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Just be aware that ANY hardtop that you might find will need to be custom fitted to your individual car.

Why?

Because there is a lot of variability in the distance between the top of the windshield and where the top must sit on the rear cowl.  All speedsters are slightly different.  So once you get a hardtop, there will be added expense to get it fitted to your car.

Highlander356 posted:
WOLFGANG posted:

RustyTubs (Bolder City, NV) for one - they have a std length version and a slightly longer version for kit cars. $1295.

http://www.rustytubs.com/plast...ter-hardtop-356.html

Thanks 

I live in Australia, I have an intermeccanica Speedster built in 1977. Do I need the longer version hardtop?

I had a 1977 IM speedster, bought a hardtop and had to stretch the rear lip of it about 1/2" back and it fit well. No idea of the source of it though and the car is no longer with me. That pic of the rusty tubs top looks like mine did. 

Posted from no other than room 105 at the Shippensburg Courtyard Marriott ! Trailer tows just fine. 

Last edited by David Stroud IM Roadster D

Their ad used to have more details.  Believe it is the rear skirt that is longer and has to be trimmed to fit.  You also want it to clear the studs for the soft top.  From Rusty tubs you have to order the rear rubber window gasket and the rear plexiglass window (and maybe a header gasket). 

Do a search here David S's put one on his prior ivorySpeedster and DrClock lengthened one for Dave B's red Speedster.

https://www.speedsterowners.co...ic/hardtop-first-fit

https://www.speedsterowners.co...1#589880809879486251

Shipping to you is going to be a bundle!  There are a couple threads here where talented owners built steel hardtops from VW bug tops.  Lots of cutting, fitting and welding -- and talent! Think MangoSmoothie did one and another one in Scotland(?). 

David Stroud IM Roadster D posted:
Highlander356 posted:
WOLFGANG posted:

RustyTubs (Bolder City, NV) for one - they have a std length version and a slightly longer version for kit cars. $1295.

http://www.rustytubs.com/plast...ter-hardtop-356.html

Thanks 

I live in Australia, I have an intermeccanica Speedster built in 1977. Do I need the longer version hardtop?

I had a 1977 IM speedster, bought a hardtop and had to stretch the rear lip of it about 1/2" back and it fit well. No idea of the source of it though and the car is no longer with me. That pic of the rusty tubs top looks like mine did. 

Posted from no other than room 105 at the Shippensburg Courtyard Marriott ! Trailer tows just fine. 

Thanks for that

Do you remember if you Speedster was an Intermeccanica model Speedster (California Production) belonging to sports roadster / converible class. Represents the "S (sport car)" market segment. The car was offered with roadster body shapes between the years 1976 and 1979.

Cheers 

Highlander356 posted:
David Stroud IM Roadster D posted:
Highlander356 posted:
WOLFGANG posted:

RustyTubs (Bolder City, NV) for one - they have a std length version and a slightly longer version for kit cars. $1295.

http://www.rustytubs.com/plast...ter-hardtop-356.html

Thanks 

I live in Australia, I have an intermeccanica Speedster built in 1977. Do I need the longer version hardtop?

I had a 1977 IM speedster, bought a hardtop and had to stretch the rear lip of it about 1/2" back and it fit well. No idea of the source of it though and the car is no longer with me. That pic of the rusty tubs top looks like mine did. 

Posted from no other than room 105 at the Shippensburg Courtyard Marriott ! Trailer tows just fine. 

Thanks for that

Do you remember if you Speedster was an Intermeccanica model Speedster (California Production) belonging to sports roadster / converible class. Represents the "S (sport car)" market segment. The car was offered with roadster body shapes between the years 1976 and 1979.

Cheers 

My car was a 1977 Cali built Speedster by Intermeccanica. I don't know what you refer to about the term sports roadster / convertible class or roadster body shapes. Sorry.

I have been researching the Speedster California editions:

 

Intermeccanica Speedster (California Production) specifications: versions & types

Intermeccanica model Speedster (California Production) belongs to sports roadster / converible class. Represents the "S (sport cars)" market segment. The car was offered with roadster body shapes between the years 1976 and 1979.

Cars were equipped with engines of 1641 cc (100.5 cui) displacement, delivering 67 kW (91 PS, 90 hp) of power. Intermeccanica Speedster (California Production) is constructionally closely related also to PORSCHE 356 SPEEDSTER.

IM built 200 Speedster with a price of $15,000 by the end of 1977 according to Andrew McCabe/Paula Reisner's book INTERMECCANICA: The Story of the Prancing Bull.  The book says the Roadster/Convertible D body was developed in 1978 - it was later called the Roadster RS in 1981.

I suspect the Sports/convertible class was probably something enter by DMV in titling the car at one time --- since it was based on a plain Jane VW Bug Sedan in most instances. 

WOLFGANG posted:

IM built 200 Speedster with a price of $15,000 by the end of 1977 according to Andrew McCabe/Paula Reisner's book INTERMECCANICA: The Story of the Prancing Bull.  The book says the Roadster/Convertible D body was developed in 1978 - it was later called the Roadster RS in 1981.

I suspect the Sports/convertible class was probably something enter by DMV in titling the car at one time --- since it was based on a plain Jane VW Bug Sedan in most instances. 

Thanks for that.

I might invest in the book you mentioned above.

My intermeccanica Speedster was built in 1977. How do you get in touch with the company intermeccanica for detailed specs?

i have sent them an email without a response. Do you know anyone involved with this company?

Cheers

WOLFGANG posted:

IM built 200 Speedster with a price of $15,000 by the end of 1977 according to Andrew McCabe/Paula Reisner's book INTERMECCANICA: The Story of the Prancing Bull.  The book says the Roadster/Convertible D body was developed in 1978 - it was later called the Roadster RS in 1981.

I suspect the Sports/convertible class was probably something enter by DMV in titling the car at one time --- since it was based on a plain Jane VW Bug Sedan in most instances. 

Hi

The S represents the Super 90 engine, there were changes made to the engine.

The inlet valves were increased and the cylinder heads were reworked to improve the fuel/air mixture.

My Speedster has Solex 40 Carburetors to accomodate for the larger valves and cylinder heads.

 Cheers 

That’s what I am not sure about?

i was researching IMC Porsche Speedsters built in California. According to my research:

“Intermeccanica model Speedster (California Production) belongs to sports roadster / converible class. Represents the "S (sport cars)" market segment. The car was offered with roadster body shapes between the years 1976 and 1979.

Cars were equipped with engines of 1641 cc (100.5 cui) displacement, delivering 67 kW (91 PS, 90 hp) of power. Intermeccanica Speedster (California Production) is constructionally clo related also to PORSCHE 356 SPEEDSTER.”

I have a 1977 IMC with Solex 40 Carbs. The S is all about the engine size.

There are no mechanics in Australia that know about these classic cars.

You are mixing VW with 356 engine specs.  Although both are air cooled boxer engines - there are many differences past the first few years of production.  The 356 1582cc S90 engine did indeed produce 90 horsepower - it had a 82.5 mm bore and 74 mm stoke with 9.1 CR.  Stock 1600 7.5:1 engine was like 50 hp with the 1600S (higher compression 8.5:1) at 60 hp. A VW 1641 cc engine uses 87 mm pistons and a 69 mm stroke.  That extra stroke and higher compression gave it the extra horsepower.

My bet is a 1641 cc VW engine might generate 65 hp - you'd need a stroker crank or larger pistons (or both to get more). The economy big engine in US is a 1914 cc - with stock 69 mm crank and 94 mm pistons - producing 80 hp or so.  Speedster builders generally don't put the gold Porsche scripts on replicas - to do so would draw the ire of Porsche lawyers.  Most are placed after car is sold by the new owner.

Rebuild your VW engine - new crank, new cam, new P&C and heads (valves).  Larger than 88 mm pistons (1679 cc with 69 mm crank)) will require case and head machining.  A 356 engine is costly and very costly to rebuild.  An equal hp VW engine is a fraction of real Porsche parts cost.

Last edited by WOLFGANG
WOLFGANG posted:

You are mixing VW with 356 engine specs.  Although both are air cooled boxer engines - there are many differences past the first few years of production.  The 356 1582cc S90 engine did indeed produce 90 horsepower - it had a 82.5 mm bore and 74 mm stoke with 9.1 CR.  Stock 1600 7.5:1 engine was like 50 hp with the 1600S (higher compression 8.5:1) at 60 hp. A VW 1641 cc engine uses 87 mm pistons and a 69 mm stroke.  That extra stroke and higher compression gave it the extra horsepower.

My bet is a 1641 cc VW engine might generate 65 hp - you'd need a stroker crank or larger pistons (or both to get more). The economy big engine in US is a 1914 cc - with stock 69 mm crank and 94 mm pistons - producing 80 hp or so.  Speedster builders generally don't put the gold Porsche scripts on replicas - to do so would draw the ire of Porsche lawyers.  Most are placed after car is sold by the new owner.

Rebuild your VW engine - new crank, new cam, new P&C and heads (valves).  Larger than 88 mm pistons (1679 cc with 69 mm crank)) will require case and head machining.  A 356 engine is costly and very costly to rebuild.  An equal hp VW engine is a fraction of real Porsche parts cost.

Thanks 

I appreciate your recommendations.

Australia does not have any mechanics who know about air cooled engines. They are all into the EFI bullshit.
You have given me something to think about. Now I need to find someone who understands all this.

Cheers

Reputable US Type 1 air-cooled engine builders ship all over the world. If you want a new engine, I would suggest contacting Pat Downs from CB Performance and explaining what you're after.

As far as service in the future-- Australia is a big country. Somebody, somewhere knows air-cooled engines. I would recommend posting a query on TheSamba asking for leads in your part of the world.

Highlander - You asked earlier for contact info for Intermeccanica, so here you go:

http://athird.net

Also, get in touch with some local (Australian) VW clubs for info on local mechanics who know what they're doing.  I know it's a big country (been there more than once) but one of the following HAS to be close to you:

http://www.clubvw.org.au

http://www.vwclub.com.au

https://www.shannons.com.au/cl...of-queensland/about/

http://www.volkswagenclubofsa.org.au

http://www.flatfour.org

https://vwclubwa.com

Last edited by Gordon Nichols
Gordon Nichols posted:

Highlander - You asked earlier for contact info for Intermeccanica, so here you go:

http://athird.net

Also, get in touch with some local (Australian) VW clubs for info on local mechanics who know what they're doing.  I know it's a big country (been there more than once) but one of the following HAS to be close to you:

http://www.clubvw.org.au

http://www.vwclub.com.au

https://www.shannons.com.au/cl...of-queensland/about/

http://www.volkswagenclubofsa.org.au

http://www.flatfour.org

https://vwclubwa.com

Thanks for that information 

I have contacted Henry Reisner direct regarding a Certificate of Authenticity.

As for the air cooled VW mechanics in Australia, I can’t trust any of these you have listed. I prefer to deal with mechanics from the United States or Europe.

Cheers

Stan Galat posted:

Reputable US Type 1 air-cooled engine builders ship all over the world. If you want a new engine, I would suggest contacting Pat Downs from CB Performance and explaining what you're after.

As far as service in the future-- Australia is a big country. Somebody, somewhere knows air-cooled engines. I would recommend posting a query on TheSamba asking for leads in your part of the world.

Thanks Stan

i might need a new engine or new parts.

Do you have contact details for Pat Down from CB Performance?

Cheers

Really, @Highlander356? In all of Australia (some 25,000,000 people, roughly half of them males, so that's 12½ MILLION GUYS!) there's no one who still knows aircooled engines? I'll say it again- tap into the local VW aircooled scene- find a VW club, go to an event or 2, talk to people and you'll find out who locally is good with these engines. 

They're out there- you'll just have to put in a wee bit of work finding them. Gordon even gave you a club list. Have you figured out how much an engine will cost and how long it will take to ship from the USA? What happens if the engine has to go back to the builder- even CB Perf. has the occasional call back.

Last edited by ALB
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