Speedster, to be or not to be....

[sdudum]

So, early in the year I had the guts to buy myself a project car...choice made, we were going for a 356 Speedster, search search and there she was, gun metal gray and badass...instant attraction and the transaction was concluded. She came home and the fun started. The previous owner had done the car justice and did a number of things just right, but as with any project car there was still boot loads to do...I relished the challenge and the innocence of being a novice shielded me from the reality that this was a journey to be filled with joy, sorrow and a lot of visits to the bank...I was determined if not stupid !!!!

Soon after her arrival the engine developed some serious knocks and realised after a few weekends of novice diagnostics that the cranckshaft bearing had ceased. Try to find that part and you quickly learn the dark art of engineering and precision measurement instruments...eventually gave up on the idea and decided to by a new lump....search search and find a few of them but each one comes with its won unique set of quircks and challenges...aircooledvwsa.co.za to the rescue and we find a lump and agree on price...economy takes a dive south for e and delays and heartache as I watch my baby sitting in the garage all gutted....(at this point the engine was removed and lying in pieces on the garage floor...)

Decided, whilst awaiting the economy to turn around, I would source some additional parts (roof, luggage rack, mirrors ...). This quickly turned out to be a lesson in being ripped off I believe....so off to the web we went and found some very favourable places in the U.S and started with the order preparation process...(Did you know you need to have an importers license to bring stuff in...) and after much fussing the engine was procured and the parts from the U.S ordered as the econimy had suddently improved and my bank manager was back to talking to me...

Fast forward a couple of months and the car is still in the garage being worked on, electricals, steering wheel, foot pedals, seat belts....shit, this was a never satisfied mistress who kept on demanding more, she was relentless, but my enthusiasm more than made up for what I lacked in mechanical ability and sensibilities...

Fast forward again to when I met a gentleman in these forum who has helped and really gone the extra mile in helping me get the speedster going. We got the engine going, fitted that myself (such is still my enthusiasm) and now busy working on the interior and hopefully the roof next week. She is going to be a beauty. This weekend I managed to drive her out of the garage under her own power and man, I have to say....BADASS ...

I will post the whole pictorial when I get chance at some point. She is a sweet drive and a serious head-turner....Cannot wait to be done with the roof....

A special thanx goes to Bratjie, for sorting me out with an engine an then being available to help telephonically as this novice was trying to get a number of other things right...Bratjie you are a gentleman and a scholar sir...thanx for the help. Anyway, just sharing....

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[retrovan]

If there are no photos, then it never happened.......

[sdudum]

Another milestone reached, I finally decided to do the soft top roof on Sibongile. On a warm beautiful Saturday, the cloth which had been under wraps for months now was unveiled and laid over the car to psych myself up...measurements were done, the internet was consulted a number of times, pictures were review and more meaurements were done...finally the first holes were drilled and commitment was made...too late to back out now.

The rest of the day was filled with tugging and pulling to get everything lined up before the final task of attaching the front bow and committing it with Glue...It is such a relief to finally get here, next step side curtains....

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[jolas]

good luck with the rest - did you import the soft top or have it made locally ?

[splitfan]

good luck with the rest - did you import the soft top or have it made locally ?

Please tell , im looking for the same colour roof for the wifes car ????

[MarshallGTi]

beautiful lil car...

[sdudum]

good luck with the rest - did you import the soft top or have it made locally ?

Please tell , im looking for the same colour roof for the wifes car ????

The soft top was bought pre-made from http://www.vintagespeedsters.com

It is their burgundy stafast cloth I think they call it. It was $380.00. The ordering process was easy enough, but I would suggest you confirm and double confirm things with them, a few times they sent me some wrong items and it is a nightmare or actually impossible to return. They also do the side curtains and other bits and bobs....

Good luck...

[flatfourfan]

Nice..............importers licence needed?

I have brought about R30 000 worth of stuff from overseas and I've never needed one.

[sdudum]

Nice..............importers licence needed?

I have brought about R30 000 worth of stuff from overseas and I've never needed one.

FF I believe you may probably need one. Last time I had to do this I had to go through the bank as I did not have a credit card, this almost got me to apply the for an importers license. Apparently it is a SARS requirement. So be prepared to get it, what I am not sure of is if you just buy directly from the U.S company and they ship directly to you what happens then ?

[flatfourfan]

I've been buying on my credit card for everything from electric guitars and guitar parts to parts for my honda and my speedster as well as some stuff for my old busses and was never informed that I had to obtain a import licence as the items were for my own use, not for re-sale.

I buy directly from the US/ UK company and they ship directly to me, I pay duties, taxes etc, but that's about that.

[sdudum]

I've been buying on my credit card for everything from electric guitars and guitar parts to parts for my honda and my speedster as well as some stuff for my old busses and was never informed that I had to obtain a import licence as the items were for my own use, not for re-sale.

I buy directly from the US/ UK company and they ship directly to me, I pay duties, taxes etc, but that's about that.

I was just as stumped when the bank said that next time I buy automotive parts I will need to get an importers license....I never did and just used the good old internet and paypal to do my other purchases. So I guess it is one of ths situations that we do what we know until somebody informs us differently