Skip to main content

Closed25 replies

Wow - I'm in love

FM Former Member
I don't know when I saw my first speedster/356... but I think I'm in love. I live in southern California and I saw one about a couple of weeks ago on Highway 55, late rush hour... any way I've been trying to figure out how I can rationalize a realistic time frame to purchase my own. Student loads BA! existing car payment BA! fresh out of college BA! none of this seems to matter when you picture yourself cruising with the top down.

I've been looking at all of your wonderful cars and I'm very impressed with the different looks you have given your cars. I for one would probably lean towards the SAW (see i'm already picking up the terminology)since I'm not much of a wrencher and It could eventually end up in Minnesota. What I haven't seen from your pics is the interior that Specialty Auto-works puts together (especially a "no-frills" interior, what is stock for them). It sounds like they have impecable craftmanship but how would they compare to a company like Intermeccanica?

I think I made Steve at SAW a little anxious because I emailed him some questions... when he called me 5 minutes later trying to make a sale, I realized I had misrepresented my ability to purchase in the next 10 years!
Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

FM Former Member
I don't know when I saw my first speedster/356... but I think I'm in love. I live in southern California and I saw one about a couple of weeks ago on Highway 55, late rush hour... any way I've been trying to figure out how I can rationalize a realistic time frame to purchase my own. Student loads BA! existing car payment BA! fresh out of college BA! none of this seems to matter when you picture yourself cruising with the top down.

I've been looking at all of your wonderful cars and I'm very impressed with the different looks you have given your cars. I for one would probably lean towards the SAW (see i'm already picking up the terminology)since I'm not much of a wrencher and It could eventually end up in Minnesota. What I haven't seen from your pics is the interior that Specialty Auto-works puts together (especially a "no-frills" interior, what is stock for them). It sounds like they have impecable craftmanship but how would they compare to a company like Intermeccanica?

I think I made Steve at SAW a little anxious because I emailed him some questions... when he called me 5 minutes later trying to make a sale, I realized I had misrepresented my ability to purchase in the next 10 years!
H harper55
Nathan,it is very easy to fall in love with these little cars...the beauty of it all is that now you can buy a replica, when I first discovered them you couldn't or at least I didn't know of anyone that would build a replica, but that was when I was 20, and now I'm 53 and finally got one built!!! Just be patient, get your career going and your loans paid off and set some GOALS ~ Esther
FM Former Member
Esther, so you're saying it isn't a good idea to cash in all my investments and savings for one now? Do I really need that retirement money?

Thanks for the pictures John, did you customize the inside of your Cab at all, at least visual ones, not necessarily things like power windows, power locks etc....

H harper55
Nathan...I don't know your financial status, but when I gratuated from college I definetly could not afford but home made burrito's . I think it would not be a wise decision for you to use up your savings and investments on a want vs a need. I don't know how old you are but I'm guessing in your 20's since you just finished college..remember those loans and car payments...do I sound like your mom?? I would like to trade my car in for a new Range Rover HSE $ 75,000.00 car because I just love that car.. but guess what, I have a 2005 Mercedes SUV almost paid for and yes I could use some of my investments to make up the difference but that would not be a financial smart thing to do. Be smart and invest your bucks!!and remember me when you make your first million lol.~Esther
G GQ
Hi Nathan,
There are cheaper ways to get into this Speedster thing. There are plenty of used ones on Ebay and at this site up for sale all the time. Take your time and look these over. If your heart is set for a SAW or IM, you will definetely be looking into draining your savings. They are not cheap!!!!!!!!!!! I live in Placentia, CA and if you are interested we can drop by to take a ride or I can meet you. My speedster is from Vintage Speedsters in Hawiian Gardens, CA.

Gabe

Attachments

Hide
Images (3)
  • Dsc00002
  • DSC00145
  • VPHG00002
HossHoss
Nathan, (builder) Steve and I took some liberties with control placement, the gauges are stylized and, of course, there are the A/C ducts that are visible. The dashboard itself was molded from one removed from an original. The power window controls are actually contained in the window winders which look as if they were of the manual variety. As you can see from the rear shot, the engine cover looks non-traditional due to the mid-engine placement.

If you would like to discuss the details further, please do not hesitate to e-mail me.
Hoss
Nolan-TennesseeNolan-Tennessee
Nathan: If you're interested in a SAW vehicle and are concerned about cost, figure in the following data. First step is visiting SAW whenever possible. Second discuss models, options and cost with Steve. Third, if interested in a purchase ask Steve how many cars are under construction, when your car will be started and get an understanding when the car will be completed. If everything is a go, then a deposit of a third (negotiable) of the price of the car is made and the rest is paid off in partial payments during the intial construction, painting, and final completion and delivery. Total time of contract to completion is very long due to Steve's small crew and large list of cars to be done; this given, you have a year or more to accumulate the payments and too much time wondering about tail light configuration, interior and exterior color schemes and additional options. The one demeaning factor with SAW is the waiting periods experience by buyers. I'm in my 16th month, other have waited more or less depending on when they purchased their cars. What ever route you go you'll will enjoy every minute behind that SEG and that Banjo steering wheel.

Attachments

Hide
Images (1)
  • shades
FM Former Member
Thanks for the advice Esther, I've decided to keep my investments and just sell a kidney, you really only need one right? (okay more of my humor that may not come across on an internet forum. I'll try to get one the old fashioned way... saving and hopefully getting a little lucky along the way)

Gabrial I may take you up on your offer. I'd love to see what the air cooled engines are about, how they ride, how much tinkering would be involved and perhaps I'll change my stance on how much of a relationship I want to have with the engine. It would certainly mean I would be closer to getting a car at my 30th birthday then waiting until my 40th.
FM Former Member
Due to the all mighty dollar, I'm starting to waiver on my thoughts about an air cooled. I would love to have the modern convienence of a water cooled MODERN engine but maybe I can put that on hold for a while. Not to mention the resale value of these cars seems to be pretty steady.

Any drivers have any experience in cold weather with a Cabrio aircooled?
FM Former Member
On a couple of my spyder trips I've run into cold weather. The cold that really gets to you is the moist foggy cold in the bay area. Swear I've never been so cold in my life. I was decently but not well dressed. My electric blanket was on. Problem was that my feet were so cold I couldn't feel the pedals. Try getting lost in downtown 'Frisco and be unable to feel the brake/clutch/gas pedals... Boots big enough to keep the warmth in would have been too big to drive the car (you hit two pedals at once - a bad thing).

The electric blanket works OK. Just OK - pleasant feeling. Very nice for taking the edge off the morning chill. But if you are going to drive in cold weather in an open air cooled car on any regular basis I would definately suggest you get a gas heater.

Of course, if you are water cooled, just have the builder hook ya up with a heater. Oh and welcome to the club!

angela
Post Content
Remove This Ad

Membership Required

We're sorry. You must be signed in to continue. Sign In or Register
×
Are you sure you want to remove from your Block List?
×
Loading...
×
When you block a person, they can no longer invite you to a private message or post to your profile wall. Replies and comments they make will be collapsed/hidden by default. Finally, you'll never receive email notifications about content they create or likes they designate for your content.
Note: if you proceed, you will no longer be following .
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×

Access to this requires a premium membership.

Supporting Member

Please help keep us running!

Supporting members have donated about $4.00 a month ($49.00 US per year) paid annually.

  • Priority support
  • Removal of inter-page (between thread) advertisements.
  • Access to Build Manuals
  • Access to Knowledge Base
  • Access to Supporting Members events.
  • Access to Leveraged Group Buying from site Merchants.

AUTO RENEW: You membership will auto-renew after 12 months. If you prefer not to auto-renew, you can cancel your premium membership at any time and it will remain in effect until the end of the 12 months. To cancel, sign in at SpeedsterOwners.com and navigate to: (Your User Name)  > Premium Membership.

PLEASE NOTE: Your credit card will receive a charge from CROWDSTACK PAY, the payment processor, not SpeedsterOwners.com.

$49.00 per 12 Months (plus tax if applicable)
×