Opinions on Speedster Replicas

[MikeSid]

These look nice. Price is right. I see them all the time for around $15K. So what's wrong with them? Other than "it's not a Porsche". Seems like a nice option if you can't afford the real thing. Replicas are either seen as an homage or a poseur car. Which is these?

Are they fun to drive? Underpowered? Is the suspension too Beetle-like?

I would think there would be a ton of these on the road if there weren't a lot of drawbacks. So what's the downside??

[atlporsche]

Nothing is wrong with them, and you don't feel too bad leaving them in a parking lot. (better than the $80k real thing at least)

check thesamba.com for some great deals...there's two on there now for about 11...both white..one in the seattle area I think.

some have tubeframes...356's are pretty beetlelike too when you really think about it...

sjd
in the market for a discarded project.

[david.avery]

Friend site to mine which is www.spyderclub.com is www.speedsterowners.com

Lots of good info there, classifieds, etc.

[raceman]

l have a friend with one,l work on it sometimes.You can`t beat the price and even with a mild VW engine they go great due to featherweight.l have one thing about these cars that can really annoy me,and that`s the lack of finishing.l see too many with Pep Boys guages,switchgear and interior parts.Using the right parts makes a huge difference and with a little effort these kits can easily fool all but a real enthusiast.My friend passes his off as real and it`s got the cheesy guages and interior.So far nobody has called him on it but l doubt it would fool anyone who actually owns a Porsche,or even a VW of similar vintage

[MichiganMat]

The Speedster replicas are pretty nice but they are so bare bones!@$ They are really an enthusiasts car, no thanks. I like my heat, radio, windows, locks, reclining seats, carpet, etc. Now, if only someone would make 904 replicas it would be a whole other story. I would sell my little brother for a 904 replica if I had to.

What would you give to have something like this:

[ZAMIRZ]

Matt, you've got to look at where they're coming from though, the real Speedster is just as bare bones if not more than the replicas.

[jpnovak]

Here you go Matt.

http://www.904gts.co.uk/

[MichiganMat]

Originally posted by jpnovak
Here you go Matt.

http://www.904gts.co.uk/

there is a God, and he loves me.
All I need now is 2 more jobs to cover the cost. The rolling chassis is $72K.

[david914]

Originally posted by MichiganMat
there is a God, and he loves me

FOR SALE:

One (1) little brother. Slightly used and abused, but fully functional. Need money to finance new Porsche project. Willing to negotiate price. Can deliver if necessary. Call 800-SELLBRO for more information.

[Rot 911]

Originally posted by MichiganMat
there is a God, and he loves me.
All I need now is 2 more jobs to cover the cost. The rolling chassis is $72K.

Now how much for the little boy?

[aigel]

I have seen a race prepped replica with a flat six 3.0. That was sweeet. Twice the 15k, but boy did it look like fun.

I'd never drive something that says Porsche on it without a Porsche engine. (That includes the 914, which was called a VOLKSWAGEN Porsche back in the Vaterland!).

Back to the replica w/ VW engine: You drive that car and everyone will hear it is a bug based replica. That is just horrid!

For 15k you can get a super nice SC ragtop or even a Carrera Cabrio, why buy a fake?


George

[rcm]

I had a speedster replica made by a company in LA, CA. Name escapes me right now. They did a great job and the car was pretty. We ordered it new, had heat, wipers, stereo, 1700 cc motor. It had window curtians not roll ups. In a rain storm you got wet. The car was a blast, we had a lot of fun in that car. I just wanted a flat six, so we sold it.

It was vintagespeedster.com

[MikeSid]

I'd imagine fitting a flat six is only problematic due to the alt. and fan shroud. But I think I'd be happy with a 1600 or 1700 if the suspension is set up right. I assumed these were "nice day only" cars based on the look of the tops. They don't look very water tight.

So no complaints from anyone? I expected to hear about cheap fit and finish, or cheap suspension and brake components? Or at the very least licensing problems.

I guess now I'm gonna have to get one, unless someone can convince me not to!

[KobaltBlau]

Now I thought you were talking about 911 speedster replicas made off of targas or other non-speedster 911s.

as far as 356 speedster replicas, these things depend completely on the engineering behind them. Quality varies greatly. many speedster replicas are on a bug pan; this picture from vintagespeedster.com shows what looks to be a cleverly reinforced bug pan:



This sort of thing can make a big difference to the handling performance of the final product.

Bottom line: Do your homework on kit cars, some are much better than others!

That said, for 15k, I'd much rather have an SC (I do). but that's just MHO.

[}{arlequin]

Originally posted by aigel
I have seen a race prepped replica with a flat six 3.0. That was sweeet. Twice the 15k, but boy did it look like fun.

I'd never drive something that says Porsche on it without a Porsche engine. (That includes the 914, which was called a VOLKSWAGEN Porsche back in the Vaterland!).

Back to the replica w/ VW engine: You drive that car and everyone will hear it is a bug based replica. That is just horrid!

For 15k you can get a super nice SC ragtop or even a Carrera Cabrio, why buy a fake?


George

How about having a replica chassis with a Porsche engine? The money you save by not buying original could be put to good use building up a nice 914 motor and throwing it in there.

I also don't understand what prevents one from building a VW engine to "Porsche spec" and what would prevent it from sounding like a Porsche?

[atlporsche]

Originally posted by aigel
I have seen a race prepped replica with a flat six 3.0. That was sweeet. Twice the 15k, but boy did it look like fun.

I'd never drive something that says Porsche on it without a Porsche engine. (That includes the 914, which was called a VOLKSWAGEN Porsche back in the Vaterland!).

Back to the replica w/ VW engine: You drive that car and everyone will hear it is a bug based replica. That is just horrid!

For 15k you can get a super nice SC ragtop or even a Carrera Cabrio, why buy a fake?


George

yeah, but you could also put a twin cam or 4 cam subaru motor in...or a turbo...

greg at vintage spyders is doing that with 550 replicas...180 hp at the wheel, and 130 mph and still going... www.spyderclub.com

sjd

[brittbolen]

The Intermeccanica replicas look very nice. I've seen some really lame looking speedsters, nasty shag carpet etc...

As for the 904 replicas, I saw one of those at VIR 2 weeks back... it could be yours for a mere $90,000

http://eludicate.com/~bolen/904/

Stunningly beautiful, I didn't know if was a replica until I was told.

Britt

[jmz]

I recently saw a VERY nice Beck Spyder for sale. It actually has alot of original parts on it. For instance the hubs and wheels are off a 550. It looked the part, has a lot of aluminum on it but dude wants 65K for it. ...VW powered.