I'am looking for a used speedster cabriolet that has been built by specialty auto. I am new to the 356 world, so I am a newbie at this. Any help would be appreciated.
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Why are you set on one manufacturer?
Tony There are a number of choices out there , best to do your homework and read about S/A timelines.
Tony - SAS hasn’t made very many cars and most folk here don’t recommend buying new from them. Do a search on this site if you want to know why. Some of their cars were quite nice, but they don’t come up for sale often. If you can find a used one it’s certainly worth checking out. Other manufacturers now offer Subaru power if that’s what you want, although all are rear engine for now. That is changing, but it’ll be a bit longer yet. Good luck in your search.
By the way, the term “Speedster Cabriolet” is incorrect. The Speedster and the Cabriolet are different models of Porsche 356 convertibles, the Speedster being the bare bones one with a minimal top and side curtains. The cabriolet has a nice padded top and roll-up windows.
Where are you located?
Google "issues with SAS"!
SAS has a bad reputation as a business - Many have compared it to a Ponzi scheme. Some people have been waiting 7 or 8 YEARS and still have not received their car, even after paying for it. As a rule, people on this site would try to steer you away from dealing with SAS/Steve Lawing (there is a lot of evidence to back this up).
The few cars produced were each unique - in other words, each was a custom one-off. They were/are based on a Subaru Impreza drive train and suspension and retain all of the three or four Subaru on-board computers, which make servicing it easier (it can provide OBD II codes to a normal OBD reader). Many of the SAS cars have a Porsche-looking dash in the cockpit, then another, complete, Subaru dash under the hood because the Subaru computers expect to see it and the car won't run without it.
But there is just as much non-Subaru stuff in the car as Subaru - it is a complete custom car, after all - that might take a while for a mechanic to figure out. Also, not everything designed/built in SAS cars is necessarily designed to be easily serviced (or even work properly in the first place). Some of Lawing's designs are elegant and work nicely, others not so much.
Some SAS owners absolutely love their cars, some absolutely do not. We don't see them come up for sale very often but they do turn over at about the same rate as other manufacturers - usually their sales are pretty quiet and then there are so few of them. This group probably knows about most of them out there, so if you can describe a particular car (a photo would really help) we might be able to help with history of it.....You never know.
Good Luck.
They used to be called SAW!
most here don’t recommend buying new from them - that is the world's biggest understatement. RUN, RUN, RUN from them.
Tony (the OP) looking for a used one, which seems to indicate he understand the Ponzi aspect.
It never hurts to ask, but as he's only built a handful of them-- you may have quite a wait. Good luck.
If you want a Cabriolet, Intermeccanica makes a Convertible D - which is a close cousin - and Intermeccanica is a trusted manufacturer. And you might find one with a Subaru engine.
Some examples: http://intermeccanica.com/athi...r-vehicles/pre-owned
Daniel, the owner of Seduction Motorsports in AZ, conducted an inspection of a used SAS about a year ago, at a potential owner's request. That particular build was disastrous, and the negative aspects weren't caused by the owner's abuse, it was done at the factory. If you do choose a used SAS product, do yourself a favor and have a rigorous PPI done.
I'm the owner of a SAS cabriolet that was built in 2012. I love it.
Where are you located?
Stuart Florida
Tony T posted:Stuart Florida
Well, you’re not close to any of the manufacturers, but still closest to Special Edition in Bremen, IN. I strongly recommend contacting Carey Hines @chines1 www.beckspeedster.com.
Thanks to all for the replies. I have a much better idea now about SAS . Will do more research on the others that were mentioned. Thanks again.
You cannot go wrong with the customer support from Special Edition.
@Tony T This site is a valuable resource for those wanting to step into the speedster/coupe/cabriolet/spyder replica world. There is a search function at the top (the magnifying glass) that should be your best friend. A large percentage of the active participants here care more about our replicas than our children.
The worst thing most of us, if not all of us, want to see is someone jump into the replica ownership market, and be completely dissatisfied, which happens all to frequently, hence a lot of extremely low mileage replicas for sale.
If at all possible, befriend someone on this site nearby. Check out their car, hopefully go for a ride. That will aid in allowing you to get a slight idea of what you are about to get in to......
Replicas exist at every price range, it just comes down to your wants and your checkbook. Some of us like to drive fast, and others like to cruise along leisurely. Some seek somewhat modern conveniences, while others prefer the raw nature.
Ask questions, but the true value may be in-person experience.
And by all means attend one of the nearby gatherings/cruises. You'll get to compare multiple cars from different manufacturers, talk to owners, and probably destroy a few brain cells in the process. That last bit makes joining The Madness a whole lot easier.
I all seriousness, it's the best possible thing you can do if you think you're interested in one of these cars. You can quickly determine if the whole thing suits you or not, and make some wonderful friends in the process.
"The worst thing most of us, if not all of us, want to see is someone jump into the replica ownership market, and be completely dissatisfied, which happens all too frequently, hence a lot of extremely low mileage replicas for sale."
THAT is a key statement. You must realize that these cars are pretty close copies of the same car back in the 1950's - 1960's. Not much has really changed. Still have the same engines (although many are putting out more horsepower), still have the same non-power-assist brakes, still have carburetors while the rest of the world went to fuel injection in the 1980's and on and on.
If you're OK with that and can maintain (or pay to have maintained) a car from the 1950's with all of its' warts and eccentricities, then keep searching. If you're very happy with your reliable, air conditioned, nicely heated, water-leak-free, maintenance free daily driver, these cars aren't that.
New cars from SAS don't exist and used ones are as rare as hen's teeth. Used SAS cars run the gamut from well built to barely built so be careful. I'd just consider a different builder. You'll save money, headache, heartache, and you won't have to be buried in it to be in it for the first time.
Here's what people who have put down money are saying:
Hens teeth for sure, but they do come up for sale from time to time. For the right price, I may be willing to sell my SAS cabriolet. I have enjoyed it for 2 years as the third owner.
I would like to thank all the members here for their feedback it has been a eye opener for me. I have been a car guy for 50 years mostly muscle cars but this is a whole different world for me. I have expelled specialty from my list and I am now looking into Vintage and Beck. Any input on these two builders would be appreciated.
@Theron I am aware there has been some changes to a few of the replica speedster/spyder companies (I read through the comments and/or introductions on this forum, but I can't keep them straight....for example Vintage Motor Cars). Can we direct Tony T to those found under "Resources"? Or have those not been updated within the last few weeks?
The Resources >> Speedster Manufacturers menu item has all the info now.
Here is a direct link.
https://www.speedsterowners.co...ges/makersspeedsters
-=theron
Tony T posted:I would like to thank all the members here for their feedback it has been a eye opener for me. I have been a car guy for 50 years mostly muscle cars but this is a whole different world for me. I have expelled specialty from my list and I am now looking into Vintage and Beck. Any input on these two builders would be appreciated.
Ah, now Pandora's Box has been opened ;-)
You're going to get a lot of personal opinions here, but between these two it comes down to money. Vintage cars are pan-based and generally less expensive. Beck cars are based on a proprietary tube frame that adds more strength to the chassis while reducing weight. They are also built to a higher standard as befits their higher cost. Beck also is continually evolving their products and has some serious new stuff in the works. If you want water-cooled, I think you'd have to go with Beck as I have not heard of a water-cooled Vintage car. Topping it off is the fact that Beck's customer service is second to none. Can you tell I'm a bit partial? That said, there are many happy owners of Vintage Speedsters on this forum.
If you're talking about Vintage Motorsports rather than Vintage Speedsters then I am afraid that I don't have any data to base an opinion on. I believe that they just started making Speedsters and coupes. Owners of their Spyders tend to be enthusiastic advocates, so that's a good sign.
I certainly understand you moving away from Specialty Auto based on all the horror stories. But I can tell you that the one I bought is great. If you come across one for sale, don't just discount it as being a POS. They are mid engine design, and the only maker with Cabriolets that have a taller windshield and tons of head room. Plus, mine has a power assisted top, which is really nice when a spring shower pops up 
Not to mention anti-lock brakes, cruise control, OBDII port... the list goes on.
Jethro, yours was John Eastman's car, wasn't it? I recall that being an awfully nice one.
If you have the budget, don’t discount a good, used Intermeccanica. Their Convertible D model gives more headroom, roll up windows, and whatever options were in the original build.
Solid steel frame, disc brakes, and build quality second to none.
Bob: IM S6 posted:If you have the budget, don’t discount a good, used Intermeccanica. Their Convertible D model gives more headroom, roll up windows, and whatever options were in the original build.
Solid steel frame, disc brakes, and build quality second to none.
What BOB: IM6 said
I agree with all of Jethro's post - I only came across two SAS/SAW cars that I, personally, didn't think much of, but then they were built (more-or-less) to customer requests. One of them had a turbo WRX motor that, IMHO, simply had too much power for the size and weight of the car. Everyone says you can't have too much power in a sportscar, but that one proved you can.
I am also not a fan of a lot of the SAS wheel choices, but, again, that's a personal preference. One I saw had some huge wheels on it, like 18" or 19" and it looked like a clown car in my estimation.
On those that I have personally seen and given a cursory inspection and/or driven, the workmanship was at least equal to most of the other cars in the hotel parking lot or show field. I think my biggest caveat might be that every single SAs car is unique - he never made two the same and kept "improving" them with one-off detail designs making them custom cars that need special attention by anyone working on them, but so do any of the CMC/FF cars and many of the others that have been modified over the years. Just caveat emptor. For instance, and as far as I know, Jethro's car is the ONLY one with a power convertible top!
These are nit-picky things and others might not feel that way at all. All of the cars SAS I have seen, Bill Re's, John Eastman/Jethro's, Hoss', Charles-Something's coupe, Steve O'Brien's, and several others at Carlisle over the years, have often been design marvels for some of the stuff done on them, and all of them had the mid-engine config. that lends itself to (a.) really flat and neutral handling and (b.) a much different configuration for storing stuff, as the back seat area is now occupied by the engine/transaxle (but you get front and rear trunks).
Like Jethro, I wouldn't be that afraid of buying one used, just be aware of what they are.
Just saying: If you want Subaru power, and are in the used Speedster market, be aware that swapping out a VW engine for a Subaru is a something even a simpleton could do using hand tools. It's a hassle; you need to source a decent wrecked Suby with low mileage, plus all the blinking bloody electronic stuff, and the wiring-in of same is not for the faint of heart.* Fools rush in.
But: totally doable, and a nice result if you're into muscular, maintenance-free cruising (or not into clogged idle jets, 009 distributor "flat spots" and the raft of other Beetle-based amusements).
Ask me how I know...
*Some seriously retarded blokes bolt carbs and distributors to them...
Now that was funny, Ed!