Speedster style

Alohas,

I've been looking at a lot of the member's files to see some of the ways you guys finish up your Speedsters in terms of wheels, paint schemes, interiors, etc. I've noticed that most of them seem to be 'period' 1950's. Is it not common for someone to install Recaro seats, Porsche Cup wheels/Fuchs/2 liters, or any other non-1950's equipment? What about paint schemes? Most of the paint jobs are single color, are there any track inspired paint jobs out there?

Not criticizing the style of the Speedsters, however, just wondering if there are any out there that part with the 1950's look.

mahalos,
Joel

cheak this site for the hard core speedster look www.ping.be/carrera-speedster/ With this you can see why the color schems are the way thay are, but I understand the Hawian love of color. These are not 100,000$ museum pieses we are talking about here man, the body is your canvis, so GOOOOOOO for it. I wanna see a pic please Doug

Hi Doug, we meet again ;-) Thank you for mentioning my website.

I believe you can have a great effect with a nice race inspired paint scheme. I'm not saying your usual black, silver or red Speedster is dull, but with a bit of inspiration it can be so much more.

Most of the racing Speedsters in the 50's and 60's were repaired and repainted regularly. These were not boulevard cruisers but cheap racecars for the weekend. Since the owners of these cars wanted to stand out on the track, they painted stripes, numbers, masks etc. on their cars. Even today many real Speedsters are on the track regularly and use inspired paint schemes. More and more original Speedsters are restored to a correct, on track, period condition. I looked through my files and found some examples that might give some inspiration for those who are looking for something more.

Take a look in the files section in the Members/Paint schemes folder.

Joel, I think you should paint your Speedster any way you like it. If the owners of real Speedsters are having so much fun with crazy paints, stripes, letters and numbers, then why should a replica look like it came straight from the factory floor?

Johan

Porsche 356 Carrera Speedster Inventory
home.tiscali.be/carrera-speedster

Joel,
My speedster is NOT authentic. It is a street rod. thati is what I wanted, the he__ with authenticity. (Hardly anyone knows what the vehicle is anyway, and besides it IS A '71 VW!) Customize away. I've got louvers on my deck lid, flush tailights, air grilles in the rear valance panel, recessed license plate, engine-turned aluminum dash insert with 944 metric instruments.
It doesn't drive like an authentic either, with 2367 type 4 engine, discs and fat tires (flares) all around, very sticky rubber and widened tread. Limits of adhesion are a lot more fun than authentice anyday

Alohas,

Thanks for the link to Johan's page. There are some pretty interesting paint schemes on those speedsters. One question: many of them have roll bars installed, are these actually functional or just for aesthetics? From my understanding, you need some sort of support going from the roll bar to the frame at a diagonal, not just a "hoop" like some of the roll bars appear to be in the pictures.

I guess I'm asking about paint schemes and interiors, because I am also looking into FFR Cobras. Those guys have all sorts of crazy paint schemes, that actually look good, and install Sparco seats, four point harnesses, aluminum dashes, etc. I'm just wondering how a speedster would come out with some of those mods. I like the 1950's racecar look, but I would want to try and build a speedster with modern racing components, but still have it look classy and appear to be a bit of a sleeper.

I've checked the member's files, but most of them seem to be black, silver, red or white speedsters. There was a really nice green one. On Johan's pages, there was a really nice "speedster blue" one...absolutely gorgeous.

Well, thanks for the relies. Anyone good with Photoshop? Maybe we could see the paint schemes before the paint booth?

mahalos,
Joel

Joel, Pics of my car are in the Files: Jim Kelly's Flared VS. I have the VS mid flare, silver paint with 2 8" black stripes, 2110 CB Performance engine, tuned exhaust with fat boy muffler, ceramic coated, 8" rims running Yokohama tires. Since the photo, I have installed a double hump stainless roll bar that is welded to the frame. Best of luck with your car. Regards, Jim

Hey Joel,
My car (totally terrific touring tub)is undergoing some changes. It's not as rad as Jim Kelly's car (yet)but I hope to approximate an early 60's race look...
One of my probs is my eyes are old enough to have been there tooling about in the 60's and even though I know weekend race warriors do most anything in the name of faster lap times, some stuff still don't look quite 'right'
It's all about 'blending'and adapting certain elements...Yeah, I'd paint a big fat purple stripe down the middle of VSOP (don't leave your garage door unlocked Rick!)but solid yellow with the flairs and those billet wheels, YOW!

See I'm the guy who remebers the exterior oil coolers propped up on the rear deck and am tempted to do it today...So I guess maybe I should step out of the aesthetics (sp?) conversation!
MM

What you have in the Speedster replica community are a several schools of thought.

Some say whatever you do always be true to the original, others, like the Outlaw guys, have great fun with the California-look w/wide tires and aftermarket wheels & lastly is the group that is somewhere in the middle of the two schools. Interestingly it is the purist camp that offer their two cents the most often when someone colors slightly outside of the lines. That's cool, though.

In the end the decision rests with the owner. Have fun with these cars, that is what they are all about.

"No one ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American public"; can't remember who said that. Everybody loves their own car, or lusts after imagined upgrades. You say bah-nan-ah and I say ban-nah-nah - the difference doesn't even make a ripple in the grand scheme of things.

So flared or spare, stark replica or glitzmobile, enjoy. The only real mistake you can make with these cars is under-powering them...

Hi, I like the Outlaw look as well. I run an artic red, flared speedster with dual red stripes. The paint scheme was inspired by the Cobra that Carrol Shelby was driving last year (may still be).

The car runs Fuch wheels and is lowered. Maybe lowered too much in the rear. Looks like I'm going to lift the rear on both my "California Racer" style speedsters by an inch and a half to see they handle.

Oy,

Heya David K, any chance you have a few photo's to link to? I am in the groundwork process of deciding on which way to go. I am for sure set on the flared body style. That and I went over to the PGo site and really dug the way they set the head and tail light sections up on the car. Their rear bumper application for the back up/number plate and what looks like reflectors is cherry as well.

Jim, or Mr. Kelly is it? Nice rig there man, you put alot of heart and soul into your machine and it shows. While I am sure that each and every Speedster owner does it the same way, your attention to detail really shines on through. Thanks for the insperation and the photo's to put it all into perspective Jim. If you don't mind my asking, where did your body style come from? JPS, Classic, ect?

While I don't have a rig yet, I am inching closer and closer each month, all it takes is time, determination and a little scratch. I like the fact that you guys all share and let us beginers in on the talks.

Thanks,

Charlie