1957 Porsche 356A Speedster Replica by Rock West Racing
Vehicle Details
- Year: 1957
- Make: Porsche
- Model: Speedster Replica
- VIN: AZ389489
- Mileage: 500mi (TMU)
- Transmission: Manual
- Title Status: Clean
- Color: Blue
- Seller Type: Dealer
- Location: Scottsdale, AZ 85254
- Dealer Fees: None
- Lot #: V-0032787
Based on the iconic Porsche Speedster, this replica was purchased in 2015 as a rolling chassis from Rock West Racing (formerly Thunder Ranch) and was completed by a father-daughter duo. It comes finished in metallic blue over a tan interior and is powered by an air-cooled 2056cc Scat flat-four crate engine with dual Weber carburetors, Bosch electronic ignition, and an electronic fuel pump. Prior to being acquired by its seller in 2022, it is said to have undergone carburetor cleaning and tuning. Reported to have been driven sparingly since the build was completed, this Speedster replica is now being offered for auction by its seller out of Arizona.
The Speedster-style fiberglass bodywork has been finished in a metallic shade of blue and equipped with a tan soft top. It rides on slotted 15” polished steel wheels with colored Porsche center caps, which are dressed in Falken tires from 2013. Exterior details include chrome pinstripes that run from fender to fender, driver’s and passenger’s side mirrors, a rear decklid grille, and two individual exhaust outlets. The seller notes a scratch on the lower front valence and there are NOS side curtains included for the soft top. Detailed images are provided in the gallery.
The interior is upholstered in tan leather covering the seats and upper dash, which is accented by metallic blue paint on the lower dash and beige carpeting below. Interior details include driver and passenger lap belts, a wooden 3-spoke steering wheel, “Porsche” badging on the lower dash, and a radio. All gauges, electronics, and accessories are reported to be working properly.
This Speedster Replica is equipped with an air-cooled 2056cc Scat flat-four crate engine with dual Weber carburetors, Bosch electronic ignition, and an electronic fuel pump. A claimed out of up to 130 HP is sent to the rear wheels through a 4-speed manual transmission while stopping power is provided by four-wheel disc brakes. The rolling chassis initially acquired from Rock West Racing is said to have utilized a fabricated tube steel frame, to which VW front and rear suspension was mounted. This replica also features a performance exhaust with heater boxes. The seller notes that the carburetors were cleaned and tuned prior to their purchase in 2022.
This sale will include a clean title.
The seller would like you to know: “This was a bucket list purchase, intended to scratch that speedster itch. It is a well-sorted and extremely fun car that really gets attention. Much quicker than I anticipated with the Scat crate engine. It drives like a go-kart on the tube frame. It is essentially a new car with less than 500 miles. The original owner bought it as a project to work on with his kid. Finished it and never really drove it. Now I can be accused of the same thing; my wife prefers to cruise in the comfort of our '57 Chevy Belair and '85 C10 pickup. This little car needs to be with an owner who will take it out and drive it like its meant to be driven”
Auction Results
- Sold for: $44,000
- Auction End: Aug 15, 2023 07:31:43PM UTC
- Number of Bids: 41
Comments (104)
Thanks, the color combination works for me. Lots of replicas changing hands these days.
Sold for $44,000
Congratulation BenTrovato!!
So beautiful purchase! Strong bidding!
Bid in the amount of $44,000
Bid in the amount of $41,000
@Scott.sk more than $40. Less than $50. Keep bidding.
Bid in the amount of $40,500
I think this is a great deal at $40K. I figured it would hit $50K. Let's see what it does! Sad my budget wasn't big enough, but go boys go!
Bid in the amount of $39,000
Bid in the amount of $38,625
Bid in the amount of $37,356
Bid in the amount of $35,850
Bid in the amount of $35,600
Bid in the amount of $32,250
Bid in the amount of $32,000
Bid in the amount of $31,500
Nice late bidding but guessing reserve is much higher based on recent sales.
Bid in the amount of $29,250
Bid in the amount of $29,000
Bid in the amount of $28,250
This is what I bought my first Speedster Replica for… back in 2014.
Bid in the amount of $28,000
Bid in the amount of $27,750
Bid in the amount of $26,750
Bid in the amount of $26,000
Bid in the amount of $25,250
Bid in the amount of $25,000
Bid in the amount of $24,750
Bid in the amount of $24,500
Bid in the amount of $24,250
Bid in the amount of $24,000
Bid in the amount of $23,250
Bid in the amount of $23,000
Bid in the amount of $22,250
Bid in the amount of $22,000
Speedster replica prices have been among the sharpest escalating among collector cars, much more than Porsches in general which tend to creep up over time. There is good reason for this as they are highly rewarding cars; terrific fun head turners that are universally adored. The replica is cheap to maintain and a great place to exercise practice your DIY skills. It’s something you can grocery get in, park where you like without stressing out. Out in the twisties with 130hp pushing 1300 pounds around making great flat four sounds will put a hook in you that is hard to let go of. The fun to money value is off the charts.
Bid in the amount of $21,500
@badboybuses thanks. Drives as good as it looks.
Great looking little car.
Im guessing not as I just looked thru the pics.
@badboybuses no spare tire.
Does it have a spare tire?
Bid in the amount of $21,250
@badboybuses since I am not at the car and have never removed the wheel cover I cannot say with certainty, but the last Thunder Ranch Speedster we had was 4-bolt so I am going to say 4-bolt on this one.
Are the wheels the wide 5 bolt pattern or small 4? I can see the car is IRS and that usually means small 4 bolt pattern but the wheels have 10 holes which usually means the wide 5 bolt pattern. Thanks in advance. Ric.
Bid in the amount of $21,000
Bid in the amount of $20,750
Additional content has been added to the gallery for this listing.
@BenTrovato AC -never, heated seats -no, toneau cover - yes
@BenTrovato the radio comes on but does not hold a station well. I suspect it needs a better antenna but frankly we have never delved into it.
Also, air conditioning, heated seats, tonneau cover?
Can you tell us about the radio?
Barely two hours to go. I'll post a few pics from yesterday's joy ride...
I have had lots of questions about Rock West and Thunder Ranch and their ultimate demise.
The replica car business is a labor of love, most often started or acquired by car enthusiasts who have succeeded in unrelated endeavors. Only a handful become fully established multimillion dollar earners for their owners and this case has been proven over and over whether you are talking about Speedsters, Cobras or Dune Buggies. Quality and business failure are not mutually exclusive. Most of us here can name off Beck and Super Performance , a few less Vintage Speedsters and Unique Motorcars and even less Thunder Ranch and Rock West. The page link below will give you a sense of how many have tried to make a go at it in the Speedster Replica business. In the end failure is not measured in nuts and bolt but by dollars and cents.
Here is an excerpt from the speedster.com website:
"THUNDER RANCH: Designers and fabricators of kit cars since 1978. Run by Tom McBurnie, owner of more than 13 original Speedsters the Thunder Ranch 356 Speedster replica was a combination of faithful reproduction and modern innovation. The company also produced a 550 Spyder Replica and a Type 718 RSK Spyder Replica, all available as turnkey cars or in kit form. The company failed in 2009 and their assets were taken over by Custom Coachwerks, also in El Cajun, who who also went out of business and all the assets were purchased by Rock West Racing who continue to make Speedsters."
And we know how that turned out... Don't be surprised when Thunder Ranch rises again because despite our car loving selves and hard earned common sense "a fool (for a car) and his money is soon parted". Hope springs eternal but maybe next time they get it right.
replicas.http://www.speedsters.com/srs-AtoZ.htm
Bid in the amount of $20,500
@Mentoring1 as already noted, there is no serious corrosion. The master cylinder and some areas of the exhaust show common surface rust. The scratches on the frame are minor and amplified by the lighting. I’ll admit the original owner and his kid could have done a better job looming up the wire harness but they are properly connected as everything is working. The transaxle is not pretty but it works flawlessly.
Rock West did not make it in the replica car business, just like Thunder Ranch whose assets they bought from the group (name escapes me) who was in between them.
This car has no structural or safety issues whatsoever. It runs and drives perfectly. Everything is operational.
@nobrakes What's going on under the vehicle? The transmission looks like it got in a fight with a wrench (pic 53 & 63). There's rust, large swats of scratches (pics 56) and loose wires (39 & 59)... has this vehicle had a state inspection?
Thank you for visiting Rock West Racing. The site is no longer providing products and services at present.
@Bruce914 Other than some surface rust on the master cylinder, some exhaust components and a few steel fasteners there is no rust on this car. Compare it to the other Thunder Ranch selling right before this one, another low miler with a very similar undercar condition in the same places through out the frame.
Seems to be a lot of surface rust for an Az car that sits. Was it outside? Beautiful car.
Beautiful car and nice pictures! GLWTA
Here is a video review by a youtuber having his say about the Speedster Replica experience. Worth a watch.
https://youtu.be/uwZwNmBRDBU
Bid in the amount of $19,000
Bid in the amount of $18,000
@rogerflintstone top - yes. side curtains - yes, toneau - yes. Images #5, #10 and #22 show the car with the top up.
@BenTrovato reportedly, the original owner purchased the rolling chassis from Rock West in 2015. He sourced the motor and transmission independently, installed it and put the car in service. It has always to our knowledge been properly garaged. I cannot say with certainty the max capacity of the fuel cell. We make a practice of never filling tanks on our collector cars in an effort to keep fuel as fresh as possible. I have no first hand experience registering cars in CA. The title and the VIN match. Being a kit, there is no legacy specification to abide by in terms of air/fuel and exhaust so smog may get a pass under that circumstance. I would contact the CADMV to confirm.
Does the car have a top, toneau cover etc. as I don't see one in the photos?
Roger
Beautiful car. How much of the assembly was performed by the owner? Will this be difficult to register in California? Is Rock West Racing still in production? Has the car been in a climate-controlled garage? How large is the fuel tank?
Thank you...
One day to got to find out which lucky bidder will be taking this sweet little Speedster home!
We can assist with shipping arrangements anywhere in the lower 48. Use the contact seller button and include the delivery zipcode and we will get you a price for DOT permitted, bonded and insured enclosed carrier for door to door transport.
We will be monitoring the auction closely right up to the end. Please reach out if you have any concerns or questions regarding the car or the bidding process. I have already heard from a few first time bidders who were alarmed over the authorizations that show up on your card. These are only authorizations are are NOT charges. You will only be charged if you are the winning bidder. Jump to the PCarMarket FAQ https://www.pcarmarket.com/faq/ for official policies.
Thanks for your kind interest and bids. Buy with confidence!
@nobrakes
Bid in the amount of $16,000
The problem with owning a Porsche 356 Speedster is that they have become so valuable that the idea of taking it out for a good thrashing or even a grocery run is not for the risk averse. The solution is to own a replica that 90% of the population can't recognize the difference anyway. The other bonus of a well done replica is that it can be faster and safer than the genuine article.
This Speedster has been reimagined by Rock West Racing, formerly Thunder Ranch, both of El Cajon, CA. Thunder Ranch notably skipped the use of a VW floor pan and chassis and instead designed and fabricated a steel tube frame to mount the front and rear VW suspension and bond the body to, making for a lighter and more performance oriented driving experience. This is particularly important should an owner want more than the maximum 90 horsepower ever offered in a 356. Indeed this Speedster sports a powerful 2056 cc 130 horsepower motor sourced from SCAT, renowned builder of hot rod VW parts finished off with dual Weber carbs, electronic ignition and performance exhaust with heater boxes; fronting a 4-speed transaxle with rear disc brakes; something rarely seen on replicas and never on the all drum brake equipped original.
And indeed, this is a salty specimen that is fun and fast; its upgraded suspension and brakes add confidence when you decide to press hard on the throttle. It makes great sounds and looks drop dead gorgeous doing it.
Finished in stunning metallic blue paint and iconic tan interior, this Speedster is always the crowd favorite. Unless you like spending more time talking than driving, instead of explaining to everyone who says "beautiful Porsche" that it is not a real Porsche, just politely say thanks and drive on.
Video of cold start, drive by, driving and walkaround.
https://youtu.be/Q67ZENaYoZc
@1Sophiedog you bet! runs like a champ! Posting video now...
Sorry, see below that it is titles SPECON through AZ. I should've scrolled before asking, the Hawaii plates were throwing me off.
Beautiful car and build.
What's the car titled as?
Is the car running and road worty?
Bid in the amount of $14,000
Bid in the amount of $12,000
@joe18d yes, I am cautioned by experience. An acquaintance took delivery of a Vintage Speedster with just 2100 miles. Took it out to dinner after it arrived and it caught fire and burned to the ground. Any VW can catch fire at any time but a fresh hand built car that got trailered for a thousand miles was enough to let the wrong fuel line get loose. Its important to keep in mind that these are hand built cars produced one at a time with out the benefit of organized quality assurance steps integral to an assembly line.
@YOLO I have yet to make an end point delivery to a Canadian address. What I have done is ship a car to a border location where an In country forwarder had designated to take it from there. The expense to my knowledge is not excessive but dotting i's and crossing t's is the key to a smooth crossing.
@AMILLER0551 thanks for the bid, we addressed road trip question a bit in the reply below. I would emphasize that with as few miles as the car has accumulated it is still in a break in mode. It runs perfectly but from experience with other low mile replicas its a good idea to check hoses and cables along the way. Also the tires are 2013 date code (the car was built in 2015). The biggest issue is being prepared for the worst heading out through the desert this time of year. All that said, you only live once, let the adventure begin! OR if you need assistance with shipping you can private message me your zipcode and I will get you some prices for door to door delivery.
Bid in the amount of $9,911
Bid in the amount of $7,000
As a dealer do you have experience shipping to Ontario, Canada? Guesstimate on how much? Thanks again. Holo. Yolo!
Nice replica and nice work putting it together. Would this be Drive able across country? Or would you recommend trailing it that distance?
Bid in the amount of $5,000
I bought my Vintage Speedster in California with only 750 miles on it and thought about driving it home to Florida. Thankfully I did not, there were a few minor problems to work out and I am glad I had it in my air-conditioned shop to fiddle with it and not on the side of the road. Beautiful color on this 1, I used to have a 550 Spyder from TR, it was a solid build.
GLWTA, Joe in Hudson (Fl.)
@YOLO to be honest we thought it looked cool, holo holo YOLO
@jlglackin The car is in as new condition, having less than 500 miles on the clock. It runs and drives perfectly, but being a kit car with so few miles it is really a good idea to consider it still in shakedown mode. If you're mechanically inclined and have some essential tools on the trip you should be able to handle any unforeseen scenarios. The tires look new feel pliant but they are 10 years old so that is a consideration. Unrelated to the car is travelling in the desert leaving Phoenix, some thing that can go sideways fast if you get stranded. Let me know if I can answer anything else
Additional content has been added to the gallery for this listing.
Is the car ready to take a 1000 mile trip as it sits?
How does the car actually drive out?
Anything needing adjusted or repaired at this time?
Lastly what is the next thing that you believe needs attention?
Thank you in advance for addressing these questions.
Sincerely,
Joe
This may be a dumb question but why is there Hawaii plates on it? Thanks in advance.
@replicaspeedster.com side curtains located. See gallery.
News Flash!!! The curtains have been located! First time out of their pouch. We thought they were lost, but now they’re found! We have posted pics to the gallery.
@replicaspeedster.com strangely this car does not have side curtains. The only time the top has been raised under current ownership is for the photo shoot for this auction. We will get some more specific pics of the top stowed.
Does the car have side curtains and do you have any pictures with the top down and I it's normal position behind the seats?
Troy
I added a few pics, albeit low resolution, of the fabricated tube frame these cars are built on. I plucked these from the legacy website for Rock West - Thunder Ranch. My browser gives me an ominous warning about the site but it just lacks certificates and has been dormant for a long time. My antivirus had no objection to it. It is worth a look.
www.thunderranch.com/keeping-history-alive.html
Additional content has been added to the gallery for this listing.
@nobrakes An image of the Title and VIN Tag have been uploaded to the end of the gallery,
Additional content has been added to the gallery for this listing.
@RyCrave the car is titled in Arizona as a 1957 PORSCHE SPECON (Special Construction) which is a kit car designation. The VIN on the title matches an official State of Arizona issued “Assigned Identification Number” tag which is affixed to the body. I’ll post pics of both.
@dicksmith2436 yes sir, all of the instrumentation and lighting are in working order.
What does this register as on the title? Do you know what the exact paint code is?
Great car very nice looking paint job
do all gages work? Temp gage ?
Greetings bidders and enthusiasts, welcome to our auction!
We are representing a friend and client on this exquisite Speedster replica. We are familiar with these Rock West Racing replicas. They purchased what was originally Thunder Ranch replicas, another example of which we owned and enjoyed for a while. These are differentiated by the use of a fabricated steel tube frame with the body bonded to the chassis to improve rigidity. This as opposed to bolting the body to a VW pan. It still uses front and rear VW sourced clips. The end product makes for a racier chassis than the more traditional builds like Vintage or Beck which is a welcome upgrade when the choice is to run a high performance high powered motor. These also all incorporated rear disc brakes.
Sadly for our friend and the previous (original owner) this car has seen little use. It still has well under 1,000 miles on the clock so it is in near new condition. Phoenix has been a miserable place to own a car without air conditioning of late, and with some other American classics all so equipped in his personal collection he just has not driven it and has decided to let it find its next home.
The car is in the Phoenix area and we welcome in person or third party inspections. Use the contact seller button to make arrangements or ask questions. Videos will be posted shortly.
Thanks for your interest. Enjoy the auction!
@nobrakes