It's just a thought.....

I think VW used different 1st thru 3rd gear ratios as well as final drive ratios in the air cooled transaxles. The later (after 1970) IRS transaxles were geared real tall for fuel economy and were dogs on the street. The first thing I did when I bought my '74 standard beetle was to change the transaxle to a 1969 model. It felt much better, more like a close ratio gearbox. I learned this trick from a real factory trained air cooled VW mechanic with thirty years of experience.

If this Beck uses a generic/Brazil/Mexican VW gearbox, the tall gearing might make it a slug. I wonder if someone has kept a logbook of sorts, showing the specs for the mechanicals.

I saw a Beck the other day, it was on the lift at the local MG/Triumph/Alfa garage having a new starter bushing and starter put in. I was impressed by the quality and fit/finish of the car. The shop owner said that several people thought it was real until he showed them the fiberglass construction.

i think you are right. i think it is using stock vw parts from brazil.

yeah, the quality was very very impressive, imho.

i am just wondering if it is possible to sort the suspension to make it handle like it looks like it should without breaking the bank.

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

On the internet a while back I saw a Beck 550 with a Porsche flat six, 5 speed Porsche transaxle and a 911 front clip. I think it was made into a replica of James Dean's "Lil' Bastard", but I don't remember for sure. Not cheap. For a fraction of the cost you could take advantage of the massive aircooled aftermarket to make it handle much better than the original. I've never driven one, of course, but the steering and suspension looks far less impressive than a 914, which is nothing to get too excited about.

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1982 300D, black w/ palomino leather, 203K
2001 E320, champagne, 105K (Mom's)
1999 Dodge Dakota, squeaky & battered, 142K

Surfing Friday, I came across a cheap Beck 550:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=374128

I've never seen one this cheap before, unfortunately it's in NH.

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'64 230SL

I just sold a '78 911 that had @ 60K mi on it that would blow the doors off that thing for 1/2 the price of the new beck. They are pretty though.

yeah, for pure driving excellence it is probably much better to go with a real porsche than a poseure. in a real porsche the suspension and steering really work!

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Tom,

The stock old-school autocross response: The Porsche 914/6.

oh well sure! just try to find one!

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/car/231159324.html Ever been to CA ?

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1985 CA 300D Turbo , 213K mi

that is probably not a bad car to buy! as rust is an issue with these cars if i wanted one california would be the place to get one.

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

There seem to be a bunch of em on craigslist. That orange color was pretty popular wasn't it.

Probably an insanely fun car. Wonder what parts cost.

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1985 CA 300D Turbo , 213K mi

there were a lot of orange cars in that era.

i would think parts wouldnt be too bad. some porsche and some vw. body parts are mostly unique to the 912 916 i am sure but i wouldnt anticipate needing too many of those for the autocross.

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

That's a 914/4, and a twin to a car that I was looking at in 1976 on the used car lot of a Fiat dealership. It had 12,000 miles and was spotless, but I blanched at the idea of paying $3,500 for it.