Speedster to Roadster?

I'm keen to have a convertible D (as a speedster windshield and top are just a little too small for me) but that is not something that is available where I live (New Zealand). I've been thinking that my best option would be to convert a speedster to a roadster. Henry at IM has told me (and I'm sure I've read it here too) that the roadster body is the same as the speedster body (at least, the one he sells is). So I'm figuring that I should be able to accomplish what I want by buying a used speedster and then buying a conv D windshield set up and a conv D top and replacing the speedster parts with the roadster parts. I'd also like to figure out a way to install rollup windows.

Now I'm sure there will be some technical difficulties with this, and not all speedster molds are alike and so forth, but in any event, my questions are: (a) am I crazy or is this something that you guys think ought to be reasonably do-able; and (b) if it is do-able, where should I be looking for these kind of parts (other than, perhaps, IM itself)?

Thanks for any help.

John.

Is it not possible to import a "D" to NZ or are there other obstacles beyond shipping costs, such as tariffs for instance?

I suggest that the installation of the windshield and top would be the easier part of the task. Finding and installing the side windows and mechanisms would be probably more difficult than you could imagine. You would have to make extremely careful measurements to get the glass to fit properly and that's just the beginning. Then you have to get the windows adjusted and anchored so that they really seal properly and that is probably harder than it sounds. To make them look good, keep out the rain and wind and not rattle is a tough job. I'm glad it was up to my builder to do it.
Hoss

If its just head room thats your concern - get a lower seat (like the original Speedster fiberglass bucket or lower the floor seat area a couple inches (with new metal welded in). I think the conversion would be a big undertaking. If you had a junk yard in your back yard to seleted and try parts from various cars it might be doable. Attached is advertising flyer that came with my CMC - windup windows were a $995 option (that I didn't get).

Try looking up Barry Hudson. He is listed in photos as Old Yeler.
He converted a Vintage speedster to a D.

Thanks for the advice!

To respond to a few comments: JH: You are right, it would be possible to import a D into NZ, although it would need to be either manufactured as a RH drive or converted. It would also require things like having a steel bar inserted from the door hinge to the door latch (much like your SAW has, I think?) and having a collapsible steering column and a number of other things that I'm still trying to work out. In short, it is probably do-able, but would be expensive. My thought is to try and do it more cheaply, with the proposed conversion. I suspect you are bang on about the windows being the problem. Perhaps I could manage with a drop in perspex window cut to fit?

Wolfgang: It is not the height so much as the all round visibility, especially with the top up. I just find that a little constricting -- I believe the D is much less so.

Terry: I appreciate the info, I'll definitely look him up.

Hi John,
I did this conversion about 20 years ago when building an Apal Speedster in Germany. I used original Porsche parts. The screen will fit with minor changes to the scuttle top (mainly sanding away unwanted fiberglass and making smooth again) but you will have to repaint if your speedster has good paint. The screen has a slightly different curve at the bottom.
The hardest part of this conversion is the wind-up side windows. I cut slots in the tops of the doors and bolted in welded steel channels. It worked OK but was a pain to get it working smoothly. The doors were weakened somewhat but the fiberglass never cracked. I'm sorry but I can't remember which regulator mechanisms I used in the doors. But I do remember that I used Karmann Ghia chrome strips and scrapers on the outside of the doors to seal to the glass.
The car was nearly water tight, I used an original cabriolet top mechanism which was found in a forest near me by a friend!
I made a plywood rail to bridge the gap betweem the screen frame and the top mechanism.
I guess the parts will be cheaper from Intermeccanica than the original parts?
I saw a complete Roadster frame with posts on ebay for $700 recently.
Feel free to contact me if you need more information, but remember I did this 20 years ago.
Cheers
Nick