1975 Vintage Speedsters 356 Speedster Recreation

***Vendor supplied images***

Highlights

US Vintage Speedsters body
Complete rebuild in 2012
Hot 1600cc engine with race cam
Excellent paint and interior

The Appeal

Vintage Speedsters are a well-respected manufacturer of Porsche 356 replicas based in the town of Goodyear, Arizona USA. They have reportedly produced more than 3,300 Speedster replicas in various configurations since 1988, mostly based on VW Beetle running gear.

They are highly personalisable and, while no two Vintage Speedsters are truly alike, they are typically fun to drive, look great and are a fraction of the cost of an original!

This example was reportedly built in France using a Southern French 1975 Beetle as a donor car and sports a widebody look and cream leather interior for something of a hot rod feel. The seller acquired the car last year to add to his fleet of classics which also includes '62 and '67 Corvettes and a restored '67 Camaro, amongst others. He treated it to a full refresh with a respray, refurbished interior and rebuilt engine but a move abroad is forcing the disposal of his collection.

Following its recent work, the car is in tip top condition and, with a lightly breathed-on 1600 motor in the back, it has some go to match the show. Eye catching and with tried and tested mechanicals underneath, if you’re looking for something fun and unique which is easy to run then this could be the car for you.

The History and Paperwork

The Vintage Speedsters kit is thought to have been shipped to France in 2004 and built using the running gear of a left-hand drive French 1975 Volkswagen Beetle
It was reportedly purchased by the previous owner in 2007 after he spotted the it on French Ebay and bought it to drive at his house in the South of France
The previous owner reported that it needed some fettling by 2012 and he had it completely rebuilt by a local engineer
It was brought to the UK and registered here in March 2021
The current owner purchased it in 2022 and wanted to bring it up to the best possible condition
Following a full respray, interior refresh and engine rebuild, he took it to Absolute VW to address his snag list
The receipt from Absolute VW is pictured
A move abroad forces sale
Tax and MOT exempt
V5 present (showing the vehicle as a 1975 Beetle Convertible) in owner’s name

The Interior

Cream leather with blue piping
Three spoke wood-rimmed steering wheel
Body coloured dashboard

Style and simplicity are the watchwords here. With a minimalist painted dashboard housing just 3 dials, there are no unnecessary distractions to divert the attention of the driver. A period-correct looking steering wheel results in a plausibly authentic appearance, while the cream leather seats, recently refreshed and piped with blue, complement the exterior colour well and are in excellent condition.

On the floor is some hard wearing matting and up front under the bonnet there is a useful carpeted luggage space which also conceals the battery.

Overall the interior is simple, comfortable and very well presented.

The Exterior

Widebody design
Dark blue paintwork
American Racing Torque Thrust Wheels

Finished in a lustrous shade of dark metallic blue, this roadster really stands out from the crowd with flared arches and polished American Racing 15 inch Torque Thrusts giving it a strong hot rod vibe.

The recently paintwork is described by the vendor as being in 'showroom condition' and is blemish-free. The wheels, are also in pristine condition with no kerb marks or corrosion and are shod with a matching set of Mastercraft Avenger GT tyres, 205 profile on the front and 225 at the rear.

Newly installed chrome rear lights complement the rest of the chrome highlights which are all likewise in great condition, while underneath the chassis looks to be very sound, probably thanks to its time in the South of France.

All in all, it’s a real head-turner and looks to be ready to show.

The Mechanics

1.6 litre flat four with race cams, rebuilt 2022
Manual gearbox, reportedly rebuilt in 2021
Rear wheel drive

With the racy engine providing a suitably rorty engine note, the car sounds as good as it looks. The seller reports that it has always proved highly dependable and is a great deal of fun to drive.

It’s thought to have covered fewer than 2,000 miles since its engine rebuild and with simple mechanics and good parts availability there should be nothing that couldn’t be easily remedied.

Summary

A unique take on the roadster formula that would surely be welcomed with open arms at any VW scene event. Presented in fabulous condition, we think it looks a great way to have fun in the sun.

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