The world`s most accurate `58 Speedster replica? ---

ims101 · Post by **ims101** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 7:37 pm

Welcome and might I say what a lovely car well done it would be nice to see you and the car at some shows/meeting this spring summer

40 scout · Post by **40 scout** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 8:46 pm

The best ive seen in the flesh is Nige's one, from Dorset - red with the '550 type' scallops - sorry no pic tho.

When I last saw him he was getting a 356 motor ready for it.

Have you seen his?? Nice work - correct handbrake location and self fabricated low bow hood set up - clever bloke.

Steve

speedstars · Post by **speedstars** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 9:29 pm

I saw Nigels in a magazine, a very nice job, and top workmanship. He`s got original brakes etc, mine`s all about what`s above the fibreglass.
Apparently he had a lot of help from Karmann Connection with dimensions from their original Speedster. Mine was all solely fabricated from pictures. Mine has the correct handbrake, rear seat area, accurate hood frame (I had to buy an original top, and then make an accurate over-centre locking frame to fit that, with a metal header rail)
The luggage compartment, had to be made purely of steel, just to support the original catch. The list goes on and on...
The only bit I didn`t do, was trim the seats, and I wish I had, as the trimmer never stopped moaning about fitting original covers to fibreglass bucket seats!!
Don`t get me wrong, it`s not a competition, it`s just a passion for accuraccy. At the end of the day, it`s just a Beetle in a new frock.

Drive `em like you stole `em
Park `em like you`ve abandoned `em

Michael

speedstars · Post by **speedstars** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 9:36 pm

Hi Ian.

thanks for that. I should be at a few more shows this year, the usual suspects, Stoneleigh, Picnic in the Park etc. Unfortunately most of my work during the Summer is at weekends, so clashes with most shows. The problem of being an A/V engineer for outdoor sporting events. Got to pay for the cars somehow!!

Michael

ims101 · Post by **ims101** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 10:56 pm

Hi Michael,
I have the same problem of working Saturdays but will be at Stoneleigh and a few others I'll PM you dates and events as I find out if you are interested?

roy mawbey · Post by **roy mawbey** » Thu Jan 13, 2011 11:35 am

Yes Michael I take your point about the doors, I did the main body welding ( gas, not mig ) back in 1978 on my "A". I decided after replacing various areas of metal where most 356 cars suffer from rust to lead fill.

It took some time to perfect this "leading" skill and after putting more lead on the floor than on the car when I started, eventually it worked well.
But, its harder to profile exactly than using plastic filler and if you don't put quite enough lead on to an area then later when you block it there are hollows and I never liked going over it with more lead.

On my drivers door I cut 6" off the bottom of the door skin and welded a new piece on, even with great care ( no mig of course ) I got distortion.
The leading was okay but not quite enough after sanding. I applied a light skim of filler. Twelve years on from my spray work it had sunk the same as a few other area's.

So I decided in 1990 to spray again and found after rubbing down the door the filler had cracked but the lead was perfect. I tried another more flexible filler name I can't remember and 21 years further on its okay.

I think though lead is the only way on door panels that vibrate. Your idea of glass fibre behind must help though.

I look at my paint now and feel I must live with it, the work involved to do a perfect job is considerable, also I used cellulose which is not I think as long lasting as 2 pack?

Still Michael, if Porsche had made the bodies in fibre glass like yours maybe there would be more 356 cars on the road now!!

At least you can drive yours in any weather, I don't take mine out in the rain

[img][img]http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq15 ... 6a0004.jpg[/img][/img]

Roy

Del · Post by **Del** » Thu Jan 13, 2011 11:44 am

Hi Michael,

I love your car. Glad you have registerred on here and put some pics up too.

Met you @ Windsor last year and you were kind enough to show me around the car and spend a while telling me all about it - thank you for that.

I lost count of the amount of "extra" touches that set it miles apart from all the other reps out there.

Don't be shy to post more pictures up of it! The more the merrier!

roy mawbey · Post by **roy mawbey** » Thu Jan 13, 2011 1:35 pm

Michael,

I seem to remember this is Nigel Cousins speedster rep. Lovely car and like you and like you many 356 items on it. I have the article somehere on it from VWUltra?
Certainly looks a great car.
Some pics from Goodwood:

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speedstars · Post by **speedstars** » Fri Jan 14, 2011 1:42 pm

Hi Roy,

if mine looked as good and original as yours and I`d have owned it for that long, I`d only take it out in the dry. Then again, saying that my Beetle is almost as old, and that has to stay out in all weathers.

[img][img]http://i799.photobucket.com/albums/yy27 ... e013-1.jpg[/img][/img]

roy mawbey · Post by **roy mawbey** » Fri Jan 14, 2011 1:51 pm

Michael,
That Beetle of yours looks lovely.

Roy

speedstars · Post by **speedstars** » Fri Jan 14, 2011 2:12 pm

Hi Roy,

that was after I`d restored it. It looked like that when my Father bought it for £150 in 1984. He then succeeded in hitting every gate post, bollard etc and hand painting everything. I`d promised it a resto since about 1990, eventually did it in 2004. Only problem was, never use Finnegans pink rust proof primer, it soaks in cellulose. The paints now covered in huge cracks. Weather and time permitting, I`ll respray it at some stage.

Like you though it`s fun with six volt electrics, especially during the winter at night, in the rain.

speedstars · Post by **speedstars** » Fri Jan 14, 2011 2:29 pm

Hi Del,

It was good talking to you at Windsor, great show, definately be there again this year.

If you want more pics, look at www.speedstars.co.uk or www.facebook.com/michaelkempster356 There are hundreds on facebook, just select see all photos.

I`ll put more on here from time to time, but I don`t want to bore people.

40 scout · Post by **40 scout** » Fri Jan 14, 2011 5:38 pm

Hi Roy

Yes that is Niges car - clever bloke - helped me out with my brake drums - gratis - true spirt of this forum.

Steve