From the start of this project I wanted my speedster to be as close as to the original cosmetically.
To fool those who don't know
To inspire those who think they know
To awe those who do know
I wanted the interior to closely represent an original as you can see below this is how far I got with the Black Sheila's Interior compared to an original, this was prior to all the modifications that took place afterwards.
I replaced the fiberglass bumper with steel bumpers also Vintage Speedster bumper guards
The engine which is still W.I.P will closely represent a Porsche engine I have obtained the FLATFOUR air filter(which looks the part), Original H-Filter canister, SCAT 36Hp Fan Shroud, Generator, Okrasa 36Hp carburetor linkage, Dual Kadrons and a original Porsche oil filler.
After Roger and Garry pointed out that my front end was incorrect I decided to replace the front end and at the same time to do the rear seat correction
I also decided to fit an original 356 fuel tank
Finally I was able to source the T2 turn signal wedge for my speedster.
Now to getting the rear bumper guards with exhaust hole from SAPO is another story......
1958 Porsche 356A Speedster T2 Replica (The Black Sheila)
"To achieve the impossible, one must think absurd; to look where everyone else has looked, but to see what no one else has seen"
That's going to look the BOMB Manny.. Very pretty..
http://www.paterson.co.za/
Body marriage now complete and everything bolted together,
Steering wheel fitted, this14" Nardi steering wheel is a temporary installation until all the work is done to the speedy then we will be installing the new steering wheel and steering wheel boss. Seat also fitted.
15" steering wheel.
Moto Lita steering wheel boss
Steering column painted.
Fuse Block fitted.
1958 Porsche 356A Speedster T2 Replica (The Black Sheila)
"To achieve the impossible, one must think absurd; to look where everyone else has looked, but to see what no one else has seen"
Manny/Armand,
The Sheila is coming along very nicely, great work on all the detail and effort being put into it! Just a question, why didn't you mod the centre tunnel to be more square'ish? The books i've got at home shows the Speedsters had a flatter/squarer tunnel? Just curios, not crit'ing at all. Luf what you are doing.
Cheers,
Marius.
Marius V.
Hi Marius,
This something I have given quite some thought and did some research, the problem with cutting the VW beetle tunnel it weakens the floor- pan and can result it to twist and bend , simply most of the strength is in the tunnel whereas the original Porsches the strength was on the outer sills.
I know only of two people who has attempted this, till this day I cant confirm if it was successful or a failure, to be honest this is something I would not like to experiment with liewers bang Jan as dooie Jan
. The one person who attempted this did reinforce the underside with rectangular tubing. The other concern is that you will also have problem with the shifter rod, the VW gearbox shifter rod is set higher than a those of a Porsche setup.
I had a simple solution which I have tried out previously, I fabricated a square tunnel which simply fits over the VW beetle tunnel, I still plan to use this setup with the Black Sheila. Alan did a similar setup. The Photo below is the setup I used before and will use.
1958 Porsche 356A Speedster T2 Replica (The Black Sheila)
"To achieve the impossible, one must think absurd; to look where everyone else has looked, but to see what no one else has seen"
LOVE the Steering Wheel..
I also squared off my tunnel based on the pics I had seen. Easy enough to do.
Car's looking awesome.
http://www.paterson.co.za/
Looking VERY good Manny! Agree with Alan, that steering wheel looks great!
Cannot wait to see this one on the road!
Obviously mine was just cosmetics with the tunnel modification, no cutting etc, it wasn't nearly as detailed and professional as your Manny.
I think my build was once referred to as "putting on Lipstick".
Mine will also be just cosmetics, LOL your speedy is super cool, this is the best photo I could find of the tunnel mod.....
http://www.paterson.co.za/
Tunnel mod? What tunnel mod? I dont even see a car...
Noice Manny. Yeah I agree with you, I wouldn't touch that tunnel and especially with a convertible. You made the right choice there. Cladding it with sheet plate before carpets is probably the best that we can do unless you have a pan made from scratch and build in the reinforcements from the get go.
Oh behave Alan, I never said putting on lipstick, I said it's like a putting a lipstick on a pig......massive diffs......lol and for the record, I can appreciate any work done on a car and especially where it's a massive improvement on what it was. I've paid your cabby a million compliments over the course of time since you've been working on it. It's all good in my books.
1955
2.0 8v Water-Cooled.