Shunned or accepted?

Is your Speedster shunned or accepted by Porsche folks? How about VW folks? Like at shows.

Met a fellow this weekend at a car show for kids. He was driving a really slick 62 outlaw coupe that took 10 years to build. He was a great guy, came over to my house after so we could tighten the fanbelt before he headed to Tulsa. Let me drive his car too. Sweet!

Anyway, my less than imicaulate speedster got as much attention as his. We had the same drivetrain (912 Porsche w/5 speed). He didn't seem put off at all. I thought this might be a fluke but another Porshe guy shows up and invites me over to check out his collection.

I figure what the heck and go on over yesterday. Ends up he has 2 912's, 2 slick 914's, and a 74 911 that is like new and never has been touched. He also has a Volvo 850 and a BMW 525. Guy has a huge house and two garages the size of mine. Turn's out he was fishing to see if I would be interested in trading my car on one of his (except the 911). Said he planned to make mine a part of his collection. Nice cars but I told him cash talks.

All in this thing is a magnet, not at all what I expected.

Funny you should ask. I contacted the porsche 356 club in phoenix, arizona and was told since there is no commonality except for body style there was no sence of me joining in. I guess a common love of the car is not enough. So I guess in my area the answer would be shunned.

Ben,
We have a Thunder Ranch Spyder with a 911 6-cylinder in it. Porsche people love it. I never try to pass it off as a 550 even to the unsuspecting, I always introduce it as a Porsche Replica. They love the idea of a driver's car built from Porsche parts and appreciate the choice of drivetrain and finish on the vehicle.

The only snotty remark I have ever gotten was a guy who said something disparaging about it being fiberglass. The funny thing is this guy drove up in in Corvette! Otherwise, overwhelmingly positive.
angela

Porsche folks; mixed, I ran into a serious 356 guy at a restaurant parking lot who couldn't have been friendlier and more interested in my car, he has two coupes that compete in shows, we stood there and chatted for a half hour. Been glared at by a guy in a Boxter who wouldn't return my wave, and so on.

VW folks; great, each and every one! I've been warmly welcomed by the Middle TN VW Club, one of its members has a 356 coupe.

Angela, good point about always using the word 'replica' when someone asks about your car, I do that too.

I make sure that I use the word replica as well. I am in the local VW club and they have no problem with it either. Most do ask if it is fiberglass but only for information.

Do you think that Porsche vs. VW power makes a difference?

By the way, the guy with the collection was appauled at the thought of painting the car any other color than an original color.


Ben

We took my wife's boxster in for 60K service to an independent certified shop. The guy who owns it has been a porsche racer and wrench for years and years and is a real car nut. He had a pristine 57 silver speedster in his shop that he was working on for the owner. I mentioned I had a replica and he said "Well at least you can drive yours"
I've put enough miles on the boxster now to come to a conclusion -- I like driving the speedster more than the boxster. OK, not when its raining or cold and not on a trip where I want to carry something and my wife's going with me. and not when I want to cover alot of ground quickly.
The boxster is a fine automobile. It corners, accelerates, stops and does most things better then my speedster will ever do. (it will not, however, attract a crowd) but the speedster is more fun.
Just one guys opinion.
ed

Seems like a never ending topic doesn't it? I was kind of thinking about all that as we were bombing around last weekend on the SOT. Golly, we were having so much fun that I don't think it could get better than that even driving a REAL 356. Sure we care about door dings and careless parkers but after the first rock chip, Oh Well.

The previous post had it perfectly correct, "We drive ours" Best we lose our paranoia and just have a ball!

West Coast Bruce

When I take my speedster in for an oil change,valve adjment. I get the same reactions from the sales staff,mechanics. My son's a tech at a local dealer and on saturdays ( if he has it off) we work on my speedster. This is great,I uses of the rack. It really draws a group of professional people ,and this is from porche guys. I haven't yet been snubbed because its replica. The only coments are positive, and a few offers to buy my car

I was given a buisness card last week by a fellow from the porsche club of america,vancouver island region.he was really impressed with my car.tried to get me to join up right there and then,nice guy,as his card says.....Bruce Ramsay........sleeps with the secratary. turn the card over to find a list of the executives and his wife is named as secretary,cute card.I'll have to give them a call and quit being such a snob myself

Here Boxters are so common that we almost don't look at them anymore. But nothing will beat originality. I guess in Quebec most people don't even know that there are replica's. So when people ask me about mine, I just say it's a 57, built in 1969 (VW year). They look at me with a confused look but never go any further. Almost like, "yeah I understand".

But if you really think about it, aren't replicas so damn close to originals anyway? Except, steel body and some other small differences. Aren't they almost the same car?

I drive Fern and we love it. As posted earlier, I do watch where I park. Especially going to the beer store.

I have never been shunned always awed. I remember the day when a Porsche was revving next to me at a light. Wanted to drag don't you know! I floored it on the green. All +_80HP and he stalled. WooooHOoooo

You da man, Mike!

I take our car to a local car meet where a lot of high-end Euro cars show up. There are beaucoup Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Maseratis and exotic stuff like several new Porsche Carrera GTs, Mercedes MacLarens, Ford GTs, a few old Detroit street rods, lots of Cobra kits, etc.. Dan Gurney lives in the area and shows up occasionally. Anyway, with all this expensive hardware around I found that by placing a placard on my windshield that reads "1957 Porsche Speedster Replica mfg Vintage Speedsters" takes the wind out of all the "experts" (and you know that everybody at a car show is an EXPERT") who dissect the replica's disimilarities from a REAL Speedster. Knowing up front that you are not trying to pass your car off as a real Speedster allows most people to cut to the chase of what they really want to say, which is "That is a beautiful car and it looks like a blast to drive". I'm sure you all have experienced the same gratification of your Speedster (which costs a fraction of most anything else at a show) garnering more than it's share of "Ooohs & Aaahs" plus other compliments at any car meet. We love our little car and the joys of ownership and top-down cruising!

My car is shunned not only by "real" Porsche owners but also by a couple of "unreal" or replica owners. I have quit trying to wave at Boxters or 911 guys. I think they have neck injuries because they look straight ahead and cant look left or right. I have also been chastised by a replica speedster guy because my car did not have emblems or the correct instruments. I still consider this a hobby and think your car should reflect your ideas and not worry about other folks expections. I do however get waves and smiles from a lot of guys, and gals, and that makes up for the other blind people. I was fortunate to make the cover of Kit Car this month so to all of the "shunners" out there I say get a life, its only a car.

I get a lot of waves by the Porsche folks.Last week at a gas station a guy with a 911 pulled in to talked to me.I told him that my car is a replica but he didn't care.He loved it.Another guy that has a real Porsche 904gts saw it too and he really liked it.But that is not always the case.From time to time you get those "real"Porsche dudes which they think they are above you but I usually tell them "for the same money I could have picked up a 911sc but I got the speedster because is more fun".That gets them good.Don't give me wrong 911 is my dream car and one of the best cars ever build.Attitude is what I have problem with.By the way guys most people drive cars that look like boxes and they wish they had something as unique as a speedster.Thanks for this great site.

Interesting thing about getting older, life catches up with you in different ways! Ex-wife number three had some issues with my Porsche proclivities...I had to have a 'few' but when the divorce ultimately hit, I was down to my 930 (OK John, 911 turbo) and the salvage rights to my convertible B roadster, which she went after in the settlement, but anyway...My son, now twenty-five bore the brunt of my early paranoia about bicycles in the garage, etc and I have awakened with a lot of guilt over stupid car concerns...anyway, his step-dad used to grind me about the car I wrecked and what it wuld be worth in today's market...broken record. Anyway.

Well ex-wifey's replacement is a REAL Porsche nut! Restores speedsters. She thought three at a time was bad with me, this guy by last count has twelve in various stages of refinish...none being driven!

Cut to the here and now, my son goes for a ride with me in the Vintage (before the Type 4 power plant) and he says, "Jeez, this isn't half bad." Turns out I took yet another salvo from that old household over my current auto choices at a B-B-Q...My son said dad has a replica speedster he's pretty proud of it, drives it everyday.

Scoffs and wallet waving aside, I guess step-dad will have to roll one out of the garage pretty soon and see what its like to drive it!

I admire a man that can use the word, "Golly" and drive a replica!
Part of getting older is becoming more tolerant. I'm working on it, it is a challenge for me in a lot of life's areas... But cars is cars! Fast cars, slick cars, low-ridin' agressive cars, oh, yeah! I even half-way like those little Acuras that get racey add-ons... Porsche has built a few turds IMHO, but you gotta till the soil and move on!

Replicar owners get high marks in my book. The guys that can wrench their own together get even higher marks with me; I could never do it without bailing wire and Gorilla glue and lord knows if I'd ever get a windshield in place!

It's OK to be proud of our rides and it is OK to suffer the occasional criticism. Tank up, pull out and move on!

Well said Paul
Troy

That soliliquy reminded me of the ending of the movie "scent of a woman".

I entered my speedster in a local car show. No replica class, So had to enter as a custom.
Much to my suprise a midwest regional porsche club meeting was taking place that same weekend.
One nice couple from MI. with a very nice 55 silver speedster did not mind a replica at all. So long as it was entered in a show as a replica. And i agree. By the way, he bought his in 1964 at an auction for $500.00 WOW!

Another gentleman from ND. is looking at a beck. As he is afraid to drive his 55 speedster.
He bought his new in 57 for $6000.00 Big money back then.

Yet another couple from parker colorado own a 85 911sc. When they saw my vintage they said the 356 was their favorite porsche. But could not afford to buy one. I told them nonsense. And told them about all of the replica makers. And said log on to SOC.
They said they will buy a replica.

And a VW guy was looking under my car. He came over to me and said speedster under pinnings sure look like a bug. I said that's because it is a bug. That is to cool was his response.

Only one bonehead had a negative view of my car since i bought it in june 2004.

Great topic! I have had my speedster for 6 months now and have yet
been acknowledged by any contemporary porsche on the road. They always seem to be looking the other way. My waves have gone un-rewarded yet people in other sports cars very often give me a wave
or thumbs-up.