Specialty Auto-Sports

Have attempted to contact Specialty Auto-Sports in Knoxvlle, TN to talk to them about their speedsters. Called them and emailed them, no response. So I went to the Knoxville Better Business Bureau asking them for a report. If you are interested in doing business with this company, I suggest you contact the Knoxvlle BBB www.knoxville.bbb.org

Jack Stroobandt
jackstro@verizon.net

Most of us who know this business and it's owner think rather highly of both the product and its creator/manufacturer. I just didn't want to let your limited (non) exposure to go unchallenged.
Hoss

I am in the same boat as you I would love to have a SAS car but have had poor results in communicating with Steve I have talked to him on the phone once and was very happy with the conversation but when I email questions/ concerns to him I have yet to receive any answers. I do understand he is a very small company and I am sure he is busy so I don

The way the BBB is set up is that they keep track of complaints sent to them. When they receive one, they contact the company invloved to see if there is a resolution. If they don't respond, they note that and give the vendor a rating of whatever.Sort of like a 'don't buy' listing for a stock.
In Speciaty Auto's case there was a lawsuit filed by one or more unhappy street rod customers ( no 356 customers) for late delivery of their street rods. Once a lawsuit is initiated, your lawywer always tells you not to make any statements to anyone until the case is resolved in court. It could be that SAW's lawyer told them exactly that and the BBB will just have to wait for a comment. The BBB can't take it any further than they did in this case since there is no court record clarifying the complaint, which I would guess was lodged by the same angry cutomers that filed the lawsuit.
There is a ton of info on SAW if you use the search function on this site. Read it ALL and then email some of the posters and get their own current takes on the issues. Remember to read bretween the lines and know there are at least 2 sides to every story. Many complaints about SAS are posted by owners that also love their cars and have raved about their quality. So you need to sort out what's important for you.
I did and still put money down and signed on the dotted line. But if you're looking for instant gratification, don't go with them. There are other builders that do a much faster job. I bought into someone else's position in line in October of 2007 and just received my invoice for the paint stage. For me, probaly a year to 18 month wait from the time I started until I get my car.
Having owned an old '58 coupe, I went through almost all the bad things that can happen to pan-based, rear engine, aircooled autos. I'm 40 years older now and less inclined to tinker. I didn't want to repeat that so I decided on SAS. That's a personal choice you may or may not want to make. But do the research.

I did a lot of research on SAW/SAS. After I got the whole story, I sent him a deposit to build by car. No regrets. It is good treatment for my lifelong instant gratification affliction.

Cannot answer as to why he isn't responding to emails. Call him.

Jack: As with any company there will be customers that disagree with them and write the BBB, not all complaints are legitimate and others are exaggerations leading to believe the company has problems. I'm sure if you check on GM, Ford, Chrysler and any other company you will find complaints posted with the BBB. In SAS's case the cost of building hot rods became more expensive than the car was worth and customer's began complaining. SAS, was formerly known as SAW (which built Hot rods and did restorations); Specialty Auto Works dissolved and ceased building hot rods and became Specialty Auto Sports devoted to Porsche 356s. The shop is a small mom-and-pop operation that produces 2 to 3 cars a year. The quality and engineering is outstanding and the power and handling of these cars equally outstanding. Only one has been known to be resold used and it is possible it was an investment/speculation sale. The coupe replica is considered to be one of best ever to be produced. The major issues customers have now with SAS is completion times, many factors delay build times such as weather, labor (only two in shop builders)and 3rd party shops (upholstery, paint, etc). Lisa, Steve Lawling's wife is not always in the office to answer phone calls or emails so even for us current buyers and owners it's not always easy to contact them. Once you get Steve L on the phone get comfortable because he will talk your ear off.

Thanks, Nolan. That eloquently answers a bunch of questions.

I recently visited Steve at SAS in Knoxville and I was impressed with his knowledge and workmanship. He is a very detailed engineer and spent a great deal of time explaining his design. He has a 356A Speedster about 80% completed with the Subaru engine. Delivery is about twelve months, thisis a mom and pop shop and Steve puts a lot of loving care in to his cars.

Jack Stroobandt

I do not like to beat on any vendor but when they do what they do, it needs to be told as such.
Communications with a vendor are important. They can't answer a potential new customers email? Does this imply something here? Imagine the frustration of not being updated on your build. i.e ..."Jan" the buyer of Jerome's Street Beasts speedster has a Jag 120 replica on order for five (5)years now!

I wonder why owners of other makes of Speedsters like to take pot-shots at a builder they have no experience or connections with. There is a story behind the Jag and a couple of other builds that I know of because I am dealing with SAS. Those stories are no one else's business but SAS and the buyers. I have heard horror stories about other builders as well praises of those same builders, but for me to tee off on them is moronic, IMHO, since I haven't been personally involved. If you have personally experienced short comings of SAS, JPS, Street Beasts, CMC or any one else then please let us hear about it. Many of those of us that have contracted with SAS have investigated and driven or ridden in a Subi powered car and have no regrets.

There is a wager on the line about a speedster being finished by SAS next year in time for Carlisle. If it is not, Steve O'Brien will attend the event in his birthday suit have to publicly kiss someone's ass!

Nolan, I joined this group initially to educate myself about replica cars in general and builders of Speedster replicas specifically. I started lurking in October of 2006. I became interested in the SAS Cabriolet because the top height, quality of construction, airconditioning possibility and the novelty and great reputation of Suby power. At that time you were a frequent poster, and I have paid attention to your posts about your car progress and your life story. In the time I have been a member of this forum, I know of 1 SAS car delivered to it's owner. That seems like a pretty slow completion rate. I am with you on the "If you don't know the real story, don't offer an opinion." I don't know anything about SAS other than what is said on this forum and seeing the car delivered to Santa Barbara. The car in Santa Barbara is very nice, based on my limited personal viewing in April. But from reading this forum, the delivery of a car after over a year after the first discussion seems a long time. Could you please give some insight into the time to construct your car as originally promised VS the almost 2 years since I have been reading about it. I think that the long time to get a car is reflected in all posts about SAS. If they are worth waiting for, great. If the builder says " Give me $50,000 and 3 years and I will give you a car, fine. But is that what really happens? I would just like to know the realities of dealing with SAS. No bashing of you or SAS, but when I got on this forum and saw and read what some guys and gals were doing with their cars, I knew I need a car that would put me on the road ASAP. The idea of waiting 2 -plus years for my dream car was out of the question. Different strokes and all that. Please give prospective buyers a little first hand experience with time lines, promises etc.

Cory, is the medication getting to ya?

Will: I'll be perfectly honest with you about what I know of SAS and Steve Lawling. I just returned from his shop and found my car returned from the paint shop and awaiting the completion of Paul Robins car. There are three 356's being readied for assembly, Ed Santana's, Hunnicut's and mine. Granted there have been some major delays that have tried my patience, however, contact with current owners and Lawing have given me the faith to wait. Yes there are other types of cars that have been started but put on the back shelf because of owner finances or other commitments that have affected construction. Originally Paul's car was behind mine in the queue, but due to problems with the painter, mine was left to sit in his shop while he shut it down with family problems. Lawling's shortcomings are not in construction, safety or quality of his work, but mainly in that he is an engineer and each car he produces has features earlier cars do not have. There are only two people that assemble these cars, Lawing and Tom. Upholstery, body work, sanding and painting are all done by third party contractors. One other factor that affects the build time that few people realize is that SAS uses engines, transmissions, computers and other controls from totaled Subarus with less than 20K miles. Each year Subaru adds or changes it's electronics and/or accessories and Steve has to run down the wiring schematics of those changes. His latest acquisition is a 2008 model, perhaps my patience will be rewarded and I get that one. Regardless, my car can be used as a daily driver or long distance cruiser with auto transmission, air conditioning and cruise control. But would I have bought in if I knew it would over three years, I don't think so, am I glad I waited, you bet! By the way, since 2004, first year of the Subi powered 356, there have been 15 Subi powered 356s built, an average of nearly 4 per year. Only some years have been more productive than others.

" Caveat emptor" ... do a web search to locate a host of information regarding pending litigation.

Being "aware" when venturing into specialty cars is always a good plan. The information found on a web search for this manufacturer will produce results that present only one side of a story which is substantially bogus. SAS lives.

It is trait of a lot of human beings to see things in black and white. On the other hand, a perspective gained from a few years of experience teaches us (or should) that things are not always as perceived at first glance. A few people on this post have the experience and the wisdom to look beyond what can be found by reading only the negatives in newspaper articles or web posts about SAS. These "enlightened ones" have truly done their homework and are able to assess the situation in a much more reasoned way. Listen to them if you really want an informed opinion on what Steve Lawing can or cannot do and is capable of doing or not doing.

I am in Steve's queue and awhile back I confess that I forgot my own just offered advice. Shame on me! I had been reading a lot of negative information about SAS so I asked others wiser than myself for information and advice. They were able to satisfy me and help to ease my angst. Does the knowledge I gained make me any happier that I have to wait longer for something that I've been longing for, for almost 50 years? No, but my waiting now is fortified by knowing that I'm dealing with a committed, honest and sincere engineer that is doing the best he possibly can to deliver an outstanding product that has no equal in the Porsche 356 replica world. Believe brothers and sisters, believe!

drclock: I took your advise and checked out some 356 builders on the Better Business Bureau webpage. Interesting to say the least; while SAS was rated unsatisfactory with 10 complaints over delivery times and difficulty on contacting them; so far 6 complaints have been resolved, but there were no complaints on quality or service. Thunder Ranch was also Unsatisfactory and JPS was rated a "D" because of it's customer complaints about quality and failure to correct problems. Vintage was rated "BB" and Beck was rated "A". Intermeccanica wasn't listed due to being in Canada. As far litigation against Specialty Autoworks (SAW), most of it has been settled. SAW was the original company that built hotrods, classic cars and restoration projects. Because the costs of building hotrods and some of the other projects exceeded the finished value of the car, buyers started looking for buy-outs and when the cars didn't sell they tried to get Steve Lawling to buy them back. When Steve didn't buy the cars back, a few of the disgruntled buyers sued to have their money returned and refused to take delivery of the build in progress. So far most of the issues have been resolved and a couple of projects still remain to be finished with agreements from the court. Since then SAW ceased business and the new company, Specialty Autosports(SAS) has emerged building only 356 Porsches. Once against I have to emphasize that the company only has three people, Steve, Tom and Lisa (Steve's wife), Steve and Tom are the designer/builders and Lisa handles paperwork and parts ordering. Steve not only has to work on the builds but hunt down totaled Subaru's for the drive train, arrange transportation of those cars, disassemble them, and contact Subaru Motors on changes made to various years of manufacture. That leaves Tom to do a lot of work on his own. So now factoring in the many calls and emails they receive daily, most reasonable people would understand the need to let some of those calls or emails go unanswered. While visiting there I noted that the phone rang numerous times while Lisa and Steve were tending to my questions and selecting items for my car. However, each call was recorded to be answered later according to the subject. I thank both Lisa and Steve for not being rude in answering the phone while conversing with me, after all I was there before the phone rang. As far as being in contact with them, when we returned home from our trip there were two messages from Lisa on our answering machine. Now as far as the support, quality or time it takes other builders to deliver their cars I don't really give a Royal Crap. So if you contracted with SAS or have one you are displeased with let us know about it. I won't waste my time or breath on disparaging other builders that I have no business with.

Thanks for the info Nolan. Just as a follow up, when you contracted for your car, how long did they say it would take to deliver? And what has been the time passed so far? How about other SAW/SAS owners giving time to completion VS promised completion times.

If we beat this horse much longer it may finally disappear. I have stated many times and my posts will verify that I contracted three years ago. I was told it takes eight months to a year to build, however, I didn't know how far down the queue I was. Sure I'm down about the long wait but seeing and riding in a SAS Subi powered 356 I know I made the right decision. You've all seen and heard about John Hallstrand's Cabrio (and his incident-free trip from Tennessee to Knotts), Charles Gardner's NON-LEAKING Coupe, Steve O'Brien's Cabrio before his accident, Mike Gutherie's Turbo powered Cabrio (whose delay was caused by 5 major structural, drive train and body style changes), Paul Robin's Speedster, as well as others. In my eyes for two guys to produce 15 Subi powered cars (including a new coupe version and a new turbo version) in 4 years is not too bad. In my particular case the painter assigned to paint my car British Racing Green shut down his shop during a family problem leaving mine to sit idle. It wasn't until I got with Steve Lawling to get my car out of that shop and change to Silver and a different painter did I start to see some more progress. Right now there are three 356's in the shop to be assembled, mine, Hunicutt's and Santana's. Paul Robin's car is within a week of completion. I have seen these cars in person. Now I have a pointed question to all NON-SAS owners/buyers... Does your company notify you of new improvements or innovations that can be installed in your car after you have taken delivery of it? Steve Lawling has done so and I expect him to continue since his cars are not cookie cutter copies but rather custom built cars that he stands behind 110%.

I have spoken with Henry Reisner in person and on the telephone and by email about improvements, upgrades, replacement parts and engine options. He has always personally answered any questions I have. I did not buy my car new or through Intermeccanica. Also when I bought my car, Henry, without any obligation, went through a nice orientation and serviced my car at his factory.

As perhaps the only person on this forum that owns an IM Conv D AND an SAS coupe, I have had the pleasure of dealing with both Henry at IM and Steve at SAS. I consider them both to be gentleman of integrity and fine people to deal with. However, IM and SAS are very different companies and much different in approach and philosophy. IMO, it serves little purpose to compare the two or even their product for that matter other than the fact that they look alike (as one would expect with replicas). Each car and its bulder is unique and appreciated for what they are and how they got into my garages. I choose not to compare the cars as I am satified with both and what they offer.