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Who can provide a story about meeting and talking with Kirk Duncan? After touring the shop in Hawaiian Gardens did you order a car?
5 cars a week !
WOW
I thought this would be another oil leak story.
Things were different 16 years ago, weren't they?
Look at all those boxes of chrome Mangel slotted wheels. The chrome was really good on those. I was lucky enough to find a set of unused ones about 10 years ago and the chrome is perfect still. I understand the new chrome ones offered are not close to same quality.
all the Mangel used wheels you see at the swap meet are rusty ,
I am sure they were not taken care of but they seem to rust more than the German chrome rims.
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I can add this note about the Mangels.
I ordered my car from Kirk in early July, 2013, and it was ready at the end of the month.
I drove down to the shop (from Sacramento) to check out the finished car and hand over the final check. We had it shipped back home.
I chatted with the shop manager for a while.
He explained that Mangel had discontinued production on the eight-slotted wheels some time before and that that had caught VS short, as they used Mangels exclusively. When they realized their situation, VS bought up the entire remaining stock from Mangel and stored them wherever they could. Eventually, they ran out and, about the time my car was being made, they switched to the Chinese repops.
The Chinese wheels on my car actually weren't that bad. The chrome was decent (or decent-looking, at least) and they seemed round enough. The hidden problem was in the little nubs that held the hub caps on. They were just a little larger than the nubs on the Mangels and standard VW hubcaps often wouldn't stay on. VS tried a few desperate measures at first (including glue, according to one story) until they eventually found a source for caps that would stay on.
So yes, it was possible to pick up a 'finished' Speedster a month after phoning in your order, almost like ordering a pizza. But, well, 'finished' can be a relative term, no?
Looking back, and comparing my experience with VS to the many stories of happy folks who bought cars from Kirk in earlier years, I can only conclude that dwindling availability of quality parts and suppliers put the squeeze on Kirk toward the end of his run. He was trying to deliver a decent product at the lowest possible price, and towards the end, that was nearly impossible to do.
The VS let me into a great hobby that has returned years of fun driving. If I were starting out today, I'm not sure I'd be willing to spend the bucks or wait the years it now takes.
It's just ten years ago now, but those were indeed different times.
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How many super-wide bodies were made at Vintage Speedster?
@Sacto Mitch posted:.
I can add this note about the Mangels.
I ordered my car from Kirk in early July, 2013, and it was ready at the end of the month.
I drove down to the shop (from Sacramento) to check out the finished car and hand over the final check. We had it shipped back home.
I chatted with the shop manager for a while.
He explained that Mangel had discontinued production on the eight-slotted wheels some time before and that that had caught VS short, as they used Mangels exclusively. When they realized their situation, VS bought up the entire remaining stock from Mangel and stored them wherever they could. Eventually, they ran out and, about the time my car was being made, they switched to the Chinese repops.
The Chinese wheels on my car actually weren't that bad. The chrome was decent (or decent-looking, at least) and they seemed round enough. The hidden problem was in the little nubs that held the hub caps on. They were just a little larger than the nubs on the Mangels and standard VW hubcaps often wouldn't stay on. VS tried a few desperate measures at first (including glue, according to one story) until they eventually found a source for caps that would stay on.
So yes, it was possible to pick up a 'finished' Speedster a month after phoning in your order, almost like ordering a pizza. But, well, 'finished' can be a relative term, no?
Looking back, and comparing my experience with VS to the many stories of happy folks who bought cars from Kirk in earlier years, I can only conclude that dwindling availability of quality parts and suppliers put the squeeze on Kirk toward the end of his run. He was trying to deliver a decent product at the lowest possible price, and towards the end, that was nearly impossible to do.
The VS let me into a great hobby that has returned years of fun driving. If I were starting out today, I'm not sure I'd be willing to spend the bucks or wait the years it now takes.
It's just ten years ago now, but those were indeed different times.
.
Awesome story Sacto!
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FWIW, I swapped out the Chinese wheels about five years ago for these Mangels. I'm at least the third owner.
How they endure will, of course, depend on how well they've been treated over the years. These are never exposed to rain or snow, and to only a handful of Paris-Dakar rallies.
Previous owner said he waxed them regularly, but I never have. Instead, I wipe them down with water and a wet sponge about every 100 miles or so. Brake dust wipes right off if you don't let it sit too long. This wipe down takes about a minute per wheel.
It's just my own unscientific theory, but I think smooth, delicate surfaces are better off the less you fuss with them. On the paint, I just use copious amounts of water and a soft sponge to keep off the abrasive dust that settles even on a car that sleeps in the garage a lot.
But then, I wear cloves of garlic around my neck to fend off evil vapors and the rheumatism.
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Attachments
For Todd Dean re: a Kirk story. I snooped around the Speedsters Owners' site for a good time learning about the cars and Vintage Speedsters. In September 2017 I flew down to CA to Hawaiian Gardens to do an "eyes on" walkaround and evaluate the company. There were already a couple of stories circulating around about deposits evaporating into the ether without getting product. Both Kirk and his wife were great, a good number of cars in progress, and I liked the operation. But during our conversation Kirk gave a soft indication that he might be ending his run. I don't recall exactly, but somehow his age came up (71 then I believe) and I asked if he had someone in line to take over the business? I was thinking about downstream help, parts, etc. The answer was a little vague, and I decided to hold. In the meantime, he did sell and I visited the new owners of Vintage Speedsters in AZ (many of you may recall the sudden exodus of parts, etc. to AZ and the abandonment of then current employees) when I was down at the auto auctions that January 2018. I don't blame Kirk for selling...he deserved a profit on on his long-time efforts. At the site, bad vibe. Too clean, too few employees, too few cars in progress. Greg Leach had already started the process of creating Vintage CA, and I got back in touch with him. We actually met face-to-face in Idaho where Greg was visiting relatives. Made our choices on colors, engine, etc. and I flew down again to review the shop under Greg's leadership, deposit, etc. That was July 2018, car finished in September: a couple of minor things to sort, but Greg and Anna great, and still are. So, I credit Kirk for getting me started and interested in 356A replicas, and Greg for finishing up what Kirk started. I know this is a bit long-winded, but I'll close with advice to those interested in acquiring a replica. The money I spent doing my homework on site at both locations was a small cost compared to some of the sad stories I've heard about prospective buyers being thin on due dilligence. Kirk can be credited as being perhaps the major "father" of growing the industry, based purely on the number of vehicles he made. But time eventually sorted competitors down to two very reliable builders. That's performance based. I do owe Kirk for being a decent builder and an advocate of his product that got a lot of us into what many members of this site call "the madness." Thx Kirk! And this site has provided so much good information, good knowledge and good people to those like me along the way. Thank you guys...too.
@Idaho posted:For Todd Dean re: a Kirk story. I snooped around the Speedsters Owners' site for a good time learning about the cars and Vintage Speedsters. In September 2017 I flew down to CA to Hawaiian Gardens to do an "eyes on" walkaround and evaluate the company. There were already a couple of stories circulating around about deposits evaporating into the ether without getting product. Both Kirk and his wife were great, a good number of cars in progress, and I liked the operation. But during our conversation Kirk gave a soft indication that he might be ending his run. I don't recall exactly, but somehow his age came up (71 then I believe) and I asked if he had someone in line to take over the business? I was thinking about downstream help, parts, etc. The answer was a little vague, and I decided to hold. In the meantime, he did sell and I visited the new owners of Vintage Speedsters in AZ (many of you may recall the sudden exodus of parts, etc. to AZ and the abandonment of then current employees) when I was down at the auto auctions that January 2018. I don't blame Kirk for selling...he deserved a profit on on his long-time efforts. At the site, bad vibe. Too clean, too few employees, too few cars in progress. Greg Leach had already started the process of creating Vintage CA, and I got back in touch with him. We actually met face-to-face in Idaho where Greg was visiting relatives. Made our choices on colors, engine, etc. and I flew down again to review the shop under Greg's leadership, deposit, etc. That was July 2018, car finished in September: a couple of minor things to sort, but Greg and Anna great, and still are. So, I credit Kirk for getting me started and interested in 356A replicas, and Greg for finishing up what Kirk started. I know this is a bit long-winded, but I'll close with advice to those interested in acquiring a replica. The money I spent doing my homework on site at both locations was a small cost compared to some of the sad stories I've heard about prospective buyers being thin on due dilligence. Kirk can be credited as being perhaps the major "father" of growing the industry, based purely on the number of vehicles he made. But time eventually sorted competitors down to two very reliable builders. That's performance based. I do owe Kirk for being a decent builder and an advocate of his product that got a lot of us into what many members of this site call "the madness." Thx Kirk! And this site has provided so much good information, good knowledge and good people to those like me along the way. Thank you guys...too.
What a wonderful story!!!
With all the speedster out here there has to be more stories...