> On Oct 29, 2015, at 4:13 PM, SpeedsterOwners.com <alerts@hoop.la> wrote:
>

Tom---you win post of the year.

As far as best Speedster replica do you want the best $27,000 Speedster replica, the best $40,000 Speedster replica, the best $60,000 Speedster replica or the best $90,000 Speedster replica?

 

 

Or....you can get a fixer-upper like I did and work on it all the freakin' time.

Al ...just think of our New England tour is around the corner (6 months)!!!! With that I new trans and the win blowing!

You'll have to excuse Captain Blankinship; we've had this discussion before. Beck builds a very nice car, as does Intermeccanica and so far Seduction Motorsports (SE is the new kid on the block, does some really kick*ss stuff and seems intent on sticking around). We have a new member here that bought a car recently from Vintage Speedsters and had some engine trouble with it, but the company seems to have stepped up and they came to a relatively mutual resolution (I would talk to Will for the details). SAS hasn't actually delivered a car to a customer (that we know of) since 2013? and seems to be in the business of taking deposits. JPS is slow and there tend to be issues dealing with them; don't know how long the queue is. Other than advertising here, haven't heard anything about Rock West (whether they are actually building cars?). Read Jack's question again; there's a pretty huge difference in what the different builders do. 

 

Hope this helps, and WELCOME TO THE MADNESS! Al

 

PS- and your first name is?

Tom, I understand the frustration.  I'm new to the speedster world and I don't want to get into an endless que like the one at SAS.  I did speak with Steve at SAS before discovering this forum and he spoke a big game.  Thank goodness I kept on researching. 

Jack-I'm not sure how much I want to spend.  I really just want to know who the reputable builders are so I can start comparing.

Al-Thanks for the helpful info.  My name is Eric.

Where are you located?

> On Oct 29, 2015, at 6:06 PM, SpeedsterOwners.com <alerts@hoop.la> wrote:
>

Eric, If you want new a 356 Speedster under 50K call Carey Hines SE/Beck in Bremen Indiana.  High twenties low 30's your limited to the California Builders VS and JPS.  If you want a Spyder call Daniel at Seduction in AZ or again Carey and SE/Beck.  If you want a 356 Speedster/Roadster over 50K and your budget allows call the dream maker in BC, Vancouver AKA Intermeccanica.   Are you looking for an air-cooled car?

Or.....get wrenches....and books.... and friends who can help....and spend money to get what you want.  It's madness.  You've been warned

Eric,
I can only speak to my experience. First owned a Vintage Speedster with 1776 cc and it was fun.
Now have Beck with JR Type4 2700 cc in it, and it is a blast.
Beyond that, Carey Hines and his team are a dream to deal with as a vendor. After the sale is when one can evaluate "service".
Very solid build and previous owner really took care of this car.
Good luck on your search.
Tom L.

Al's advice is good too.  If you can wrench and have an eye for detail you can make your own dreams come to life.  Buy a car in need and go from there.

I started with a moderately loaded car from Vintage in 2010 in the low $20s. I knew what I was in for having  been around old vw's and Porsche most of my life. $20k later I now have something close to what I want. The list of mods and upgrades is too long to list here. It boils down to your wallet's reality and how much patience you have. There are a LOT of these cars available with low miles and cheap. Folks simply do not understand when they buy one of these cars they are not new cars, regardless of the warranty. Few people drive a lot of miles in the first year so the builder risk is low. Unless you are prepared to write a BIG check you will write a lot of little ones along the way to Nirvana and meet a lot of really cool and fun people. 

I'm new here but got my used VS 2 weeks ago from a member of soc. First I'm very happy with the car didn't break the bank and I know you can trust people on this site. They love the cars and they are honest. 1 member told me if you are not good with mechanics you may be better off with a tuned one!

special Edition.  Done both vintage and now spyder with Special Edition. this is a pic of Carey at Special Editin testing my car today.  34 degrees and 30 mile per hour winds.  These guys have no limits...

Yeah, Steve does talk a great game, Eric. I figure that at his age, if he keeps on taking deposits for another 4 or 5 years it'll be retirement time and he'll really never have to do any work again!  And if you feel yourself being seduced by his smooth talk,remember, he hasn't delivered a car in over 2 years, a good number of people are out big chunks of money and aren't getting it back. He has people he took deposits from before he went bankrupt (2012?) still thinking he's going to build them a car. He's that good....

 

And feufeu (really; are we going to call you that?)- you got a really nice car at a great price (at least I think so!).

 

Yoda out (at least for now)

 

 

Let me start by saying that I'll probably tell you to buy a Beck.  Key questions:

1) Location: Great to be near your builder, and, if you're in CA, easier to register a pan-based Speedster.  (Auto correct went for pan-fried (that's funny right there)

2) Daily driver: Forget it unless you live in a great climate.  If not, you're looking at an IM cab. $$$

3) VW Pan or custom frame.  Pan=Vintage.  Frame=IM or Beck

4) Customer service = Beck or IM

I had a Beck built with lots of good advice from folks on this site in 2010 and I might be finished upgrading it in 2016 (everyone is laughing now).

It's walked up a lot in price, but still less than what I would have paid for an IM.  The experience with Carey Hines can't be beat & I wouldn't change a thing or my choice.

Marty started out with a used Vintage and then proceeded to build a very detailed high-end IM.  This winter he put in a new Turbo-Suby power train.  No matter how good it is to start, you'll find ways to improve it.

The wise thing (not what I did).  Get a used pan-based one and see if you like it.  There's an 80% chance you won't like it.  If you end up being one of our 20% may God have mercy on your soul (or at least your wallet).

Best value buy used, but get informed first.Ray

Just a quick interruption TMW
For ALB: It's actually my last name not hiding behind false name ... Born and raise in France, us citizen for 20 years! I know it's a weird one but??

Everyone here has told you the truth.  Marty may have summarized it the best.  If you want to see what VS can do, look at MUSBJIM's car -- it is fabulous. And they make a lot of cars. Beck is great, as those that have 'em say here.  IM is the finest in fit and finish and customizations, and you get what you pay for there -- nad you will pay more.  I bought a JPS in '06 because I did not know any better at the time.  JPS was then and still is, IMHO, a decent value.  You get a lot of car for a modest price.  Getting everything sorted out might take some time and angst, however.  JPS does great paint.

And Tom your reply at #2 above is priceless -- great job.

Tom's got it. Try one on for size. Drive it for a year, or two or three. keep detailed notes about what irks you, what you'd make stronger or prettier, or faster or tighter. If you love the car, this year or two will be a great time. You'll love every minute of planning and thinking, along with the driving and being the center of attention on any road you travel. And then you'll be ready for the next step...

 

And if you find it's not your cup of tea, you sell it on to the next dreamer and recoup at least most of your outlay. Some guys even make a few bucks reselling these things. So, lesson learned, and cheap.

Yup.  Not what I did, but  -- yup, that's a good way to do it if you do not know too much about this sort of thing.

Disclaimer: I had two 356 coupes back in the day, and so was brought up on air-cooled, rear engine VW/Porsche mechanics, driving, etc.  Many parts in my old '56 A coupe had the VW logo embossed on them.  A friend in HS had a Speedster.  So I knew what I was getting into.  I know how to, and moderately enjoy, wrenching.  And, as Ed has suggested: I have loved (almost) every minute.

So what is your first name?

TMW, you seem to be an intelligent guy and did your homework and found this site...

Welcome to the Madness.

Fred .... Just like the flinstone!!!

La Famille Pierrafeu bravo

Yoda, his name is Fred, and he has the madness wicked bad. Good fit for this bunch of knuckleheads.  Stopped over Sunday and we went for a ride in his new baby. Nice car . Nice guy too. 

Yeah... I did do that. I still ended up here in the loony-bin.

 

That's the thing about it: if you've got it, you've got it. If number 1 doesn't scratch the itch, then perhaps number 2 will. ... or maybe number 3...

 

 

TMW, opinions are like lower digestive tracts - everyone's got one.

 

(See how I cleaned up that joke and made it politically correct?)

 

Almost everyone who buys a Beck or IM will encourage you to buy one. Some people who buy a VS will encourage you to buy one, too, but not everyone.

 

(See how I'm still trying to be politically correct?)

 

VS makes just about the least expensive new Speedster you can get. If you know a lot about what to order and what not to order, and if you know a lot about maintaining air-cooled VW's, you can get a very nice car and a super deal from VS. But the devil's in the details.

The bottom line is that, at their price point, VS can't possibly deliver the build quality and attention to quality control that Beck does. But that shouldn't necessarily rule out VS.

 

(Damn, you have no idea how hard it is to be politically correct, sometimes.)

 

Tell us a little more about your expectations for this car, your location, your wrenching skills and budget, and the membership will help get you pointed in the right direction.

 

 

So by now you surely have learned that whatever Speedster replica a person has is the one he will be recommending as the holy grail of Speedsterdom..

 

Here's my story.  I wish I was as smart as you by doing some research but I was unaware of this site and only knew I always loved the looks of a Porsche Speedster.

I saw some ads in the Auto Trader magazine but had no clue about brands.  I almost bought one of the three replicas built for the movie" Doc Hollywood" but it had no top and I couldn't feature the drive from Dallas to my home in Hot Springs, Ar in the dead of winter so I passed on it.

 

Almost eight years ago I found my car on ebay---a Vintage with only 300 miles on it in Monroe, Lousiana.  A friend flew me down there and I took 240 one hundred dollar bills and bought it on the spot.  It was a good looking Speedster but was so out of alignment and had such poorly balanced wheels that I could only go about 45 MPH all the way back home---240 miles or so.  The story of why it was sold with only 300 miles was complete bull but I had already caught the madness and would have accepted any cockamamie story, just as i did. (You are going to see a LOT of cars for sale with such low miles too--that is a subject of it's own).

 

My car needed a lot of help, to say the least.  The paint job looked like it was shot with a water pistol with runs galore and this was solved with a color sanding job by a premier show car facility.  The engine was a 1915 type I (VW Bug engine) which I just didn't trust although it never gave me a minutes trouble.  I had Jake Raby build and install a Type IV engine built in a Porsche 914 case ---about 2,200 ccs and today I have almost 20,000  trouble free miles on it including seven round trips to the annual Carlisle, PA event plus a trip to Morro Bay, CA to the wonderful West Coast event ---a trip of 3,000-4,000 miles---a dream of a lifetime trip for my wife and I. We hope to repeat it if we can ever find a brave soul or two to caravan with. (guys??)

 

I have taken a $24,000 "entry level" speedster and turmed it into the ultimate madness machine after getting my "investment" to over $45,000 and don't begrudge a dime of the improvements.  I now have a Speedster replica that will run all day at 80 mph + while delivering almost 30 mpg. The engine dynoed at 143 mph so it has power galore.  There are now 4 wheel disc brakes, an Espar gas heater making it a year-round driver, and a long list of other goodies including Porsche 914 seats, a waterproof environment, and a long, long list of extras and improvements.  It is now a turn the key and go anywhere dependable Speedster replica that has garnered a garage full of show trophies including a few Best Of Shows. I can say that the car is finished and finally fully sorted and all I do is clean it and drive it.  It is now a real treasure.

 

I can report that the madness does subside after getting a Speedster sorted and to the point where it can be driven and completely reliable and trouble free.  I'd be broke by now if that wasn't the case---thank goodness that there is an end to what you will do with your Speedster---pretty much---right Marty and Tom??.

 

The best part of Speedster ownership is the people----period.  The tips, information and hand-holding I received made the car what it is today and let me keep my sanity.  The events like Carlisle with "annual friends" are more than half the ownership experience.  This site, the SOC, is a treasure chest of encouragement and advice from some of the smartest and nicest people you will ever meet.

 

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.  Get yourself a Speedster Replica---you won't regret it!

 

Oh---which one?  The one I got, of course!  I could be wrong but I believe the brand of Speedster with the most Coast to Coast trips is the Vintage brand.

Hey, Jack -- neat story there, well told, as always.  You've gone all Georgian on us . . .

"Georgian"?  translate, pls.

After getting my VS close to what I want, I have enough money in it to have bought a Beck. If I had known I would have bought one from Carey. I am sure IM is their equal in customer service but I just don't have that much disposable income even though I'm sure you get what you pay for. You can look at it this way, the more you pay for the Beck or the IM, the less work you will have to do once you get it. I have dealt with the boys at Special Edition to buy parts and get advice.  I was very impressed with their willingness to help with any problem. Really nice guys and I didn't even buy my car from them. That is good customer service.

Hey, Fred; I'm Al. I'm Canadian, born, raised and still living in the Vancouver area.

Gee Fred it's me Barney ... 

TMW-  This Trully is a madness.... And it's all about what you want out of it,  or get from it.  My story...

 

Im on my second VS...

 

First I bought used and sorted while living in Spain ( not exactly a hot bed for replicas, but lots of porsche/VW lovers!) Learned to wrench on it, figured out what I liked and didn't like.  I made the car my own!

 

Why I got it-  i learned to drive and grew up driving my fathers '57 speedster... so I loved the cars styling, but was never allowed to seriously play with it/modify it to make it fun -  I was a frustrated teenager. It was his daily driver.

 

 

Years later, now living in the United states, I had Kirk build me my second VS... I knew what I was getting into... But wanted an affordable car that looked as close to my fathers as possible... AND that I could improve and make my own.

 

Fast forward 2 yrs and the list of improvements is too long to summarize.  The car required minor sorting when delivered- timing, carb work, nothing really significant... It was pretty clean and mechanically sound.  It turned out to be a perfect driver, that I could work on, and improve on as time permited and the madness required.

 

  The 1915cc Engine built by Kirk has given me 14,000 trouble free miles... I drive her nearly every day the weather permits and take regular long trips to Oregon and Whistler VC... (though I have been itching to have Pat D. @ CB build me an engine.... I want more power ;-).  

 

These things are not comparable to a modern car, but they are so fun to drive!

 

  Only real failure--- the chinese speedometer mileage counter stopped working at ~3,800 miles...  (...new original 356 gauges will go into her this winter).  

 

But other than that, Vintage cars can be great inexpensive cars.

 

... i also have spent the last year playing with a one owner 356 '62 Coupe... Looks great, but not nearly as fun...  I don't feel comfortable driving it daily.

 

 

... Good luck, and God help you if the madness takes a hold of you.

 

Cheers,

Luis

 

 

 

 

Remember! It's the journey to it the way you want. The time you spend learning about the car and how little changes are more pleasing than a major change.....

FYI.  There will be a CB 2054 (140 HP) W/20k miles coming out of Natalie in Bremen this winter to make room for J253 Suby.

It is free-flowed for external filter and has a thin-line extended sump.  I also have a Setrab oil cooler to go with it.