Vintage Speedster Replica in Seattle

sounds good, pics are essential for a critical opinion

Does it have drum or disc brakes?  Are the carburetors dual 1 barrels or dual 2 barrel Weber or Dellorto clones?

barncobob Here are pics and a video

@ALB I am going to look at it tomorrow so these are good questions I will check on. I have owned a number of beetles so familiar with the mechanicals and am selling my 2017 2SS Camaro to finance it and an electric car for the city

It would be nice to know where and when it was built, and by whom.

Good luck, I hope it's what you're looking for.

Thanks @DannyP the dealer is trying to chase that down with vintage speedsters now. We know it was before 2017.

Greg wasn't there in 2016, but he may have been in 2017. I don't remember the exact year he went to Hawaiian Gardens.

It's funny, the car DOESN'T have the curly alternator wire of the Kirk years, so I'm confused.

Could look at DOT date stamp on tires? Nice looking car.  2 owners each only putting on 400 miles is just weird.  Check your insurance though - many require storage in a locked garage for coverage.

Update: I was supposed to see it at 10:30 tomorrow but it just sold to some random buyers about an hour ago. If anyone knows of any others in the area please let me know. Also, I’d love opinion on whether I should just commission a new one rather than hunting for used?

@Wolfgang356 plan will be to keep it at TheShop in Seattle which I believe is insurance approved

@BritBoy70 posted:

Update: I was supposed to see it at 10:30 tomorrow but it just sold to some random buyers about an hour ago. If anyone knows of any others in the area please let me know. Also, I’d love opinion on whether I should just commission a new one rather than hunting for used?

I was just getting ready to say you had better jump on it quick, after mentioning that it was available on the SOC, because the used Speedster market is on fire.

Does anyone have info on how long it would take to get a new one built. I am having a pre sale inspection done an mgb on Monday that I could drive until I can get a 356

@DannyP posted:

Greg wasn't there in 2016, but he may have been in 2017. I don't remember the exact year he went to Hawaiian Gardens.

It's funny, the car DOESN'T have the curly alternator wire of the Kirk years, so I'm confused.

Greg moved his company to the Hawaiian Gardens location in 2018, the same year that Justin bought Vintage Speedsters and moved it to Arizona.

If this car was built by Vintage Speedsters, Greg's company (Vintage Motorcars of California) wasn't involved with it.

@WOLFGANG posted:

Could look at DOT date stamp on tires? Nice looking car.  2 owners each only putting on 400 miles is just weird.  Check your insurance though - many require storage in a locked garage for coverage.

Actually, Wolfgang, I think it’s “weirder” when you see one with 25-30,000 miles. I swear 80% of replicas are sold with <10,000 miles on them.

@BritBoy70 posted:

Does anyone have info on how long it would take to get a new one built. I am having a pre sale inspection done an mgb on Monday that I could drive until I can get a 356

Vintage Motorcars of California build time is 12 months.

Be very careful about ordering from Vintage Speedsters in Arizona!  Beside one SOC member who posted he made a 50% deposit and has been waiting for more than a year, another Arizona resident, who I spoke to yesterday, told me he has been to the Scottsdale Arizona Vintage Speedsters location twice in the last week and there was nobody there.

@Troy Sloan posted:

Greg moved his company to the Hawaiian Gardens location in 2018, the same year that Justin bought Vintage Speedsters and moved it to Arizona.

If this car was built by Vintage Speedsters, Greg's company (Vintage Motorcars of California) wasn't involved with it.

Thanks, I couldn't remember if it was 2017 or 2018. All I know is my new Spyder body arrived in October of 2016, when he was still in Stanton.

@BritBoy70  stay in touch with the park place crew... ask them to keep you on their list of interested buyers.   this is the time of year they typically see a couple come in on trade for other vehicles.   ( they will buy back they ones they originally sold... and they sold VS’s for ~ 10 years.  They had 5-6  ( sometimes up to 10) every spring built on spec directly from Kirk.

As a licensed Porsche dealer/ service shop they got their hand slapped by the big P for selling replicas spin 2017... and stopped selling them....  it they will take them on trade/ consignment  and sell them after they sort them, mostly without much fanfare since they always have people on a short list who are waiting for them.

If it was one of theirs, it was likely a pre 2015 build... after 2015 they specked them with the under dash brake handle. and bumper mounted fog lights.   Between 2013 and 2015 they also specked them with the dual EMPI carbs ( as pictured) and fuel flow regulator/ EMPI oil burp box behind the fan shroud ( as pictured).  In house they installed the JPS horn ring and badges after they cleaned up/polished the paint.

So if I had to pick a speedster manufacturer (let’s say money no object 😀) who would you go with today (I personally always thought Interneccanica) Who would you choose?

That is truly a personal decision.   It’s like asking if a blond, red hair or a brunette is better? ;-)   You really can’t go wrong if you find a car you truly fall in love with.  

may I ask ( and feel free to ignore my question), why get rid of the 2ss camaro? the MGB or speedster are very different cars... specially in the Northwest where the camaro can be driven year round no problem - rain or shine and there are many affordable shops that will maintain them,... where as the MG and VW/Speedster require a bit more TLC and patience.  (I’m only curious... as an MG and speedster owner).

@Lfepardo there is method in my madness :-) I have owned the Camaro for 4 years from new (2017 2SS 50th Anniversary). It only has 14,500 miles on it because I live and work in Seattle. It has been a fun car but I miss having a convertible (previously had a 2006 3 series BMW convertible, 2001 Boxster S, Miata, convertible beetle)  so the plan is to buy an electric car for everyday around the city (BMW i3) and then the MGB/Speedster for weekends and fun through the summer. Also wanted a hobby car I can work on in my spare time (the MGB should provide plenty of that :-))

Also wanted a hobby car I can work on in my spare time (the MGB should provide plenty of that :-))

Boy ain't that a fact!  Years ago I had a 3 year old '69 MGC that I used as a daily driver 60 mile RT/day.  Spent the weekends getting it ready to survive the next week (traded it for a new '72 Porsche 914 - never regretted losing a true convertible for the 914 Targa).

How about an MGTD replica?  Most are VW pan based air cooled.  Light weight and fun to drive when sun is out.  You can get a really nice authenic looking one for under $10k.

If your in Seattle, your close to IM in the first place and rain comes often wouldn't roll up windows an IM feature be nice?

@BritBoy70  Welcome to the madness...  there are several IMs and VS that regularly show up at The Shop.  You should test drive one... get a feeling for one.

We should meet up when I’m back in Seattle in May.  Happy to share my rides and experiences locally.   We have been socially distancing last few weeks in the mountains ;-)

Thanks @Lfepardo I’ll PM you so we can arrange to meet up at TheShop once you get back. Enjoy your time in the mountains