Well after three long years of work we finally drove the Speedster for the first time. All I can say is WOW!!!!! I have always loved these car, but it was so much quicker and more fun than imagined. We test drove the car with no lights and just seats down a closed road to make sure everything mechanically worked properly. The car is an absolute hoot and the engine runs and sounds great (thank God). Anyways just thought I would share my fun.

BTW, the car now has paint and looks amazing, now just final assembly and some finish buffing.

 

I bet you thought you'd never finish it huh?

By the way, enjoying the snow in the mountains these days?

 

Hey Fernando, Snow was great went out sledding. Still have a long way to go, however it was very nice to be able to clime behind the wheel and drive it under its own power.

 

PICTURES! PICTURES!! PICTURES!!!

 

There is not much to see, it looks like a painted body with a few seats. But I will post up a few.

 

 

Here are a few while it was still at the body shop, and one of the seats. Fibersteel does an exceptional Job!!!!!!!!!! I can't wait to see it with all the trim.

 

The seat rails need to come back out and be sanded and painted. Obviously those 24+year old tires need to go and probably a set of Chrome weels with no covers. Also the hinges are painted now. One last thing, yes I know the seats are in backwards, we put them in very quickly to drive it down the road. I had to drive back home 2hrs. away.

 

Very Very cool!!! I'm excited for you. So when do you think it will be finished?


We really wish we never sold our Speedster. We'd love to have it back.
Anyone know how to contact Nicolas Cage?

 

looks like it is going to turn out very nicely. if it were mine (just my opinion, of course), I'd go w/ the std silver-gray painted wheels. with all the new chassis chrome & fresh bright red paint, I think the flashy chrome wheels detract one's attention from the overall presentation. I assume you've got a proper steering wheel in mind? anyway, it is great to be so close to completion, for all the hard work to pay off. cheers!

 

I am trying to talk my friend into switching the wheel. I think that wheel looks absolutely awful. I am hoping to get it finished up by the end of March. I can't wait to see it done. The silver painted wheels are staying, however he wants to run Chrome wheels to drive on. But the silver wheels will be sent out to get powder coated.

 

Friends should listen to one another.
There are two dimensions (pardon the pun) to 356A steering wheel choice...
1) the diameter... subdivided into 2 sub-issues; a) correct appearance - a real speedster w/ a small diam sw looks like a kit car, & b) correct driving feedback - Porsche devised the operation of the suspension (inc whl/tire size) / steering ratio to behave as an integrated solution. deviate as one wishes (I certainly have on the SC, but I won't go far w/ the D), but a small wheel will negatively effect the 356 driving experience.
2) the rim & (to some extent) dish... the rim ought to be thin, and a hard material (plastic or wooden), not fat & spongy - an issue of "fingertip lightness" vs "death grip" - guess how Ferry designed it, & why? (if one prefers a leather surface or the rim is damaged, consider the Wheelskins cover - not cushioned & can be wrapped very tightly, gives an original-like feel). as to dish, the As came non-dished, I'm not sure why (appearance, availability, driving position?) but it just works.

I drove my SC cross country using a "modern-sporty" sw dimensionally similar to the one in your friend's speedster - it really detracted from the experience (to the point of making my shoulders ache!). Even w/ a GT style seat installed, I've gone to a std VDM wheel... it is a pain to get in & out due to the high side-bolster & thigh clearance, but it is a significant improvement to me when driving. looking forward to more photos when it is completed.

 

I am hoping to talk him into a Nardi or Motolita style wood wheel that looks more vintage as OEM wheels are out of sight price wise and hard to find. As for your comments, I have to agree on all points.

 

I know how to contact the guy who maintains his collection...and Nic is often there. What color was your Speedster? I may have a picture of it.. how long ago did you sell.

P-

 

We sold it through European Collectables last year (I think it was in January). It was a 1955 Ivory with Tan Interior. He bought it and a Carrera Speedster at the same time.

THANKS!!!!!