Vintage Speedster impressions from a newbee.

Okay, so I have had my Vintage Speedster for a bit now and I have come to a few conclusions. If your interested then please read on.

1st off this site looks to be full of enthusiasts and its very much appreciated. Bravo.

Okay, so right off the transport truck I thought highly of the VS. Having owned a 1963 356 1600S coupe (not too far in the distant past) I drew a few comparisons. The doors for example shut nearly identically. The sound & feel is very much the same. For that matter the body nearly feels the same as far as strength & structure. Of course the look is basically identical (boy does it have the look down).

Driving wise my 1915cc has the 1600S covered. This VS is fun to accelerate. I think it does lack the top end the 1600S had though as I am uncomfortable stretching the 1915 past 5000 RPM whereas the 1600S just kept pulling (albeit slowly).

Chassis dynamics feel quite the same. The VS handles better than the '63 coupe did.

Brakes are very similar even though the 1600S coupe was drum all the way around.

Comfort? Well I once drove my '63 to the 356 convention in Detroit. It was comfortable to & from except for the lack of headrests. I JUST drove the VS to a racetrack event (250 miles round) Sunday and find that there is just not a comfortable position in the "speedster seats" for me. But my 13 year old Son fell asleep in his passenger seat. :)

Bang for the buck? Well lets just say that everyone liked the '63 and everyone luvs the VS, but I could have bought 2+ VS for each '63 coupe I could have sold!

Other notes I must say what a pleasure a Vintage Speedster is. The simplicity, easy access, plentiful parts sources, customer service, quality construction & limited maintenance is all pretty cool.

Heck I better take it for another drive. Here are a few photos to mark the occasion.

Tell it like it is Michael!
Glad to hear your comparison.

Michael--welcome aboard! You will get so much info here--we have some real experts and they are generous with info. Your car is gorgeous--I really like the authentic looking straps up front. Your top looks nice and tight in the picture too.

1.Driving comfort. I found some Porsche 914 seat cushions and covered them with my VS sat cover so they mathc the backs (or course), The different in comfort is amazing.

2. Get yourself a left side arm rest. I use a Lands End canvas briefcase with stuff I take on trips and sit it on that ledge under my left elbow. Makes a dadny armrest.

3. Right leg rest--get a 18" X 18" or so pillow--my wife made mine to match my interior. Stuff it to make it firm. It makes a great leg rest between your right leg and the shift. (And swap that shifter out for a CSP)!

4. 5,000 RPMs? You better check this with Kirk ---he told me that for long life to keep my 1915 under 3,500 which is over 70 mph--isn't that fast enough?

5. Get yerself a third brake light for safety--search here.

6. Install a front sway bar and a B. B. Performance camber compensator--you can install yourself---search here. You car will ride like it's on rails.

7. If you have a radio---and want to hear it on the road. Stuff foam earplugs (Walgreens) in your ears and turn the volume way up. You will be surprised how well you can hear the radio---as well as traffic and sirens. If you get pulled, swallow 'em.

8. For max enjoyment of this hobby, attend the various events. Look at "events" on this site. That's fully 1/2 the fun.

9. Google "Langla paint chip repair" and get a kit--fabulous.

10. Buy and install a "real" right side mirror from Stoddard. You can actually see out of it.
-My 2 cents--your mileage may vary.

Kirk and Mary are the best and will happily help you a lot!

"Welcome to the madness" and get to be be a donating member of the site asap.

Thanks gents.

Jack, great post.

The left side arm rest is a fantastic idea. I was placing my cell phone on that large ledge on my road trip and thought "that ledge is big enough for anything" - the arm rest idea is brilliant.

I mislead on the 5000 RPM's. While cruising it is 3500-4000 like you state. What I meant by 5000 was that when going up through the gear set I found that the 1915 runs out of breath at 5000+ whereas the 1600S never did. But highway traveling does feel good at 4000+/- and 80MPH.

I will be implementing the C.H.M.S.L. (center high mounted stop light) shortly for sure. I sold my BMW motorcycle this fall because it was too unseen, I dont want a repeat in this tub.

Front sway bar 'eh? Camber compensator too. Cool - You got it!

This car does have a big swanking hidden Sony radio with remote, 10 CD, HUGE amp, even cassette. But... I am an exhaust note guy!

I will do the local events. With the whole fam! and I will donate to the site tonight. Hey, look - another chance for more photos! :)

Welcome Michael, nice looking car. I am glad you are enjoying it, and from your comparison to the coupe I see that you totally "get" what replica ownership is all about.

Michael-

Hey, man- give me a call. 309-925-5109. There's not much summer left, and I want to connect with you.

Someone mention armrests?

Michael:

I am really disappointed that you haven't jumped into the "madness" right away.

Perhaps you just aren't cut out for this!

Obviously just kidding.

Stan and I want to get together with you and commisserate (sp?).

I'll call.

Bob

Welcome to the madness Michael, I assume that we will see you and your ride at Carlisle! ~Alan

Thank you again all.

Stan, you got it. Bob said he would set something up and it looks like hes on it. I am a willing participant!

Dr., I cant see why not! I will tell my wife "doctors orders!"

Hey! Another photo!

....I will tell my wife "doctors orders" Bwahahahahahahaa! ~Alan

I didn't like the VS seats,, I sold them and made my own D look a likes, I do need to make some barrelback head rest,, Then I'd have it comfort perfect..

I have no complaints about fit finish or the looks of the VS.

But I did not like the trunk.. I altered and reglassed the trunk to make it like a real ospeedster with room for a full size spare..

I also like the Becks extra space behind the seats Theres more room to stowe your bags and gear.. in a Beck

Michael:

First, welcome to the madness, and do lay plans NOW to be at Carlisle in May. Seriously. Nice car you have there, and I'm so pleased to hear you describe the parts of the 'experience' you like so much. Fun stuff. I had two coupes back in the day, and frankly, it has been so long ago, it is hard to say which I like better. Once I rebuilt the old '56's motor, that car just ran day in and day out like the VW it almost was until the body just rusted away. the '61 S90 was much more sporty. My '07 JPS at 2332 cc w/ the Weber 44s would beat the pants off of either of those cars, I'd say. I have IRS and large diameter sway bars, and as Jack says, it turns as if on rails. I really can't compare the old coupes to the new Speedster, except to say I loved the old ones and I love the new one too, differently. The Speedster is my toy car; the old coupes were daily drivers. The Speedy is the first rag top car I have ever owned. It is noisey, not perfectly comfortable (spartan, as the original Speedsters were), cold and wet (if the weather is likewise), fast and quick. Also beautiful, due to exquisite paint. And it will not rust away. I am thoroughly smitten by the classic 356 lines and style -- what can I say??? It IS a madness . . .

At Jack's suggestion I got the Stoddard right side mirror, and while expensive, it is so much better. I will put a bag of stuff under my right arm/elbow sometimes, and plan to look into what cool thing could be done (build a special pillow??) for the right side. that would be cool. I did add a small foot rest to the right side foot well for my right-seater, so she has a place to push her feet when she needs to apply the virtual brake. Actually, she needs this to manage the speedster style seats, so as to keep from slouching down. Just used some 2x4s, plywood and some old carpeting not too far off from the color of the car's carpet.

Great replies guys. Thanks again.

Drove the car a bunch more today (top down). Went to the DMV and had fun there... Not.

Fun driving tho'. Its super windy here but the car just putters through the day. Everyone comments. Had one guy say "how much would a car like that sell for at Barrett-Jackson?" I explained to him that the originals are bringing large coin, but that examples like this could be had for much less - as its a replica. He says "its a kit?" I then said: "well, its actually a production line made replica" He dug that. We talked cars for about another 5 minutes than off I went - To take more photos!

Mike, good to see you're enjoying your new ride! Call it a hunch, but I'm guessing you spend hours in the garage just staring at your Speedy (I know I have)! Ride On!

On another note - a safety modification I would suggest for your car, is to install an air-horn wired through a 30amp relay (for maximum power). You can find one at any Pep Boys, Auto Zone or similar auto parts store ($20). You should know that your low-profile car will be practically 'invisible' to the SUV/truck backing out of a parking space (or whatever). The puny 'beep-beep' from the stock horn of your Speedy will be lost in the crunching sound of your car. Just a heads-up...

Be safe, and enjoy the ride!

Hey Jimbo.....Blow this.....

Jim is absolutely right and I forgot about an air horn. His is loud as hell and will scare a semi!

I got the "Bad Boy" air horn because it mounts on the same hdwe that the stock horn does and uses the same wiring---simple-like me.
It is very loud.

Summit racing has them and they are inexpensive.

Hey Vinnie - I gotcher air horn right HERE!!! 8-)

LOL. Okay... So we have crazy people here too.

I am big on loud horns having one on my Ram tow rig (a Union Pacific horn from a freight train) and another compact blaster on a 911 that I have. I actually looked at the stock speedy horn and was surprised to see it was just a one trumpet deal. So, I will upgrade it - and the CHMSL, and the front sway, and the camber compensator, and the white plastic front turn sig lenses, and...

Yelp It's Fun I got attencion 3 times on the way home from Biltmore .. Somebody trying to buy it..

Like the guy's said,, Welcome to the maddness!