Not mine but...

Some really nice work there.

But what's up with the rally-car ride height? I'll tell you what. Front rims too wide/not backspaced properly. The front tires are also too wide, so they raised the ride height so the fenders don't rub.

For 70k why doesn't the car have skinny 16" wheels and bias-ply tires. You know, since it's an EXACT replica except for body material. And clamshell shape. And what is up with the wrinkly seats? They came that way?

I doesn’t say but that clam looks like a CMI like @arajani started with.

Plus, you’re right. It looks like it’s got 5.5s all around, and a ride height to match.

@DannyP posted:

Some really nice work there.

But what's up with the rally-car ride height?

Probably so the exhaust doesn't drag on the ground the whole time.

The exhaust does hang down rather low. I guess the real question is why did they build most of it so right, but mess up the wheel/tire choice. And I can't tell for sure, but it looks like the front end has positive camber, instead of zero or slightly negative.

This is James Dean's redneck cousin's car, Billy Bob Dean.

There are a few cool details, but the rest is just bad, and the hype that the selling dealer spews.

I've gone and seen a car at that place before. He brought out the owners manual to the car, that I drove 2.5hrs to see, like it was made from slivers of the one cross but ignored my questions about some rust I found. The place was a shambles. The building was crumbling inside and out. He's a champion of the 914, but damn, his demeanor was hard to take. Just like this car.

Hate to pile on but the  passenger side front wheel arch also appears to be out of shape at it's top as well.

Those seats are a joke.

Wrong tires, wheels and ride height.

And picture #12. What's up with the sagging turn signal lever pointing straight down?

For $70k I think a turn signal lever should maybe be attached properly.

And how about the gas filler not centered in the hood hole? Seriously.

@Panhandle Bob do you see the huge black rub mark on the left front fender arch? I rest my case.

The drivers front fender has a spot that looks like the tire rubbed some fiberglass away, back when it had the normal ride height. Maybe it's when Billy Bob jumped it across Mud Creek and bottomed out his suspension. Oh oh oh maybe he took his overweight girlfriend/cousin out for a ride and tires rubbed and she crushed the seat structure so the seat is all wrinkled now.

I like this game.

@DannyP posted:

And picture #12. What's up with the sagging turn signal lever pointing straight down?

For $70k I think a turn signal lever should maybe be attached properly.

And how about the gas filler not centered in the hood hole? Seriously.

@Panhandle Bob do you see the huge black rub mark on the left front fender arch? I rest my case.

And the exhaust is not centred either.

I wouldn't give the guy more than $69,250.

@Panhandle Bob posted:

Hate to pile on but the  passenger side front wheel arch also appears to be out of shape at it's top as well.

Those seats are a joke.

Wrong tires, wheels and ride height.

The driver and passenger side front wheel arches definitely are not the same shape.

The wiring under the dash is a mess too and I know that because most of it is hanging below the dash.

In picture #12 there is some type of strap buckle piece on the left side of the dash that is all rusted and so is the passenger side.

I suspect the ride height is where it's at because of the 50's Porsche 550 transmission and the '64 356 SC engine combination. The mount holding the nosecone is causing the transmission to sit extremely low so you have to raise the engine up higher. But you're limited by the shroud hitting the clamshell. Because you're limited there you have to raise the car. Anand ran into this issue with his Spyder because of the nosecone he was using.

The car is a CMI car so it has a major defect in the rear clamshell which contributes to the 4x4 look.

Looking at it more closely, the whole thing is skiwompas. The gap between the tire and the fender arch is larger on the RF and LR.

Those footman’s loops on the dash are for that weird Bimini top that some of the low windscreen cars had iirc.

The only way that thing would be worth $70K is as a parts car. What are Carrera Alfins worth? The only thing I have to compare it to $10-$15K I’ve seen for the center lock Rudge style. A 356 engine? $10K? A 550 trans??? What with 547’s going for $150-$250K, I’m thinking someone looking for one for their real 550 would pay the $70K just for the trans.

@Carlos G posted:

slivers of the one cross

Is it a 550 trans? Or is it a 356 trans with a flipped ring and pinion?

@DannyP posted:

Is it a 550 trans? Or is it a 356 trans with a flipped ring and pinion?

The seller states it's an actual '50s 550 transmission. But he also says it's an exact replica so it could just be marketing fluff.

get a real P for that money.

Not today, BarncoBob.

Three words for this car:

"George from Texas"  

It would have been nice if they had even gotten the gas cap centered in the hole.

And as far as "adding it to my collection", I would be a lot better off getting just a 550 body and putting it on my wall.  (This one is actually nicer than the Hemmings one!)

@DannyP posted:

Not today, BarncoBob.

My buddy sold his T6 Karman Coupe for $65. And another “driver condition” B coupe was on eBay with a “Buy It Now” price of $65K a week or so ago.

But a Speedster? You’re right. Add another zero. (almost)

And if it's a Spyder, more zeros...

Tough crowd. Nineteen posts of mostly shade, including two or three by Danny, and not one yet saying "the Dean thing is way overdone?"

FWIW, I think the car is extraordinary but, like most of you, don't understand the presentation.

My car is for sale. Same price: parts plus $10 an hour.

@edsnova posted:

Tough crowd.

Correct. If it ain't somebody's here, we're gonna' pick it clean to the bone. Maybe even if it is.

Hey - is that a plastic fuel filter in the engine compartment?!?! Where's the freaking surround tin!!!???

If you don't eat your meat, you can't have any pudding! HOW CAN YOU HAVE YOUR PUDDING IF YOU DON'T EAT YOUR MEAT!?!?!?

@edsnova posted:

Tough crowd. Nineteen posts of mostly shade, including two or three by Danny, and not one yet saying "the Dean thing is way overdone?"

FWIW, I think the car is extraordinary but, like most of you, don't understand the presentation.

My car is for sale. Same price: parts plus $10 an hour.

How about $69,250?

@DannyP posted:

Some really nice work there.

But what's up with the rally-car ride height? I'll tell you what. Front rims too wide/not backspaced properly. The front tires are also too wide, so they raised the ride height so the fenders don't rub.

For 70k why doesn't the car have skinny 16" wheels and bias-ply tires. You know, since it's an EXACT replica except for body material. And clamshell shape. And what is up with the wrinkly seats? They came that way?

This is my first response.

Ed, if you're going to spend/get 70k, a certain level of work is expected.

No, not expected, it's required.

This JD car, although some of the work is of a high level, some of it is decidedly not.

Or am I wrong, here? I don't think so.

I have a question, Ed. Why are you singling me out?

@DannyP Because you're the "James Dean is overdone and I don't care for the association cuz he only had the car a week" guy. (It's not that I don't agree with you).

@Bob: IM S6 DM me if you're interested.

I figured by now everyone knows where I stand on the JD issue: 'nuff said.

I want a CMI body so badly but not that badly! I would expect the details to be a lot better on a $70k example.

BTW, Ed, you can't compare your car to this one. If this guy gets the 70k for his, yours is 100K.