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I was out enjoying a drive and noticed I had to move my hand off the wheel to see the left half or the speedo, the zero to sixty part. I thought if the speedo was moved to the right hand hole one could see the tach and speedo much better. When I returned home I checked about 20 pictures of original speedsters and low and behold the speedo is on the right, those Germans do nothing without  thinking about it, gotta love them. The right hand side is a lot better place to “read” the speedo and tach together. A lot better. Cheers.



Richard

Last edited by R Thorpe

Gordon,

Greg is on a well earned vacation and apart from the wheels coming off I’m not going to bother him. It’s very odd that the speedo is on that side. I looked under the dash and I would have to spend some time labeling wires to reattach them after the move. Greg has to make some adjustments and add a spare tire his supplier didn’t have when I picked up the car so I hope one of his techs can make the switch then.

Wow, way to show your true colors. You hope I don’t enjoy my car and I don’t deserve it? Geeze, that’s harsh man. What did I ever do to you? How would you know what I do or don’t deserve based on some internet posts?

You totally misread my response. I am the one who made a comment on your other post about the Speedo being on the left one of the things that is not accurate on VM replicas - many replicas for that matter. I wasn’t putting words in your mouth. I know you have never knocked Greg, VM speedsters, or their product. How could anyone? He clearly does great work.

Not sure what made you snap. Hope you enjoy the new car though.

The left side placement of the speedo may have more to do with habit than anything else. Since the beginning of Speedster replicas the length of the speedo cable had more to do with placement than an attempt at accuracy. The continuing placement of the speedometer on the left is likely just habit. Very easy to move which is what I did when I replaced my gauges with the new set from Carey.

Robert,

I thought as much, my enjoyment came as I found out the practical reason for the right side speedo, it only makes sense the 0 to 60 half of the speedo is closer to the tach and not blocked by your left hand in the 10/2 steering wheel positions. So practical. I meant no slight to any builder I was just wondering if there were some, unknown to me, reason for putting the speedo on that side. Cheers.

Last edited by R Thorpe

I would like to clarify I meant no slight to any builder, nor did I try to imply any one else was slighting any builders. I would agree with Robert M that the placement is more out of habit. Lots of speedster replicas have speedos on the left which is technically not authentic. Fortunately, it is an easy change to make! I almost wonder if the placement is due to the fact we Americans are used to the Speedo’s typically being on the left.

@DannyP posted:

I believe that in most old race photos I've seen, the speedo is on the left in SPYDERS.

I've no idea where they should be mounted in a Speedster.

I prefer it there, that way it's harder for the passenger to see how fast you're going!

I can put mine wherever I want due to Speedhut gauges w/GPS. It's on the left.

True, but there are a some on 550.com with them on the right, which confused me when I bought mine and it was on the right. I expected it on the left which is what I'd seen in most Speedsters, kits and originals.

Some of you might be interested to know that where the Speedo and Multi gauges were placed in the dash was a dealer option on the originals.  You could have it on either side - just ask.  Same thing applied to RHD cars, too, so there is no "Right versus wrong" side

Just like the transaxle gearing, where you could "have it your way" from the factory if you ordered far enough in advance.  You ordered each gear ratio by letter; A-B-C with the gears getting taller as the letters went up.  Later "B" models had a D & E for third for racing, but I would have to look those up.  Here's a quick chart:

1'st gear
A = 3.18
B = 3.09
C = 2.54

2'ND GEAR
A = 1.94
B = 1.76
C = 1.61

3'RD GEAR

A =1.23
B = 1.13
C = 1.04

4'TH GEAR
A = .960
B = .885
C = .815

FINAL R&P ratios offered:  

4.37, 4.42 = Coupe/Convertible

4.85 = Speedster

5.18 (sometimes Speedster/Spyder), 6.31* = Carrera
*(Carrera Race only)

The most popular ratios were:

Coupes and Convertibles:  B B B C
Speedsters:  B B A B

Rich, Speedsters were typically 1500 normal cars (except for the '55 which might have been even smaller displacement, not sure, like a 1,200?).   With the shorter gearing they moved out quicker than the heavier Cabs and Coupes (especially of you keep the revs over 4 grand), but they were all done around 85 mph.  They got up there fast and then ran out of breath, but they weren't designed for Autobahn/highway driving.  They were designed for weekend racing where you spent most of your time stroking between 2'nd and 3'rd (that's why they added a 3'rd gear D and E gear selection later on).  

What many of us have in our current cars is more like "convertible gearing", especially with the 3.88 or 3.44 rear end, because we all spend lots more time on highways, don't like to have the engine cranking that high for hours on end and often have flatter torque curves.  Still, with a bigger, torquier engine, a BBAB stack and a 3.88 final you end up with a peppy car that's driveable on today's roads.  If you wanted to sacrifice revs for power/acceleration you could go with the 4.12 rear end for a bit more "snap" taking off, but your 1'st gear becomes more of a stump puller and a 4.12 rear gave me a 104mph top end.

All this has been discussed ad nauseam on here in the past.  If you want enough info to put you to sleep, do a search on here for "gear ratios".

Love this rabbit hole we call the Madness...

if you enjoy reading about the  details offered by dealers, options, etc. on 356.  derWhites will transport you back in time... you can dig up the original sales brochures, options manuals, etc...  ;-)

dashboard layouts included ( with pictures).  https://derwhites356literature...ittleKnownFacts.html

- prior to October 1956, the 356/356As had the speedo mostly installed on the left... with customers having the option to move it.

- by September 1957 the location was standardized on the left, and the option to move it was no longer available.

Welcome to the Madness ;-)

Last edited by Lfepardo

Gordon.

I got the 344 R&P and as far as I know the normal gears. I've had the car less than a week just toodling around not on the freeway at all so anything I say is just a first impression and keeping the revs down on my 2332. 1st is for pulling stumps and getting going, 2nd is very short I spend most time in 3rd and have only been in 4th once.  I would like a taller 2nd if I were to choose now,  This may change as I get her broken in.

@R Thorpe posted:

Who know, when I got home yesterday I looked at 6 speedsters on the Erropean Collectibles site and 8 on the BaT site just to check, all the speedos are on the right, a popular option

Speaking of which, you said you took delivery of your Speedster yet, I don't believe, you've posted any photos. That my friend is a bit of a foul. We need pictures, lots of pictures. If you posted one I don't remember seeing it so post some more. Lol

Some of you might be interested to know that where the Speedo and Multi gauges were placed in the dash was a dealer option on the originals.  You could have it on either side - just ask.  Same thing applied to RHD cars, too, so there is no "Right versus wrong" side

Just like the transaxle gearing, where you could "have it your way" from the factory if you ordered far enough in advance.  You ordered each gear ratio by letter; A-B-C with the gears getting taller as the letters went up.  Later "B" models had a D & E for third for racing, but I would have to look those up.  Here's a quick chart:

1'st gear
A = 3.18
B = 3.09
C = 2.54

2'ND GEAR
A = 1.94
B = 1.76
C = 1.61

3'RD GEAR

A =1.23
B = 1.13
C = 1.04

4'TH GEAR
A = .960
B = .885
C = .815

FINAL R&P ratios offered:  

4.37, 4.42 = Coupe/Convertible

4.85 = Speedster

5.18 (sometimes Speedster/Spyder), 6.31* = Carrera
*(Carrera Race only)

The most popular ratios were:

Coupes and Convertibles:  B B B C
Speedsters:  B B A B

I found this info on the 356 Registry back when I really started driving my car and was dismayed by the extremely short first gear. My plan was to build a BBAB for my Spyder, until I priced it out on Weddle's website. But, TBH, it's not all that different from the "option" ratios I got from Greg that I posted in a thread wrt trans ratios someone asked about during their order process.

From Greg:
3:88 R&P
310. 1st
193. 2nd
121. 3rd
082. 4th

Aside from the 1.93 second gear (vs 1.76 Porsche "B" ratio) it's almost identical.

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