WTB Replica Coupe

A member just posted his beautiful JPS for sale here a few days ago for $37.5 but it's disappeared?

Must have been sold - I tried to find it too.  Was a nice car.

Not sure I’m understanding “no room for a scratch build and there's no business I trust to build one for me.” but Carey has a Subie-powered coupe for sale.
FWIW, I don’t think there’s a single member of the SOC that wouldn’t “trust” a Special Edition car.
https://beckspeedster.com/pre-owned%20inventory/

@dlearl476 posted:

Not sure I’m understanding “no room for a scratch build and there's no business I trust to build one for me.” but Carey has a Subie-powered coupe for sale.
FWIW, I don’t think there’s a single member of the SOC that wouldn’t “trust” a Special Edition car.
https://beckspeedster.com/pre-owned%20inventory/

Wish I could give that a thousand thumps up. Special Editions is pretty spacial !!

As a two-time customer I must wholeheartedly agree.

@Butcher Boy posted:

Wish I could give that a thousand thumps up. Special Editions is pretty spacial !!

It better be special too

Two years old, used and $93,000

It’s a mid-engined Super Coupe w/a 5 Speed Automatic, Coddington Rudge repros, fancy leather and carpet.

So, yeah. Special. That’s what Lane’s should have gone for.

@dlearl476 posted:

Not sure I’m understanding “no room for a scratch build and there's no business I trust to build one for me.” but Carey has a Subie-powered coupe for sale.
FWIW, I don’t think there’s a single member of the SOC that wouldn’t “trust” a Special Edition car.
https://beckspeedster.com/pre-owned%20inventory/

Thanks to all. Been looking so long. I almost did the green Subie but he wanted to sell to some guys he knew so I was second on his list. Needed some work but price made it possible. Wasn't meant to be.

Responded to the Beck Coupe. Good build but GULP... Keep em coming. Someone out there needs to change up their hanger.

@dlearl476 posted:

It’s a mid-engined Super Coupe w/a 5 Speed Automatic, Coddington Rudge repros, fancy leather and carpet.

So, yeah. Special. That’s what Lane’s should have gone for.

Look, I love what Beck builds and who they are personally. I have never seen support such as they show on this site regularly and by all reports, to those that buy from them. Even those that don't!

But personally, I just don't think I've ever seen a replica Speedster that I think is worth $100K (double use of "I"). The beauty in these little cars was simplicity, affordability and even the opportunity to wrench even a bit as individual skill dictated while never worrying about parking it on a public street or having to insure it like anything approaching the real thing.

The hobby has slipped just a bit off kilter imo but that's OK; big tent and all that.

I think some of the attraction is the ability - rare nowadays - to have it custom built for you.  Still I have to agree that prices have reached the point that it's hard for folks - certainly someone of my means - to justify that kind of expenditure for something of limited utility.  Maybe I'm just too practical-minded.

@WNGD posted:

Look, I love what Beck builds and who they are personally. I have never seen support such as they show on this site regularly and by all reports, to those that buy from them. Even those that don't!

But personally, I just don't think I've ever seen a replica Speedster that I think is worth $100K (double use of "I"). The beauty in these little cars was simplicity, affordability and even the opportunity to wrench even a bit as individual skill dictated while never worrying about parking it on a public street or having to insure it like anything approaching the real thing.

The hobby has slipped just a bit off kilter imo but that's OK; big tent and all that.

I agree, to a point. A Super Coupe isn’t all that. I think of it more of a Boxster/Cayman replacement with retro style and a large dose of DIY-ability because if it’s general lack of ECUs. (A bone Simple, self programmable one at that)

Agreed it’s not for everybody. There’s plenty of CMC/Fiberfabs out there if that’s what floats your boat.

@Lane Anderson posted:

I think some of the attraction is the ability - rare nowadays - to have it custom built for you.  Still I have to agree that prices have reached the point that it's hard for folks - certainly someone of my means - to justify that kind of expenditure for something of limited utility.  Maybe I'm just too practical-minded.

The only thing stopping me from owning it, or any fresh-built Beck, is budget. I’d love to tow that behind my MH. As it is, I’m looking for $8-$12K alternatives. (Most likely end up with a 986 or a 924)

Living on SS and my union pension is kind of a drag, but I wouldn’t trade the last 11 years of doing whatever I wanted, anytime I wanted, for anything. Not ever a Super Coupe.

Gee, keep looking.  I had two steel coupes once upon a time, and now push a Speedster replica.  gotta be top down for me.  Also well retired.  If I were doing a coupe, I'd seriously look at Beck, air cooled in the back, which they can do and have done, I think.  Or Vintage Motors -- do they do coupes??  Or keep after the used market and see what pops. To my mind the mid engine Subbie coupe sacrifices a little too much of the real 356 vibe for me.  Lane here found that he and the engine too did not fit inside.  That said, his Blue Coupe was very special indeed.  Extremely well engineered and supported.  I endorse the accolades for the Special Edition folks -- none better.

I'm currently working on the Super Coupe owner's manual for Carey, and he tells me everybody s far has gone for Subaru power, both rear- and mid-engine.  I'm guessing  that few of the Coupe buyers are do-it-yourselfers, as an air-cooled car would require.  Also, given the sound and power I experienced with my Coupe, as well as the fifth gear, it's understandable.

@El Frazoo From what I understand, Greg has ceased making anything but air cooled Speedsters in an effort to whittle down his backlog. No Subie power, no Spyders, no coupes. (Although I believe he has made a few coupes in the past)

Well built new replica Speedsters and Spyders by a reputable firm like Special Edition are justifiably getting more costly. In addition to material inflation pressures, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find dedicated skilled workers, especially fiberglass body guys, and when you do they require higher pay.  Of course you can always sacrifice quality in terms of second tier resins, parts, engines and lackluster talent in order to offer a lower cost product but that ain't the Special Edition way.  Carey continues to hold the line on high quality and service commitment which just demands a higher price tag.  My understanding is that quality air-cooled engine suppliers have been so back logged as of late that some have stopped taking new orders for the time being which may have contributed to recommended water-cooled Subaru engines.  Can you imagine being the owner of a quality replica builder like Special Edition not knowing if they can depend on a quality air-cooled engine builder to deliver on time in order to maintain a reasonable production schedule?  If you are Carey you are certainly not going to take the chance of damaging your brand reputation by turning to a second tier engine provider. The above statement will likely be a "duh" to those of you who are experienced Beck buyers but I wanted to point it out to those who may be tempted to go to a second tier builder in order to save some money under the illusion of "Well aren't these replica Speedsters and Spyders pretty much the same? -- they sure look it."  One year later they will be saying "Damn, I bought a piece of ____" Unfortunately, quality demands a higher price.

I'd say that covers it pretty well.  Unfortunately it means that some of us get priced out of the market.  Now where's that lottery ticket...?

@Helga Speedster  I agree with everything you stated, BUT when a new replica reaches $60k+ and you can buy a new, reliable fully equipped Toyota Supra for $50k then something has to give.  Old fart here, and I appreciate old cars but many "utes" just want turn-a-key transportation.   I like analog watches but my son had zip interest - his cell phone was it (I have both).  I wonder when old car interest - real or replica will die off.

The EV mandates surely would have killed new IC cars off by 2030ish.  That seems to be abating somewhat now.  My brother's newish IOQ5 has been in shop waiting on new battery pack for 2 months now!  He wanted to trade it in for IC car but neither dealer or corporate had interest. He's younger than I am but said he wouldn't buy another EV! His daily driver is an old BMW X5 with V8.

I was perked up by Mike's posting of recent old car show in Michigan.  But it might just be last hu-rah for old farts and their cars.  Just a rant!

@Wolfgang It’s the proverbial “tale as old as time.” Why buy a 912 when a Bug is thousands less? Why buy an AC cobra when a Mustang GT is more comfortable? And thousands less?

You wanna dance, you’ve gotta pay the fiddler.

btw, I haven’t worn a watch since I retired, but I recently felt the urge. Not wanting to pay TAG. The typical $200-$300 service charge* to replace my battery, I bought a $10 tool kit on Amazon and put a $5 battery in myself.


* TAG service center won’t just replace a battery. They completely go through the watch and replace anything that isn’t perfect, then pressure test them to 200 meters. That’s great and all, but I don’t dive and just need a battery. Local watch places won’t do it because of the 200 meter thing.

Thank you all. Comments right on time and forum at it's best. Speaking of that, try having ANYTHING done on a Brietling. But, like the man said, ain't nothing like wearing one.

To me it's all about form, function and quality.

Appearance. Nothing new turns me on these days. Everything looks like it's from a Chinese Transformer movie. Even a modern gullwing doesn't have the style of a 300SL. And there is a diff. between a 356A and T-6 body. But I am hooked on the 356 look from my teenage days when my brother brought home a Super 90 while in the service.

Function. I say if it's better, put it in. Drum brakes? Flexible VW pans? 6V? Watercooled?  The key to Retro mods is making it look like it belongs. Does it ruin the resale value? I buy for me right now. Not someone down the road. I'm not into concourse. I respect it but I like handling, go-formance, and reliability way more.

Quality. I had one of the best sorted, best looking, high quality Vintage Speedsters around but just can't do the roadster thing anymore because of things like cancer and rain. I did love it though. Quality is a ghost. Always just barely outa reach and maybe that's how it should be. Gives us something to do. It always demands a price. I don't think the question is if it's worth it. It is. The question really is can/should we afford it.

Current state of affairs. JPS...a big NO. Car is just OK. I don't like the guy. Vintage...no coupes, long wait. Build it...no room, no time. Beck...$$, 3yrs. Used car market...no coupes, flakey sellers, rust, time (wasted). And this is why I am looking at bicycles. Ha.

Keep looking will ya? But I am close to quitting time.

@dlearl476 posted:

@Wolfgang It’s the proverbial “tale as old as time.” Why buy a 912 when a Bug is thousands less? Why buy an AC cobra when a Mustang GT is more comfortable? And thousands less?

You wanna dance, you’ve gotta pay the fiddler.

btw, I haven’t worn a watch since I retired, but I recently felt the urge. Not wanting to pay TAG. The typical $200-$300 service charge* to replace my battery, I bought a $10 tool kit on Amazon and put a $5 battery in myself.


* TAG service center won’t just replace a battery. They completely go through the watch and replace anything that isn’t perfect, then pressure test them to 200 meters. That’s great and all, but I don’t dive and just need a battery. Local watch places won’t do it because of the 200 meter thing.

David, I'm tempted to go down the rabbit hole with you on watches, but it will be a thread drift covering the size of Texas. Maybe another time ............. or start a post," What time does your watch say" LOL

"Thank you all. Comments right on time and forum at it's best. Speaking of that, try having ANYTHING done on a Brietling. But, like the man said, ain't nothing like wearing one".

To me it's all about form, function and quality.

Can't agree with you more on owning a Brietling. It took months to get the batteries changed in my Emergency and Aerospace watches.