This car is the result of a great collaborative effort between Tom the car owner, Fat Performance, Vic Skirmants, Chris Coddington, Autobahn Interiors and myself. It went very smooth with having everyone on board to go the extra mile as needed. This car was purchased with the intent on making a generally stock appearing car with numerous upgrades and custom touches. Nothing was done to it that cannot go back to absolutely stock condition. The original engine and transmission are still with the car in storage. The color is a 1956 only color, Polyantha Red. I found a section in the interior in perfect condition and got an exact match. OEM or exact reproductions were used wherever possible for the upgrades. All stock parts were restored and refinished as possible opposed to reproductions that are cheaper but do not look as nice or are incorrect.
Tom did a great job of sourcing parts so I could keep doing what I really enjoy. Making beautiful cars.
(Click on any image below to view larger size.)
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- This is the car as purchased. Note how the front nose currently looks.
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- The complete body was sent out for chemical stripping
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- The door openings were really pretty good.
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- The lighter color you see here is the factory lead used to make a perfect door gap.
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- It is not uncommon to find a large area of damage under the paint. Almost every car goes through a point where a previous owner does not want to fix it properly.
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- Fortunately body sections are readily available.
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- Here the new section is being fit to the engine hood.
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- This picture and the next few show just how well this repair panel fit. This is the bottom edge on the drivers side.
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- The passenger side fits the same.
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- Only a little hammer work is needed to make a perfect gap.
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- Not a bad start.
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- The radio opening had been enlarged for a more modern stereo at some point.
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- The gas tank floor had its share of pinholes.
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- A new floor was installed and the gas tank fit was checked.
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- The longitudinals are rebuilt in preparation for the new floor to go in.
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- Now that the floors are in, the seat mounts can be done.
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- The smallest area of damage is repaired.
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- Without this fix, the carpeting will not lay correctly. Quality is in the details.
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- Here is a random dent in the top of the front fender. It is recommended to let the body man hammer these out instead of trying it yourself.
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- This dent needed a hammering process that involved working down the side of the fender to get it right. There is a method to the madness.
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- This is what the nose really looks like after stripping. It looks like they tried to put a “C” nose on an “A” car.
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- The bad section removed.
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- I had just the right sized piece of an “A” nose available to me.
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- After the metal work was done, it was sent back to the stripper for a cleaning and e-coating.
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- The hard baked on finish is the perfect protection throughout the body. Everything was done. Doors, lids and bumpers.
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- The cost is offset by the fact that everything needs to be coated. The e-coat is perfect because this is how it is supposed to look in areas like under the dash.
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- The replacement Speedster seat shells arrived. Time to get in the drivers seat. The hinge reinforcements I use can be seen in the orange 1958 Speedster gallery.
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- This is the start of the oil cooler mount for our 2256cc engine.
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- Made from heavy gauge steel mounted with rubber isolator mounts.
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- Oil cooler mocked up.
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- Carrera oil cooler screen fit perfect in the stock mounting holes.
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- GT bumper strips custom fit.
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- Even the ends are polished. Quality is in the details.
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- Primed, blocked, remasked and ready for paint.
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- Color and clear.
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- After paint, the body is sanded down completely.
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- The exterior is completely masked off for undercoating.
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- Areas like the trunk get a top coat of semi gloss black to give it just the right look.
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- Here the car is ready for the three step polishing process.
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- Like a mirror.
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- The assembly process begins.
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- Pedal cluster blasted, repainted and rebuilt.
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- Tucked away is a 911 reservoir to feed the new dual circuit master cylinder. There is just enough room in there if you want to use a power bleeder. My preferred method.
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- CSP supplied this brake system direct from Germany. It provides disc brakes while allowing you to use the stock wide 5 bolt pattern.
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- Front spindles were replaced with the larger “B” spindles for more strength.
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- First a layer of heat and vibration protection.
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- Then a second layer of sound deadener. This all helped to create nice smooth contours for the carpet as well.
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- The interior takes shape.
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- Beautiful seats and upholstery work done by Autobahn Interiors and shipped to West Bend.
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- To keep the front carpet clean, it will not go in until the car is ready for delivery.
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- The motor is from Fat Performance. Based on a 914 motor, it is 2256cc with dual Weber 44 IDF’s and a 911 fan to keep it all cool. Combined with the oil cooler, this thing runs cool no matter what the weather and traffic conditions are.
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- An engine surround was needed to keep the engine clean and provide a very tidy appearance.
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- Repeated fitting and trimming
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- The stock 914 pulley guard was the only piece of the stock engine tin to be used.
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- Painted and trimmed in rubber, it is ready to go in.
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- It fits in very well.
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- The exhaust is an equal length configuration that fit with very little modifications required.
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- Perfectly restored gauges with the combo gauge altered to provide oil pressure readings as well.
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- Time to enjoy.
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- The wheels are 2 pc with forged aluminum alloy centers custom made to our offset requirements by Chris Coddington. Lightweight and strong.
