If you like the Speedsters you periodically see on our site, you’ll be very interested in this one, which we call “Azul.” This car takes the replica experience to the next level. This Fiber Fab Californian Speedster was professionally built in 2007 and then converted to Subaru power in 2018 by Special Edition in Bremen Indiana, by the same folks who build Beck Speedsters.

This car has tons of power courtesy of the new water-cooled 2.5 liter Subaru Imprezza engine with about 180 HP. 245 series rear and 205 front tires and four wheel disk brakes ensure incredible stopping power. Handling is also excellent with the wider tires afforded by the fender flares. The four speed Subaru gearbox is excellent, with a nice drop in RPMs in fourth gear so you can do some serious highway cruising-the gearing is just right for 3200 rpms at 70MPH.

It’s smoother, faster, stops better than any other Speedster we have owned. And it’s easier to use, even for people who are not car-savvy. It has all the usual late model Subaru reliability and ease of ownership… it is fuel injected, computer managed and simple to start and operate. It’s an unusual bird, with a fiberglass body on a VW chassis with fender flares and water cooled modern power plant. Yet you’ll feel like a you’re still riding in classic car style in this unique and fun roadster.

Chrome style bars are easily removable if they are not to your taste, they are held in place by eight bolts. Because the car is water cooled, the optional heater works great. It is visible in the trunk. The radiator lives under the front of the car, shrouded and flat.

The car is virtually brand new, with about 4300 miles on the newly rebuilt engine and chassis. This Subaru engine conversion was done right to a very high standard. The entire package works beautifully and it’s hard to find any evidence of any wear or use.

The small half windows are easy to remove, and keep some wind out of the cockpit. A great top is folded behind the seats and is easy to erect. Stayfast trimmed side curtains are also included, in their own pouch, as is a full tan stay fast tonneau, also in it’s own pouch. The tonneau only fits the car without the style bars in place, so you have your choice, or we can make a custom tonneau made to accommodate the style bars. There’s also a nicely sewn cushion on the rear shelf in matching tan. The convertible top is a work of art in high grade stayfast canvas, and the side curtains have never been used and come in a protective matching pouch. Many of the photos are shown with the wind deflectors in place… those come with the car in addition to the traditional soft side curtains lined with tan stayfast to match the top, as shown. It’s all really nice stuff!

Watch Jay Leno tour and drive a similar Subaru-powered car in the video below!

This car is titled as a 1964 VW. Give a call if you want us to ship this cool car your way. Azul is more reliable than anything old and British… and faster than most of what we usually offer too!

Pause Play Play Prev | Next

It’s time to pass my personal Mini Cooper on to a new home. This is a great one, mostly original, and that’s why I like it so much. Bodhi likes it too!

It has not been molested and is therefore one of those rare examples that you almost never see anymore. I had one in high school (that was completely molested) and I have enjoyed this correct car tremendously.

You can see a great video below of me and Bodhi out for a ride. You’ll see the car is a blast to drive quickly, and also completely highway capable. We’ve had this one since 2016. We’ll miss this great car!

I particularly appreciate that the original feel of the interior… it’s completely intact. Many of these have had the seats or dashboards changed. This car looks and feels like 1965 all over again (that’s something I miss).

You can’t beat the Cooper S badging, and the color is just right. Yokohama 165×10 tires are superb and the car is quick and fun everywhere you go. I just put in a new battery and new tube shocks.

This is the correct original 1275 Cooper S engine per the heritage certificate. It’s missing the valve cover badges (they are easily available), these are replacement plastic reservoir clutch and brake master cylinders (recent maintenance) and the Dynamat on the firewall is not original, but most of the rest of the car is quite accurate, and that’s what makes this one quite special. That’s the correct Cooper S brake booster stuffed in with everything else.

Hagerty values a #1 version of this car at $65,300. Pretty amazing for a Mini! Anyone who had one in high school (like me) paid less than $1,500 for theirs.

But times have changed.

This is a good #2 car, and for a collector looking for a drivable and superb example, this is a great one to consider!

Call or email if you are interested!

Pause Play Play Prev | Next

Here’s something new!

Classic car drivability and reliability has always been our priority. This week, we are excited to offer for sale a special curated collection of late model Speedster replicas! We have four wonderful cars for sale, each with curves in all the right places, and each with a simple and reliable low-mileage drivetrain. If you are looking for classic car fun without the headaches, these Speedsters are worth a serious look. They are simple to service, fast, and tons of fun!

For years we have been dedicated to making classic British roadsters as reliable as possible, and we continue pursuit of this commitment each and every day. But our passion for curvaceous sports cars is not limited to Bugeye Sprites – we love all shapely and bug-eyed sports cars. The $300K + price tag of original Speedsters has always kept me away… until now. These replicas are quite affordable, and unless you’re a 356 aficionado, it’s difficult to tell them from the real thing. In fact, I’ve recently met a few 911 owners who own replicas similar to the ones shown here… they are not the real thing but they do a good job of fooling many of us!

Power in these four cars shown is typically from a 1.9 liter air-cooled flat four cylinder engine, that puts out about 110 HP. For comparison, the original Speedsters generally had 1582 CC engines good for about 60 HP. We also offer 2276CC uprated engines, good for about 150 HP, if you prefer higher performance. We have larger engines in stock and can install them in any of the cars shown.

These cars all feature fiberglass bodies on both Volkswagen and custom pans. Interiors are excellent, generally made with leather seats and wool carpets, built to a high standard.

For years, “replica” was a real turn off for me. But the quality of these replicas shown is impressive, and there is something very attractive about the availability of new VW components, plentiful from multiple suppliers. Upgrades and custom parts are plentiful too.

All of the cars shown have front disk brakes, and the “Creamster” above also has rear disk brakes. As with our custom British car build-outs, we can retrofit rear disk brakes on any of these Speedsters too.

Registration is easy. These cars are generally titled as early Volkswagens, which makes registration and vintage car insurance in your home state a breeze.

I have curated this special grouping specifically for our customer base. The cars are wider and roomier than Bugeye Sprites, and thus a more comfortable option for any of our customers who find Spridgets to be a bit cramped. The vented bucket seats are quite comfortable and easily accommodate large bodies. Access is also superior compared to most classic British cars. Doors are bigger, hinges are further forward, and it’s easier to get in and out. Leg room is significantly more plentiful than with Sprites… I’m 5’8″ and drive Sprites with the seats fully aft. In the Speedsters, I can barely reach the pedals with the seat fully aft, so there is at least four more inches of leg room than in a Spridget.

These are nearly new cars all made between 2009 and 2018. Not all replicas are the same… these particular cars are built by Beck and Vintage Speedsters, impressive products with great performance and quality.

I have chosen an excellent grouping for this offering, and each of these cars are now for sale. We have gone-through all four of the cars to prepare them for sale, with the same attention to detail and using the same quality checklists we have used on all the other classic cars that have passed through our building. As with all the cars we sell, these Speedsters can be further customized in our workshop to your taste.

If you are interested in owning one, it would be best to call or email to start the conversation! Prices start at $38K.

We’re excited to offer a fun quality product with minimal hassles and tons of style! Feel free to call if you would like to know more!

Above is a new 2276 engine with larger Weber carbs, standing-by for a horsepower upgrade. We also have beautiful header and exhaust options available.

NOW ON DEPOSIT 9/20/20! Thank you Gary in Florida and congratulations!

Are you looking for a little British car project?

Here are three square Sprites for sale, from one of our customers who bought our Bugeyes (Gavin). All three cars are for sale as a package to the first person to step forward with $2,000. This blow-out price is to make room for the Bugeye that is soon to be delivered. Someone is going get quite an array of British car bits and three different cars to play with, all for not a lot of dough. If you are one of the folks who has emailed me looking for a starter project at a very reasonable price, this could be your big chance!

All three cars are rebuildable.

Here is an inventory of what you get:

The orange/red car with no front fenders installed (although they are included) is 1965 MKIII with chassis number HAN8L 57199. This car sports a 1275 engine. Check out the pictures below to take a look at some of the additional goodies that come with it.

The green car is a 1968 MKIV Sprite. Below is a picture of its engine bay.

The red car that was pictured in the garage is a 1966 MKIII Sprite with chassis number HAN8L 58737. The picture below is a snapshot of the engine bay.

All three cars are located in Sylva, NC, (about 100 miles south of Knoxville, TN). Pick up is preferred, but delivery is also possible for an extra fee.

This is a great deal with a ton of stuff for a very reasonable price, so if you are looking for a fun project, please get in touch!

Pause Play Play Prev | Next