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I would like to re-introduce myself to the group.   I have been a regular lurker on this site since around 2011.  I met many of you in person at Carlisle in 2013.  I had just placed my order with SAS for my dream speedster in March of that year.  My wife, Amy, and I came to Carlisle and had a great time.  Needless to say, my SAS speedster never materialized.  In 2017, my wife got tired of me moping around and convinced me to cut my losses, move on and order another speedster from Special Edition.  Finally, on the day before Thanksgiving, my speedster was finally delivered.  It was the first one completed on the newly designed chassis.  It is powered by a Subaru EJ253 engine and has rack and pinion steering, IRS and adjustable coil over suspension.  It has been an excruciatingly long wait, but I can honestly say it was worth it.  Although it has only been one week, I have been unable to wipe the grin off my face.  The fit and finish is first rate and the handling is better than I could have hoped for.  Overall, the car has exceeded my expectations.   I look forward to attending events in the future and hope to make the drive to Carlisle in it whenever we clear from this Covid nightmare. 

Stuart



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Texas Stu

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@Stuman,

What an awesome car! The new Beck/Special Edition frame and suspension is the new highwater mark for what is possible. To see one in a speedster hits the sweet spot for a lot of us.

It's stupid-cool. I'd love to climb all over, under, and around to see how Carey and team did all that they did. In the absence of that as a possibility, please put up as many pictures as possible.

Well done!

@Stan Galat posted:

@Stuman,

What an awesome car! The new Beck/Special Edition frame and suspension is the new highwater mark for what is possible. To see one in a speedster hits the sweet spot for a lot of us.

It's stupid-cool. I'd love to climb all over, under, and around to see how Carey and team did all that they did. In the absence of that as a possibility, please put up as many pictures as possible.

Well done!

I have tons of pictures as I am sure I was emailing Carey every week asking for them for the past 3 years.  Here are some pics of the front suspension and steering that were taken along the way.  IMG_3460IMG_1481IMG_1482

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Beautiful Stu.  Happy Driving!



As as for the SAS/Special Editions thing, I like to think of "setbacks" like that as the universe looking out for us. I can't speak to the quality of an SAS build, but I know you'll be happy with Carey et al's craftsmanship.

In the early 90's, I put a deposit down on a CMC Speedster just as they started experiencing their "troubles."  I fretted over it but then I got a killer job that took me on the road for 15 years, time I would have been paying storage on the unfinished kit, only to end up selling the "project" at a loss (to one of these guys, probably) I cut my loses and moved on. Fast forward 20 years and I bought a (mostly) finished Spyder and I haven't looked back.

@Stan Galat posted:

Your car would sell in about 20 minutes. As hot as the used market is, you'd likely not lose very much in the trade. Your car is staggeringly beautiful.

I'm gonna' do that angel on the shoulder thing here:

Psssst! Do it!

Personally, if you've got to have it, Joe, order it NOW. I'd bet you could have Carey build it and take yours in on consignment after it's finished. Keep driving what you got, Carey's waitlist continues to grow.

Stuart, I remember you and your lovely wife. I think we sat together at the banquet?

Very good to move on from SAS and look at the beautiful ride you ended up with! That ticks ALL the boxes. If only a Spyder had those options, I might consider one.

It's been so long, my kids are now moved out and in college, I got married to a lovely lady and have a new Spyder to drive now(long story).

See you at Carlisle 2021, maybe?

Last edited by DannyP
@Jimmy V. posted:

Is the trans a suby 5 speed?  but mounted with the engine in the rear and not midship like the coupe, if so then it would have 5 gears moving the car in reverse direction. Did they have the ring and pinion flipped to get the trans to turn the rear wheels in the correct direction?

Check out Subygears.com

They sell a reverse ring and pinion for rear-engine applications. They also sell a nosecone that eliminates the center differential and shortens the transmission. And lots of other goodies.

After my second weekend driving this car another 200 miles, I can't find one thing wrong with it.  After reading things on this forum over the past 10 years, I fully expected there to be a list of things that needed to be dialed in to get it exactly where I wanted it, but it is absolutely perfect.  It runs perfect, it looks perfect and everything works as intended.  I cannot say enough good things about the guys at Special Edition.  Their attention to detail is second to none.  Yes, it took much longer to complete than I would have liked, but the wait was worth it. 

Wow, Stu, congrats, the choice of a full subie powertrain is awesome.  Good on you Carey @chines1 that new suspension and full subie is awesome.

Enjoy!

Subaru gears does issue a modified 6 speed with their Reversed R&P and it is I believe about 2 inches longer than a 5 speed that they offer.  They started cutting down the tranny and welding it then casted a shorter version for bolt on.  I was going to do a 6sp in 2014 ... just saying.

If your not an aircooled guy then full subie and especially Carey's new suspension is an awesome combo.  I hope we get to try this combo from the SE at Carlisle if they ever let us out of prison.

As many of you know I have an IM with full subie with the reversed R&P and 911 front end.

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