To change or not?????

Hello,
I really enjoy all the info here. About a month ago
I bought a 1979 IM Speedster. It is #312 of the first
608 cars built in California, before the move of IM
to Canada. It is in great shape and with only 26K on
the speedo it is in very original condition. My question
is whether or not I should update the engine. I am thinking
about a new 1776 dual port to replace the old 1200.
What do you all think,,is the car worth keeping original,
and what is this car actually worth, being one of the 608
cars????
Thanks
Darrell in Indiana

Darrell:

I had a 78 IM, one of the original IM speedsters. I don't think you have to worry about keeping these cars 'original', at least in terms of an engine upgrade. Since 78, cars have gotten much faster, and if you want to drive yours on a regular basis, a larger engine is a good choice. I might keep the rest of the car 'original', to reflect its original build configuration (disk brakes maybe?), but these cars are meant to be driven and enjoyed. They will never be 'original' as in a standard make of car.

When I bought my replicar a couple of years ago I was really smitten with how much it 'felt' like some of my old 356s, but newer and not rusty and all the lights worked, etc... Then I drove it awhile and sort of figured how I wanted it to be; a little lower in stance, not so virginal shiny perfect throughout and it needed to be more peppy!

There are guys who know what they want right out of the blocks and they craft and hone their cars,BAM! HERE I AM! Then there is the contingent that sort of feel their way along, changing and upgrading here and there.

Because these cars seem to get better with the additions masterminded by their successive owners and the replicar industry keeps tabs on this as well as production improvements and auto/technical advances available to their line-up, 'provinance' isn't what it is in other car circles.

Drive it for all it is worth to you. Live with its charm and its warts awhile, then look at what you got and what it needs.
Enjoy!
Paul

Paul... that about says it all! Great post.

Thanks for your responce, I plan to drive and enjoy
it,,weather here permitting!!! I like the "old" look
of the car now,,,with it's "not so perfect weathered"
top, and the original gel coat it starting to "yellow"
in a few spots,,,,,but I think it only adds to the appeal
of the car. It gets more looks and questions than most
of the sports cars I have had over the last 30+ years.
Thanks
Darrell

Darrell, it's like putting a new kitchen in your old house. You'll never get all of your money back when you sell it, but if you get a lot of enjoyment out of the new kitchen, or bigger motor, it's worth it. I upgraded my 84 IM's motor from a 1600 to a 2110. Lots of money, but I love it. Also, I have no intention of selling it.
Ron

I have a 1978 IM and love it too. Change the motor. Is it market value or originality value you care more about. Chances are that the car was built as a kit and not as a turn key replica as IM does now. It may be the original motor to the car, or one of several in the same car. But when the car was built, the motor choice was the builders and not IM's.

I would upgrade the car with a bigger motor, but you are the only one to answer that. You will only bring the value up with an upgrade to the motor, but I am sure you will keep it forever, ......right.

Good luck and enjoy

Ron,
Does this mean you are giving your significant other a new kitchen for Christmas? Wow, great move man! This will assure you plenty of money to blow, I mean spend on the Speedster in 2004. I always knew you were a great guy, and now I find out you are smart too. Hats off to you pardner.
John H.
WTSFIC

Go for the "sleeper" look. Original looking all around but nice high performance upgrades within. You'll have both if you go this route. 1776-cc=mild, 1914-cc=peppy, 2110-cc, 2007-cc, 2165-cc or such=Yeah Baby!, 2.2L or greater="HOLD ON", and turbo anything=C-YAH!

BTW, always upgrade the brakes and do not even question it, just do it!

Good Luck!

John, I don't understand women. My wife said she wanted a new kitchen. I gave her new place mats, a new apron, new dish towels and a nice new little matching rug to stand on, so her feet don't get cold while she's doing the dishes. She was not happy....I just don't understand.
Also, she wanted to go out for dinner. I said, "but honey, why go out to a restaurant when you can cook at home and you're a better cook. And, we have these nice new place mats. I thought the 'you're a better cook' line would work...but it didn't.
I was going to say that we couldn't afford a new kitchen because I'd spent too much money on "our" car....but I'm not THAT dumb.
Ron

The waterski tow boat cost me a $20000 kitchen, the Roadster only cost me a $10000 bathroom. When you purchase something there is just no way around the "equalizer" factor. When my wife asks me what the new engine is going to cost, I just mumble a bit and then quickly change the subject.

Ron, I just paid off the kitchen and LR remake 'exchange' for my VS. I think she also got an Acura 3.2TLS & a couple of trips out of the mental chess game. That brings me to a question.... how did you get off so cheap???? ;-) Please let me know as I have IM Speedster fever bad and if my past deal for the VS is any indication... well.

I got off cheap Jim because the bathroom was supposed to be $1000.00 and 3 days....$10000 and 3 months later, the bathroom was almost done. The trick was to bring the car up after the bathroom had got way out of hand...

I don't know ...I had alot of faith in you guys but....it is begining to fade a tad....Here's the real deal that allows for a very positive return on your investment ...
Take the little woman to Mexico via " Apple Tours" an all inclusive 8 day 7 night trip runs under $2k ( hey isn't that figure "just under" a $10k bath? )So there the two of you little love birds are among scantly clad wall to wall women, sipping free drinks while you wiggle your toes in the sand...Seems to me that is the right time to bring up whatever you want to purchase upon your return.

I gotta tell you guys, sharin' a house with a wife is, well you gets what you gets. My wife and I live in her house on one corner of the court and I own the house on the opposite corner.

Now, the term 'live in' means I get to use the facilities, but I keep all my shit at my house, except for a few artifacts... So when 'she' wants to remodel the bathroom, I just say, "yes dear, do you know what you want?" That's known as 'buying time' as there's at least a years' worth of research before she makes up her mind (plenty of time to work on the speedster)

Then once her mind is set, I get out my tools (down Ron)and ask where she wants me to start, that usually throws enough fear in her to hire a professional (more time for me) and then we get to be on the professional's time table (way more time for me and the speedster).

Then the joyous day comes, when the contractor has his hand out for the payday, hmmm, your house your money, my house my money...
Ten, maybe twelve years now, longest and best relationship I've ever had with a woman.

I am buying the new stove for her house's new kitchen, and I will be building the new cabinets, but I see it this way; more credits when time comes to work on my projects... (house or speedsterzzz)

Paul,

One question! When the tax bill comes a calling, who ponies up for that? To each their own?

Bruce

Alan, you are missing the trick. The wife is going to get the kitchen, or bathroom regardless. They always do. The trick is to get something in return, and at the same time make them think that we are doing something special for them above and beyond. And if you are really good, you can get two or three projects out of one return. For example, the bathroom got me an IM, but I also got HDTV, a new DVD player, some new gym equipment, and some new tools, and now a new engine. It helps a lot when the return project (bathroom) takes a long time to complete.

Ron,

I guess I missed that lesson, must have been dozing during that class. My wife got a new 3000 Sq ft house on a golf course and I got a JPS. I think I won! Of course I insisted on a 3 car garage before the topic of Speedster came up. That way I avoided the statement of,"And where do you think you are going to put that thing?" Everyone is happy!

Bruce

Ron .....what I actually did is dump the first wife that didn't want to do much of anything in favor of the second and final wife that loves cars and all comes with little or no griping.....and I quote

" Do whatever you think"!

I read this article,somewhere, that said if your wife said,"" Do whatever you think"! that usually meant, "don't do a damn thing without my permission".
Seriously, my wife is like yours. She lets me (within reason) buy whatever I want. She's got her new, little log home overlooking the Fraser Valley and she's getting her bead kiln for Christmas.
Ron

Santa bringing mine front row center seats for Toby Keith in Feb so that should put me in very good graces!

Alan,
Toby is a friend of mine, he is just like he looks,,
no diferent off stage.
Man this post went from me asking about swapping
out the engine to some wild stuff!!!! God I love
this forum!!!! It is good to know that some things are
the same all over...
Darrell