thought PA was cold . . . Indiana is FAR colder as far as I can tell. Spent a week with temps in the negative numbers at some point . . . got as low as -7. I can't wait for the Carolinas!

Gordo: May a horde of locusts eat all of your palmmetto nuts :>p

Today I ground to a halt and sat for over an hour on a ice covered Rt 68 in WV until the state salt boys came out in force.
With this in mind, may a mis-directred turkey "trampoline" on your new windshield :)

I don't think ANYPLACE (let alone Carlisle) would be safe after an appearance by the 'Axis of Evil' (Vince, Gerd, Jim). THEN add the other x-factor of Angela & Steve!!!

BWAAAAAA HAAAAAAAA HAAAAAAAA HAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!

Tom,
The Speedster now resides in Switzerland. I would not have sold the car,except for the oppurtunity to buy Jim Wards' exceptional "Ruby". I look forward to seeing you at Carlisle. My guess is that the Merklin Speedster will be there also,and I'm talking about the White one that is currently on ebay!

Quickly re-routing back to temperature...

Back in the early 80's I was managing an Engineering group at Data General and we had a very active college recruiting program. Places to recruit at were given out by lottery and I ended up with the Univ. of Wisconsin at Madison (a top-notch Engineering school). We actively recruited in October and February each year.

October was nice. I little cool, but the foliage was pretty and I got used to where things were on the campus.

February was a wake-up call: Walking across the campus, the big notice board was telling students to bundle up - the wind chill was 60 BELOW ZERO!!!!!!!!!! Froze my Bahoogies off!!!!!

Came back to Boston and bitched for three weeks about how cold it was out there. At the next lottery I was off on a business trip and when I got back the head of college relations handed me a slip of paper with my college to recruit at: The Engineering School at the Univ. of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez. 82 degrees in February, palm trees swaying in the trade winds, summer clothes, terrific coffee, hmmmmmmmmmm........what a GREAT campus!!

Gordon,

Just wondering what made you land in Beaufort? Sandy's would move south in a heartbeat.


Marty G.

How did we land in Beaufort?

We had been looking along the Florida Atlantic coast (for sailing to the Bahamas) for years but the home prices there were getting rediculous, as was the relative congestion.

A friend I used to work/have lunch with knew someone here in Beaufort and visited often. He raved about it so much we finally came here for a look and never left. Southern Living Magazine has voted this the best small town in the entire South for over a decade.

Those who've seen our place understand, but this site is way beyond "really nice".

Try googling Coosaw Point, Calawassie Island, Spring Island, Dataw Island, Cat Island, Willow Point or Habersham (not an island) for more info on the area and available real estate (no, I'm not a realtor, just know what the nicer neighborhoods are).

gn