Why a "replica" you say?

Think of it as an all steel kit car. Can be assembled in a couple of weekends in your spare time.....

See! Proof positive that you can buy a real 356 'vert for the price of an Intermeccanica (David C, I know you're out there somewhere)

 

... of course the 'vert in question "needs lots of rust repair" (according to the listing), is incomplete, has been rolled (bent windshield frame), and is in boxes. Right now the listing is at $30K! Of course, the reserve hasn't been met, so there's that.

And 2.5 days to go.  Could be a last minute frenzy goin' on.  Love the "two weeks in your spare time". 

It does have a nice steering wheel.. the rest will buff out.

SHR- is that a nuclear powered buffer you're usin'?

Just some chicken wire and bondo to fix that one up.  YIKES.

 

Chris:

 

Don't forget the spare time over a couple of weekends!

 

I've seen much worse; this one looks like a really good candidate for restoration.

Impala:

Extracting my tongue from my cheek, yeah it might be. That kind of thing is so far beyond my skill level, and the entry fee on this is considerably more than I have in my VS that runs and looks great (IMHO).

Just depends on the level of disease you suffer from with these things as to how far you want to go. 

Oh absolutely agree with you 100% Of course I was referring to pro restorers. But it looks like a great car to do provided you have the time and resources ($$$$$$$$$ and lots of it!)

It worries me that it is sitting in a pro shop and someone has apparently bailed on it.  I smell rust. 

^You don't have to smell it, you can see it in the pictures. "Impala" (PLEASE put your real name in your user name) is right-- worse car have been restored, but the reason "real" ones are going for $150K+ is that a restoration on even a good candidate like this would cost about that much in total.

There's no mystery here.  The body is owned and offered for sale by Unobtanium Inc.  The owner, Adam, is a very active member of the 356 registry.  He's a guy who travels around, looking for barn finds.  He buys and sells bodies, parts, etc. of 356's, 911's, and 912's.  He's on this site occassionally.

SO THAT'S the car CMC said could be assembled in 40 hours with the help of a few friends , glad that's been cleared up !

Alan:

 

You would know.

Hi Stan; my username had always been the same for years in this site. Why would I need to change it now; is there a new rule? Besides a few of the guys here already know who I am. You should know; I even remember you from a few years back. I really don't have a problem; just wondered where this request came from.

I feel like I came in on the middle of a conversation.  I thought that rstoll45 was indicating that the original body for sale was being sold as something that it wasn't, that the offer was suspicious, or that there was some misrepresentation.  It doesn't seem like that to me.  I know Unobtanium only from the web, however.  The internet is filled with old 356 bodies for sale.  Whether they are worth the asking price is another issue.  I'm not sure how that impacts CMC or kits in general.  I must be missing something here, eh?

The trend here is for members to use their real names plus their type of car under names.  I really prefer that myself so I can address whoever I'm writing to rather than a ficticious name.  Seems nicer to me but it's your call.

 

Likewise we are putting our email addresses in our profile so we can send an email off site.

Like this:  hsbrokerATaolDOTcom to thwart harvesting our email addresses.

 

--Just trying to be helpful.   

Jim:

 

I take it as a running commentary as to the comparative costs and value of the real vs. the replica. For what this car will probably sell for, rusted and apart, you can get a pretty nice replica, running and beautiful. Tradeoffs, yup.

 

I admire the abilities of a good restorer as I do skills of a good replica builder or refurbisher.

 

I took rstoll45's post as a comment on the fact that replica's exist for those of us who can't, or aren't willing to sink $150k or more into fixing a car like that up. But, maybe I misunderstood. I also thought the ad he cited didn't misrepresent anything. Looks to me like he is selling a restorable car currently in pieces, that needs a lot of money, time and skill to bring it back. Nothing hidden that I can tell.

 

For me, at the end of the day, I have a ton of fun in my VS, and I'm not sweating it if it takes a hit, throws a rod or gets finicky. My return on my investment in terms of fun is really good.

 

I have owned a couple of true "collector cars" and I worried about them every time I drove them. I don't do that now, and I'm having as much fun as before without the concerns.

 

Kudos to those who feel otherwise!

 

 

Hi Bob,

 

I agree 100% with your comments.  I am happy that restorers exist, who will put time and money into these wonderful projects.  Of course, projects done on speculation don't occur often, for good reason.  Before any shop will commit the time and money to do a complete restoration, they need the guy or gal with the money.

 

I had a couple of real 50's sports cars way back when.  They weren't worth then what they are now, but they still drew lots of looks.  One of the many positive elements of our replicas is that we didn't mortgage the homestead, and we can, if we want, make them much better platforms than the originals.  Like most of us, I want to drive mine, not look at it, or worry about someone getting too close to it.

 

We've got a big tent here, and lots of us, myself included, are about a half bubble off plumb.  I wouldn't have it any other way.

Kindred spirits, Jim! I haven't been plumb in maybe.... forever.

Jim, I don't know how you came up with that, but Bob got it right.

Ricardo, 

Stan's just living up to his "Retro Grouch" moniker.

Us veteran site dwellers know you well but there are several new members who don't.

 

Regarding the ridiculous prices that are the norm on old 356's. I don't see any problem with it. As long as someone will spend it, why not ask for it? The Convertible D is one of the rarest production 356's. Someone will spend $50k for a basket case, put $100k into it and make a profit of $30-50k. Definitely a smart investment.

The problem I have with it is more of a safety issue. A car in that condition offers very little structural integrity. While it's quite possible to restore it to show condition it's questionable if it's truly road-worthy. I've seen a number of these "metal doilies" at Ed Rutherford's shop (Klasse 356) turned into beautiful cars but I always wonder what they'll look like after a minor fender bender.

Bob G wrote ....."Alan:You would know"

 

Replicas can and are driven without the fear of a stone chip that would surely send the owner into a straight jacket...... It's  alot easier getting the nod for $25k- $35k from your significant other than one and a half large....... so there you have it folks ~

Anytime I'm at a car gathering, I place in my windshield the placard pictured below.

 

On occasion a passerby seeing my placard would ask "Why would anyone want a replica Speedster"?

 

My answer would always be;

 

"I view my replica Speedster like I view breast implants. EVERYBODY knows they're fake, yet they're always nice to look at and too much fun to play with, and they're WAAAAY better than the originals! 

 

 

Alan:

 

Ditto! I'm with you.

Terry:

 

I absolutely agree with you on all three counts, ridiculous prices for 356's (wish I had bought a dozen cheap 20 years ago), the car in question will hopefully be completed and sold for a nice profit, and I bet it's gonna be tough to make it road worthy!.

 

If your ears were burning tonight it is because your name came up in conversation among Stan, Rich Drewek and I over dinner. Stan was reminiscing about your drive around northern CA. a year or two back. Now that sounded lke time well spent!

 I like cars,I like cool cars,I like sweet engines,I like driving cars more than looking at them,I want to have fun,I am already OCD as it is,I would be terrified to drive a 200K car with the idiots on the road,I HATE rust. That is what keeps me away from ever thinking about owning a real 356. 

When I was a youngster their was a Doctor that lived a block away who owned  a speedster and a coupe " What ugly cars", I thought. Then again, what does a snot nosed kid know?

yup me too,Im still not fond of the later stuff,but these 50's shapes grow on ya fast.hmm ,do these have a shape?

 and how much structure integrity do these glass bodys afford us?if what hits you happens to be lowenough to tag the bodys frame you might be luckey,but above it and ??? I plan on a tubular chassie addtion to mine1 for some sdded safty&2 for tieing the rear to the front much better. thats if I ever get to do anything to it. got to sell all this drag racing stuff& new dragcar first. ( the 356 sits under a cover under the carport untill that happens.)

Volvo it ain't....