Vintage Speedsters - Top notch

I had a strong raw gasoline smell in my garage over the weekend after driving the car home Friday night. Drove it around Saturday thinking maybe a stuck float would free itself up, but no luck. I did see some drippings under the car just ahead of the rear wheels on the driver's side. The fumes got so bad that she had to spend Sunday night "out in the cold".

I drove it to work Monday (4 miles from Vintage Speedsters) and gave Kirk a call but they said he wasn't in, oh no, I thought, but Mary said she'd have Roland, the mechanic call me. Took it in after lunch and found out that the short fuel hose that connects to the fuel filter was leaking like a sieve. While I was there, I asked about the weatherstripping that they use in the doors because mine had shrunken to the point where I could see daylight through the door jamb (also rain leaks in). After about a half-hour, I left there with the fuel leak fixed, two new strips of weatherstripping, and a new oil sensor switch (Roland noticed that mine had started to leak).

I went to the front to pay and he said, "no charge, it's really nothing....".

They are definitely on my Christmas list!!!

Beth

Good to hear!
One thing regarding fuel, mentioned sometime back...the location of your in-line filter... Is it in the engine bay and close to harm's way? If so, you might ask that they relocate it.

Hey Beth,

I purchased one from Kirk at Vintage as a kit and put most of the car together myself. I had gas leaking from the sending unit when I filled the tank up. I took it to Kirk and he I installed it incorrectly, they put in a new one and that one leaked also. After more trobleshooting they said that the mounting nuts on the tank stripped due to the improper install of the sending unit. Kirk replaced the tank and did not charge me for anything. Kirk and the guys at Vintage are great to work with!!!!!!


Gabe

I'll jump on this bandwagon......
Kirk is the best.....
He gets knocked on this forum from time to time
as to his quality, but I'd rather have one of his
"Inferior" cars to an IM based on overall satisfaction
for the buck anyday....

Paul - No, the fuel filter is located outside of the engine bay ahead of the firewall. I couldn't really see it until the car was jacked up. It's in the general location of the rear wheels.

I have to add that the fuel filter out of the engine bay is a safe bet ....
So many times at VW car shows, I see beautifully restored and custom VW Beetles with the VW plastic filters hanging directly over the top of the distributor. I politely explain to the owners this is an engine fire or worse ready to happen

Beth, I noticed that in mine but I went ahead and installed a plastic one anyway. They're cheap insurance. Still, though, does anyone know when will I need to replace the metal filter and what type/model is it so that I can get a proper replacement?

Vince: "I'd rather have one of his "Inferior" cars to an IM based on overall satisfaction".

Blasphamy!!!!

You're kidding right?

Ron,
My whole philosophy on these cars is not to spend close to
the same price as a real one....they are just toys for
weekend enjoyment. In my opinion spending in excess of 20K
is a waste of money. Based on that, Vintage fits my needs
to a tee.....it also helps that he is 15 miles away.....
If your philosophy is different than mine, so be it....

Vince: do you know which fuel filter (the metal can) should I get as a replacement for the one that VS ships the cars with?

I have to agree with the views expressed here. Kirk did me right and the VS has been great. A new owner from OKC, and a member of this forum will get to brag on it soon. Congrats to Justin!

My Im is on the list now... and I am excited about the build. Vince, I did it in reaction to that bait you tossed out in the post 2 or 3 above this one! Ok, Im kidding! I love ya Vince.. you can say what you like and I am all for it bro! I like trolling too!

Jim

Way to go Jim! Congratulations on making it to the list. Ya gonna be ready for the spring get togethers? Do you have the details of your build worked out yet and are you going to share them with us, or did I miss this in a previous post? Anyway, best of luck and I can feel your excitement all the way to K-TN, another red dirt place.
John H

Jimbo...How the hell are ya?????
We are all car guys, some of us are blessed with more of the green stuff then others, and in my case its more like cursed with a lack
of the green stuff. I am still able to enjoy our hobby, but at a
much lesser cost. My philosophy is more driven by the needs of my
family rather than my own, so I'll stick with my VS and be happy,
I hope you will be happy with your new ride when it arrives, you
more than deserve it bro......

Hi John, thanks.. making that list is almost like making the transplant list. Ok, I jest. The reality is Henry has been great to work with and I got in line over a month or so ago.

I haven't posted my build as it has been a fluid thing, or a work in progress... No big secret though.

I'll write and give you the run down !

J

Re VS and JPS vs. IM: it's all a matter of what you want and what you can afford to spend. I've seen and driven VS and JPS cars and they're nice for what they are, but l wanted a car that they simply do not build, and I could afford a much customized IM, so my choice was simplified.

Many people have told me I must be nuts to have spent as much as I did, but value and satisfaction with the product are personal, subjective perceptions beyond price.

I do not think of my car as a Porsche replica; I think of it as a very fine example of an Intermeccanica. When people ask what it is, I tell them it's an IM that resembles a 1956 Porsche Speedster.

George:

Well said.

Bill

I think, after seeing Jerome Smith's car at Carlisle, that he should quit his "day" job and go into the custom Speedster business.

If he could figure out how to give that workmanship and quality while cranking out one or two per month at a reasonable cost, he'd have people lined up to get 'em.

Just my 2 cents......

Having seen and ridden in Jerome's beautiful Speedster last summer, I can echo Gordon's remarks. However, hypothetically, what would be great for Jerome's customers might be not so good for Jerome. I believe that often times what you love to do and also do very well as hobby or for relaxation becomes a mill stone when you turn it into your business, your means to making a living.
my 2 kroner

My thoughts exactly... A few times during the past 14 years of building replica's and speedsters I've crunched the numbers in hopes that I could turn this affection for speedters into a full time occupation.
The bottom line is that a one man shop cannot produce an annual production to make a decent living based on the 400-450 man hours to assemble a basic speedster replica. Add incorporating, insurance, larger facilities, utilities, minimal advertising,buying parts at retail due to the low quanity is difficult and did I mention a hefty donation to the tax man? Hence, the numbers just don't add up.
What has been and is still a fun hobby would certainly loose the joy as we all know at times dealing with the public is a harsh reality. That's the "why" of keeping this hobby, a fun hobby.

C U down the road....Alan M

Re: turning your hobby into a livlihood...

One of my hobbies is motorcycles and I was always a little put-off by the treatment I got from most dealerships. When the opportunity arose I bought an existing dealership, expanded it, and opened a second location - the idea was to treat my customers the same way that I had always wanted to be treated.

After five years of dealing with the public, long hours, hassles with distributors (BMW, Ducati, Laverda, Moto Guzzi), and no time off except for one very brief vaction (with customers/friends on bikes) all I wanted was to be out of the motorcycle business. Sold them and never looked back.

The grass is not always greener...

My dad flew in the Navy and instilled in me a love of flying at a very early age. A boyhood friend of mine and I became licensed pilots about the same time. My friend chose the path of airline pilot as his career, I went another route. Today, I still love to spend a half hour doing hammerheads, loops and spins, while my friend won

Bill,

I flew for many years until losing my Class I a couple of years ago (Physical). I also worked ATC for years, most of the time at DFW approach (just about did a stint at Bay Tracon in the early 80s) I can see what you are saying about the loss of passion that some Air Carrier guys lose after driving a bus for too many years. There are exceptions, but not many. ATC can grind the passion out too, unless you liked working with the General Aviation guys as much as I did.

Jim
Looking for that Class I again.
(p-reply in the hopper Bill, with an explanation)

GB,

How's retirement and gun sales going?

Jim

on 11/21/2004 Jim Ward wrote:
"I am absolutely blown away by what I read here each time I check in."

Yup........me, too.

Gordon

Jim:

I flew a fair amount under the tender guidance of DFW Departure/Approach in 1995 while flying out of Addison Airport. I was living at the time in Dallas after selling my company to a company based in Irving, TX. It always amazed me how you guys handled busy holiday weekends with a major line of thunderstorms blowing through.

As a guy who has been on both ends of this situation, I don

Bill.

It's a long story. Call it pure luck! Here it comes off-forum.... I already ran up my annual SOC space in that earlier semi-rant.

Your readback speaks volumes. It's good to have you in the SOC. Probably will see you in Vancouver or southbound on the PCH this Spring. That could be fun. My salute to your father and to any Navy Aviator... simply the best in the business.

Jim

P-mail in your box before I turn off ESPN. (Trying to make sense out of the BCS mess.)

Every person has their own idea of the perfect Speedster... I think attending Knott's made me appreciate that fact more than ever. I also think each of us see our car as a "work in progress", even at George's level.

To me, the neatest thing about GB's build is that his 56GS was built as a reward after retiring from his career, and taking a job that he may enjoy more. GB appears to be a big time detail guy and a person who has held an long term active passion for these cars. So, as an observer, it makes sense to me that he went to the nth degree on this build. I say, more power to him. (Hi GB.)

My VS has been a fun and a memory maker car in the line of cars I've owned dating back to a Hudson Twin H Powered Jet at age 14. The fact that it came during a time of change makes it even more significant and valuable. It now goes to someone who has a passion for these replicas just as strong as any of ours. It feels good to pass the keys to him. That VS was built solid, and it still feels that way today. Kudos to Kirk...

I think William Steele asked me earler this month why I would give it up and go for the IM... and it's a great question.

It all goes back to Knott's. Making that drive to LA (Knott's) this spring was a significant thing in the IM buy.

The pleasure of driving Dale's super IM Speedster made a big impact. Dale was a little under the weather and so his judgement may have been impaired as he tossed me the keys. And then there was a night sipping beers with Dale, John L, Bruce, Rick, and Henry. Henry is an interesting man, and I was impressed with his attitude and knowledge. I drove home this Spring absolutely sold on a Henry built IM.... It's a winning combo for what I want and can afford at this point in life. It won't be even close to GB's build.. but I am going to school on things he did... that's for sure. Same goes for JL's JPS GT, and about half the owners on this forum... Rick, Dale, Stan, Eddie, the Bruce's, Gordo, Alan, the list is big.

Does the IM buy make my knowledge, passion, or involvment greater than the guy on the forum that just uncrated a CMC that has sat in storage for 10 years? Nope,I am absolutely blown away by what I read here each time I check in. And I am humbled by the experience and knowledge that is shared to rookies like me.

All that to say; I am now enjoying the great experience of having to sort through the IM build list of options. It is absolutely a custom(er) built car. And I am equally impressed with Henry's willingness to work with me to make the car feel unique, while being mindful of my budget. Henry is now exceeding the expectations formed back at Knott's. I hope to see everyone there this year. With a little luck I may be rolling south on the PCH this year with other IMs, JPS, CMCs, Becks, VSers, and every type left out. Then a cold Moslon or Soda when we get all get parked at Knott's and put the faces and names together. That, is what it is all about.


My several thousand pesos worth. Excuse the rant and blame it on the meds,,, Jim

Jim, retirement goes well; part time job is very interesting. The customers vary between highly educated professionals and guys that might have been role models for the bad guys in "Deliverance". Once in a while I get to teach a pretty lady handgun safety and marksmanship; usually have to snuggle up to them to demonstrate the correct Weaver stance...

Gunguys, have a look at page 66 in the Jan/Feb issue of American Handgunner.

Happy Thanksgiving
Eddie

George,

The second shooting position I would teach in those circumstances would be the prone position.

It's good to see you active on the forum again.

How about heading west for Knotts this year? I'm sure your GS would be a hit.

Jim

Eddie, I'll check it out at Barnes tomorrow.

Jim, I'm thinking about going to Knott's... don't know if the 911-4 will be in the car by then.