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Did somebody say coupe?  I'm the guy Lane referenced that is having a Pre-A coupe built by Greg Leach at Vintage Motorcars of CA. I was like you, I came to this site and researched, listened, lurked on the forum, and came away with the impression that it was either a super coupe from Beck, or a Pre-A from Greg. Anything else was going to be too risky a proposition.

I opted for the Pre-A coupe. I was early enough in the timeline to have done either one and had a car in 2020, so it wasn't a schedule thing. It was a love thing. I love the bent window, I REALY love the dash, and I wanted to have a rear engined car, not a mid-engined car (the super coupe can do both, but I thought the first batch was going to be all mid).

Greg's build is pan based, but he does an amazing job of modifying the pans with new floors that are a different profile, full powder coating and stiffening from a steel frame bonded to the body.  On my build we're doing IRS with narrowed trailing arms and full 4 wheel disc brakes from Airkewld because their design allows me to switch between a 5X205 and a 5X130 lug by only changing the faceplate. It is in all other respects a straight up Wilwood disc kit.  I have two threads here on the car: coupe-build-plus-newbie and vintage-motorcars-of-ca-coupe-build-thread if you're curious. Also feel free to PM me if you want to talk.

Greg has been great to deal with, a fount of information, and a great sounding board. He'll do whatever you want, but if you're making a mistake he'll let you know.  The fit and finish on his cars is insane (look at the panel gaps in the Continental build). I was there for a visit last April, and I got a chance to hang around for most of the day. The white Continental build was in progress and even at that stage you could tell it was going to be something special. Just remember that a coupe will take a lot longer to build than a speedy. It's way more complicated, you've got headliners, 5 more windows, interior roof lighting, and a host of other things that don't come up on a speedster.  If you are going Subaru (I am) then add in plumbing. AC? Add that too.  You get the idea.  Expect a year no mater who is building it.  Set a conservative budget and then allow 10%+ for project creep...and it'll creep. Trust me on that one.

Welcome to the madness!!!

@JMM (Michael) wrote- "Greg's build is pan based, but he does an amazing job of modifying the pans with new floors that are a different profile, full powder coating and..."

I'm guessing he's using Karmman Ghia replacement half-pans, as they are wider at the front and they give more leg room.

And to be honest, I like the pre A and A series cars more as well. The B's and C's just don't have the lines that the earlier cars have.

ALB posted:

@JMM (Michael) wrote- "Greg's build is pan based, but he does an amazing job of modifying the pans with new floors that are a different profile, full powder coating and..."

I'm guessing he's using Karmman Ghia replacement half-pans, as they are wider at the front and they give more leg room.

And to be honest, I like the pre A and A series cars more as well. The B's and C's just don't have the lines that the earlier cars have.

Al, I did not know that the Ghia pan is wider at the front. That is brilliant and should be done as a standard issue I would think if your going to bother building one. IMO.

I also feel the same about the 50's bodies.  Always been a pre and A lover myself. 

 

Last edited by IaM-Ray

Pre A, A, B or C they all have wonderful bathtub lines. I could detail any one of them into a full blown outlaw or Sunday gruvinwagen.

What Emory does with the steel ones & John did with my outlaw (in my honest humble opin ) is the essence of Outlaw. The unmolested ones, true or replica are works of art. 

The OP asked of JPS build quality. Most of the time it is good. The paint is excellent, interiors clean. Wiring could be the weak area. No two are the same. Curiously, my coupe had different issues than JNC's. Not that there aren't better choices. I saw close to ten nearing completion at the JPS shop (probably only three coupes), all looking very nice. I'd say many more Speedsters come out than coupes.

As you can tell, I will be a defender of JPS. My car was a long time coming, but the outcome is excellent. Shakedown & JPS doing a punch list is important.

On a side note...  an original 356 is a very basic car. Any one of these replicas has far more than an original (certainly more fiberglass lol). Maybe an air cooled replica is close to the basic nature of a 1950's 356. Subaru powered has potential for much more creature comforts. IE, good heat & a/c and easy modern power. Power windows.

MYOutlaw

 

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