Starke (kinda) replica

Should have kept the Boxter and bought a "real" replica. 

Reminds me of the guys who by a C7 Corvette and buy the kit that looks like a 1957…..proportions are all wonky…..

Revolution...or revolting?

Apparently, "rebodying" is a thing.  A high end thing for sure, but a thing none the less, for those with more money than sense.  Starke is now at ver 2.0, being run by a rebodying shop with lots of experience with other marques and has some good street cred.  I believe they will get it done, and they report many pre-orders already lined up.  And clearly it will be reminiscent of the iconic Speedster, but it will be its own thing.  And as I say, there will be a market for it.

It does not look awful, but for me personally the Porsche Speedster is a better looking car.  I am glad that folks get what they want, in this case a kinda Speedster with all the present technology and driving improvements.  But, I can't help but wonder if the resale value is going to affect the new sales.  Some of my favorite Resto-mods are the 40s and 50s Dodge Power Wagons.  The Resto-modded versions get anything from a more powerful engine up to a complete modern chassis and a crew cab.  Would you call a 356 replica with a VW chassis a rebody?  At a Barrett-Jackson auction I saw a 50s Corvette body that had been sawn in half, had some inches added in the middle, and rebuilt with a complete new chassis.  I don't remember the wining bid amount, but it was a lot, and still my guess is the owner who had the mods done still lost some bucks.  This certainly isn't a cheap hobby.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/17614...tkp%3ABk9SR-LC6PafYw

Just saw this!  Talk about people getting what they wanted.  The listing says it cost over $400,000 to build, and I am very curious to see what they get.  In another thread a few folks mentioned that an engine built by Jake Raby adds to the resale value.  They would appear to be right.

The listing mentions the suspension being replaced by a 911 suspension, which I assume means the front suspension in addition to the rear.  The 911 has a longer wheelbase, and depending upon year, some more than others, which makes me immediately wonder if the Ackermann was set up correctly.  I guess a potential buyer could call the actual builders and ask, but what are they gonna say?  "No, we didn't?"  I am guessing the only way to know would be to put the car on a rack and start making measurements.  I know theoretically how to measure the Ackermann, but have never done it in real life and would not trust myself to measure it accurately enough.

This seems to be more of a resto-mod than an outlaw. They changed the exhaust exits, went to beehives, used a louvered engine compartment lid and put the FI stickers on the sides. Plenty of internal and suspension stuff evidently.

I have always though of outlaws as being more obvious in their external visual clues. Wheels, tires, mirrors, shaved trim, lowered stance etc. They tend to be more obviously modified

My opinion and worth nothing to anybody but me.

@howdo If that 356 had a complete suspension redo on an actual 356 coupe body, that is indeed quite a bit of work.

The 356 is a unibody, and in the case of the 911 front suspension, your Ackerman worries are unnecessary. There is a crossmember on the 911 suspension that locates the steering rack to the control arms. So the relationship between the rack, tie-rods, and tires is easy to preserve. More challenging for me would be properly locating and strongly securing the strut tops in the 356 tub.

The change in wheelbase from early 911(89.3") to the 356(82.7") is about 7%. I don't think that's enough of a change to cause Ackerman worry. You could literally add some small spacers between the rack and suspension crossmember. This would move the rack rearward to very slightly lessen the Ackerman.

But yeah, a Raby type4 with a 5 speed and full 911 suspension? Cool! That would be one sweet handling 356.

I'm pretty sure Henry at Intermechanica figured out how to make a 911 Speedster.  Purpose built frame, 911 suspension, 6 cyl 911 motor with the FG body, etc..  I've seen several and they are truly special, IMHO.  The ultimate 356 Speedster replica.

@El Frazoo posted:

I'm pretty sure Henry at Intermechanica figured out how to make a 911 Speedster.  Purpose built frame, 911 suspension, 6 cyl 911 motor with the FG body, etc..  I've seen several and they are truly special, IMHO.  The ultimate 356 Speedster replica.

Well, I have to agree with you on that one, Kelly.

Henry built a good one when it came to mine.

@howdo posted:

  At a Barrett-Jackson auction I saw a 50s Corvette body that had been sawn in half, had some inches added in the middle, and rebuilt with a complete new chassis.  I don't remember the wining bid amount, but it was a lot, and still my guess is the owner who had the mods done still lost some bucks.  This certainly isn't a cheap hobby.

Former GM VP had this one built in 2001. Don’t know if they stretched anything, but it’s basically a C4 under the skin. Not much of a Corvette fan but I think this is spectacular. Went for $299K on BaT a couple of weeks ago.

That looks so much better in proportion than that Starke monstrosity.

@Bob: IM S6 posted:

That looks so much better in proportion than that Starke monstrosity.

The ad pictures with the actual shots from various angles, as opposed to the carefully staged shots Starke was giving us a few years ago, show how deeply odd the proportions of that car really are. The front overhang makes the car look like a bulldozer.

Hard pass.

@dlearl476 posted:

Former GM VP had this one built in 2001. Don’t know if they stretched anything, but it’s basically a C4 under the skin. Not much of a Corvette fan but I think this is spectacular. Went for $299K on BaT a couple of weeks ago.

Wow!  That is sweet.  The original Corvettes are not my thing, but that one looks better than the original.

As I’ve often posted, IMO wheels/tires and stance make or break any build.

I don't want to wish the new owners of Starke any ill but I really don't understand the business model.  The customer provides a used, older generation Boxster, gives them a whopping check (is it really $250K), wait some period of time, and then has an... older Boxster with a body kit, albeit nicely done.  If that price is correct, they could almost have a used Boxster AND a real Speedster.  At half that they could certainly have a Boxster (maybe a new one) and a nice replica Speedster.

Somebody 'splain it to me.

The old adage "A fool and his money are soon parted" comes to mind.

@Stan Galat posted:

The ad pictures with the actual shots from various angles, as opposed to the carefully staged shots Starke was giving us a few years ago, show how deeply odd the proportions of that car really are. The front overhang makes the car look like a bulldozer.

Hard pass.

Took the words out of my mouth.  Here is my old 2007 987 Boxster. The Starke IMHO did not improve the Boxster lines.

The 987 Boxster and Cayman were gorgeous. They were the best looking production Porsches ever (until the 718s).

I'm told every pot has a lid.

@Stan Galat posted:

The 987 Boxster and Cayman were gorgeous. They were the best looking production Porsches ever (until the 718s).

I'm told every pot has a lid.

I'm loving my 718 and I actually get quite a few questions about it at the gas station while filling up. Not as many as when I had the Speedster, but certainly a lot more than I expected. And I'm definitely trying to do my part today to change people's perception of Porsche owners being pr!>k$.

Gratuitous photo attached:

That is a great picture to show one thing we are talking about: size.  One might say: Speedster/Spyder -- cute peppy sports car.  And also say about a Boxster: cute peppy sports car.  But look here, and see that the one is almost twice the size (and I think actually twice the weight) of the other.  OTOH: the Boxster is really quite a tank insofar as it is really stout and crash-worthy, as well as having lots of that aforementioned peppiness.  Our cute plastic clown cars, while offering abundant peppiness, are in fact not as stout, i.e., safe.  But we all know that and drive 'em like we stole 'em anyway.

Oh, the Cayman.  They make me nervous like a beautiful woman staring at me.

I don't have to worry about beautiful women staring at me.  I stare at them.  I do try to do it discretely.