Seeking general advice...

ABSOLUTELY STAY AWAY FROM SAS!!!

JPS is hit and miss. There’s been some changes in his business that should be looked at for information. Search this site for info. 

Greg Leach is in Hawaiian Gardens. His website is  https://www.vintagespyders.com A day trip from San Diego would be a good investment. 

@VSpyder

Thanks!

And then there is Beck (www.beckspeedster.com).  The folks at Special Edition (manufacturer of Beck cars) are among the best you'll ever deal with.  They have a number of good things available (Speedster, Convertible-D, 550 Spyder, 904 GTS) and some more in the works (Super Coupe).

Thanks! I've looked at them, but they might be a little high end for my blood. Their turn-key option is 40k. Eek. That's not to say I couldn't get to that place, but feeling more comfortable around 30k at this point. 

Q:  Any wisdom you wish to share with me that you wish someone would have imparted on you when you were in my shoes?

A:  In the end analysis, know why you want one, what you can put up with, what you can do yourself.  If you can honestly answer these questions, and you still want to buy one, check out as many used ones as you can find.  Buying one of these cars should not be a quick purchase decision.  They also don't always live up to the dream of sunny days, wind in the hair fun. 

Since few of these little cars ever get driven in rain, let alone, snow, and also since they don’t get driven all that much anyway, it really doesn’t much matter where it currently is, meaning that you don’t have to concentrate on “Southern Cars”.  I would strongly suggest that you look for a used one to start, because seldom do these cars live up to initial expectations and you can usually recoup your investment when you sell it.

That said, these are definitely NOT daily driver cars unless you live in Southern California.  They are also not cars for people who do not know how to maintain them or have no mechanical abilities.  Before you do much more planning, please read this:

https://www.speedsterowners.com/pages/articles-ready

If you are interested in nice used Speedsters, I might be able to help.  When I have one for sale, it will be posted on my website with lots of pictures and video. http://www.replicaspeedsters.com. You can also call me if you have any questions about Speedsters, my contact information is on my website. 

There are frequently cars listed right here on the SOC and you are VERY fortunate to have found the SOC before you purchase rather than after, when it might be too late. 

I agree with Robert above. A stop at Vintage Motorcars in Hawaiian Gardens, while you are in California, will be very worth while. 

 

@RINY Rachel, you would do best by contacting Troy and see what he has on his project list. Troy is a long-time member of this site and has reconditioned and sold at least 30 Speedster replicas that were all beautiful & well sorted.

Best of luck in your endeavor! Keep us posted. 

@Troy Sloan

Another thumbs up for Troy. If you want a well-sorted Vintage from CA, he’s the go to guy.

I would personally only buy:

1) Beck
2) IM
3) Vintage sorted by Troy
4) CMC sorted by Alan Merklin
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@RINY

We are about 1.5 hr drive depending on the time of day and where in San Diego you will be. I can be at the shop anytime you need be ( I only live 10 min away) We have many NY clients so helping with Registration and shipping will not be a problem for us. Please visit our website www.vintagemotorcarsinc.com or give me a call if you have any questions (714)894-1550.

 

Greg Leach

Vintage motorcars of California Inc.

Rockwest racing is in San Diego. They build nice cars. I've seen them. they are built on a tube chassis. www.rockwestracing.com  

I can not think of anyone, active here,  that own's one of these cars, Rockwest.  If I was shopping new or used I'd stay with one of the known manufactures/ restorer's mentioned here. Excluding number 5 in your list, as mentioned by others.  Just my opinion.

 

pm me , I live in NY and owned a speedster

 

I definitely understand and appreciate the words of warning, but I think I know what I'm getting myself into. I drove the same old Wrangler for 15 years, not out of necessity, but because I LOVED that car, and all the pain in the ass that went with it. I grew up in Scouts, VW Things, and on old motorcycles. Going for "a drive" is very much something I get. My main car now is a really lovely, new, Subaru mom-wagon... and I'm bored out of my friggin' mind. I need something. Not something to drive every day, or all year, or without a little heart ache, but I need some of that magic back. This is something I've been thinking about for a long time.

As for mechanical, unfortunately my dad, my go-to-guy, died last year, but I am smart and capable and can get help from his friends. I'm never going to build anything from the ground up, nor do I have the inclination to do so, but I'm smart, and I want to learn, and I will learn. I think I'll be okay.

Regarding used over new - used would be ideal, but it's hard to pull off around here and I don't have the schedule (or cash) to be flying around the country to check out cars. One is going to have to land in my lap (not likely) or I'm going to have get recos on a shop, visit it, then pull the trigger. That seems like the logical path to take, no?

Thank you all again for your input and will check out everyone's references. It's really appreciated!

“...and I'm bored out of my friggin' mind. I need something. Not something to drive every day, or all year, or without a little heart ache, but I need some of that magic back.”

Ok, it sounds like you may be one of us.  As long as you don’t mind getting wet when it rains I think you’re good.  Hopefully you can find something perfect.  By the way, my Beck is currently at Special Edition being repaired after a bit of carelessness on my part and some bad luck redesigned the front end.  It will be available once repairs are complete.  They’re building something new for me, so it’s not coming back here.  Twelve years of fun, and now it deserves a new home.

Some of the manufacturers sell used Speedsters. This is another way to get a good used Speedster. Here’s an example:

http://www.beckspeedster.com/p...ingelbspeedster.html

I had my Beck built with lots of input from this site. Even so, I’ve spent 8 years getting it dialed in. Some of that was chasing the latest available tech and some was me learning what I wanted from seat time.

I spent more than I should. The smarter ones bought used, learned, sold, and THEN built new....
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Lane’s car would be an awesome buy!

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You don't have to fly all over the country.  There are people on here that you could trust to do an on-site vehicle inspection for you to give you insight on a prospective purchase.  

Look......    These are cute little cars and I get why you might want one, but they do have their quirks.  Maybe you could trust us just a little in trying to help you out in making a decision?  We have no monetary incentive to do so, just want to see you get the car of your dreams and not be a disappointment for you.

Let's start with, Do Not attempt to buy ANYTHING from SAS in Knoxville, TN.  They have proven to be a company that will take your multi-thousand-dollar deposit and NEVER deliver a car to you.  there is plenty of info on the internet to back up this claim.

Troy Sloan (West Coast) and Alan Merklin (East Coast) take in 356 Replica Speedsters from whomever, make them nice again and re-sell them.  We call that "sorting" out all of the little bugs that people have to put up with in new builds.  Their efforts are well worth their time and money and they are very reasonable in their pricing.

After  that, there are other used versions out there that we may or may not know their origins.  We will let you know what we know to try to steer you away from the questionable ones.

Why?

Because we love these little cars with all our beings and we truly want you to be happy with your purchase and experience.  Plus, we have no economic interest in it.  Just your happiness, because we truly understand your love of this car's design.  

Oh, and anyone familiar with an IH Scout is OK in my book.  I had a '66 with the in-line 4-banger and really big wheels.   It replaced a '54 Willys Wagon that gave up the ghost. 

Gordon is spot on.

VSpyder posted:

@RINY

We are about 1.5 hr drive depending on the time of day and where in San Diego you will be. I can be at the shop anytime you need be ( I only live 10 min away) We have many NY clients so helping with Registration and shipping will not be a problem for us. Please visit our website www.vintagemotorcarsinc.com or give me a call if you have any questions (714)894-1550.

 

Greg Leach

Vintage motorcars of California Inc.

Greg,

From where I sit, it looks like your @xxxx, didn't take. It is  not blue.

Gonna tout Dr. Clock again. 

Alan Merklin, who moved to West VA last year after living in PA, has bought, refurbished and sold literally dozens of Speedsters over the past decade. He's done another two or three this year, since his announced retirement from doing this. He's a bit compulsive. 

He's also a professional. His work is very good. 

If you want a well-sorted used Speedster at a reasonable price, he very well might be your man. 

That term, well-sorted, is not a small matter. Since these cars are assembled by hand, and sometimes by (as in my own case) non-experts, lots of little things crop up shortly after they're finished. This is true for used cars as well as new: hubcaps fly off, engines run rough or refuse to idle, tops don't fit right, fuel systems get clogged, engines overheat, unseen things rattle loose. Just hundreds of little matters that, individually, mean little, but in aggregate can give a person buyer's remorse.

Alan has made it his business to shag all those ground balls before turning the car over to a new owner. 

I don't even know if he has one queued up for sale right now but I'll bet he will within your time frame. 

Welcome to the madness.

^ x2

Rachel,  Best to give us a basic grocery list of must haves.... Classic or flared fender that is sorta a street rod themed body style, motor size, exterior - interior colors etc.  As mentioned these are a fair weather cars with a top that will get you home in the rain....They are, fun cars that draw way too much attention !

http://intermeccanica.com/athi...r-vehicles/pre-owned

$30k is completely doable, but $30k for a Subaru powered car is going to be a long stretch.

What is working for you is that you are OK with modest power. Not every T1 VW is built the same. A nice 1776 might just fit the bill.

Talk with Greg. Visit his shop. I’ll bet you order one that day. 

I have two cars which will be available shortly.  

1) A Red roll up window Intermeccanica Roadster that is registered in New York State.

2)A silver JPS speedster registered in CA

The Intermeccanica is down with Greg ar Vintage Motorcars in Hawaiian Gardens getting a new articulated top and a run through on the mechanics.  

The JPS is with me in N Ca. I’m driving and sorting it until I’m confident it’s in great condition.

I should have also recommended our fearless leader Theron as a good used sorted Speedster source, as well. My bad.

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If I were coming to the hobby today, after seven or eight years of ownership and experience, I would buy from somebody with a solid track record of participation on this site, or a builder whose reputation can be checked through reading a bunch of threads on the site.

For me that narrows it down and would eliminate SAS and JPS for new builds, and would include Alan Merklin, Theron and Troy for refurbished cars.

IM, Special Edition, Vintage/California, Vintage/Arizona ( essentially a new company now) all have built great new cars depending on the price point.  

Seduction and Rockwest aren't talked about much so it  would be easier for me to rely on the known entities  named above.

You are comfortable at $30k, then you most likely are looking at a Type 1 VW drive train as Stan said. Welcome to the best of 1950's techology. Not without it's charms and nostalgic fun, but not modern. My drivetrain is that technology, but built in 1971. Lot's of fun, but still quirky compared to a Subaru or other more modern package.

Accept it and be prepared to live with it, or you may be disappointed. That might account for the availability of so many low mileage near new cars that turn up.

Still,  if shopping used, I'd opt for a refurbished car from Alan, Troy or Theron because they know these clown cars backwards and forwards, they get the kinks out, they have been very active on the site for years, and their reputations are excellent.

The journey has been the fun.

 

You guys are amazing! I seriously can't thank you all enough. 

@Troy Sloan Thank you! You're definitely on my a-list.

@Tom Blankinship Thank you for the recos... and the insight. I think you're right.

@VSpyder Thank you, Greg. I'll call you Monday. Unfortunately my only available day is a Sunday, but hopefully it'll be possible to work something out.

@michel Thanks! I will check them out too, however, I think they might be making cars way too badass for me. haha

@Lane Anderson Ha! I think I might be, and don't worry, I've been rained on many, many times. (I got caught in a flash hail storm once that was so bad that I was left with bruises and a head covered in knots. I was quite amused... after the pelting stopped, anyway.)

@edsnova Thanks!

@Panhandle Bob "Welcome to the best of 1950's technology." LOL Thank you, and I understand. I accept and welcome the good and bad, and I your suggested route is sounding like a smart way to go.

@Alan Merklin Hi!

• Color Silver metallic. I could live with the graphite or either blue as well, but the light silver is what I have in mind. Green or black might be doable too. Probably not red. Not ivory or white.
• Interior (for Silver): Dark red (oxblood?) Light red (which I believe is the authentic [and green apparently but I can't find any pictures]) might be a deal breaker for me. Visually don't enjoy. I could also live with all black or dark grey or dark brown or something, if done nicely. 
• • State of the interior is probably the main factor for me. Gotta be in really excellent shape. Speedster seats. I don't want that to be something I need to deal with, but might for a really killer deal.
• Air cooled engine. Not looking to satiate my need for speed in this and looove that sound. My husband was more interested in the Subaru engine, but I won him over... and really, he only had courtesy input.
• Classic body, but flared is definitely good too, but not looking to pay a premium for it.
• Reasonably functional back seat.
• Bonus points: 
• • Nicely integrated 3-point seat belts front and back.
  • Solid sound system
  • Soft top. Driving around NY/New England in the fall is my happy place.

Thoughts?

Thanks again to all of you who took time to comment. I sincerely appreciate it!

Rear seat is 90 percent for looks as for kids sitting there ...not safe.  3 point belts are difficult to do without extensive roll bar construction, something that is not common . 

@Alan Merklin Was not thinking back seat for anything other than short local drive, or taking 2 or 3 people for a short ride. Not throwing a car seat back there or anything. Is that on par with what should be happening?

Yeah, the 3 points I haven't seen but once I believe. Maybe they had it running up from an anchor in the floor and over the seat. I don't recall exactly. I was thinking it was better than nothing, but definitely not a top notch situation.

 

@RINY, safety is another thing to think about before jumping in.

Keep in mind the back 'seat' is much smaller than on a real 356. Front-to-back space is less because fiberglass-bodied replicas have an extra bulkhead the original unibody cars didn't need.

So, no adult will fit back there without being half out of the car. Small kids might fit, but the lack of seatbelts in back would make that extremely unsafe. Don't do it.

Even putting three-point belts in the front on pan-based cars is a challenge, owing to the lack of proper frame members to anchor a shoulder belt to. Some have installed roll bars and used them to mount three-point belts.

With a minimal steel frame and fiberglass body, you have about the same crash protection as on a motorcycle with a sidecar. We often call these 'four-wheel motorcycles' for that reason.

Most of us understand this, have accepted the risk, and drive accordingly. Not trying to scare you off, but it's another part of 'the madness' to know about.

As others have said, this requires a lot of thought beforehand if you're not going to end up one of the many people who buy these cars and are disappointed. We'd like to see this be a good experience for you, so stick around and ask away!

 

Completely forget about using the back seat for people. Won’t fit and unsafe. There is zero and I mean ZERO leg room.

3 point belts are dangerous unless the belt can pass through a point higher than your shoulder before heading to the retractor. (Look at your daily driver). This is physically impossible in a Speedster unless you have a roll bar (major build item, not add on). Even a small impact can compress your spine if the belt is routed down.

This is a fair weather toy. I use my mind around town in good weather for my errands and am properly insured for it. Most have classic car insurance which only support pleasure drives.

Motorcycle is the best analogy. Two people, fun, but risky ride.

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I have seen a number of cars with roll bars facilitating three or four point harnesses.  It can be done.  My car originally came with three-point belts, but they were constantly pulling down on my shoulder and uncomfortable, not to mention unsafe in a crash.  I went to racing lap belts which were much more comfortable, but my accident reinforced the lack of wisdom there.  I, uh, recontoured the steering wheel with my face - did neither of them any favors.  You have to decide the level of risk you're willing to accept.  As for the "back seat," they don't have one.  These are strictly two-seaters with a cargo area behind the seats.  Some folks have added cushions to use them for children, but it isn't safe.  As Mitch said, don't do it.

I hope this doesn't run you off, but better to have all of the facts now.

Safety?

Think four wheeled motorcycle level safety.

A couple guys here have had accidents in their plastic fantastic toys and can speak better to that than I can.

I live in New York City and Long Island, and have a Vintage Speedster if you want to talk and see the car.

Good point, @Sacto Mitch I didn't think about height. I know they are tiny, but I'm 5'3 so I was hoping I'd be scotched up enough that I could throw a person behind me in a pinch. That's okay though. I'm thinking of this as a two-seater... and a car for adults. I do have a daughter (she's a wee little sprout of 6) and we've discussed it a bit and she knows that these "old cars" just aren't made for kids. You must be full size to ride.

I also know these are fiberglass shells with funky weight distribution, and should be driven accordingly. I grew up on motorcycles. I know full well **** happens, and while I'm not lookin' to end up dead, I appreciate the balance of risk vs. reward.

@Lane Anderson I'm sorry to hear about your "recontouring"! Eek. I'm glad you're still here to articulate it so amusingly. Do you have a post about it?
I remember looking at the long, narrow steering column of my Jeep every now and then and thinking, "Are you going to core me someday?" Considering I was 18 when I bought it, I tempted fate quite a bit more than I should have back then. I do realize a Speedster is a matchbox to a Jeep, but I'm significantly less inclined to jackassery these days... but I miss it! My current car has me surrounded in air bags, gently guides me back into my lane should I leave it, and will automatically stop if I'm about to hit something. It definitely has it's place, but one does not "drive" a car like that, they operate it, dispassionately, while wondering if the chicken will be thawed in time for dinner. (haha)

Yes please @wombat. Thanks! I'll PM you.

Thanks again, all!!

My 8-year old is now riding with me. We told him that he had to be out of the booster seat first. In Michigan, that means 8 years old or 4’9”, whichever comes first.

With that being said, the height is based on having a shoulder belt and my car has lap belts. Also, the 4’9” really is variable where you carry your height (legs versus torso).

He wouldn’t make contact with the dash in a crash.

With all that being said, 8 seemed like a rule to enforce. He woke me up first thing on his 8th birthday for a Speedster ride :-)




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@RINY

I can meet you at the Shop on a Sunday, Just let me know what Sunday works for you.

I also Have a Brand New Silver/ Tan Speedster in Stock Ready for Delivery. I will post up some pictures Tomorrow.

 

Greg