Not mine, but interesting.
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Interesting but more of a hot rod
$18k - its been on SAMBA for a while now - there is another thread here on it. They are very rare - probably only one in Canada! I think I'm only one on SOC that likes them. The front is especially nice with the flat head lights. CMC called it a 359.
It is a pretty cool design and done right with the right colour it would be pretty nice
I have seen two and both had the same issues: Because of the additional weight of the fiberglass body they crack in the back...I suppose they could be braced similar to the butt sag door gap issues but it still would be one ugly morphed speedster.
I think they're pretty fugly, but that's just my opinion...
PS- ^^^what Alan said^^^
I never really liked the original, and a replica doesn't change my opinion.
It's interesting, though, in terms of how it is spec'd out.
I saw a red one at Carlisle event - and the engine compartment appears much larger than in a Speedster. I'm guess it is just a longer tail (which would shorly need added steel to support aka CMC butt sag). I tried to find a build manual to see if the pan was shortened like the Speedster but could not find one. The top appears same size so suspect pan is shortened. I recall reading years ago that the kit sold for $15k --- where the CMC Speedster was around $8k --- must be the extra engine grill! Reportedly only about 200 were made. One had a 6 cyl Porsche engine (sold to new owner in Japan) and there was a rotary wankel in one in TX.
- Hummm. After owning my white 359 for several years i haven't had any cracks or other problems. But its identification lable say fiberfab. And has the Ca. Spcn smog label too. And better too as it has porsche guages, no hood pins, better mirrors. It seems to attract a lot more attention than the porch 356 because nobody knows what they are but that's just my opinion I Luv It. all though I don't use it much.
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If anyone can find a double hump fiberglass top cover for one to buy or copy PLEASE LET ME KNOW AS I WANT ONE BAD!! i will pay a big finders fee...
If anyone needs the build manual or sales, or the same wheels, porsche emblem shifter knob, red seats or anything else i might have as spares just let me know. Just don't ask for the 5 fugly trophies i have won with it in the last 4 years..
Picts of the interior ?
unofun posted:Just don't ask for the 5 fugly trophies i have won with it in the last 4 years..
Ok, that was pretty funny! Touche
I like the looks the interior is more period correct
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I bought a speedster project from Steve Hall from TN. a couple of years ago and two of the FG double humps, they fit like a glove..the mold was very professional and is / was available.
@Theron Theron is it possible to scan in his 359 build manual and post it here on SOC. I've never seen one posted anywhere. It would be good to preserve the manual for others.
Any idea of how many made by FF/CMC? I found one reference that said just over 200 and cost was $15k each kit. Found another that said #206 was for sale in Calgary years ago. The interior looks same as Speedster - same top assembly. The length seems to be past the engine bay.
If I could get a hold of the manual for a bit, I would certainly scan and put it in the library here.
-=theron
Fellow Soc member in Sarasota FL that built the Miata Speedster has a cool 2 hump hard tonneau (so he must have a mold).
Thanks for the support! As far as i can tell, except outer body everything is identical to 356. I have a new top and drop in side curtain from vintage speedsters, in burgandy. Floor speedster floor mats worked great too. The engine bay is much longer, about a foot atleast. Compartment ends right at the end of the exaust tips. So easy for the subaru or 911 engines. It is 4 inch square tube chassis mounted to vw pan so quite strong and heat flows through that. Plenty of room behind the grill fo a good size bolt in radiator or airconditioning to be put in. The 356 speedster car covers work really well and tight. I did take out the single port 1300 and installed a new 2180 i had laying around for the sterlings to get 3x the HP.
Either hump type looks great for me. I would like to buy one, rent one to mold @fibermanufactering, (local company who has done great work since fiberfab sold last year) or buy the mold itself. Cash or trade for tons of vw and speester stuff i have. The list is endless.... Oh will definately pay a finders fee...
Thanks for the support! As far as i can tell, except outer body everything is identical to 356. I have a new top and drop in side curtain from vintage speedsters, in burgandy. Floor speedster floor mats worked great too. The engine bay is much longer, about a foot atleast. Compartment ends right at the end of the exaust tips. So easy for the subaru or 911 engines. It is 4 inch square tube chassis mounted to vw pan so quite strong and heat flows through that. Plenty of room behind the grill fo a good size bolt in radiator or airconditioning to be put in. The 356 speedster car covers work really well and tight. I did take out the single port 1300 and installed a new 2180 i had laying around for the sterlings to get 3x the HP.
Interesting Blog by guy that worked for CMC in the era. He says the 359 uses thicker fiberglass than 356 shells. Hence, heaviest shell CMC produced. Engine bay was made to fit larger, more powerful engine to compensate.
https://classickitcars.wordpress.com/about/
https://classickitcars.wordpress.com/
Check this CMC mod - bonding 356 body parts to a 911 to create a 959.
And a 959 Targa conversion.
Yes I have seen 2 of those for sale In the last year. Just couldn't afford to sell my house for them, the mantaince, and the insurance.. wish I could....
And of my fiberfab I cannot thank you enough for posting the info about it! It answers questions I have of it. I did not think CMC and fiberfab were ever partners. If you did do build work on it, I thank you for my saving midlife crisis car.
I say this because if you look at my face page I am severely handycapped and had half my skull removed all summer due to a MC accident in 2012. The red mg td fiberfab is 2 months after that. You may not notice but also have a bar down the left leg. All it takes is a positive Attitude! I sold it and a sterling to buy the Porsche 359.
So thank you for posting the links. It was and is great support..
Sorry 6 months
Way to stay positive!
@unofun I have great respect for your fortitude and positive outlook!
"Welcome to The Madness"!
MusbJim posted:@unofun I have great respect for your fortitude and positive outlook!
"Welcome to The Madness"!
Me too. You sir, are the man.
Hello, new to this forum. I must say I was surprised to see my Black 959 Speedster here on these pages. Yes, it's the one up top from Thunder Bay, ON. I was lucky to buy out the owner and purchase the other 50 percent of the car so it's all mine now. He purchased the car from Peter's Porsche Shop in New York. Peter the owner built the car which he imported from Florida as a partially built project car. The car is special since it was originally outfitted with a Porsche 3.6 litre engine and the G50, 5 speed transmission. It was built on a custom tubular chassis with roll cage for Autocross and Club racing. It uses unequal length front wishbone suspension similar to the real 959. It also utilizes Carrera Coil over shocks in the front with rack and pinion steering and Carrera gas pressurized coil over shocks in the rear. Braking is four wheel disc all around from the Porsche 914. The 359 body kit was an interesting one offered in the late years of CMC's existence with only some 200 or so made. It was twice the price of the other Speedster kits. They tried to combine newer style and offer some newer technical possibilities by increasing the wheelbase of the 356 to that of the actual 959. The wheelbase is 89.5 inches same as the 959 as mentioned which is also the same as the 930 Turbo. They also offered a much wider track similar to the wide body 911 and 959 which was a real departure from the original 356. CMC used the Styling of the 959 Speedster like that used by Becker. Becker was a German tuner who produced a real Porsche 959 Speedster when a Porsche race driver happened to roll an original 959 on the Autobon. They cut the crushed roof off that car and modified it to be a Speedster. Others modified Porsche 911's to Speedsters using Porsche parts from the 3.2 Speedster car and available aftermarket 959 body kits. CMC figured that they had the right Speedster Center section after all the new 3.2 911 Speedster was styled after the old 356 Speedster so why not extend the wheelbase and track to 959 dimensions and make their own kit car with 959 style front and rear. The advantages were great for performance since the increased dimensions allowed for the use of larger more powerful engines including the 3.6 litre Porsche six offering better handling and stability. The fiberglass work was of very high quality and most cars like mine were built with a perimeter frame to support the long tail so cracking is not a problem if one followed the builders recommendations. I think that CMC went out of business and many were sold as partially built kits so some took shortcuts building them which is too bad. The previous owner bought my car for its 3.6 Porsche engine and transmission to put it in another Porsche 911 Carrera. I am not such a rich man so I did the work myself to install a 914 Porsche 2.0 litre engine that I bored and stroked to 2.2 litres with twin 40 Weber IDF carbs. I also installed a VW 4 speed transmission. So can't wait for summer. I will post some more pics when I figure out how that works!
unofun posted:Thanks for the support! As far as i can tell, except outer body everything is identical to 356. I have a new top and drop in side curtain from vintage speedsters, in burgandy. Floor speedster floor mats worked great too. The engine bay is much longer, about a foot atleast. Compartment ends right at the end of the exaust tips. So easy for the subaru or 911 engines. It is 4 inch square tube chassis mounted to vw pan so quite strong and heat flows through that. Plenty of room behind the grill fo a good size bolt in radiator or airconditioning to be put in. The 356 speedster car covers work really well and tight. I did take out the single port 1300 and installed a new 2180 i had laying around for the sterlings to get 3x the HP.
Except that the 359 track and wheelbase are like that of the real 959. The wheelbase is 89.5 inches long which is exactly the same as the original 959.
WOLFGANG posted:$18k - its been on SAMBA for a while now - there is another thread here on it. They are very rare - probably only one in Canada! I think I'm only one on SOC that likes them. The front is especially nice with the flat head lights. CMC called it a 359.
Hey, that's my car! I bought out the owner and it's all mine now! I had a share in it for doing the work on this car to rebuild it. Surprised to see it here! Happy Join! So I'm a new member here! Lol
Clark,
Welcome to the site. New members are almost always accepted as they are, warts, feathers, and all. However, when a new member starts with accusations of rip off, animosities may result.
You seem to be saying that websites, such as SOC, rip off pictures and comment on them. You may be confused about ownership of pictures and content on internet sites. The pictures in question are marked as being on the Samba site. Perhaps you have an ownership interest in Samba. If not, then you don't own Samba pictures, even in you own the car shown in the picture. Fair Use doctrine would not likely prohibit one car site from posting pics from another site, but that's a decision that involves those two parties, SOC and Samba, not you.
No one on here wants to bust your juevos rancheros, so maybe you want a mulligan, eh? It's really not all that hard to get along on this site.
Welcome new guy with a cool car and an interesting history.
Jim Kelly posted:Clark,
Welcome to the site. New members are almost always accepted as they are, warts, feathers, and all. However, when a new member starts with accusations of rip off, animosities may result.
You seem to be saying that websites, such as SOC, rip off pictures and comment on them. You may be confused about ownership of pictures and content on internet sites. The pictures in question are marked as being on the Samba site. Perhaps you have an ownership interest in Samba. If not, then you don't own Samba pictures, even in you own the car shown in the picture. Fair Use doctrine would not likely prohibit one car site from posting pics from another site, but that's a decision that involves those two parties, SOC and Samba, not you.
No one on here wants to bust your juevos rancheros, so maybe you want a mulligan, eh? It's really not all that hard to get along on this site.
Jim, So sorry to start out on the wrong foot on my first day! I was surprised to see my car there being commented on and some being negative. I apologize for saying that. I sure would like a mulligan and to start again fresh!
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unofun posted:<div>Thank you for the updates on the forum. I Do not often comment but my pictures are only from my cameras unless noted. I may have been wrong on the wheel base as i have never checked. Sorry about that. It does have the california smog exempt sticker on it. </div><div>Thank you for your support!</div><div><br></div>Sent from my Verizon ASUS tablet
Looks very nice in white! Terrific shape! What kind of engine do you have in it?
No worries, Clark. You're a good man for cowboyin' up. That's why God gave us those things, you know, so we could step on them occasionally, myself included, of course.
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unofun posted:I'm sure you won't believe this....With 9 vw engines, a Buick v6, a 2l 914 engine, and 2 kaynor electric motors for the vw all sitting on the garage floor it has been a really hard choice.. it had a 1300 or 1500 SP motor in it that was weak so I decided to put this 2332cc type one into it. I also added a new bluetooth stereo, and replaced the red cracked fiberglass seats with these black ones.Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
I like the idea of the single Weber in the center but many will poo poo the idea. What have you done to the inside of the engine ? Thanks.
I like the idea of using the T4 2L engine. A few mods and 120-140 dependable HP. There is so much room in the 359 that a T4 with the flat pancake cooling tin would easily fit and actually be easier to service.
Mt Type IV is stronger and smoother than the day I picked it up at Jake Raby's 35,000 miles ago. For me the ultimate test is the 13 trips home from Carlisle using I-40 and that 8 mile super steep section of I-40 East of Asheville where with my original 1915 Type I had to use second gear and sometimes even third to ascend that stretch. Big trucks can go only 30-35 mph there. Now on that road I do 75 in 4th gear with ease and a big reserve in power. Never had to stop mid-trip for anything but gas, and never a backfire or failure of any sort to date.
Interesting side note---that stretch of I-40 going East (down the mountain), it is so steep that at every 1/2 mile or so there is a runaway truck emergency exit with a deep sand surface and these exits are positioned so that they turn up a hill for trucks with brake failure to use to stop quickly. That part of I-40 is steeper than anything I have ever seen in the country anywhere. For some reason the highway engineers went straight up the mountain side rather than going around it like they do even in the Rockies. Did I say it was steep??
Anyone know that stretch I'm talking about? Imagine how this type IV pulls on a flat road. I love the idea of Suby power but I'm very satisfied with this engine. I don't have ac but there is an Espar heater making it a true year-round driver here in Dogpatch.
Wolfgang---best of success with whatever way you choose to go for power.
WOLFGANG posted:I like the idea of using the T4 2L engine. A few mods and 120-140 dependable HP. There is so much room in the 359 that a T4 with the flat pancake cooling tin would easily fit and actually be easier to service.
Yes Sir, that’s what I am running now a Porsche 914 two litre T4 with 96mm x 76mm bore and stroke makes 2.2 litres with stock cooling It has lots of room for the stock fan and room enough for a nice dual exhaust that is far away from the fan which is something I always hated in my Porsche 912 with T4. Their it was so close that the fan sucked in the hot air around the muffler!
I have driven that stretch of the mountains it is a cool stretch for sure and it is a work out for most 4 cylinder cars for sure. You need the Type IV torque numbers to keep going without shifting into a lower, then lower, then lower gear.
Well can't wait to drive that mountain stretch of highway and go to Carlisle!
I know that stretch of road.
Jack I always wanted to goto Tuscaloosa AL. The name sounds so cool (
Tuscaloosa, yeah damned cool. In the late 1700s four ancestor brothers established the town of Fosters , Alabama which is very close to Tuscaloosa. They were awarded land, like 60 miles (miles!) down along the Black Warrior River, as reward for their father's service in the Revolutionary war. They shipped cotton directly to England from their landing on that river. (Google "Fosters Landing", Tuscaloosa, AL.)
Not very PC but I have a sheet showing slaveholders in Tuscaloosa County showing the 15-20 ancestors who owned 75-80 "workers". Two of the plantation homes are still there and recently one changed hands and is still occupied. Having an interesting time with family genealogy. One of the most startling finds is a pay stub to that Revolutionary War ancestor (Captain John Foster) showing his pay that month when his unit was at Valley forge with G. Washington. I got that in a genealogy research place in New Orleans a few years ago. I got my sister into DAR with this research and myself and son, Russ in the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR).
Yeah--Tuscaloosa is very cool.
Iam -Ray---why did you bring Tuscaloosa up?
Thought that this was interesting:
Ok,, just have to clear up some of the misconceptions about the 359. I have collected a lot of information on them, over the past 4 years,, and even discussed them with a former CMC employee, so I am reasonably sure of my statements.
The 359 was layed up in its own molds,, and is not a 356 with extra pieces grafted on. Mine certainly is made with single layups. The body shape is very different from a 356's,, and the wheel base is 89.5 inches. Mine weighs in at 1760lbs (with a 1/4 tank of gas). I do note however, that the literature I have says it can weigh up to 1875lbs, depending on engine choice. The only panels that it shares with the 356 are the doors and windshield assembly.
My car has had 3 years of pretty spirited driving,, and it is not showing any serious cracks. Previous owners drove it for 3 more years prior,, but I think they were relatively gentle with it. I have certainly seen lots of cmc 356's with a lot more cracking. So I guess I am lucky.
The kits came with a filler panel where the oem Porsche center reflector could be mounted. Some owners will throw the 911sc reflector cause it looks so much better. But you have to look long and hard to find one at a reasonable price (yes,, I did). I believe Porsche could care less about 356 replicas or any of the other older designs that might bear its likeness. They are not like Ferrari or Lambo' in this respect, and are not likely to sue anyone. 359 kits were produced by CMC mostly,, and a few by ThunderRanch. I don't think any kits were manufactured overseas,, but kits shipped everywhere,, and could certainly have found their way back.
Just want to add,, that this site is the best. And my trip to Carlisle a few back was a gas. I still have my Speedsters Mug, and put it to good use on special occasions !! Thanks Gang !! Alan
I was always trying to find the build manual to have it scanned and loaded to SOC. It seems like it sits on a full VW pan. I have some photos of the molds used to flash the 359 body sitting out behind a garage somewhere.
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This red one showed up at Carlisle a few years ago. The owner"s name was Earl and he owned a local wrecking yard. Wouldn't it be cool with one of those Rusty Tubs hard tops?
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WOLFGANG posted:
No, the body sits on a custom frame with a 89.5 inch wheel base, the same as the original 959 and 911. The VW pan has a 94.5 inch wheelbase. The 356 was shorter then the VW and 911. Thanks for the attachments!
You can see what CMC did with the 359 after all they had the centre section from their old Speedster design. Only the doors on the 359 are interchangeable with the other CMC Speedsters. The whole car is longer and has a wider track to look like the real 959 Speedsters and they share the original wheel base of the 959. The Porsche 911 Speedster copied the old 356 Speedster windshield design. Becker used the 911 Speedster windshield design to create their real 959 Speedster. Of course CMC already had the old style 356 Speedster windshield design that they carried over to the 359 Speedster. later CMC even produced 959 Body Kits to convert Porsche 911's to make them look like 959s!
TOP PIC: CMC 359 Speedster (959 Speedster replica).
BOTTOM PIC: Becker 959 Speedster (959 based Speedster):
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Posted by KitCarMan on Samba
Here's a video walk around of a 359. It features the rare pine engine lid prop available at extra cost! Matching fine wood battery box. Must be original gel coat finish too.
WOLFGANG posted:Here's a video walk around of a 359. It features the rare pine engine lid prop available at extra cost! Matching fine wood battery box. Must be original gel coat finish too.
Car looks nice...will have to hone up on my wood working skills in order to replace my mechanical hood prop rod, engine cover lift strut and battery box! Lol!
WOLFGANG posted:Posted by KitCarMan on Samba
Body looks like 359 missing rear spoiler. Mold looks like 356. I also saw a 356 early CMC Speedster mold recently advertised on the Samba for sale!
PS: what is that white body parked on it side? Looks interesting?
Around 1992 CMC had a Cobra kit too. I've never seen one but hear they were very difficult to build. Apparently Street Beasts - CMC follow-on company - sold them too. That's the upside down blue body. Not sure what white one is - looks like a 550 Spyder but don't think CMC made one.
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Not sure what white one is - looks like a 550 Spyder but don't think CMC made one.
Someone identified that white car body mould last year. I've been looking everywhere for it but so far I haven't been able to find it.
Yup- a rare CMC Cobra Coupe - the 2 what looked like rear vent holes threw me - the window was not yet cut out!
More shots of CMC Cobra -
Re "wood battery box": Fun fact: Porsche used a wood battery hold down on the original 550 to isolate the battery from the metal strap holding it down.
WOLFGANG posted:Yup- a rare CMC Cobra Coupe - the 2 what looked like rear vent holes threw me - the window was not yet cut out!
I knew someone had identified it. Thank you Greg.
I found some more info on the authentic 959 Speedster:
In 1987, Porsche delivered a Porsche 959 to German race driver Jürgen Lässig; who, owned the car up until he had an accident on the Autobahn in 1988. The 959 had flipped over and was severely damaged in the collision with an Audi 80 on the A 81 at Singen on the top, right front and on the side. From there it was bought by a company called Auto Becker. The damaged car went to Auto Becker in Dusseldorf where it was converted to convertible. The engine technology and the complete electronics remained untouched; Stiffeners were welded in. Becker chopped the roof off and fit a 911 Speedster windshield. They also fit a folding soft-top. Afterwards, the 959 Speedster was shown at the IAA show in Frankfurt. A collector from the US bought the car for allegedly 3 million D-Mark. The car can also be converted at any time to a normal Cabriolet, or hard-top configuration. Becker preserved the original roof to be installed if so desired as a removable hard-top - by way of a few handles and the exchange of windscreen and hood. This original style roof was supplied in a very large custom made padded box. The 959 Speedster was tested by Sports Car International in February 1992. From the waistline down the car looks like the original 959 which it is. From the waistline up the 959 in Speedster mode looks like a 911 Speedster.
It is interesting that the CMC replica 959 Speedster debuted in 1989. Reference, Peterson's Kit Car Magazine; issue, March, 1989. Therefore, CMC was likely inspired by Auto Becker 959 Speedster and got the idea to create the 359 Speedster from their replica Speedster. By then, CMC had vast experience with Speedster replicas and they wanted to make their own flag ship car for the US market since at that time all original 959's were prohibited from entering into the USA. The 359 was layed up in its own molds, and is not a 356 with extra pieces grafted on. It was certainly made with single layups. The body shape is very different from a 356's,, and the wheel base is 89.5 inches like the original 959.
A real 959 convertible - so the CMC 359 doesn't look so bad after all?
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Offered for sale for $1.1m recently! (or 1m Euros)!
I never liked the 959 aesthetically.
Bill Prout posted:I never liked the 959 aesthetically.
I can understand that!
I know I am in the minority here and I have owned a 57 Speedster too as well as several 911's and P-cars. But, I always liked the 959. Never really liked the 356 Speedster all that much. i know they are worlds apart. The first time I ever saw a Speedster in person I thought it looked like a upside down bathtub! Lol.
Clark
57 356 Speedster replica, 69 Porsche 912, 72 914, 73 911 RS replica, 81 924 Carrera, 82 924, 83 944, 88 928S4, 91 911Carrera 2, Dino Ferrari replica with 455 V8, 959 Speedster replica
WOLFGANG posted:Interesting Blog by guy that worked for CMC in the era. He says the 359 uses thicker fiberglass than 356 shells. Hence, heaviest shell CMC produced. Engine bay was made to fit larger, more powerful engine to compensate.
https://classickitcars.wordpress.com/about/
https://classickitcars.wordpress.com/
Check this CMC mod - bonding 356 body parts to a 911 to create a 959.
And a 959 Targa conversion.
Trio of cars (Targa, Cab, and Coup) built on Real Porsche’s built at Classic Motor Carriages in the late 1980’s.
They were called the “Ultima” and for a modest amount your Porsche 911 could be fitted with a fiberglass body kit that would make it look like a real Porsche 959.
I went with Martini Black Widow style trim on my 959 Speedster. I did it myself in my garage and it turned out okay luckily lol!
I'm not generally a 956 fan, but that looks very cool, Clark!
I'm with Stan. Normally I'm not a big fan of these, but doing it up like a race car works well. Nice job!
I like the Martini Racing Livery. But I think the rear stance is too tall and the tires seem proportionally too big for the car. You did a great job with the rest of her though.
Thanks, your right but I live in Thunder Bay, pot hole city of Northwestern Ontario and she is a driver so I'll sacrifice looks for a softer ride! Always seems to draw a crowd and people love the car at cruise nights and car shows. I recently built and owned a yellow 73 RS clone, a red 911 Slantnose and a red 356 Speedster replica and none got the attention this gets. People want to sit in it and get their picture taken! It's crazy even I had a 73 Ferrari Dino replica with a 455 big block and the crowd favours this one. It's not what I expected either... This one took me three years to build.
Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPad
There's something about the shape of a Speedster that attracts folks, particularly children (like most of us). It took me a while to get used to it.