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Pardon my ignorance. It’s been some time since I saw a Beck Speedster in person. I was wondering when was the padded portion of the dash changed from a more “rolled” pad to the a more flat pad similar to the originals?

Also, it appears this speedster has sills and front map pockets, which I don’t recall seeing on past renditions. Is this new, or have I just missed these details the entire time?

Lastly, was the rear shelf/seat area changed on this Speedster as well?  

I’m loving the way this car is looking so far. Looking forward to more photos!

Is this new, or have I just missed these details the entire time?



I can really only speak for my own car, there are others who are much, much more knowledgeable about Beck’s evolution than me on this forum for sure.  I placed my order in March 2019 and learned it was one of the first with the new chassis and suspension set up.  I don’t know if the updated dash, sills, et al were linked to that evolution, or came separately earlier or later. I do know I didn’t spec map pockets or some of the other refinements you mentioned, so they are coming standard now, which is certainly appreciated and is reflective of what an amazing builder the Special Edition team is.

I've watched Beck's products evolve since 2005 and the difference is huge.  I always liked the chassis design, but the Brazilian-built cars had some rough spots.  Carey, et al, fought with that and finally made the wise decision to move production to the States, at which point things really took off.  Don't get me wrong, I loved my Brazilian-built '06 car, but the differences in build quality between it and one like Joe Fortino's are significant.  Now with the new chassis and other evolutionary changes the differences are even greater.

One thing that is probably influencing the "correctness" of the cars, particularly the interiors, is that Special Edition also does some restoration work on real 356s.  Because of the they have become very familiar with the "supposed to be like this" stuff.

Last edited by Lane Anderson

Don't get me wrong, I loved my Brazilian-built '06 car, but the differences in build quality between it and one like Joe Fortino's are significant.  Now with the new chassis and other evolutionary changes the differences are even greater.

@Lane Anderson I cannot agree more. Even the subtle differences between my 2009 AC and 2016 Suby are amazing. I believe the map pockets and seat area are new with the chassis design but the dash has been around for a while.

@chines1 you are KILLING me with what you are guys are doing. Can I just swap out my car for the new chassis and keep everything else?

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@Joe Fortino posted:

@Lane Anderson I cannot agree more. Even the subtle differences between my 2009 AC and 2016 Suby are amazing. I believe the map pockets and seat area are new with the chassis design but the dash has been around for a while.

@chines1 you are KILLING me with what you are guys are doing. Can I just swap out my car for the new chassis and keep everything else?

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What color is the Spyder in the background? Is it just weird lighting or for real paint color?

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No that is actually a yellow Spyder.  6405 Champagne Yellow, using the lightest alternate.  It did appear a bit more yellow in direct sunlight than it does in these photos, but not too far off.

On Joe's car, the wheels are actually a bit cheaper now that many sets have been done and the process has been "perfected" but theoverriders are getting to be unobtanium...  Since Gary passed away there aren't many choices for doing them.  They were expensive from Gary (maybe $3500 from memory) but today they'd be 2x that at least...

Here’s another update from the “SE team is awesome” digest.  I wasn’t super thrilled with how the exhaust turned out, basically disliked my own initial decisions. Sensing I wasn’t completely happy, but without me actually saying it, they offered to give it another go - and I couldn’t be happier with the result, stainless Dansk sport exhaust. Talk about meeting your clients desires without even having to be asked. These guys are good. Thanks @chines1

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@Sam Brown posted:

Here’s another update from the “SE team is awesome” digest.  I wasn’t super thrilled with how the exhaust turned out, basically disliked my own initial decisions. Sensing I wasn’t completely happy, but without me actually saying it, they offered to give it another go - and I couldn’t be happier with the result, stainless Dansk sport exhaust. Talk about meeting your clients desires without even having to be asked. These guys are good. Thanks @chines1



Do you happen to have any video/sound of the difference in exhaust notes?  Thanks

@chines1 wrote: "Surprisingly, only about t10% of our clients ever make it here or to facebook"

I'm really not surprised at that.  There are a LOT of replicas that show up at shows around New England and the owners either haven't heard of the SOC or the FB page or simply aren't interested.  Even when I lived in South Carolina - We had FIVE Speedsters and Two Spyders right in Beaufort and I was the only owner ever on here, representing about 15% so right in Carey's ballpark.  I can't explain it, though.

A lot of it might have to do with the state of social media in general.  I mean, I'm on three other forums and this is, by far, the most civilized of the bunch.  Even my high school alumni FB page can be a pita at times, whereas my last workplace alumni page is great (but the moderators are great, too).  If all people see is their regular Facebook news feed and the shenanigans on there, then they might not go looking for a replica-specific car site, you know?

@americanworkmule: Loud exhaust is an issue for me as I don't want the neighbors to feel that I am competing with the motorcycle owner on the next block. Swapping out the Trimil exhaust my speedster came with was the first change I made after my (2017 VS build) speedster was delivered. I was able to informally document the lower volume using the fact that a sound meter app can be added to any phone now. I'd be interested in evidence about whether the results are repeatable from car to car and from phone to phone if there were agreement about test protocol e.g.

  • phone/meter held at 10 feet from exhaust outlet(s) and at outlet level
  • separate 5 second measurements at idle and at 3000 rpm
  • test outdoors and away from vertical surfaces

I should have thought to capture some samples in the Courtyard paddock at Carlisle.

@americanworkmule: Loud exhaust is an issue for me as I don't want the neighbors to feel that I am competing with the motorcycle owner on the next block. .....
....I'd be interested in evidence about whether the results are repeatable from car to car and from phone to phone if there were agreement about test protocol e.g....

I feel the same way.

To me, this sounds nice... no Hoonigan!
"- Flowmaster HP-2 Series Hushpower Mufflers,
-Built for the perfect blend of rapid-flow exhaust with a mellow, '50s-inspired note"
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