Just bought this. What Is It and What's It Worth?

There are quite a few posters on this site who know current value of the various makes.  However, the better the info you give, the closer they can estimate value.  Example:

 

VW pan vs. tube frame

Engine type, age, cc displacement

Transmission type and gearing

Builder

 

The previous owner may be able to help you identify the components. 

 

Good luck and welcome! 

Ballpark guess is that it is worth whatever you paid for it, or whatever someone else will pay for it.

Sharp looking Speedster!  Welcome!

Definitely a CMC (Classic Motor Carriages) kit, although it looks better built than the majority of them.  One owner liked it enough to put in what looks like a Gene Berg shifter, which is a pricey item.  Along with the Nardi wheel that tells me that someone enjoyed it enough to put some money in it. Welcome to the Madness!

I know what ya paid for it and I'll be happy to pay a profit!  I won't tell ....but it was the buy of the year!  You should be able to make 4 to 5 grand on it.  Tom

Engine photos would be nice...

I picked up the car today and took it to my local VW specialist. I didn't have much time to chat with the mechanic or to really look the car over closer since I'm about to go out of town for the weekend, but I do know it has dual port heads and the shifter is actually an Empi piece. I didn't notice any data plate to confirm it as a CMC, but again I didn't have much time to look for that either. I can say that it has been extremely well built and it is a screamer. It had been sitting for about 4 years so the main things it needs are just related to the car not being driven. It also has 4 wheel disc brakes which I was impressed with, and it's definitely on a Ghia pan. I'm having the shop go over the car really thoroughly so I'll know more about it soon. I appreciate all the help and suggestions.

how do you know it's a ghia pan?

 

Congrats btw!!

Ghia pan?  Probably by a 140/2/3 starting Chassis/VIN #.  Only difference between bug and Ghia are that Ghia has front disc brakes (and different master cylinder) and the floor pan is wider where your feet go.  Of course, the wider floor pan won't mate to the CMC body/sub-chassis so it has to be modified or replaced with Bug front pan halfs.  Looks very nice.  Could it be a DrClock car - similiar wheels to what Alan uses - and the Miata roll bar? Have never seen a CMC steering wheel horn button - nice touch!

 

The VW shop I took it to is just now getting to work on it so I still don't know for certain it's a Ghia pan, but that was their best guess before getting it up on their lift.

 

They're thinking the roll bar is an aftermarket piece made for a BMW Z3. It doesn't look quite like any of the Miata roll bars.

 

I've been stopping by their shop every day or two since I dropped the car off, and the more I look at this thing the more neat little touches I find. It's also interesting to me that the previous owner managed to get it titled as a 1956 Porsche. I don't know much of anything about the engine yet, but it is extremely peppy and has gobs more torque than any air-cooled VW I've ever driven (and that was with it running extremely rich from sitting the past few years. Several little things about the engine point to an old-school VW engine builder, so it should be interesting to see how well it runs once it's dialed in.

"managed to get it titled as a 1956 Porsche."

That's not necessarily a good thing and could be a real bad thing especially when you go to sell it.

Since I will be titling my coupe in coming month or two.. I'm curious as to why being titled a '56 Porsche could cause issues.

 

I don't want to hijack this thread... so I'll start a new one.  

Some states DMV/tax collectors simply look up year, make and model on the title to assess sales tax (and personal property taxes).  A 1957 true Speedster title could result in sales taxes on $150k --- gulp.  I'd prefer "replica" tacked on end.

Ummmmmm, I have the same horn button