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Posted by: tygaboy Aug 7 2017, 03:04 PM

Thought you'd enjoy this. Martin, my fabrication buddy, says to me "hey, this guy who lives near you has a cool motorcycle in his barn. You want to see it?"
I say "sure".
We head over and get taken out to an old barn... Wait for it...

Turns out the bike is one of three ex-factory Kawasaki 750 triple 2-stroke flat trackers. Ridden by Don Castro. (I posted pics of it in the "motorcycle" thread in the Sandbox. Take a look, it's pretty darn cool!)

Wait for it...

As I walk into the other part of the barn, I see the Speedster.

The owner, who shall remain nameless, is an 80 year old ex-racer with stories you can't believe!

He built and campaigned his own CanAm car, raced any number of other cars, including Porsches. He's from that era where racers were building and maintaining their own cars, inventing stuff as they went along. No computers, just a "let's try this and see if it works better..." approach. Get him talking about anything - suspension, aero, chassis design/stiffening - and he can site chapter and verse from the experience handbook. Super interesting and tons of real world info.

Anyway, back to the Speedster.
He casually mentions that this car used to have a 4-cam engine in it. Not original to the car (obviously) but still... He sold it long ago and even then, it was silly expensive.

He has all sorts of hen's teeth parts for it, NOS stuff, factory race stuff, etc. And he's a meticulous mechanic. Every little part is just so and he explained all the crazy little things he's done so that, for instance, the rubber trim curves here or there, like the original, given the aftermarket stuff doesn't, and on, and on.

What I kinda like is it's part hot rod. It's got late 356 disc brakes and he's running the American Racing mags. Mags as in "magnesium". It can be put back to stock but he's a racer at heart and likes the go-fast goodies. I say more power to him.

I've gotten to know him a bit and he stops in every couple weeks to check out my LS build, offering advice and constructive criticism. It's pretty gratifying when he notices something I've done and compliments me. Also when he says "I wouldn't do that, if I were you...".

So... I hope you enjoy the story and some pics. It's just another reason I love this hobby:

You never know who you'll meet or what they'll have in that old barn...


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Posted by: tygaboy Aug 7 2017, 03:05 PM

Look at that paint!!!


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Posted by: tygaboy Aug 7 2017, 03:05 PM

Magnesium mags!


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Posted by: tygaboy Aug 7 2017, 03:07 PM

others...


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Posted by: mepstein Aug 7 2017, 03:51 PM

Great story. Pretty car.

Posted by: porschetub Aug 7 2017, 03:57 PM

Unreal.....whats it worth guys?

Posted by: ConeDodger Aug 7 2017, 04:08 PM

You know for a guy who lives at the end of the road...

Posted by: mepstein Aug 7 2017, 04:08 PM

A stock speedster is $375 +|-
This one has a $250k engine
$$$

Posted by: tygaboy Aug 7 2017, 04:12 PM

He sold the 4-cam so it's "just" a non-numbers matching '58 Speedster with some bolt-on mods. Still gotta be worth a bunch...

Posted by: Tom_T Aug 7 2017, 05:14 PM

Nice "field trip"!

I'll bet Mr. Nameless used to race at the old Torrey Pines track down in San Diego & the other 50's-60's tracks so rife with Speedsters back in his day!
... perhaps a few vintage & current articles on his exploits are about too!?

BTW Mark - if that was his racer then, then the provenance would hike the value a bit over the typical Speedster value you quote.


Tom
///////

Posted by: mepstein Aug 7 2017, 05:23 PM

Yes, I have no idea how much race providence and mods change values. It is certainly more interesting to me than a stock car.

Posted by: tygaboy Aug 7 2017, 05:45 PM

I'll check with him to see if he raced the Speedster. In the meantime, here for your viewing pleasure is the CanAm car he built.
I think that's him in the b&w photo, circa 1966. The car shows up at historics now and often gets mentioned in the press about said event.


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Posted by: jmitro Aug 7 2017, 06:03 PM

awesome story.
awesome car!

Posted by: wndsnd Aug 7 2017, 06:12 PM

I love what people have in their garages.

He should have kept the 4 cam, but that car looks almost ready to go.

Great color.

Posted by: Edward Blume Aug 7 2017, 06:56 PM

You got to love old guys like that! Thanks for sharing!

Posted by: porschetub Aug 7 2017, 08:43 PM

Yes that's the way I read it,theses motors weren't great and lots of folks had no idea how to sort them and went to a stock motor,the 4 cam never really came right till the latter cars , the early ones were very unreliable,pure race engine not a very good street motor.
The later ones (2000GS ?) were better but still very expensive to service.
If this car is complete with the parts that are missing its still worth huge money....remember its not a rustbox.
Whatever still a great read .

Posted by: Mark Henry Aug 7 2017, 08:44 PM

Bolt on mods don't effect the price much as it can be undone. Number not matching does, but one in that shape is still going to fetch a huge buck. At his age obviously he doesn't care, to him it's priceless.
Cool story.

Posted by: porschetub Aug 7 2017, 08:58 PM

like a big fat retirement payout ,move to the Bahamas or what ever suits eh.

Posted by: Jeff Hail Aug 8 2017, 07:16 PM

Awesome story and piece of history.

Ask Bill what happened to the #5 Benson chassis?

It just hit me how old we are getting.

Posted by: Ed_Turbo Aug 8 2017, 07:27 PM

Nice!

That cannot be the original paint right!?!? It just cannot be!!!!

Posted by: bernbomb914 Aug 8 2017, 08:51 PM

You guys are to young to remember torry pines, santa Barbara pomona. palm spgs., Ontario, riverside. I used to race F jr back in the 60s My brother used to print the programs for the old Cal Club races. he used the profit to race everything from a mg td to a 550 spyder. he won the index of performance at the 6 hour race at Torry Pines in a 750 morritti owned by Ernie Macfee he drove the whole race by himself. He just past on fathers day. Great times, : great memory s

Posted by: SixerJ Aug 11 2017, 02:34 AM

OT but what is the car behind? Looks like a frog eye sprite or MG midget bulkhead and inner wings but with with a small block V8?

Posted by: jkb944t Aug 11 2017, 06:01 AM

Very cool car and great story, thanks for sharing!

Jeff B

Posted by: tygaboy Aug 11 2017, 06:56 AM

Ha! You win!
I was waiting for someone to ask about that. (And / or the cool Maico leaned against the wall.)
Yep, it's a Bugeye Sprite with a 215 Buick V8, updated IFS. It's available to be purchased, though he's chipping away at it and not actively advertising. I was tempted but clearly don't need any more projects.

Posted by: tygaboy Jan 6 2019, 09:27 AM

I've been getting to know the Speedster's owner, Bill.
He stops by now and then to check out my 914 and we inevitably get to talking about the Speedster. This is a bucket list car for me, and to make it even more bucket-listy, Bill's is a '58 model, just like me!

Anyway, Bill was having issues fitting the top frame as it had become bent over the years.
He gives me the hugest compliments in saying 1) he is impressed with my work and 2) asking if I could help him fix and fit the top.

Fast forward to yesterday.

I've never worked on anything this rare or valuable. And to top things off, it had already been painted!

Let me tell you, even with temps in the 40s, I was sweating from nerves as I worked out a fixture to repair this. Yes, essentially it's "just bent" but still... and Bill is meticulous.

Well, the fixture table came through beautifully and all went as planned! So much so that Bill then says, "You know, this one top bow isn't perfectly straight either..."

He's coming back today... Wish me luck!





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Posted by: tygaboy Jan 6 2019, 09:28 AM

Some other progress pics, for your enjoyment. This thing is unreal...


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Posted by: Unobtanium-inc Jan 6 2019, 10:24 AM

There is nothing prettier then a Speedster coming together.

Posted by: Krieger Jan 6 2019, 11:11 AM

How cool to be a part of this cars build!

Posted by: Blue6 Jan 6 2019, 11:40 AM

Agreed. Speedsters and E-type roadsters....

Posted by: preach Jan 6 2019, 02:20 PM

Back in the early '80 my Dad had a couple shops in the S. NH area. One of which was a VW/Porsche specialist of a sort.

It was his first auto body shop and the guy he hired to do the body work was a VW/Porsche guy and it just so happened that the mechanic hired was too.

I got to work there in the summers when I came to visit and had been doing so at his other shops since about 1977.

I came in one early summer and the body guy asked if I wanted to learn body work as he had seen me before help the mechanic out and learned a ton about T1 engines and Beetle stuff. Well I said sure. We'd start the next day.

I spent he rest of my time that summer learning how to sand, then learning how to sand some more, then learning how to sand with a DA, then learning how to sand wet, etc. More sandy that a summer at the beach! I learned slightly more than that, like applying filler, rasping filler, fiberglass, basic stuff. I never got to spray a panel (on anything not just the Speedster).

It was his personal Speedster, I cannot remember the year. I think I was 10 or 11. I still hate sanding to this day.

I was into VWs and Porsches for life.

What a great find.

Posted by: ConeDodger Jan 6 2019, 02:54 PM

Another pic?


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Posted by: tygaboy Jan 6 2019, 03:20 PM

Working on straightening the top bow:

Tweak, (panic a little) tweak, check, (phew, but needs more...) tweak, check (man, this is nerve-wracking...) Check...and I think it's time to see how it fits on the car.

Halleluiah, I didn't screw it up!

Bill is thrilled. He called it a home run.

Sorry, I forgot the "before" pics but it had a serious "s" bend in the middle bow. The frame isn't fully secured to the car (no latches so not attached to the windshield frame). I can still see a small area that isn't quite perfect, but I'm not sure I can get it much better.

Back to working on my 914, where I can bump into it without concern, thank you very much.


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Posted by: tygaboy Jan 6 2019, 03:23 PM

@http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showuser=3380

Hi Rob - the front looks similar to Bill's but I don't think he raced under that number. Plus the rear hips look different. I'll check w/him and see if maybe that was an earlier/later version. God knows he was constantly updating or testing new ideas...

Posted by: Unobtanium-inc Jan 6 2019, 03:46 PM

Nice to see he's using the correct 400mm wheel, I see too many restored Speedsters now with the 420mm wheel, and it never looks right.

Posted by: Dave_Darling Jan 6 2019, 03:47 PM

Damn, I wanna be him when (if!) I grow up!!!

--DD

Posted by: rgalla9146 Jan 6 2019, 05:47 PM

The Speedster is near the end of a full restoration.
I don't know him or the car but it's obvious.

Posted by: tygaboy Jan 6 2019, 06:18 PM

I don't think that's any sort of secret! Nor was it my intention to imply otherwise. Just look at the side of the car. The reflection doesn't hiccup at all across the door gap. I could be wrong, but I don't think the paint or panel fit was like that from the factory.

It was taken down to bare metal and fully metal finished. No filler.
All the original parts that were in good enough shape to be used were re-chromed or re-plated. He found some NOS parts and only when there was no option was a repop part used.

Bill isn't after a 100 point resto. He wants to drive it. He likes the hot rod parts he installed when he was racing it and he's gonna run them. He does have all the original items like the brakes and wheels but remember, it had a 4-cam in it so there's evidence of panels that were cut to accommodate oil lines, brackets added for the oil cooler, things like that. It's an ex-race car and, IMHO, a remarkable return to street car-ness.

I'm honored to be able and help an 81 year old, ex-racer get his favorite car back on the road.

Posted by: rhodyguy Jan 6 2019, 06:26 PM

Great car. Those wheels are so cool.

Posted by: Unobtanium-inc Jan 6 2019, 06:33 PM

Yeah, hanging out with the old guys is the best, the stories they tell are mind blowing!

Posted by: rgalla9146 Jan 6 2019, 09:01 PM

I now see that I responded to the Ed Turbo comment of Aug, 8 2017 !! before all the following pics and comments. DUH !
Love the real American magnesium wheels.

Posted by: 914-300Hemi Jan 6 2019, 09:04 PM

Great story and it’s great that you are helping put it back together and the knowledge he passes along is priceless.

Posted by: Mueller Jan 6 2019, 09:32 PM

That sure is neat, and great job on the frame.

Posted by: ssuperflyoldguy Jan 7 2019, 12:32 AM

One has to wonder what other fun stuff will turn up when Martin is involved...

Posted by: EdwardBlume Jan 7 2019, 07:53 AM

Nice work.

We should all give some love to our cars and get out and drive them this year!

Posted by: Tbrown4x4 Jan 7 2019, 08:02 AM

Is anybody else worried about THAT motorcycle THAT close to the car?

Posted by: dr914@autoatlanta.com Jan 7 2019, 11:53 AM

certainly a dream come true.

Posted by: dr914@autoatlanta.com Jan 7 2019, 11:54 AM

Jeff our mechanic found a speedster in a barn recently!

Posted by: Chip Jan 8 2019, 12:01 AM

It is sad to see such a lovely car just sitting. Perhaps we could take him some fruit and gift cards?

Posted by: Unobtanium-inc Jan 8 2019, 06:19 AM

The paint looks great, this is normally what you come across with a Speedster barn find, not much paint.


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Posted by: tygaboy Jul 10 2021, 10:35 AM

I stopped by to help Bill with another project and couldn't help but take a couple more pics. The Speedster is running/driving and awaiting its interior.

Period mag wheels, restomoded with a polished lip, all done by the 83 year old owner. New CN36s, too!

This car is beyond cool.

The next milestone will be taking it to the Novato Cars & Coffee. Hopefully in July or August.


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Posted by: racerbvd Jul 10 2021, 03:15 PM

LOL, I remember when you couldn't give those away.

Posted by: 930cabman Jul 10 2021, 04:24 PM

I can remember when I had 2 pre-A Speedsters in my garage. If I knew then what I know now ..... #'s 74 and 159 of the first 200

Posted by: Maltese Falcon Jul 10 2021, 04:50 PM

In the yester-years, unless you had a German specialist flown in from Zuffenhausen...you would take your 4 cam engine over to Al Cadrobi in North Hollywood, maybe Harry Pellow (?) for major service or o'haul.
@http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showuser=7712
I've heard of those American wheels called aka Torque Thrusters ....
what do you experts say ¿ @http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showuser=7276

Posted by: tygaboy Jul 10 2021, 05:18 PM

@http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showuser=2755 - Maybe I'm misunderstanding your comment but when I say period "mag" wheels, I mean: these are vintage American Racing magnesium wheels, the real deal from the '60s.

Posted by: Maltese Falcon Jul 10 2021, 07:27 PM

American Racing Wheels (U.S.mfg), super light magnesium , and I've come to know their style of this wheel as the Torque Thruster. The first sets (this design) that I've ever seen were on Mopars, Fords, GMs at the 3 local dragstrips I played at in late '60s; Irwindale, OC and Lions. When I started with the Stuttgart cars...never really noticed lots of them, probably because we couldn't get enough of the polished Fuchs

Posted by: Maltese Falcon Jul 10 2021, 07:29 PM

American should bring these back in the Porsche wheel stud pattern...super light and makes for a decent outlaw look

Posted by: mate914 Jul 11 2021, 06:48 AM

So cool. I have a 64c that I cant wait to resto-mod with 2056.... But First I have to finish my dads 914-6. Narrow body 2.5L with PMO modified carbs.
Matt

Posted by: Maltese Falcon Jul 11 2021, 08:52 AM

I've seen Rolly Resos' 1966 911 at the last 2 Rennsport Reunions, in his mid-80's now. He's been rockin' his Americans for decades on his "R" tribute

Posted by: 71six Jul 11 2021, 12:41 PM

Group 4 Wheels makes AR torque thrust replicas (similar appearance to AR magnesium wheels but cast in aluminum) in varoius widths.

https://www.group4wheels.com/store/PORSCHE-c63244029

Mark

Posted by: 71six Jul 11 2021, 12:53 PM

My 71 with Harvey Weidman restored 6"x15" AR magnesium torque thrust wheels.

Mark

Posted by: 930cabman Jul 11 2021, 04:44 PM

Looks nasty, how does she ride?

Posted by: 71six Jul 11 2021, 06:22 PM

Rides great but than again I'm an old guy who just drives the winding back roads of New England.

Posted by: tygaboy Aug 4 2021, 02:52 PM

You just never know what might show up at the Red Barn. Today, it was something REALLY special! Bill had his Speedster out for its longest shakedown drive and decided to stop over.
Talk about something you rarely see in the wild!

Interior yet to do but I have to say, seeing the smile on Bill's face and the look in his eyes when he's in his car is just fabulous.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CebUB15Iqo

Posted by: tygaboy Aug 4 2021, 02:53 PM

Seriously. Just look at that chrome! And the paint! I get nervous just standing near the car.

Bill is quite the fab/machinist - he cut the mirror glass himself.


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Posted by: tygaboy Aug 4 2021, 02:56 PM

Bill called the other day asking if I had any chunks of AL. I said I did and ran them over to his place.
"What do you need this for?", I asked.
"I need to make some center caps for the mags. You can't get them anymore."

A couple days later, this is what he's got. Simply amazing.


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Posted by: Unobtanium-inc Aug 30 2021, 10:33 AM

Yes, normally referred to as Torque Thrust, usually made my American Racing, they are magnesium. There have been copies over the years, but the real ones are incredibly light.

Posted by: Unobtanium-inc Aug 30 2021, 10:33 AM

Yes, normally referred to as Torque Thrust, usually made my American Racing, they are magnesium. There have been copies over the years, but the real ones are incredibly light.


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Posted by: live free & drive Aug 30 2021, 01:07 PM

Group 4 Wheels have been making replicas with 5 x 130 bolt patterns:

https://www.group4wheels.com/search-products/search/?attribute_SKU=TT1560,LMZ1560

Their new aluminum steelies are kind of cool too:

https://www.group4wheels.com/search-products/search/?attribute_SKU=TT1560,LMZ1560