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> OT: Speedster in a barn, Holy Moley...
tygaboy
post Aug 7 2017, 03:04 PM
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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...". (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

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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tygaboy
post Aug 7 2017, 03:05 PM
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Look at that paint!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/pray.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif)


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tygaboy
post Aug 7 2017, 03:05 PM
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Magnesium mags!


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tygaboy
post Aug 7 2017, 03:07 PM
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others...


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mepstein
post Aug 7 2017, 03:51 PM
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Great story. Pretty car.
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porschetub
post Aug 7 2017, 03:57 PM
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Unreal.....whats it worth guys?
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ConeDodger
post Aug 7 2017, 04:08 PM
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You know for a guy who lives at the end of the road... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/evilgrin.gif)
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mepstein
post Aug 7 2017, 04:08 PM
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QUOTE(porschetub @ Aug 7 2017, 05:57 PM) *

Unreal.....whats it worth guys?

A stock speedster is $375 +|-
This one has a $250k engine
$$$
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tygaboy
post Aug 7 2017, 04:12 PM
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QUOTE(mepstein @ Aug 7 2017, 03:08 PM) *

QUOTE(porschetub @ Aug 7 2017, 05:57 PM) *

Unreal.....whats it worth guys?

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


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...
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Tom_T
post Aug 7 2017, 05:14 PM
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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! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif) ... 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.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
Tom
///////
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mepstein
post Aug 7 2017, 05:23 PM
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QUOTE(Tom_T @ Aug 7 2017, 07:14 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! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif) ... 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.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
Tom
///////

Yes, I have no idea how much race providence and mods change values. It is certainly more interesting to me than a stock car.
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tygaboy
post Aug 7 2017, 05:45 PM
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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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jmitro
post Aug 7 2017, 06:03 PM
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awesome story.
awesome car!
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wndsnd
post Aug 7 2017, 06:12 PM
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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.
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EdwardBlume
post Aug 7 2017, 06:56 PM
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You got to love old guys like that! Thanks for sharing!
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porschetub
post Aug 7 2017, 08:43 PM
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QUOTE(tygaboy @ Aug 8 2017, 10:12 AM) *

QUOTE(mepstein @ Aug 7 2017, 03:08 PM) *

QUOTE(porschetub @ Aug 7 2017, 05:57 PM) *

Unreal.....whats it worth guys?

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


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...

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 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif) .
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Mark Henry
post Aug 7 2017, 08:44 PM
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QUOTE(tygaboy @ Aug 7 2017, 06:12 PM) *

QUOTE(mepstein @ Aug 7 2017, 03:08 PM) *

QUOTE(porschetub @ Aug 7 2017, 05:57 PM) *

Unreal.....whats it worth guys?

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


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...


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.
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porschetub
post Aug 7 2017, 08:58 PM
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QUOTE(Mark Henry @ Aug 8 2017, 02:44 PM) *

QUOTE(tygaboy @ Aug 7 2017, 06:12 PM) *

QUOTE(mepstein @ Aug 7 2017, 03:08 PM) *

QUOTE(porschetub @ Aug 7 2017, 05:57 PM) *

Unreal.....whats it worth guys?

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


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...


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.


(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) like a big fat retirement payout ,move to the Bahamas or what ever suits eh.
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Jeff Hail
post Aug 8 2017, 07:16 PM
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Awesome story and piece of history.

Ask Bill what happened to the #5 Benson chassis?

It just hit me how old we are getting.
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Ed_Turbo
post Aug 8 2017, 07:27 PM
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Nice! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/drooley.gif)

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