SAS for sale - EBAY

That car came to Carlisle several times.  It's gorgeous and fast, but the back end seems to curve up a bit.  Maybe it's just that the tail lights are mounted a bit high.  I wonder why he sold it.

That's surely one of the nicest to date!

Not my cup of tea. The dimensions seem off. 

And stop calling me Shirley.  

"Cabriolet" is a misnomer.

Cabs had a shorter turtle deck and a thick padded top that snuggly fit into that enlarged rear cavity.

This has a speedster turtle deck that's been shortened to accommodate access to the suby engine...Sort of resembles a Cabriolet, but should really be identified as a '59 Convertible D

I think the size of the rim/tire are also making it look a bit cartoonish, for me.

I imagine it's going to be a beast to drive though!

Someone will get a fun car, but for that kind of coin, I'd go with Troy's Jade Green super wide body. That thing is the top of the mark.

Ted

Maybe SAS calls it a 'Cabriolet' because it has a cowl integrated windshield frame.

I remember that car from Carlisle a few years ago.  I think it was listed before and got up around 20 or 25K before the auction ended reserve not met.

That is a really nice car!

Ted,

I bet if someone accurately PhotoShopped on 15" rims it would lower the 'cartoonish' rear 3" and the front 2"...getting rid of that peddle-car look and much closer to Troy's Emerald Green stance.

This car has always been well taken care of.  It won an award back in 2008 or 2009 at the Autorama at Cobo. I believe I have a picture of it in 2009 at Cobo.

I bet you are right. As luck would have it, I know a lot of Photoshop people. Great looking car, even if it does look like it belongs in the next version of "Cars". 

With all the HP and torque this one has on tap, it'd be too much for my old feeble reflexes. 

Best of luck to the seller,
Ted

yeh, and it says engine access is behind sears. Who wants to drive over there every time you want to check the oil?

Yup, he came to Carlisle. Last name Youngs maybe? Pretty sure he came once, in 2007, with his son. Remember the year we didn't stay at the Hotel Carlisle? The same year Gordon's truck died. Trailered it all the way from Michigan, love the green. First turbo SAS as I recall. Pulled out right in front of me on the interstate when I was passing him, a real pucker moment for me and poor Jennifer!

Danny:

Wow, what a great memory you have! 

The oil is quite easy to check. You flip the seats forward and unsnap the engine cover and prop it up.  Then do the normal thing. It is about the same as lifting the hood (front or rear) and checking the oil on other cars.  I owned an SAS with a Suby engine for about five years, changed the oil maybe twice, and it never read low. It did not seem to require a lot of attention.

Heh, I think you missed a funny. The ad states:

Engine/Transmission:

Mid-Engine layout (access behind sears when convertible top is up)

In that case, keep the convertible top down and the engine will be in the car, not behind Sears. Easy-peasy fix.

It is about the same at Sears - still easy. 

His name was Rob Young.  He seemed like a really nice fellow to me.  I had dinner with him at the banquet and got to know him a little better.  I had driven his car at SAS prior to delivery and before the go fast stuff was added.  It was still pretty healthy for this old dude.  

Something that endeared Rob to me was a telephone call that builder Steve received from the daughter of a man in the last stages of his life, losing his battle with cancer.  Her dad had been interested in a SAS car and wondered if there was one in the region where she lived.  It turned out that Rob lived quite close and agreed to take the gentleman for a ride.  There was a great picture of the ailing fellow next to Rob's car with the most amazing SEG on his face.  He got his taste of the madness thanks to Rob's generosity.   

Bob G, the reason I remember is he took a year off my life! I was accelerating through 85 in third when a wide green car suddenly slid over in front of me!

But yes, John, thanks, Rob, right! Very apologetic and a really nice guy. It's too bad he never came back to Carlisle. 

Accelerating "through 85 in third"!!!...Hot Damn, Danny

Yeah, Danny! Fear can leave an indelible imprint, can't it?

Does anyone know if they use a stock ECU for these SAS builds? I know with the go fast mods there's a good chance that it has been replaced.

I am told that SAS builds each car from stock Suby components from a single entire car. I believe this is what the EPA mandates to comply with their requirements.  

VitMan,

Stock ECU's are sometimes replaced by SAS, depending on the buyer's specs.  Replicas usually fall outside the parameters of 49 or 50-state compliant engines, but different states have different exemptions for them.  I suggest that you do online research as to how your state regulates replicas.  Once you get a feel for the info, then you can call your local DMV to corroborate, but be prepared to get incorrect info.  Sometimes local car clubs have the best knowledge as to which registration officials to seek out when needing info or registering our cars.

Well said.  CA's SB100 trumps most anything!

Kelly is right on the money about possibly incorrect 'off the cuff' info from any particular DMV representative. Follow his suggestion about seeking registration compliance from those who have gone through a similar procedure...

As for ECU's...

I've got a stock Suby ECU that sits in the bottom of a cardboard box looking like a left over spaghetti dinner. Complicated?...to me it's mind boggling!

Larry Jowdy has a go-to-guy for a custom built ECU specific to your engine/application.

I understand that half of this tangled mess in the cardboard box is horse power robbing and superfluous.

The issue for the Iowa DMV is front and rear bumpers for the safety inspection. Oh, and the front plate. (I've accumulated 5 front plate violations with my daily driver.) Pictures on the SAS website showed rear nerf bars.

I like the idea of a mid-engine water powered ride with A/c and a reliable heater. I've heard that a non-stock ECU can often be a source of difficulty. 

I think you should consider that SAS builds custom cars. If there are nerf bars on the rear, it is because the owner requested and paid for nerf bars. SAS will advise on registration requirements to some degree but as has been said heretofore, it is up to the owner to search out DMV requirements and comply.

I do recall that when Rob's car (the one on eBay) was being built that Steve was not too keen to put nerf bars on the rear or on any car. You seem to be saying that it does not matter whether the bumpers are effective just that they are present.

VitMan,

Like all modifications It certainly could be a "source of difficulty" if it were cobbled together by someone who was inexperienced...and thought that they knew what they were doing!

So you "like the idea" of a mid engine with AC & hot water heat, trouble free, smoothly operating sexy ego machine?  Well, keep your eyes open and maybe one will pop up that is not only well sorted... but has bumpers too... since they apparently don't allow Nerf Bars in Iowa? 

I just looked over the Iowa statutes... it is unclear whether bumpers are required. I have a friend who had difficulty getting a Factory Five Roadster through an inspection. It was a painful experience I don't want to have to put myself through. If I buy an ego machine I want to drive it by the time things thaw. The inspectors can be brutally strict. Just like a building inspector they often justify their job by finding problems. I know they have dinged people for KPH speedos. I will call the office Monday to find out if I can pass sans bumpers. However, most of the state may be shut down due to sub zero temps. I'd personally would like a little extra tin to protect the glass from my fellow Iowans. I'm not a nerf bar fan, but if they get me through an inspection I'd strap on anything, even an ugly superbeatle bumper.

This car has a few things I don't like, so I'm not sure how serious I am. I've been looking for awhile for a water speedster and they don't come up on the market too often. I have my reasons for not wanting an air-cooled ride. A new one from Carey would approach $50k. I know it would be an amazing car and they would provide the best customer service in this niche market. I've come close to pulling the trigger but when I look at what other cars I can buy for that amount of coin I hesitate. 

If this were a Beck I would buy it and send it to Bremen for a once over. Not sure i could get that type of service in Tenessee. Any perspectives here?

I don't want a buddy to ever have to go through something like that, but if it comes to it - please post a photo here.  I'd love to see it.

T

I wish I could remember his name...

Maybe someone here at SOC has a better memory than I do.

About two years ago there was a posted photo of a member in Northern CA (I think!) with pre-Super Beetle chrome blade bumpers on his speedster...and they looked good!!!