The Last Hurrah --george brown speedster sold

Cool!! That's one of the Speedster replica high marks along with Butch. Take good care of it in remembrance of George and enjoy it!

I just stepped up big time and bought
The Last Hurrah (The George Brown Speedster). I waited till it was on the truck before I spoke up. I bought it sight unseen and hope it as great as everone says it is. I have some big shoes to fill. George had his vision and I have mine. I am going to change a few things on the car to make it my dream. But every time I turn the key I will remember how much one man loved this car.



Grorge Brown some of his last remarks----Jim, it's not so much a fever as it is a finality. I've been around sports cars and motorcycles all my life but at age 65 I can see that my "endless summers" are about over. A few years ago I thought about what my "last sports car" should be - restored Jaguar 120M roadster? Another Ferrari V12? Certainly none of the current stuff as you can't work on them yourself without the commensurate computers, and most of them aren't much fun to drive anyway.

My ex-convertible "D" was meant to be that car, the pretty vintage look, comfortable, improved handling and performance, etc. So I drove it for 5,000 miles and wanted more power and different gear ratios, etc. Fairly big money to upgrade.

So I sold the "D" (and sort of still regret it) and ordered the Speedster with Godzilla engine, very special 901 5-speed, etc. I think of the new, in-progress car as "The Last Hurrah".

Gene - Enjoy The Ride!!

Gene, congratulations. It's about time that car got back out on the road, and it sounds like you've got due (but not overdone) reverence for it and its prior owner.
Paraphrasing someone else here, just don't drive it faster than Goerge can watchfully fly over your shoulder.

Gene, George is somewhat of a legend on this site, don't even try to fill his shoes, just enjoy your new ride and understand that a lot of research and intelligence went into creating the car you are driving.

Drive it more than I am driving mine right now...please. What is the history of the car after George..

While I'm in Dallas, I have an office in Houston on Greenway Plaza. I'd love to get a chance to visit the car and meet you. I'd spring for lunch sometime.

Will you have it by June 25? I'm spending the night in Houston then if you had time to share it.

Jack

George-

Great news. Shoot me an email, or give me a call (sorry I had to cut it short a couple weeks ago). You've got my number...

Gene, Congratulations on your purchase. I'm sure you've seen his build take shape on the registry. If not click on to the GB car under Intermeccancia and George himself gives you a nice synopsis of his build. I have taken some of his design elements to heart, as Henry is now in the process of building my new IM> Delivery sometime mid to late summer. I always wondered where George's car was. Good luck!

I'm under the impression that you can ignore all of the posts regarding the engine. Last I heard they were putty something with plenty of power, but more reliable in the car.

That should be a good thing.

So it doesn't have that 220 HP monster in it? Gene, whats it got in it now?

That car goes way back to the days when this site was still just a mailing list.. Man those were the days of real debates and dramatic responses- You have a piece of history!

I am curious to see what engine is in the car now as well...

If the car lacks an engine I know what it really needs, but it would be an ironic fit for the vehicle and it's history.. We should chat:-)

Here's a few more. In #5, George is talking with Karl Macklin who had bought his Conv.D(and has since sold it).

George was a good friend who helped me, starting some 5 years ago when I bought Blackie, thru e-mails and phone calls. Like Jake stated, those were the good ole days of debates and some back and forths. In person, George was not at all as some portrayed or imagined him in his postings. He spoke most friendly and eloquently in a southern drawl as smooth as a shot of Rebel Yell goes down. And as I've never had the pleasure, I understand this is so with Jake. I rode in and drove Danny P's Spyder at Carlisle Jake and I gotta tell ya, you build one hell of a Type 1 too, brah. Danny had my heart a pumpin', I'll tell ya. I can only imagine how Butch performs.

Anyway, as far as the original engine goes, George had it apart when he passed. It ended up at Vintage Performance with Kurt Mezgar in Delaware.
As it was a very exotic engine built to George's liking, the engine components were sold to finance a more streetable engine to sell the car. The longblock, I understand, ended up drag racing in Cali for over a year and then some now. I'm not sure whats in there now but I would imagine at least a 2110.

Here a few pics of the car I took at Carlisle 2004.
The first one is George preening his baby at the hotel.

The memory of George's rants at you about a T1 vs TIV still make me laugh. He was an adamant true believer. And well read and invested in the attributes of a T1. He was a unique Speedster Owner the likes of which will forever be rare. I wonder what he is driving and what the roads are like where he has gone! 8).

From my experience, George's IM was the one Speedster that really defined what a replica could acheive. I know he drove Henry crazy with all the details, but in the end both were proud to have worked on this project.

I drove the car at Carlisle in 2005, and at that point knew what my next Speedster had to be like. I also shared a drink and a talk with G.B. then, after having had a few personal emails back and forth the previous year or so. He was a kind and caring person, as long as you weren't trying to put a Type IV engine in his car :-).

A few times I came very, very close to buying the car, but never did.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

OK, I'll be the goat. I was waiting to see if anybody had the stones to ask what it sold for? I realize this is a personal matter and none of my business, but a lot of us would sure like to know. Thanks.
Hoss

What's that saying? "If you have to ask, you probably couldn't afford it?"

or something like that........

For the amount of thought (and changing of mind) that went into that car from well before the actual build (which includes [separately] the engine, transmission, chassis/drivetrain, wheels, tires, the engine again, the transmission again, continuing with the body through several iterations, same for the interior, the pre-luber (changed twice) and so forth, not to mention the interior touches and the (separate) exterior touches, then back to the engine (again) and so forth, all the way through delivery and for the year after (with still more changes), whatever the asking price, it was still a bargain. That car was almost as well thought out as the Space Shuttle........

gn

Wow,
George's car isn't a replica, but they do make replicas of George's car.
-=theron

Keep in mind George was pushing $70,000 into the build. Also get a build sheet from IM and see what it would cost to build your dream car. What do you think the George Brown Speedster is worth?

I have not told my wife yet! Maybe when I show her what you guys think it worth I can keep it !!!

I hear your local Food Mart is having a special on mac and cheese and hot dogs too:)
....Seriously, enjoy what we assume to be the best of the best !

Well, it would help if you can give some info on the car..like the engine thats in it now. Is everything else the same as when George owned it?

Well, here goes..behold my mathmatical genius...If a new IM today (like the one at Carlisle from JStefano's) is worth in the high 50's/low 60's, and 5 years ago GB payed close to 70K.. carry the 2, divide by some number, then multiply by the same number... I would say you payed 45K-50K. If you payed more, unless you were the bestest best childhood friend of GB, your wife should kick your a$$...

James

If I paid 50 Large for any Replica, I would expect the biggest beating of my life from the Mrs. and I would deserve it, hell she whips me now for no reason at all......
Hell, I'm afraid to tell her what the Ghia cost me, thank god she hasen't asked.....I think she is afraid to...she does realize we have an expensive hobby....shit, I'm afraid to tell her what I have in the Harley too.....
Bottom line is, spend it if you got it.....I guess....

Yeah. A lot more than the doghouse you'll be living in when she finds out.
No worries; we're fond of saying it's worth what you get out of it as well as whatever you've got into it. Somewhere in there you'll find the true value.
I've made some of the worst possible decisions building my dream car (like the one this week to buy the coupe body) but nobody else is doing/has done it, and I'm a bachelor with a very Hoopty-friendly and wonderful girlfriend.
You, however, bought the Speedster to end all Speedsters. With a less-powerful engine than it was designed to handle, and with whatever substantive engineering changes now support that swap, you've still got a car that'll be competitive with the best Henry is cranking out nowadays. Even without rolling back the odo (Chysler-style), you've got the legendary George Brown Car.
And for purposes of satisfying the missus, I'd say it's worth a lot more than the new-IM-equivalent money that I've got into the Hoopty.

Gene
Perhaps stsrt off with a candle lit dinner, decent bottle of wine and just go for it, spilling the beans or, lack of.
Keeping the bottle on your half of the table as it can be considered a lethal wepon

11th Comandment- Its easier to ask for forgiveness, than it is to ask for permission.

If you have 8 cars and 9 bikes, won't she be used to burying the anger deep deep down? LOL... What does she collect? and how many carats is the one you bought her this time?

Dammit, when does this car get delivered, I feel like we are watching a reality show. I can't wait to see it... your a lucky guy to have all this knowledge on the site about your car.

The car was picked up last thurday at 5:00pm. In Delaware 1500 miles away from it's new home--------- SOON ! My wife collects cookbook and Diamonds

I'm sorry, 70K is nuts when 30K more gets you in real speedy territory.

Or 2 coupes... nice ones... but thats not the point. If George had wanted a real speedster or (2 coupes...mmmmm) he would have spent his 70K on that. Speaking as an outsider recent member, and from what I have read, the design and building of the IM was 90 percent of the fun for George. I agree with you, I thought I was freakin bonkers for paying what I payed for my IM, and maybe I was. If Gene is buying it for big bucks, or if George (whom I now wish I had met) was building it with the intention of selling it for the same money they payed... then thats nuts. But to build it with the full and undeniable knowledge that you probably will lose your shirt and most of your other clothing if you ever have to sell it, then its not nuts.. its a car guy with more money than me. I guess I look at it like a guy who spends 200K on a ferrari, they could have bought a house with that money where I live... but they wanted THAT car and could afford it... or they were dicks and just wanted to impress people, but I doubt Gene or George care what people think. Who knows...

Now, on the other hand, this silent treatment regarding the details of the car in its current state is driving me NUTS!!!!... GENE, TELL US SOMETHING...

Absolutely right, James. These cars are all about having it our way, not just how much you get for a given price. That's why we can spend a little or spend a lot and all have a great deal of fun.

As some of you know by my posts I'm building an IM speedter 6 GS. I'll be close or upwards of 60k when all is said and done. I look around at what kind of ride I could buy with that money, nice cars all, Vette, Boxster, s2000, something vintage maybe. Doing this build is exciting, how many things in life can you have YOUR way. Compromise is everywhere, its just a fact. Its this journey that's fun, picking this , deciding that, color, leather, lights, trim, overall look you want to achieve. Its a dream to custom build your own street rod, no compromise...just get out the checkbook and enjoy the journey!

The long block has been changed and nothing else. The size of the motor is at my office. I think it's a 2176. The carbs, tin work, exhaust etc. is still there. But I have a monster motor already built on the engine stand that is much wilder than George orginal engine!. But I don't think i will need it. The car that the speedster is going to sit next to. Is faster than anything I could do to the speedster. Just wait for pictures of my other toys and my new car!

The car will be droped off tomorrow. But as luck would have it. I won't be here. I have a business meeting I have to go to. So I won't see the car till late tomorrow night.

Any other higher $$$$ guesses?
Keep in mind the car has a new engine and I did not have to wait to have a car built that got to be worth something also.

Damm I can't wait for SANTA to get here !!!!

I, still being somewhat of a newbie, am not very familiar with George or his car but after reading this post it's evident that he and his car were something to behold. Anyone care to share all, or some of the goodies about this car? I love that fact that he was a T1 fan. And I'm kinda pissed to find out that this car has been here in Delaware - crap! I went all the way to FLA to get my car. Had I known this car was right here I could have snagged it a year ago! Jeez, you can drive from top to bottom of this state in an hour and a half and across it in about 45 minutes, it was sitting here the whole time?

220 BHP 2,387cc T1 (now a more streetable 2176)
custon sidwinder exhaust
engine pre-luber
external oil filter
Compufire/ Scorpion CD ignition
901 porsche 5-spd w/LSD
901 "quick shit" kit
4/w cross-drilled disk brakes(S/S lines)
5 Alex Bivens custom alum. 356A wheels $3,000
19mm swaybars,
24mm tors bars,
Konis shocks
rack and pinion steering
Correct original Porsche scripts, badges, emblems,
Carrera trim,
removeable roll bar
Espar heater
beehives/reflectors
euro bmpr gds
deck lid locks
OEM carpet
H4 Headlights with speedster grills
Speedo mirrors
under-dash park brake
trunk spare (major work to get it to fit)
roll bar
15 g. tank
Hella sport tone horns
Tenax fasteners
full & 1/2 tonneaus(upgraded cloth)
leather int.
Custom Nardi wheel (jewelled)w/Porsche horn btn,
Hella shine-down
1950's vintage driving lights.
2-spd/intvl wprs
1950s Becker AM/FM stereo
Dynamat sound insulation
Speedster racing bucket seats
Paid extra to have the paint buffed out to a higher level

That's about it.

I forgot the custom made VDO Carrera 160mph speedo, 8K tach, tri-combo gauge (oil temp., oil press., fuel), and clock from Palo Alto Speedometer.

Keep in mind the base price for a intermeccanica speedster with a 1600cc engine with no frills is $36,125 and a long wait. Plus shipping from Canada!

Gene, I don't think I've said a whole lot about meeting Henry at Carlisle, but I got a very good impression of him as a person while we were up there.
If he's half the man I think he is, he will not only work with you on any problems you may encounter, but he'll stand by that car down the road for ANYTHING that comes up.
That's the kind of service you can't get from the old Triple-A, no matter how much money you spend.

Cory, you've captured Henry's reputation well. I've heard nothing but good about his customer support.