Hi guys. Been on the forums lurking for about a year. I have been looking for a 356 replica for a couple years. Cant find a fixer upper in Canada anywhere. But i just came across a Fiberfab speedster for what i think is a great price. Ive never heard of them. Only really know about Vintage Speedster, Intermeccianica , CMC. I have done a google search and found some limited info on Fiberfab. Anyone know much about the these cars.
Cheers,
Damon
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FF is the same as CMC ( CMC ) bought molds from FF and they went out of business years ago.
Quality of any speedster is dependent on who assembled the car
Speedster kit was sold as both FF and CMC for several years before all were called CMCs. Strong fiberglass body (fiberglass is up to 1/2" in places) with a substantial steel perimeter frame. Fiberfab was purchased by CMC in 1980s. (Fiberfab had a huge catalog of kit cars that stopped being made after that purchase.) Going back, CMC initially bought their molds from Intermeccanica. Parts are still readily available as are the build manuals. New the complete body kit sold for $8k in 1990. You just supply the shortened VW chassis and runner gear.
http://www.speedsters.com/srs-CMC.htm
In the 1970s Automobili Intermeccanica in Santa Ana, California were the largest manufacturer of Speedster Kits but in 1979, Tony Baumgartner bought out Frank Reisner's 50% share of Intermeccanica and sold the Speedster project to Classic Motor Carriages. So CMC became the largest Speedster replica manufacturer selling several hundred before their eventual demise.
This was the exact information i was looking for. I just wasn't sure if this was a one off body design that when compared to say a vintage or Intermeccanica it would look completely off.. I agree, it defiantly depends on who built the car. This car has zero rust and seems to be in good shape. Thank you both for your responses and great info.
Car looks great. Welcome to the madness.
Where in Canada are you?
Damon, where are you in Canada? It's a big country 
I live in Victoria BC
I forgot to mention the car is Near Seattle Wa so i would have to import the car.
If it's more than fifteen years old, should be okay to import. Depends, though, on how it is titled.
Oh OK you're close, just a 41 hour drive 
yes the car is registered as a 71 VW, clean title
WNGD were are you located. Do you ave one for sale ? 41 hours in nothing haha
If titled as a 71 VW, then do all the proper paper work that is needed, and all should be fine. Be sure to follow all the steps involved.
Thanks bob. I did call RIV to see and they said as long as you have all paper work and its older than 15 years it will be fine to import.. just need to finalize purchase price and go get it.. our lovely Canadian dollar is in the gutter so the change rate does hurt a little .. haha oh well
I'd be quite diligent in getting the right info from the Canadian side before completing the deal and trying to import into Canada. I was told here in Ontario that a custom or "kit car" sitting on a VW frame when the title says it is a VW would not be allowed for import from the States. It simply is not a VW, it is something else. Just what I was told at the local DMV office in Ottawa. Good luck.
Good luck with your new purchase and the import process. I have a CMC from the mid-80's. I built it in 83/84. I have enjoyed it for many years and have just done a whole bunch of updating. (Disc brakes front, new carb, gauges, seats, wiring, lighting and finally a full wet sand, buff and polish. It is fun to work on! ;-) Enjoy!
Damon88 posted:WNGD were are you located. Do you ave one for sale ? 41 hours in nothing haha
I'm in Burlington ON, Bob is i n Milton and Dave is in Ottawa. We have a member or two to BC though, they may chime in.
There's a bit of confusion as to whether a title (from frame VIN) of more than 15 years ago is acceptable or you need documentation that the kit itself was assembled more than 15 years ago.
Some just walk into the DMV with a title that says "1971 VW" and if that's what it's titled as and they don't see the car, what questions can they ask? There's occasionally a bit of debate here as to whether that's the right thing to do.
I'd make sure your insurance company knows for sure though.
Of course, they way around that is to buy a Canadian built Intermeccanica but they are generally $$$
I'm in the Vancouver area, went down to Washington State to look at a car for Ted once, but have never tried to import a Speedster (or any other car) into Canada, so I'm no help. I do know a couple of friends that have brought up cars from stateside, and Canadian border guards will need to phyisically need to see the car in question (they'll actually impound it for a short time as they make sure your paperwork is in order) so make sure the paperwork is in order! Contact them before you go down for the requirements. Also, they have access to the this great interweb thingie, so it's a little hard to bs them on how much you paid for it- keep that in mind as you're approaching the border. Al
I did have an issue with the only Speedster I brought in from the U.S. It was titled as a VW, but was clearly not a VW. The young female customs officer objected to the car (she saw it outside on the truck, through the office windows), but I persisted. I claimed I had all paper work correct, and had followed all procedures, with copies of bill of sale, title, proof of purchase price, and all import forms filled out correctly, etc.
An older male officer heard us and came over, and told her he would handle things.
He basically knew what I was doing, and asked to look at the paper work, and said, OK. As long as the paper work is correct, that is what gets filed away.
So, it may depend on which agent you get to deal with. Remember to have all paper work delivered to the U.S. customs at point of exit three days ahead of time.
Do not tell anyone you are exporting/importing a Speedster - you are importing a 71 VW.
Bob: IM S6 posted:I did have an issue with the only Speedster I brought in from the U.S. It was titled as a VW, but was clearly not a VW. The young female customs officer objected to the car (she saw it outside on the truck, through the office windows), but I persisted. I claimed I had all paper work correct, and had followed all procedures, with copies of bill of sale, title, proof of purchase price, and all import forms filled out correctly, etc.
An older male officer heard us and came over, and told her he would handle things.
He basically knew what I was doing, and asked to look at the paper work, and said, OK. As long as the paper work is correct, that is what gets filed away.
So, it may depend on which agent you get to deal with. Remember to have all paper work delivered to the U.S. customs at point of exit three days ahead of time.
Do not tell anyone you are exporting/importing a Speedster - you are importing a 71 VW.
Because that's what it's registered as! You're certainly NOT importing a 19__anything Speedster
Sound advice
Looks like one of them VW Karmann Ghia Cabriolets to me .... Hopefully no faux Porsche emblems on rear.
My Speedster is a Fiberfab Californian. The car was built very nice and I have had a good experience with it. You should have good luck with yours if the pan is in good shape. Good luck with the purchase.
I would like to thank everyone for all of your feed back and information. I have imported a couple cars from the US in the past but they were modern day cars. I definitely agree it all depends on the board agents and how your paperwork is filled out. I did some digging today and there is a firm in Victoria where I live that will do all the paper work and take care of all taxes and fees. ( for a garage of 650 dollars) I explained to them what car I wanted to import. They told me that if it’s registered as a 71 beetle and that is what is on the title is should not matter also it being over 15 years old it is RIV exempt and as long as all the paperwork is correct. They also explained that the car could have any type of body on it, as long as it meets to imports standards there should not be any problem. I would likely bring it through Port Angeles WA across on the ferry and then I can do my Canadian customs right In Victoria . If there was a problem, at least it is at home in Canada I can deal with what I need to. I will do some more digging and calling on Monday to make sure this will work. As far as the car is concerned.. I have agreed to a purchase price of $13,000 US Dollars. If I can confirm the import info. That converts to around $16,800 Canadian. It needs some love but I’m fine with that. Been on the hunt for almost 2 years without any luck. Unless I want to spend $40,000 or more... AGAIN THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR ALL YOUR INPUT ON THIS !!!
Jimmy V. posted:My Speedster is a Fiberfab Californian. The car was built very nice and I have had a good experience with it. You should have good luck with yours if the pan is in good shape. Good luck with the purchase.
Thanks Jimmy. Pan is in great shape.body needs a little work, but thats fine with me.
. For what it's worth I love my Fiberfab. Getting ready to have a Subaru engine installed in mine. I am super excited.. Welcome to the madness!!
Jimmy V. posted:. For what it's worth I love my Fiberfab. Getting ready to have a Subaru engine installed in mine. I am super excited.. Welcome to the madness!!
Please start a new thread and tell us about your subaru engine, Jimmy.
Ok I will .
UPDATE: Well unfortunately this deal has fallen through. Got a phone call today frmm the buyer, saying he has decided to sell the 356 the a family member. This was his parents car he inherited. Once the family found out he was going to sell the car, Someone decided they wanted it. He said he would let me know if the family member doesn't buy it.... Ugh so i'm back on the hunt 
Dang, that's a tough break.
Here you go and ready to roll.....
Anything Alan (Dr. Clock) had his hands in is known to be good. Buy with confidence.
