Aircooled VW South Africa

http://www.junkmail.co.za/v-johannesbur ... EdQX201220

ORSCHE 356 A Replica Coupe

Good news for 2012 . After many requests, Panache cars and Universal Products are now
able to offer the 356 A
Coupe replica in a basic starter kit form .

YOUR STARTER KIT INCLUDES :
1. A high quality smooth unitary body on frame with fitted bonnet , rear engine lid , doors
and interior glove box ready to mount on to your shortened VW Beetle chassis.
2. Bumpers , front and rear with two bucket seats and four(4) interior door cappings.
3. Both doors are hung with pre-fitted with window frames and installed new window winder
mechanisms.
4. A Porsche 356 A front windscreen , rear window , driver and passenger door glasses as
well as a pair of rear quaterlight window glasses.
5. An original Porsche front windscreen rubber seal as well as a rear window rubber seal
plus the original chrome beadings for both windows.
6.An instruction manual to help you ahead .
7.Also available in LHD for export.
8.Lead time for delivery is four(4) weeks from date of order/payment in South Africa.
THE COST IS R 67 500-00 ( ZAR) EX- JOHANNESBURG
-Prices subject to change without notice


Contact details :
+2782 569 2019 (Mobile number)

Roger went out there a while back and he rates that they are a top notch operation. I think that Armand has also been out there. That's a good price if you add everything up.

http://www.panachecars.com
http://johannesburg.gumtree.co.za/c-Car ... Z344793165


So for R67500 plus the cost of a beetle and a lot of work you can have 356A coupe. Would R100K be a fair budget?

Drusky wrote:So for R67500 plus the cost of a beetle and a lot of work you can have 356A coupe. Would R100K be a fair budget?

100k would be tight...cause that leaves you with 33k for engine, tranny, brakes, wheels and tyres, paint, interior, suspension, exhaust and trim...........my trim for my speedster from the US was R3500 on it's own and that's 7 badges.

So 100k for a very basic machine, no special bling and some "what I could get my hands on" items on board. R120K for something that's getting there and more like R150K for something that really looks the part.
At R150K one could start to look at a 196* porsche 912... that 356A is delightful though!

- 100K - basic machine, but a good one. If you're willing to wait and shop around for the best price.
- 110 - 120k - a really good one that would fool a lot of people, period correct engine style etc etc.
- 150k and up? - why?

1960's 912 for around 150k?.......it'll need work for that price

My dad has one of thier kits. It is already fitted on the pan and busy with the sanding and preping the body. He has a 356 engine that he is going to fit to the kit. Here is a pic of when he got the body.

Nice.. Lots of work still....

I'm seriously considering importing one of these kits into the US of A.
Anyone able to give me info about the quality of the kit?
Anyone willing to either PM me or post on whether the company is professional or not.
Also do you know if it was molded from the real thing or not?
You can buy a 356 C here for about what it will cost to import and build one but there's no rust to worry about and it won't cost a fortune if it breaks - and I'm hoping to make it a summer daily driver which should be more reliable thanthe real thing!
Finished coupe replicas are available in the US but no coupe kits.
Thanks for taking the time to reply!

I will go for the real thing. If a 356 C is the same price in the States,then it is a no brain er . The replica will not go up in value, where the real one will. I drive my 356 B everyday and it is as reliable as my Beetles. Plus your 356 C has disk brakes. I have been to the guys that make these. The work is ok, but not perfect. i know of two people that were not happy.
Hope this helps.
Wernher

Amen on what vw59 said.......I didn't know that there were people who weren't happy though.......

Thanks for the thoughts guys. Problem is at that price point a C is going to be full of trouble and tin worm. Probably will make me hate cars if I bought one and tried to use it as a summer driver.
I'm not sure what to do now. Maybe a speedster and a hardtop...
Or wait for someone to bring a coupe kit out in the US.
Anyone else had dealings with Universal Products?
Thanks

What about doing what john jones did from KCW in colorado? Porsche body with mainly beetle underpinings.

A speedster with a hardtop is a nice idea, but unless you've got windows that roll up and seal perfect, it's going to leak.

Drop IMPI a line as he's been there and will be able to give you an idea of what they're about. Personally I'd like to know what issues people had with them as I've only heard good things about them.

I have spent a lot of time at Universal products and got to know Garth and the boys very well !
A 100% professional outfit with years of Motor Sport and racing experience,they don't just do replica
cars they also build top class race cars (Shelby Can Am). I would not hesitation to recommend these
guys if you are considering building a 356 Coupe or Speedster, they have put in many hours refining these
cars that its not just about dropping a fiberglass shell on a shortened Beetle pan which was the case with
a lot of the guys years ago and was the death of the 718 Spyder ....white 5 spoke SMITH wheels on a
Porsche replica ...(Come on people !!)
I also believe they can do them in left hand drive for the export market
If anyone has any questions or needs details please don't hesitate to pm me

I second everything Harry says

The replica's they make at Universal (Panache cars is using them to make the 356 Coupe) are the best I have seen.

If you have issues with anything from that factory I suggest you take it up with Garth, he is very helpful and reasonable.

Building a car is not a project to take on lightly though. It takes, time, patients, encouraging friends, more time, and a reasonable amount of cash.

Replicas are cheaper than the real thing, but that does not mean that they are cheep.