The search of or an IM is over

I have looked at several used intermeccanicas. For one reason or another they didn't fit what I was looking for so I finally have decided to build a new one with Henry. I am going to build a roadster. I am trying to determine the best color combination. I want a real
Period correct looking car and I want to make sure it holds it's value so I can unload it when I want, however, I doubt that is gonna happen anytime soon..... Any pics of cars or suggestions wouldbe much appreciated. Right now I am thinking either black with a mahogany interior or stone grey with a chocolate interior top and boot cover. Or i ma just replicate Dan Zimmermans car becuase i think its fantastic... I would go with a black top and boot on the black car. Any thoughts? Thanks. Chris

I was not aware a used IM was so hard to find, although a new IM is certainly a good choice. It seems to me the only real issue is money. I sold my used IM which was in perfect condition for around $27K. It seems to me that Henry charges a bit more now. Most every IM that I have seen is built in an authentic color combination. I am not sure what you are asking the forum members to say.

Chris, you been to this site?

http://convertibledregistry.com/photo_gallery_early_cars.html

Thanks Marty. I appreciate it. I like your new IM!

Stone Grey has been a big hit so far for me, this is a pic I found of a Stone Grey / red. If your trying to match the color combo from Porsche, Stone Grey showed Black or Red interior with Black top

If holding its value is a big issue, you may want to revisit picking up a used one. From what I have observed the original owners take a pretty big hit on the later IMs.

Marty's is an absoute stunner, but you could not go wrong with the stone grey and chocolate. Both have a very legit, authentic look..an enduring look of style and taste. My "driver" will stay with it's heavily patina'd look for now.

Stone and Chocolate is one of my top picksfor sure. The other that I love is turkish red with tan/buck. Look at the second car down.
http://speedster.forumactif.org/t35-codes-peinture-porsche-356

Good data here, in case the search didn't work for you any better than me. https://www.speedsterowners.com/forum/readmsg.asp?t=21030

Tom,

You make a really good point once they depreciate some they level off for a while and hold steady but whoa in the first few years it appears they take a pretty steep decline and Steve great of you to post that again such an awesome reference for color combos.

Best post ever Jane. I ended up going used but it was going to be onbe of the two combo's that I listed above. I flip flopped for months!

I hear ya Steve awesome combo, OK first of all congrats Chris ! OK here's my 2 cents my top choice would be a color that although it was not an original 356 color to me looks smokin on a roadster and is so period correct that it actually is almost a dead match of 2 authentic colors, it's maus grey, I literally ordered a "D" from IM and unfortunately couldn't follow throught with it but when mixed a color swatch for me even he commented that it's so much like stone gray but without so much green and very very similar to slate gray an authentic color but lighter it's really creamy and not a pale gray it's just so perfect at least to me, many of you guys will recognize it because it was the color of the samba 23 window bus that brought $217K. Dale Bates ended up buying the mouse gray roadster that you can access on IM's site but it's better to see it in person aw well as stone gray I believe because depending on the lighting can give off different hues more so than other colors and it's so neutral that so many interior colors would compliment it. Anyway that's my 2 cents, I envy you and I'm sure your choice will be awesome!

Thanks everyone. I appreciate the feedback. I know these cars are expensive, but I am looking to keep it long term and they do hold their value once you get by that initial hit which isn't all that bad. There is a great pic of a British Racing Green on the intermeccanica site that has a mahogany interior that has got me on the black with mahogany. I love the green, but my last one was green some I'm gonna go with a different color. Imlove the stone grey and imalso am thinking about going with ruby red....I appreciate all the pics and advice. It was exactly what I was looking for.m I think thenfolksmonnthis site have the best eye for this stuff...

Jane, I just checked out the maus GRAS. Or whatever the name of the color of Dales car is. Wow.... I like his top choice as well..... Thanks for the heads up. Chris

I thought you'd like it , I chose the color of the top for an Audi cabriolet from 2005 and up it's awesome because unlike tan or gray it's more of a combination of those two. Also if you google 23 window VW barret Jackson you'll see the mouse gray on that it actually shows the color better there.same shade as stone gray only less green and lighter than slate gray, good luck!!

Chris, I'm partial to Ruby Red. "Resistance is futile"!

Chris,,, Chris.... Chris..... Color, WILL BE the most difficult decision of all. The mechanical part will all sort itself out. Its an exciting trip for sure. Don"t limit yourself to Porsche "correctness". I chose a 65 Corvette Nassau Blue, I get more compliments on the color of the car than anything else. I tossed and turned about for months.... You dont have to make a quick decision on color. My car is up on Henry's site as we speak. Depreciation is part of this game. Find any IM you like and PAINT it to your taste!

Henry had scott sloans stone grey car for sale awhile back, dont know if its still available..$45K and its all sorted out and neat stuff added here and there.

I did what Howard suggests. I found the IM I wanted and had Henry do some work on it and paint it a different colour. Now, as Henry owned the car, it was easy for him to do the work.

With a brand new IM, you get to have it built exactly as you want it, and it's a fun journey to undertake.

With a used IM, you get to pay less, but may have to settle for something that is not exactly what you want. However, any aspect of a car can be changed.

Either way, you end up with a great car.

Chris---congrats on your decision to have Henry build you a new Speedster---you will be happy just like 100% of others who have done so. Marty's experience with building his gorgeous car was great plus he shared it with us---as we hope you will do.

On the color. If you plan to do any road trips or even just a lot of local coffee runs, you are going to be touching up little paint chips
because that Speedster nose sticks right out there just inviting road rash and chips. My car is painted with a single stage acrylic enamel
which is really a tough paint but one of the best things about it is that I can fill a chip and you will never be able to tell that there was ever a chip or scratch there. I love metallics but as far as chip repair a plain non-metallic paint will be more satisfactory to fix.

Google Lankla paint chip repair to see their process.

Good luck on yopur project and we'll be following it with a lot of interest!

Allan, I thought I was definitely going in the direction of black with mahogany or stone gray ish with chocolate and then you have to go and post those pics.... THANKS!!!! Back to square one... Your paint is the richest I think I've ever seen on an IM. I believe I saw it in person at Carlisle a few years back, but I didnt have a car so I hung back.... Love that color!

thanks to everyone else for the tips... I'll let you know which way I go with it. Chris

Chris, go with Porsche Museum Silber over Oxblood. I swear on my grandmother that's the best old-school combination EVER and I'm sure Henry can conjure up the right ivory bits to offset it perfectly.

If Stan were here, and I'm sure he'll be along, he'd argue for another classic combo -- silver over black. You can't go wrong there, either.

You "hung back" because you didn't have a car?

ARE YOU NUTS!???

This buncha degenerates even lets ME hang around - LOL! Don't be shy join the party anytime - car or no car!

angela

Well, here is my favourite colour, and also to show you what a used IM can look like (or a new one, too).

Sorry, I am itching to get my hands on the car, but I'm not getting it until mid April.

That is a great looking car. You are buying it used?

Yes. It was available, and I asked Henry to make some changes, and he agreed. Of course, I paid for them.

I find Henry is very agreeable to work with, either new or used.

I would be too, as long as you pay me.....

Thanks Angela. I love that silver Mr. Carley...

Sounds like a fun adventure Chris! I love stone grey but would think twice about pairing it with a red interior. It can look a bit `christmasy` due to the greenish tone of the paint.

BLACK!

Well Chris, I'm sure glad we solved this one. Should I summarize?

If you look on Henry's site under factory builds you will see a green IM with a mahogany interior. It says Matt's Roadster IM13470. I would copy this color scheme exactly, but Since I had a green car last time, I'm going with black and mahogany. As much as love the reds and stone Greys I can't get away from the sharpness of black.... I think it shows off the cars lines incredibly and I love the mahogany. So it's settled, Black with Mahogany interior...... Thanks for all the feedback. I really appreciate it. Also, i will share some pics as the build progresses. Should have the car by July 4th...... Thanks again.

Chris:

I love that green with tan car, and if I had the bucks, that's what I would go after.

I'd even pay Vince to work on it for me!

Glad to hear you have settled on a colour and a car.

Bob (no Mr., please).

P.S. go for the beehive tail lights!

You CAN change your mind! Keep it OPEN, If you dream in color, it will become clear to you..

Chris:

Here you go:

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Other-Makes-/220981469857?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item337385a2a1

Sweeeeeeet!

Very Nice! I get another chance to buy this on Tuesday when they draw the Mega-Millions Lottery numbers.

And GET THIS...the grand prize is up to 356 Million$$....a good omen if I've seen one!!

~WB

Yeah, but think about it, Bill - You'd end up with a car you paid $100K or more for.

Are you gonna take that out on the street?

You might as well get a decent real Speedster (and that car in the ad is far from a "Pre-A" and even farther from a 1958. And with the badging, it's bordering on hybrid but with that engine and suspension.....WHO CARES???)

I think thats is the most expensive and custom IM built to date. The Porsche Excellence article which I still have said it took 2 years and 130K to build. Howard's car is a good deal. This one is awesome too (for the right buyer)