Thank you so much for the thoughtful responses. I think I had my hesitations about this car and that’s what lead me to this site. I have done plenty of research and have general knowledge of these cars, but I guess it’s all in the details.
Thanks for saving me the hassle of buying something I’d regret.
Here's some issues with the engine compartment-
No hood release cable - so lid must flop up and down (assume no pin on hood to secure)
No shroud to heater boxes hoses nor are the openings blocked off - allow escape of cooling air and heated exhaust air into engine compartment
Gaps in cooling tins - can see asphalt
Engine tin around intake pre-heat hacked (cut) up
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@RayRay19, I have a couple of suggestions. Get in touch with Troy Sloan (on this site) and Alan Merklin (also here) as both of them buy, improve, and resell used Speedsters. They can be on the look out for just exactly what you want, or they can change one into it. Also check with the folks at Special Edition/Beck (www.beckspeedster.com) as they often get used Becks in, refurbish them, and resell. That's how I sold mine some months ago. All of the folks named in this post can provide you with a top quality car at a fair price, and can be trusted to take care of you.
@Lane Anderson posted:@RayRay19, I have a couple of suggestions. Get in touch with Troy Sloan (on this site) and Alan Merklin (also here) as both of them buy, improve, and resell used Speedsters. They can be on the look out for just exactly what you want, or they can change one into it. Also check with the folks at Special Edition/Beck (www.beckspeedster.com) as they often get used Becks in, refurbish them, and resell. That's how I sold mine some months ago. All of the folks named in this post can provide you with a top quality car at a fair price, and can be trusted to take care of you.
Thanks @Lane Anderson!
@Alan Merklin - Please let me know if you have anything available coming up!
I am working on a speedster build that is already sold, I may do another over the summer. If you can locate one that needs work I can refurbish it for you.
Update: there is actually an IM badge on the hinge of the car. PPI showed some stuff that needs fixing (door handle Broken, needs new tires, small oil leak) , but he said the car is in generally good shape.
Now that this is on the hinge, does that change anything?
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@RayRay19 posted:Update: there is actually an IM badge on the hinge of the car. PPI showed some stuff that needs fixing (door handle Broken, needs new tires, small oil leak) , but he said the car is in generally good shape.
Now that this is on the hinge, does that change anything?
I own an Intermeccanica, which I ordered as a coach in 2005. I know what they are all about, but they became something different when they went to the proprietary frame.
Does it change everything to find "Intermeccanica" stamped on the hinge of this car? There was a guy from Australia on here recently who thought it did. He told us he had a vehicle of historical significance, and wanted to obtain a "Certificate of Authenticity" for his replica.
Personally, I'm not convinced it increases the value of the car all that much. It's still a pan based car, without a top or side curtains, with a very small engine and a stock 4-speed. It presents well. If you like it, and you think it's worth $30k, then buy it and be happy.
What we think doesn't have very much relevance here. I suspect you didn't marry your wife because your friends liked her. This is kind of like that.
You clearly want this car. A thing is worth what the buyer and seller agree it is. We've expressed our opinions regarding the value of the car, relative to what others have been selling for. But if you want this one, and are looking for a reason to pull the trigger-- that stamp on the hinge is as good as anything.
I can't give you any more affirmation than that.
Stan's got it when he says you didn't marry your wife because your friends liked her. And it is like that. I will say that I am amazed at how many guys pop onto this site lately willing to spend 30 large and walk right by Theron's red Intermeccanica, tube frame, roadster. If I hadn't had my heart set on a coupe done a certain way I'd have snapped that one up pronto.
@Stan Galat Thanks for your valuable input. After speaking to the guys at IM directly, I learned that this car was probably built in 1980, and that CMC used leftover IM hinges when they took over the business. So you guys were right - it is most likely a CMC car, 15% chance it’s an IM
As for this being like choosing your wife, I beg to differ. I dated many girls before I met my wife and I knew what I was looking for and what was right for me. On the other hand I’ve never bought a classic car, let alone a replica. also, I bet you didn’t join a website to talk about your wife and her parts, what she looks like compared to other wives, and if you should sell her with other people.
I’m here to learn and ask questions, and over the past two days I’ve learned a lot from all of you. It has been very valuable and an interesting experience. I wasn’t looking for anyone to affirm as to whether or not they liked the car, but rather, if it was a good buy, or if I was getting screwed. Actually, this all started out with whether or not a 1641cc engine was fast enough
I will not be offering to buy this car for $30k, and I have this forum to thank. I appreciate it. I look forward to finding the right car soon.
You'll find it. It may take a while.
I never heard of CMC using IM hinges but mine is a 1988 kit --- so no id at all on hinges. Indeed CMC did buy up IM Speedster molds, tooling and guess other stuff in 1979. The Manf Id that IM put on passengers side door frame was just a a foil sticker that often get removed during a repainting. The 200 miles is very unusual if IM built it in 1980. It isn't unusual for a CMC to site for years unfinished - still some in crates. Not sure how one imports a CMC kit into Canada though. Wonder what the title says and where the '65 VW chassis came from. Sure is a mystery!
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@WOLFGANG posted:I never heard of CMC using IM hinges but mine is a 1988 kit --- so no id at all on hinges. Indeed CMC did buy up IM Speedster molds, tooling and guess other stuff in 1979. The Manf Id that IM put on passengers side door frame was just a a foil sticker that often get removed during a repainting. The 200 miles is very unusual if IM built it in 1980. It isn't unusual for a CMC to site for years unfinished - still some in crates. Not sure how one imports a CMC kit into Canada though. Wonder what the title says and where the '65 VW chassis came from. Sure is a mystery!
A very interesting mystery. Just to note, here is what I got from IM:
Robert Ruskey of Intermeccanica here. I’ll be taking this inquiry over from Henry.
Thanks for the photo of the hood hinges. Yes, the car is highly likely to be an Intermeccanica built in Santa Ana, CA between the years 1976-80.
The reason I can’t say absolutely for certain just yet is that there were a few in the later years that ‘snuck by’ as Intermeccanica’s with these
hinges after the company tooling was sold to CMC back around 1980-81.
I remember seeing this Speedster being offered for sale for a long time. It isn't selling at that price for a reason. Good pass Ray.
Weird question but considering how perfect/new the nut holding the lid hinge is, is it possible the hinges were somehow bought and added to this non IM later/recently? 
I don't care how many miles are on the car, these should look older
@WNGD posted:Weird question but considering how perfect/new the nut holding the lid hinge is, is it possible the hinges were somehow bought and added to this non IM later/recently?
I don't care how many miles are on the car, these should look older
Great question - apparently the car wasn't driven much and was sitting in a wine cave. I was wrong - the car has 2300 miles, not 200. That's why it's so clean.
Plausible answer but cars age just sitting. Wine cave? Perhaps but my Spider Sense is tingling.
Batcave ? 
@RayRay19, as you can see from the above posts we do have a tendency to go off on tangents (it's called thread drift), which can fluster those who are new to this group. Before too long we'll be talking about Marty's leather gloves, car-themed watches, espresso, and who knows what. It's among our many endearing traits.
Assuming the world has returned to some semblance of normalcy in August, please join us in Carlisle, PA. You'll have a great time with some crazy (in a good way) folks and you'll be able to see and compare various cars of all price levels from all of the manufacturers. You'll probably get to drive some as well. I did that back in '05 after lurking here for a number of months, and I made many new friends before I ever got a car, which was actually assembled at the '06 Carlisle show by those same friends.
Joining us at Carlisle would be the absolute best way to do research, and you'd have a great time.
The wine cave story makes me think somebody liked how it looked more than how it drove. Very cool conversation piece and likely not the only cool car owned by this owner?
I agree that $30k is high for this particular one but $20k might be reasonable.
I'd think $18-18,5 would be close to right. Buy it for that, go through all the electrics, hydraulics and mechanicals, then Subaruify it for a really nice "resto-mod" of an actually old car.
It has been done.
But if the seller's not motivated, plenty of other fish in the sea—especially at your stated budget.
Good luck with your search, RayRay.
The car was kept in a wine cave? Very romantic, James Bond kind of story. I guess it could be true, but does that mean he kept his Boone's Farm in the garage?
Having a 2110 stroker with dual Dell 40's, I can't imagine being happy with much less of a power train, but lots of guys are perfectly happy with a 1915. To each his own. i couldn't recommend a anything in the 1600 range. I've driven several and they just don't deliver much "oomph", and I'm not one to push my car real hard.