Contemplating a Type 65

[Super Ron]

There is a long story but the short of it is I do not wish to finance anything and in 4 years I will have saved up $60K easily. I have contemplated numerous vehicles that I would want to buy or build. And have narrowed them down to 2 choices. A 1979-88 Porsche or a Type 65 Coupe from Factory Five. So I need pros and cons on the Coupe.

Here's where I'm at: The Porsche would be awesome vehicle. For the money I am willing to spend I could find a extremely nice well maintained one. However, it would also be 30 years old and I'm sure maintainance bills are huge. But again it's a Porsche

Now the Coupe: I could build it without much issue. I just don't have time and don't expect that to change anytime in the near future. So to build it myself would end up taking 10 years. I would be forced to have someone build it for me. I'm good with that. I want a custom interior including the dash, noise damping insulation, a 302 pushing 400 hp and of course I need A/C and heat. I figure the kit with options would run $30K, motor and tranny another 10K, paint 5K, and interior another 4K. That's 49K with leaves me 11 for somone to build it. I can go cheaper by having my best friend build the motor and do the painting. But thats another time maybe. So guys tell me the pros and cons. I know the car will be fast. But what is the ride quality like? Does it drive and ride like a new car when it's done (understand no powersteering)? Is it comfortable to sit in and drive for 3-5 hours? How well does the kit hold up over time? What about replacement parts? Can you get headlight covers, door handles and windshields or back glass if things break down the road? Lastly and I can not seem to find good pictures, is the car waterproof? I look at the scoops on the side windows but can not tell if the side windows go all the way back or if water would come in.

I know this is a long time off but I am doing my research.

Ron

[Super Ron]

Oh and has anyone tried putting a Chevy 350 in one. I know some enthusiest would shoot me but I am a chevy guy. I'm just in love with the coupe's body style

[STLMARSHALL]

Oh and has anyone tried putting a Chevy 350 in one. I know some enthusiest would shoot me but I am a chevy guy. I'm just in love with the coupe's body style

No body would do such a thing...except for me and a few others. So far the LS engine is great and it helped me get the car down to 2260 lbs. Mine rides like a race car, runs like a race car, and leaks like a sieve....I love it!

http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr2/mmarshall01/LS1%20conversion/20120511_170751.jpg
http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr2/mmarshall01/LS1%20conversion/DSC_2897.jpg

[Super Ron]

The one thing I am looking for if I am spending that type of money is to have a halfway comfortable ride. I don't want it to ride like a race car as I plan on driving it 3-5 times a week and that's not on a track. I believe no matter how good a vechicle looks it is meant to be driven.

[STLMARSHALL]

Turning a race car into a Corvette is possible, it will just be some extra work. It would be easier to just buy a nice Corvette rather than turning a Daytona into one.

[Bob Cowan]

Choosing the right sports car isn't really much about weight, power, cost, yada, yada, yada. Who cares about that stuff?

Which one will call to you from the garage, "Drive me!". Which one makes you smile every time you look at it? Which one will make you laugh out loud every time you hit the gas?

Which one gives you a woody? get that one.

I built a Cobra, because it does all that for me.

[DARKPT]

Welcome to the forum. Where are you located? A ride in a Coupe would certainly make most of the decision for you.

[riptide motorsport]

Darkpt has a good point.....heres an idea, buy mine at a reasonable price and upgrade the motor......... it has all the comforts your looking for plus power steering. As far as comfort you can do 3 hours comfortably, it rides similar to a vette but does not posses the same type of weatherstriping as a vette, a Vette is weathproof, these are weatherproofish..............Steven

[vnmsss]

......I am concerned about spending $60K and having a vehicle that looks good but only deserves to be on the track. I want some comfort in the drive for me and the passenger.

Welcome to the Forum......Either car would be awesome, however, if your primary goal is to have a performance-oriented street car that's cool and provides you and a passenger some level of comfort, I'd go with the Porsche.

Michael's Coupe is a great example of what can be done with a Bow-Tie in our cars. He tracks his Coupe on a regulary basis, and has been out there kickin' butt with it......The Corvette motor provides an incredible HP:WT ratio, and acceleration that plants you in the seat.....Very cool car.........

If you're looking to own unique (rock star-level) car, that turns heads every time you arrive, and are willing to trade off some creature comforts for the historical tribute, then you might enjoy being a Coupe owner. We have some amazing builders here, and more than a few have added as much creature comfort as possible, however, I don't know of a Coupe out there that would be considered a quiet, luxurious ride. They're raw, heart-pumping beasts......By design....Best wishes in your decision.

K

[Garry Bopp]

Ron,

Totally agree with Karen. These things shake, stink, make a lot of noise, etc. The driving experience is well worth the sacrifices in my opinion but to each his own. The ride quality with IRS is quite reasonable. As others have said, if you could possibly track down a coupe owner and get a ride/drive, it would help immensely in your decision. My coupe has IRS with manual brakes and manual steering. Great fun on the road and track. Where are you located? If you would post your location, I'm guessing you would have coupe owners volunteering to give you a ride, myself included ... in the Atlanta, GA area.

Garry

[Super Ron]

Garry,

Thanks for the offer. As of now I believe you are closet to me for a ride than anyone else. I'm in Fay NC. I have a sister down in the Lawanceville if I spelled that correctly. So next time I'm down there maybe I can get up with you. I expect a hot rod to shake and make a lot of noise. And of course also be loud. But I do want some measure of comfort. I want to build a car that I can drive 3-4 days a week to work and if I want to drive it from NC to Georgia I can. What really bothers me so far from the posts is the comment from Steven saying "weatherproofish"

[Garry Bopp]

Ron,

I am presently in Monterey, CA as part of the "Brock Coupe Group" attending the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. I'll be joining Peter and Gayle Brock and about 20 other coupes for the weekend. Should be a "once in a lifetime" experience! I'll be back in Georgia around mid-September. You would be welcome to visit and check out my coupe. My coupe is a fairly nice build but there is another coupe in the Atlanta area that is an outstanding build and perhaps more representative of what you are envisioning. About the term "weatherproofish" ... I would have to agree. It would take a lot of extra time and effort to make these cars as weatherproof as a Corvette or Porsche. I've driven my coupe in hellacious thunderstorms. The wipers work quite well. However, I did get a little wet as rain sluiced in around the sliding windows and leading edge of the doors. Here's a pic to whet your appetite. Taken entering turn one at Road Atlanta. The black/white one is mine ... the red/white one belongs to Aaron Whitinger and is the "outstanding build" that I referenced earlier.

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r102/theboppshop/Walter%20Mitty%20Races%20April%202012/photo.jpg

I'll PM you my contact info.

Garry