PRODUCT OVERVIEW

HOW DOES OUR CUSTOM BUILT SPEEDSTER REPLICA DIFFER FROM A TYPICAL VW SPEEDSTER KIT CAR  ?

Here is what you do not get with a VW kit car version

  1. water-cooled electronic fuel injected engine
  2. automatic overdrive transmission (5 speed option)
  3. high performance mid-engine location
  4. rack and pinion steering
  5. Power assisted 4 wheel disc brakes
  6. adjustable coil spring independent suspension
  7. abundant hot water heat and defrost
  8. 4" wider interior with roadster style seats
  9. structural tubular chassis (not a sub frame)
  10. quieter, smoother, better handling, more powerful

The management of Specialty Auto-sports, Inc. has a 30 year history of building Speedster replicas in the traditional air cooled VW Beetle platform format; however, as a result of the many shortcomings of those type Speedster replicas we have made some remarkable structural, safety, and mechanical changes.

DO OUR CUSTOM BUILT  SPEEDSTER REPLICAS LOOK DIFFERENT THAN THE KIT CARS ?

Only if you consider more accurate appearance different.......

The external appearance of the beautiful car is appropriately unchanged from the original.  What we have changed is beneath the skin  and is our expression of bringing a very popular classic car’s structural, mechanical, electrical, and safety systems into the 21st century.

We have retained the correct appearance, wheelbase, track, and body shape for both styles of our  replicas ....the Speedster, Coupe and the Cabriolet. 

Others cannot make this claim because of their use of the VW Beetle platform and components.

                                          

Making classic styled cars drive and handle like modern cars is our primary business in addition to making them safer, more dependable, and easier to maintain.

 

 

Our "traditional style" standard equipped Speedster replica comes to you as follows:

Avoidance: Should a car operating on modern highways have 50 year old parts and technology ?

We do not use the 50+ year old VW technology, VW Beetle engine, transaxle, suspension, braking, steering, gas tanks, columns, wiper, or wiring parts – none at all

Performance: Can a standard 50 hp carbureted VW Beetle engine compare with our standard 170 hp fuel injected engine .......how about our optional  230hp or 250hp Turbocharged engine ??

  • State-of-the-art Subaru  170 hp 2.5L 4 cylinder, multi-port fuel    injected, overhead cam,

  •  OBDII  CAN-bus engine management controlled

  •  water-cooled engine, mid-chassis mounted 

  •  emissions compliant - see what EPA says          http://www.epa.gov/otaq/imports/kitcar.htm

  •  Subaru 4-speed automatic overdrive - electronic shift control - floor shifter - transmission oil cooler.

  • Optional 5-speed manual

 

Handling: Have you ever wondered why all world class race and road cars are mid-engine and not rear engine  ?

  • Rear suspension -  custom independent double wishbone utilizing two lateral control arms,  adjustable coil-over shocks, and longitudinal trailing arms.

  • Our unique mid-engine configuration provides approximately 45/55 weight distribution which translates into superior handling and braking.

 

  • What does this mean in simple terms ?  Mid engine cars handle superbly and predictability - rear engine cars do not.

 

  • Front suspension – modern Macpherson strut, lower control arms, adjustable coil-over springs, rack and pinion steering.

 

  • these are definitely not 50 year old VW parts or technology.

 

 

Braking: VW Speedsters have Drum brakes designed for a Beetle with 50 hp which cannot compare with disc brakes ..especially power assisted

4 wheel power assisted disc brakes,  11” ventilated front and 10.5” rear, 5-lug bolt pattern 

 

Structure:  Tubular structure means durability and safety

  • Our exclusive custom designed structural tubular chassis  should not be confused with a beefed-up VW sub-frame found sandwiched between the VW pan and the fiberglass body with bolt-on VW components. (others incorrectly call that a structural tubular frame)

 

  • (The obvious occupant protection of our true structural frame should not be taken as normal on VW Speedster replicas.)

 

Safety:  Should you expect less than this in your Speedster replica .... or any car?

  •    Occupants are surrounded by a welded diagonally braced structural tubular cage

  •    steel reinforced doors - attached to welded frame structure

  •    heavy gauge steel floor - protection from road debris hazards that fiberglass floors cannot provide

  •    seat belts, hazard lights

  •    frame protected gas tank - forward mounted and nested (not over your lap like in  VW versions)

  •    fuel tank and passenger compartment separated by a steel firewall and steel floor.    

 

Comfort: You don't have to suffer to drive a sports car

  • 4” wider interior which enjoys an original 356A replacement floor pan not the narrower VW

  •  abundant electronic controlled hot water heat/defrost

  •  high grade "naugahyde" type interior

  •  AM-FM-USB stereo (that you can actually hear)

  •  increased foot well room  - wider and deeper

  •  heat shielded and sound deadened floor.

 

 

Convenience: Your other cars have these features don't they ?

2 speed cable drive wiper system, windshield washer, interior courtesy lights, larger front trunk area, large rear trunk, dash mirror.

Appearance:  Are VW Speedster replicas really accurate in appearance ?    One should look closely at body shape and location,  wheelbase and track,  floor width and shape,   tunnel shape,  park brake handle location, wheel slots,  interior upholstery

  • Accurate styling and proportions, correct Speedster floor dimensions, soft top, top boot, high quality base/clear coat paint (most any color), 356A Porsche “style” gauges, wood rim steering wheel, painted original style wide 5 wheels with chrome moon hubcaps. 

 

  • Our Speedster, Cabriolet, and Coupe replicas were designed using the dimensional specifications of original cars....... not a VW Beetle    All of our body parts were molded from original cars

 

 

WHAT CHOICES OF 1957 REPLICAS DO I HAVE FROM

 Specialty Auto-sports, inc.?

 traditional style 1957 Speedster 

Standard features are shown at  http://www.specialtyauto.com/VW%20Speedster%20Comparison.htm

  

 

traditional style 1957 Cabriolet

 

1957  Coupe "Outlaw"

 

traditional body style also available

Flared Fender "Outlaw" style 1957 Coupe

 

  

Flared fender Cabriolet                               Flared fender Speedster

The design of our water-cooled 1957 replicas emphasizes safety and performance as well as assembly efficiency.  The sophistication and available features of our  replicas is unequaled by any product in the replica industry.   We do not sacrifice quality, safety, reliability for speed of manufacture.  Each car is carefully assembled and test driven at least 350 miles before being released.

Our 1957 replicas are not "kit cars" where a non-reinforced fiberglass body is conveniently bolted onto a 45 year old VW shortened chassis, but rather a custom designed and limited production automobile requiring skills and knowledge that go far beyond the typical VW kit car assembler.

  • Our website serves as our brochure since the development progress of the car is much faster than a printed publication could track.

 

  • I would be pleased to discuss with you the specifics should you desire. 

   

 

Thanks again for your interest and good luck with your search for a Speedster, Cabriolet, or Coupe replica.

                    Steve Lawing, BSME                         
                         President                                               865-925-2500      

  ALSO VISIT:  www.specialtyauto.com/PORSCHE.htm