Why not a REAL Speedster?

Time and $$$$$$$$$$$$

 

"But imagine if someone wanted to make a viable NON Floor Pan Speedster based on forms created from the original and carefully put together? It would LOOK EXACTLY like the original but BETTER!"

 

Seems to me someone does that these days...

Manx, X2 what Bob said.  Take a trip here:

 

Intermeccanica International Inc.

39 Braid Street, New Westminster

British Columbia, Canada V3L-3P2

TEL 604-872-4747

FAX 605-877-1533

Email Info@intermeccanica.com

 

You can pretty much have whatever you want, but it won't cost 30K,  I'm Just Saying

Very good, guys!

 

The way I see it, Roger, the problem with trying to make your car more like an original is that no matter what you do, it will never have a P serial #. Accept it for the great looking, attention getting, low cost totally fun fake that it is, don't worry about authenticity, and do it up however you want. Every one on the street (except the occasional Porsche purist) will love it!

 

I looked at all the work done to create that more original looking back seat area, and although it's neat I don't really see the point. These things will never be originals, and when you think of it, that's a good thing. It allows us to do whatever the h*ll we want, AND TO ENJOY DRIVING THEM!!!

 

Hope this helps. Al

Good post Al.

I don't think he's ever met Ruby! Jus' sayin'

 

~WB

I was JUST commenting on something I see here reguarly and trust me as a Porsche owner and prior REAL Speedster owner I take a LOT of flack for my "Spoofster' and frankly as I've told them I don't give a damn! The point of the original was to be enjoyed and to go fast and beat the competition! The Replica Speedsters I see here and own do JUST THAT! 

I'd like to see a Porsche "frame/floor-pan" replica just to see it. But Like everyone says, it doesn't make it any more authentic--it's just another cool thing to try cuz you can.

I have once or twice wondered why Porsche themselves would not get on the Speedster bandwagon, and just go make a bunch of modern steel Speedsters, like they did before.  They "own" the dies and such needed to make the metal parts.  And w/ modern techniques, they would not have to have craftsmen to tap and tinker the metal and add lead just to make it be right.  the COULD do it.  But they won't because they could not sell them because they would not be safe enough.  If they tried to make them safe enough, they would not be REAL Speedsters anymore.  And besides, the market is probably pretty small, compared to what it really takes to make money selling cars. So yes you can understand how to form up so many sheet metal panels and weld them together to form a Speedster.  But tooling costs would kill you, I think.  And what would you have if did do it that way:  in five or ten years, a rust bucket.

 

So there is this joke about a mathematician and an engineer.  They are standing at one end of a long corridor, and there is a comely wench at the other end, anxious to please, shall we say.  They are to race to see who gets there first and so have access to her obvious assets. There is a rule, however.  The rule is that you can only cover half the distance to her before you must stop, then can only cover half that distance and stop, and so on.  So the race starts.  The engineer tears off down the hall to the first stopping point, and the mathematician  just stands at the starting line, not moving.  When asked why he is not moving he replies, "Under the rules, I would have to race for an infinite time to reach the goal, and since that is impossible, there is no point trying.  When the engineer is asked why he also does not understand this truth, and why is he wasting his time?  The engineer, panting while running and stopping per the rules, replies: "  I can do this for just a few more stops and get close enough it won't make any difference.

 

My "fake" Speedster: it is close enough not to make any difference.  And I get the prize every time I drive it.  PS: I am an engineer.

 

Mr. Frazoo, I just realized why Porsche engineers put no handbrake between the separate, bucket seats in a Speedster.

 

You could get close enough that it wouldn't make any difference.

 

 

 

 

 

The sad part is Porsche COULD make a Modern Speedster but won't. The closest thing you can get is the Boxster Spyder and it's hardly a stripped down Race ready car! I have a 2013 Boxster S and frankly it's NO where as fun as my Replica Speedster! 

Yes I hate that vw handbrake front and center. Took mine out, don't have it. I use a line-lock on rest wheels. No problem.

Meister Restoration, in Barnstead, NH, is now or will be shortly turning out exact (and I mean exact, down to the rivets used), Concours-Quality 550 Spyders, totally in aluminum and including a faithfully reproduced (but with electronic ignition) shaft-driven 4-cam 356 Carerra engine.

 

Going price for the combo is around a million.  I think the engine, alone, is several hundred Thou.

 

I would expect a faithfully reproduced Speedster to run about half that price, or be in the $400K-$500K range, and ade of steel, just like the originals.  

 

Pocket Change, for some.  But it would still have to be labeled a "replica", otherwise it will be subject to today's emission regulations.

 

Far more interesting would be to buy a Porsche 904 reproduction from the Beck Boys.

Don't see why the Speedster would be $400-$500k when the Jag D and C-types are less than half that. 

"Far more interesting would be to buy a Porsche 904 reproduction from the Beck Boys."

 

Yes it would Gordon!

 

Real vs Fake. This has been going on in the Cobra world since I first got my first 427SC. There are only two companies that make almost exact replicas of the original Cobra 427SC w/tubular frames and aluminum bodies, they use the correct Smith's gauges and Lucas toggle switches for electrics, and on and on down the line, the companies are Shelby and Kirkham. The reason I said 'almost exact' is that they are built to use brand new all aluminum 427 side oiler blocks and heads(not supplied in the turn key minus offerings to avoid Fed laws) rather than hunting down and re-building an original 427 side oiler and they use modern disc brakes and modern re-pop aluminum rims rather than the original Halibrand magnesium rims that the originals used.

These cars are stunning and sitting side by side an original they are hard to tell apart. But to get that originality is costly, without paint and engine it'll cost close to $80-90k for a turn key minus, add in an engine for around $15-20K up. And for around $110-125K you can drive a near original Cobra but only the Shelby will have an original looking Shelby vin plate.

On the other hand you can buy and build, or have built, a 'glas replica between $30-50k depending upon make, engine and drivetrain used--Factory Five is probably the least expensive for a kit at around $15k plus using a donor Fox body Mustang with FI SB V-8 and most all the rest of the Mustangs drive train/suspension. And you'd still have as much fun in it as an aluminum Kirkham/Shelby and most seeing it would never know the difference except for the aficionados.

 

You'd probably find that if some company began building as close to original Speedsters that you'd be looking in the neighborhood of $80-90K or more for one and the 'realster police' would still find it a fakey-do no matter how close to original it is.

 

For me my fakey-do Speedster at way under $20k is just fine and the 'realster police' can say or do whatever they want and I'll still be having fun toodling down the road with a smile on my face...

I agree with you Gary, if people want to build a somewhat authentic looking Cobra (or Speedster), more power to them, but they're still a tribute and won't replace the original. Cobras and Speedsters come from a great period of automotive history and even a faithful reproduction (no matter how much money and/or time is spent getting it to look like the original) is exactly that- a reproduction. New Cobras and Speedsters are cool and have value for their own reasons, but they will never take the place of an original serial numbered factory car and the history that goes with it.

 

Otoh, our cars are cool and have value because they can be driven and enjoy the experience without fear of a mis-hap destsroying something irreplaceable, and that's the point that some original owners miss. Afterall, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery...

Whenever I go to a car event such as Cars & Coffee, I always post this placard in my windshield...

 

 

Everyone admires the car, but sometimes I get the question "Why a replica?"

 

My reply is…."It's kinda like breast implants. Everyone knows they're fake, yet they're still nice to look at and waaay more fun than the originals"! 

I hope you are OK if I make a replica of your sign.  I love it!  I need one!!!

 

cheers,Luis

 

 

Aware that a fakey-do is cheap, trashy and ever-so tacky, I worked up a replica provenance for Bridget, which explains both her racing history (Carrara Panamerica, Paris-Dakar, etc.) and the (quite convoluted) series of unfortunate events that have, over the past 60-odd years, resulted in every part being replaced at least once.

 

Done.

 

So now if anyone asks why my "original special-order racing MG T" car now has its engine in the back, I can simply point to that provenance with those highly unusual (indeed, almost unbelievable) occurrences, the authentic brass "New England T Register plaque on her dash (number 3099--much lower, probably, than my interlocutor)...and the original-from-Abingdon MFG plate with the serial number affixed to her cowl.

 

 

 

Compared to us MG guys, you Porsche replica guys have it hard.

 

Ed, did you keep your original interlocutor or source a new one locally?

 

I've heard the only British ones available today can be cranky and hard to get started on cold, wet mornings.

 

 

If you want a "real" speedster go to France