I am disabled and cannot drive a stick. Does anyone have a speedster for sale with an automatic transmission? Looking for one that does not need work. Located in Iowa. Thanks!
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@Matt McKee had a Speedster with an automatic he was trying to sell last year. Here's the thread:
https://www.speedsterowners.com...tomatic-transmission
He'll get an email that he was mentioned so maybe he'll come on and give an update. Otherwise I haven't heard of too many automatic Speedsters.
With all the improvements made with Subaru motors being put into Speedsters maybe one of the builders could source a Suby with an automatic for for you. Try @chines1 with Beck, or @Vintage Motorcars Inc . Maybe they could do something for you.
How about an electric speedster?
crhemi (Bill) poboiinhawaii posted:How about an electric speedster?
Why? Do you have one for sale?
Joe-
The was one automatic Beck made by a shop in NY using one of our roller packages. It was determined it was cost prohibitive with the current chassis. That car is referenced above and was on the used market at one time.
There is an electric Beck available, however it was built with a 4 speed gearbox. You don't have to use the clutch to start or when stopping, and you COULD just stick it in a forward gear and go, however it was designed to be shifter through the gears and you have to use the clutch when in motion to do this...
In late '60s VW offered a semi-automatic in the VW T1 (Ghia too). Many "new old" VW owners remove them and convert to the VW 4 speed. Other than their having to add a clutch cable guide to the tunnel it is a straight forward conversion. It is even easier to convert a 4 speed back to the semi-automatic! The semi works without a clutch - touching the shift knob is like pushing the clutch in (there is no clutch or clutch pedal). It accomplishes this by using engine vacuum. It uses the VWs 2,3 and 4 gears --- 1 is eliminated. Cost of used parts is $50-300. Need pedal assembly, shifter, semi-transaxel with flywheel ring, vacuum tank, semi oil pump, hoses and rear engine tin. It is a direct bolt in replacement. Its a quirky trans since you still have to shift gear just no clutch - and forget about resting your hand on the shifter knob.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/cla...etail.php?id=1929696
Didn't VW also make a 3 speed full auto that would fit in these cars? Saw one at Carlisle 2 years ago. It was an IM. Don't know what your budget is but I'm sure Henry would be happy to build one for you.
Someone needs to produce a 356 kit for a Miata. There's numerous kits already on the market (Z3, Cobra, etc.), why not a 356?
Think about it-Miata reliability, power steering, power brakes, optional automatic transmission.
Take this Miata (already called a Speedster)
And with a body kit turn it into this. Easy-peasy. 
I think I'm on to something......or maybe I'm on something. 
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The full auto TIII box is what the automatic Beck used. Rear suspension didn;t play nice with our tube chassis and the shop that built it essentially back halted the chassis to accommodate the trans. That was the major cost. Besides that, I have been told by Rancho that TIII full auto boxes are uber-rare these days.
chines1 posted:The full auto TIII box is what the automatic Beck used. Rear suspension didn;t play nice with our tube chassis and the shop that built it essentially back halted the chassis to accommodate the trans. That was the major cost. Besides that, I have been told by Rancho that TIII full auto boxes are uber-rare these days.
Carey,
Any chance that a Suby with an automatic can be made to fit in a Speedster or do the Suby engines you use for the Speedsters only come in manual?
I'm sure the market for Speedsters with an automatic is pretty small but it does seem like an untapped market.
At this time they only come in manual. We will have a solution for this in the VERY near future, I just have a few more things to refine until I am 100% happy and ready to make it public...
Thank you all for your comments and help. Alex got back to me and he said to hold tight and maybe something will be coming down the pike in the near future.
Nolan's silver SAW/SAS has an automatic - assume it's a Subbie unit since his engine is in back seat forward of transaxle so everything spins in right direction. All VW 411/412 had a fully automatic along with the Type 4 engine --- should be lots of those out there (they got rusty quick). Suspect that transaxle is not much larger than the T1? I'd holdout for paddle shifters!
Yes, SAS has built a few automatics. All Subaru drive train