Hey gang any other sources to find a rack that will fit my 2002 Vintage Speedster? Thanks for your help!
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Hey gang any other sources to find a rack that will fit my 2002 Vintage Speedster? Thanks for your help!
aside from the obvious:
http://vintagespeedsters.com/parts/trim.php
$200
try ebay as they pop up now and then (although there are not any on there right now):
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=356++luggage+rack&_sacat=0&_odkw=vintage+speedster+luggage&_osacat=0&_trksid=p3286.c0.m270.l1313
http://vintagespeedsters.com/parts/trim.php
$200
try ebay as they pop up now and then (although there are not any on there right now):
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=356++luggage+rack&_sacat=0&_odkw=vintage+speedster+luggage&_osacat=0&_trksid=p3286.c0.m270.l1313
I do a simple install trick that saves time, the rough fiberglass can be uneven where you drill the four mounting points at. Instead of stacking washers or making a spacer I slip a short piece of fuel hose over half of the threaded studs. As you tighten down the four nyloc nuts, the hose will compress for an even stance.
Whoa.......that's good.
Leave it to the doctor to have an answer. I guess when you have built/rebuilt/corrected others mistakes on dozens of these cars there isn't much you haven't faced.
I'm looking for a rack for my car as well, and am leaning towards a Lietz repop from Sierra Madre. Any input other than the fact that they sure seem to like them a lot based on their price?
I'm looking for a rack for my car as well, and am leaning towards a Lietz repop from Sierra Madre. Any input other than the fact that they sure seem to like them a lot based on their price?
Alan---when you write your "Hints and Kinks" book for Speedster owners I'll be at the head of the line for a copy! Good idea about the rack!
Does anyone here have that Vintage rack? I'm not sure, but it looks more simple and smaller than an original factory or dealer supplied version I've seen.
Were there different versions/size options available through Porsche?
Were there different versions/size options available through Porsche?
Vintage Speedster rack pictured below (not my car)
The Lietz (Leitz) chrome rack are larger than the trunk lid 000 aka the Flying Nun. They have several chrome loops for leather straps and rubber bumper strips. Reutter made a hammer finish painted one.
I'm using one from AMCO.
The Lietz (Leitz) chrome rack are larger than the trunk lid 000 aka the Flying Nun. They have several chrome loops for leather straps and rubber bumper strips. Reutter made a hammer finish painted one.
I'm using one from AMCO.
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Greg, aka Wolfgang, I always get a kick out of your comments about things. It's as if you have had your car on the road for decades, but I know your dirty little secret.
Well there you have it, Greg has spent way too much in the crapper .....speedster reading !
I don't know if any are left but this seller accepted my offer of $275. in this ebay sale: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180677020413&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
I didn't expect my offer would be accepted, but as soon as I clicked the confirm it came up with an "your offer was accepted" obligating me to pay up.
It left me wondering whether an offer of $250. or less would have been accepted as automatically.
I don't have it so can't comment as to quality or the whole experience.
I didn't expect my offer would be accepted, but as soon as I clicked the confirm it came up with an "your offer was accepted" obligating me to pay up.
It left me wondering whether an offer of $250. or less would have been accepted as automatically.
I don't have it so can't comment as to quality or the whole experience.
A repro in stainless steel for a repro car is good choice. An old real one is extremely costly to have rechromed and the old patina is best suited to an old car. Now contact Dusty for a set of hand crafted tie down straps and search out an old paste board suitcase.
I've got a pretty nice old leather suitcase that might fit and who's Dusty?
Dusty Johnson in Loveland, CO
https://www.speedsterowners.com/files/view.asp?sf=DustyJ&f=complete+strap+set%2Ejpg
https://www.speedsterowners.com/files/view.asp?sf=DustyJ&f=complete+strap+set%2Ejpg
Ken:
When you get that lugagge rack in your hands, let us know what the quality looks like. I know that myself and a couple of other guys are looking for racks and would like to know about the one you bought.
Did it come with all the mounting hardware? Did it mount correctly, same height from the car on both sides etc.? Are the dimensions the same on both sides? How good is the chrome?
Thanks!
When you get that lugagge rack in your hands, let us know what the quality looks like. I know that myself and a couple of other guys are looking for racks and would like to know about the one you bought.
Did it come with all the mounting hardware? Did it mount correctly, same height from the car on both sides etc.? Are the dimensions the same on both sides? How good is the chrome?
Thanks!
Greg--I can vouch for Dusty's leather straps---absolute sensational and make the ones shown on the ebay ad for the Leitz rack look shabby.
Assl the buckles are top quality and enven have the riollers to make tightening the belts easy to do.
Among other things Dusty is an expert saddle maker000even runs schools for that. He maintains all the saddles used in the Rose Bowl parade so you know he knows his stuff!
He has a web site at www.pvsaddleshop.com
Good luck!
Assl the buckles are top quality and enven have the riollers to make tightening the belts easy to do.
Among other things Dusty is an expert saddle maker000even runs schools for that. He maintains all the saddles used in the Rose Bowl parade so you know he knows his stuff!
He has a web site at www.pvsaddleshop.com
Good luck!
Bob,
The rack arrived late yesterday and I've only taken it out of the box. I'm sorting my car from it's Sunday arrival and may not get to mount the rack for some time, maybe even weeks, depending, so I can't really answer about the rack mounted. I don't see that there will be any problems achieving a nice looking result, with the hardware caveat below.
It is tubular steel instead of the mix of flat stock and tube that I think the originals were made with but no pieces will be lost and it's easier to clean I'd bet. The chroming is good overall - no flakes or noticably rough places.
There are two sets of threaded mounting holes - the inner set will fit into the opening and just clear the grill. So the rack will work. The outer set for mounting to the body or for other applications I suppose. Anyway it relieved me to find that the holes are spaced to allow use inside the grill on my car because that is the preferred way to do it.
It has several strap loops - they are 1 3/8" loops to Dusty's 1 1/2" straps, but I'd guess that the tight fit would aid in keeping the straps from falling back when loosened, so I think it'll work fine.
Hardware in the form of standoffs and thrubolts are provided as well as four 1" pieces of rubber tubing. Nuts seem to have been omitted, at least with mine. The hardware was loose in the box so maybe some escaped. Either way I'll be looking to better hardware for this.
Also, it has some plastic protector stuff - strips some sort of commercial molding product that's fitted between tubes for a package cushion or something. It's an ugly pinkish color. It could be trimmed up to look better as far as how the corners fit but I think I'm going to pull it all out and toss it. My old suitcase doesn't need the marginal protection this stuff might offer and it's weird looking, IMO.
All in all It's a decent choice. Like I said I'll be looking at better hardware, but what's provided would be usable.
The box proclaimed loudly "Made in China". Unfortunately there's no surprise there.
The rack arrived late yesterday and I've only taken it out of the box. I'm sorting my car from it's Sunday arrival and may not get to mount the rack for some time, maybe even weeks, depending, so I can't really answer about the rack mounted. I don't see that there will be any problems achieving a nice looking result, with the hardware caveat below.
It is tubular steel instead of the mix of flat stock and tube that I think the originals were made with but no pieces will be lost and it's easier to clean I'd bet. The chroming is good overall - no flakes or noticably rough places.
There are two sets of threaded mounting holes - the inner set will fit into the opening and just clear the grill. So the rack will work. The outer set for mounting to the body or for other applications I suppose. Anyway it relieved me to find that the holes are spaced to allow use inside the grill on my car because that is the preferred way to do it.
It has several strap loops - they are 1 3/8" loops to Dusty's 1 1/2" straps, but I'd guess that the tight fit would aid in keeping the straps from falling back when loosened, so I think it'll work fine.
Hardware in the form of standoffs and thrubolts are provided as well as four 1" pieces of rubber tubing. Nuts seem to have been omitted, at least with mine. The hardware was loose in the box so maybe some escaped. Either way I'll be looking to better hardware for this.
Also, it has some plastic protector stuff - strips some sort of commercial molding product that's fitted between tubes for a package cushion or something. It's an ugly pinkish color. It could be trimmed up to look better as far as how the corners fit but I think I'm going to pull it all out and toss it. My old suitcase doesn't need the marginal protection this stuff might offer and it's weird looking, IMO.
All in all It's a decent choice. Like I said I'll be looking at better hardware, but what's provided would be usable.
The box proclaimed loudly "Made in China". Unfortunately there's no surprise there.
Ken:
Greetings from the deep south, Peoria.
I appreciate the feedback on what you found. Sounds like a reasonable product for what you paid.
Thanks again for the detailed info.
Bob
Greetings from the deep south, Peoria.
I appreciate the feedback on what you found. Sounds like a reasonable product for what you paid.
Thanks again for the detailed info.
Bob
Extra set of mounting holes are for later 356's which have the twin rear engine grills. If rack is stainless steel - it probably isn't chrome plated (just polished SS). I don't know why they didn't provide plugs for the extra mounting holes.
Bob and any interested,
I really have the sense that this rack is chromed steel. If it's stainless then my hat's off to whoever did the welds, and the effort and time put into removing any and all sign of welding heat discolorization alone would make this a $1000. product if made in this country.
If the seller in the link I provided continues to sell the rack in the same auction format and you decide to buy one, I'd recommend trying an even lower offer bid than my $275.
Since his buy-it-now price was $325. I was somewhat amazed that what I thought would be a lowball offer, like a feeler, was accepted the moment I clicked 'confirm offer'. It left me wondering whether or not the trigger point might have been lower than $275. and knowing what I know now I'd probably try $225. then $250. before $275.
I've got bins and possibly hundreds of those little drawers filled with assorted hardware pieces, and I've got a pretty complete machine shop so I don't worry much about hardware in buying Chinese made items. Also, the local hardware store sells all nuts, bolts, and washers by the pound in both grades 5 and 8. I've gotten used to tossing supplied plastic or low quality pieces and working out my own uses of the product. As I said though, this thing is weak in the hardware department IMO, so if receiving every little piece needed for a complete and likable installation are important to you then this might not be your choice.
I really have the sense that this rack is chromed steel. If it's stainless then my hat's off to whoever did the welds, and the effort and time put into removing any and all sign of welding heat discolorization alone would make this a $1000. product if made in this country.
If the seller in the link I provided continues to sell the rack in the same auction format and you decide to buy one, I'd recommend trying an even lower offer bid than my $275.
Since his buy-it-now price was $325. I was somewhat amazed that what I thought would be a lowball offer, like a feeler, was accepted the moment I clicked 'confirm offer'. It left me wondering whether or not the trigger point might have been lower than $275. and knowing what I know now I'd probably try $225. then $250. before $275.
I've got bins and possibly hundreds of those little drawers filled with assorted hardware pieces, and I've got a pretty complete machine shop so I don't worry much about hardware in buying Chinese made items. Also, the local hardware store sells all nuts, bolts, and washers by the pound in both grades 5 and 8. I've gotten used to tossing supplied plastic or low quality pieces and working out my own uses of the product. As I said though, this thing is weak in the hardware department IMO, so if receiving every little piece needed for a complete and likable installation are important to you then this might not be your choice.