Trying to determine who/where my Speedster was built?

The rounded foam rubber brows on dash were CMC (also FF and early IM).  If the gauges say Vintage, it is a CMC (or FF).  Cast 1 piece aluminum engine grill (Hibachi) then CMC (FF or early IM).  Seats and side curtain door tops are not CMC bits.  CMCs usually have a half moon cutout on engine firewall (behind engine fan).  On hood aluminum hand if not replaced with PORSCHE emblem, then CMC-

Thank you Wolfgang. Obviously new to the lingo, what does CMC, FF and IM stand for. I will take a look at the items you have noted, again, Danke.  

IM - Automobili Intermeccanica (Santa Ana, CA) for first 600 Speedsters then moved to BC, Canada.

CMC - Classic Motor Carriages (Miami, FL) - They bought IM's molds and engineering in 1979.

FF - FiberFab.  CMC bought them too in 1980 and dropped all their really nice replicas like Avenger/Jamanican and many more).

Thanks again Wolfgang, I will take a look at your suggestions.

Les, check the hinges in the front trunk. If it's one of the first 600 Intermeccanicas, it will usually have it stamped into the hinge. If not, I'd guess CMC or Fiberfab.

I second Wolfgang's post.

Looks like a CMC (Classic Motor Carriages) formerly out of North Miami Florida.  

None of the other builders ever attached the bumpers to the dash with visible screws like that.

More pictures would reveal more, but from that one photo it looks to have been nicely built.

Looks to be a homebuilt CMC ( again the dash screws) the " Comfort" seats appear to be from Vintage Speedsters which would have been purchased many years after the initial assembly.

914 gauges were exclusive to CMC this memory goes back to the first on I saw in 1999.

Thanks to all for the knowledgeable info, this was the right spot for answers.

@majorkahuna posted:

914 gauges were exclusive to CMC this memory goes back to the first on I saw in 1999.

Every early (California) Intermeccanica I've ever seen had 914 gauges.

@Stan Galat posted:

Every early (California) Intermeccanica I've ever seen had 914 gauges.

That's my understanding as well.

IM even bought the 914 gauges brand new and used them on early IM.  CMC offered replica green numbered 356 Brazilian gauges or their VINTAGE gauges (for $325 with senders).  All gauges were an add on option (or part of a special sale package). The VINTAGE gauges were used on their Gazelle (MB SSK100 replica) and their MG TDs.  They came in silver bezel with white face, brass/gold bezel with white face and black bezel with black face.  (I've got old ad I'll try to find). The speedster ones were a set of 5 - Speedo/Tach/gas/amp/oil pressure (oil temp???) with senders - problem with them where they are a nonstandard larger size.

CMC didn't offer the 914 gauges, but sure folks installed used ones as they were plentiful, inexpensive, good quality and even speedo was pretty accurate (although 914 drove speedo off transmission where VW uses the front left wheel hub).

@Stan Galat posted:

Every early (California) Intermeccanica I've ever seen had 914 gauges.

The gauges should say "VDO" at the bottom. Also, early Intermeccanicas didn't have a vent hole cut into the firewall behind the engine fan.

@WOLFGANG,  my CMC has 914 gauges that were an extra-cost option when I ordered it.  There was also an insert for the manual for the 914 gauges including different wiring.

Remember you said yours was 1983 -- so I bet left over stock from IM buy?  Mine was late 1988.

Yes, 1983.

Mine was in 1993.

I ordered their 356 gauges but didn't get Bupkah......    🙁

Eventually their lawyers reimbursed me for a gauge set from Kirk at Vintage - Brazilian VDO, I think.

I have 3 different CMC build manuals and 1 FF one from over years of production.  They called my '88 Speedster a deluxe kit - since doors were mounted and sub chassis with kick panels were already installed.  An early build manual shows all those bits in a pile to be installed by builder - argh, that sure blows the 40 hour build time!  My doors aren't mounted perfectly but I can imagine hours to install them if they were shipped separately!  I got a wood steering wheel with the Vintage Speedster crest, the hood handle with same crest and along with the Certificate of Origin a small gold id badge that has a serial number (actually my invoice #).  I noticed you can still buy these NOS CMC badges (Ebay) as well as the FF one (MGMagic).  I don't know why the manf didn't mold in their id (maybe because they sold bodies to other companies?)

Thanks again for all of the feedback, looks like may have a few items from different manufacturers. The Super Beetle was 1973, not sure when or where the replica was built. Thanks again for any thoughts.

This VIN plate is in the front boot.

@Les Hudson

Thanks for posting the photos, Les.

All of them scream Classic Motor Carriages (I drive a CMC, too) from the dash trim to the top of the door trim to the door sill rubber to the cast "Hibachi-Style" engine grill and on and on.  Does it have Sirius/XM Satellite radio, too?  (I saw the satellite antenna on the rear bulkhead).

That said, it looks like yours was assembled by someone who knew what he/she was doing.  Someone who took their time and did a really good job - Like someone who cared about the finished product right down to details in the engine compartment.  The rear hood pop-up spring is a tasteful addition that few of us have!

Rest assured that it appears that you've purchased a well-built Speedster which I hope you'll enjoy for a long time to come.

Congratulations on joining us in the "Madness"!

Gordon - The Speedstah Guy from Massachusetts.

Thank you Gordon for the info and kind words, I bought the Speedster a couple of years ago, and purchased a 2013 Boxster just this week. .. a few of my friends asked, 'you're not selling the Speedster are you?'

Nope.

Sounds like me, running wild buying a couple of boats and stuff when I retired.

@Les Hudson posted:

Thanks again for all of the feedback, looks like may have a few items from different manufacturers. The Super Beetle was 1973, not sure when or where the replica was built. Thanks again for any thoughts.

This VIN plate is in the front boot.

This car looks nice; I would only suggest replacing that fan housing; that style doesn't cool the engine properly. Some suggestions are OEM VW, Scat and DTM.