Wanted Speedster in Canada

Hello My name is Peter, I am in Montreal and looking to purchase a Speedster in Canada or the US.
Ideally, I would like a standard Speedster (non wide body). Any year is fine, any color as well.
Depending on the condition, I plan on rebuilding the car (repaint, upgrade to disc brakes, tuned engine etc...) or drive it as is (as some lucky new owners have already done in this forum).
I am looking for a mechanically reliable car, no basket cases.
I an checking this forum as well as EBay, any other sites I should be looking into?

Thanks.
Peter
(Go Habs Go!)

Also check the classifieds at The Samba.com.

Hello Ricardo.

Thanks for the site.

I looked at it, it has lots of great pics as well.

Regards,
Peter

Hi Peter,
I will be selling our 1978 Intermeccanica Speester pan based car as our new 2007 IM 6 Roadster is under construction.
This car has served us very nicely over the past 4 years, has always been a Vancouver area car and well kept with a fresh 2110 in 2004.
I have some photos on the Photos section of this site along with September 2005 / March 2006 and June 2007 features on the SOC calendars.
This car has been driven to Knotts 2004 and 2005 and Central California in 2006 along with many trips in the Northwest. It is a proven dependable driver as many who frequent this site can attest to.
If interested please contact me off site at: normans AT shawcable.com and mention 1978 IM Speedster on the subject line.
Rick

Hello Rick,

Will get in touch with you. Nice to hear from another Canadian.

I actually found out that I cannot even purchase a new IM from BC, imagine that, Made in Canada but you cant buy it in Quebec!!

Regards,
Peter

Hello Peter, there are strict regulations pertaining to kit cars in Canada. They must be over 15 years old to be able to come into the country.

Download this pdf page and go to page 4 of the *Make sure link in the first paragraph. All kits assembled or not under 15 years old are not admissable

So what does this mean? You need to find an older one in Canada that is for sale. I bought mine in Toronto, found on www.cartrader.ca and then started the aggravation of Quebec license and insurance. First the car has to go through a 'garage mandataire' for road worthy inspection. I admit I got lucky but I needed to go 3 times to pass.

That's why it's so rare to see one in Canada. The only other I know in Quebec is another SOC member and my business lawyer in Montreal.

Bonne chance,

Mike
www.mikeandjosee.com

Mike,.

Ricks car is in BC and since it is a 78, should be ok, eh?

Hello Mike,

First of all Happy New Year, Is there any snow on Mont Ste-Anne?
Secondly does your lawyer friend want to sell his Speedster?

I appreciate the information that's why I am starting to look now in case I have any work to do on it or rebuilding before the inspection.

I also glad that there are not many Speesters around in Quebec-makes you part of an exclusive club, dare I say it...almost like you have a real one!!

I have a good friend of mine that is building a 550 Spyder replica for our well known Quebec comedian Michel Barrette, as you might know is quite the car collector. I heard that he had a Speedster replica also but when he saw a Spyder he went ballistic!

Anyway thanks again for the information, I will keep in touch.

I miss the Nordiques!
Salutations.

Up until this year, you are correct, that you could not buy a new Intermeccanica in Canada, outside of BC. However, that has now changed as you can purchase brand new Intermeccanica cars through the new Canadian dealer.

I think I was the first Speedster in Quebec, since then there was another (Bertrand). So yes they are unique and turn heads. I love it.

There is snow.... but not much. We are 20C over normal temps. This is not good for spring.

If you are ever close to Quebec City, mi casa est su casa.

Just joined this wonderful site, great and enjoyable reading! Interesting to follow the above discussion. I'm in Toronto and have also wondered about the difficulty of buying an Intermeccanica ... is it because he builds his replicar from the ground up rather than building it on top of a VW pan so that the replicar can then be licensed as a VW? Or is the problem elsewhere?

cheers, guenter

ps. perusing the forum I note that most replicars have no side windows? Which ones do?

Intermeccanica cars can now be purchased new in Canada, and all have side windows, either electric or manual.

Hello Mike and all other fellow members.

FYI, the latest issue of Hemmings Motor News has a great cover!
Rush out and buy it as I did (suitable for framing!).
Mike, I wont tell you what's on the cover but you will love it and so will everyone else from this forum.

Regards,
Peter
PS: the classified ads are also great!

Mike,

BTW in Hemmings, there is a real 55 Speedster for sale, also currently on Ebay at 95,000$ bid.

The fellow selling is from Gasp

Peter,

Knowing what I do about Rick's Speedster and having owned two tubs now I think buying his would be an incredible deal and a way to get into the hobby without dropping too much on a car on your initial investment. I've had the pleasure of seeing Rick's Speedster on three annual road trips and it is simply one of the best maintained and great looking Speedsters in the SOC. He has run both the current wide whites and a set of Fuchs on that car and both sets look outstanding. The paint has the right look for accuracy and I know that it runs strong after trying to keep up with him on HY1 last year.

Dependable Driver? I'll attest to that. You could drop more on a newer one that would not be nearly as dependable or have been as well maintained. That 2110 is a BIG plus.

Look at Paul Harford's advice on buying a Speedster at the top of this discussion area. Rick's Speedster matches Paul's advice to a T.

The car is all but an Icon for Intermeccainca. It's been featured on T-shirts and Greeting cards by Intermeccanica Int'l and as Rick noted it was featured on 3 SOC Calendars. There are only a few cars that have the incredible history this one has...

did someone say you can buy a new intermeccanica anywere in canada through a IM dealer? (what about quebec)please tell me more,were is this dealer and how can we contact them.

Click on the makers TAB on the top and ask them directly.
You can call them at:

Phone: 604-872-4747
Email: info@intermeccanica.com

Thanks Jim,

I will look into it.

The Quebec Highway code is not always easy on new replicas but buying a used one from another Province might just be the best way, hopefully IM being "made in Canada" makes it easier.

I would hate to find a great deal in the US, drive it to the border, cross into Canada and then never get a chance to plate the car in Quebec!

Will keep you posted on my search.

Regards,
Peter

Peter

If your still in the market check out the Intermeccanica website -- I have mine posted there for sale.

Dean