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Wrecked Racer No More--Completed Speedster Project Images

Automotive Reisen in Burr Ridge, Illinois has wrapped up the restoration of this 1955 Pre-A Speedster, which was used as a race car in the Midwest with the SCCA, mostly competing at Road America in Wisconsin. It had been wrecked numerous times and rolled at one point.  The work included removing pounds of body filler that had been used to "fix" prior damage.  

The customer chose to keep the upgraded disc brake and they present a neat look with narrow 356C wheels painted body color.  

 

2021 Stoddard Swap Meet Images

After a year or more of worldwide turmoil, it's nice to get back to what we love. Looking at some sweet Porsches, finding bargains on vintage parts and talking to our friends from around the country.  We've been holding our Stoddard All-Porsche Car Show and Swap Meet since 1987 and this one had the most cars on display that we can remember. They were wrapped around the parking lot and they were accompanied their owners, both young and old.  

The vendor count was solid, but we were particularly happy with the show turn out.  Plenty of neat Porsches, from early 356s through the latest models.  

 

Wrecked Racer Restoration -- Almost Done!

The three-year project at Automotive Reisen in now just a couple of weeks from completion.  All of the lights, instruments and horns work perfectly.  The final objective was to make every area of the 356 totally operational and attractive as the beautiful exterior look of the body.

Although it took months to get the engine done, it took lots of help to source all of the under-engine parts, cables, hoses, mufflers.  Pat writes, "Thanks to Maurice at Stoddard we were able to get most parts necessary.  Pre-A heater/muffler cans were impossible to get so we took those used on a A car and modified them so them looked exactly like the Pre-A.  We also paid attention to making it cosmetically as neat as the topside."

Because of the international pandemic, the carpet set took a long time to be delivered.  This was sourced through Stoddard using the same weave pattern and color as original.  "The installation partner commented on the high quality of the material and the pre-cutting was dead on."

The seat rails and wooden frame for a Speedster were exact as to dimensions and hole fit.  It was more economical to buy new rather than replate.  "Everyone is having long delays with chrome suppliers in the USA" 

It's almost done!   Just a few more details to finish up. 

 

 

Update on 1955 Speedster Restoration

Here are some updates from Automotive Reisen in Burr Ridge, Illinois  They've rebuilt the entire inner structure and the results are spectacular.  

 

We have made major progress on the ’55 Speedster with the interior metal completed.  This was part of the rear that had been crushed in one of its’ many track experiences

 

 

The bottom pan was replaced but we noted exactly where the factory had placed the seams and spot welds.  The old pan was unsavable not due to rust but rather the aggressive track use of this Speedster.

 

 

Primer and five coats of Glasurit paint with hand sanding between each coat.  The white formula is exact to the original single-stage paint.

 

 

The entire exterior painted surface was covered with foam sheet to protect the surface during reassembly.

We are now installing all of the control cables in the tunnel and then the engine goes in.  We expect to be completed in mid-May.  

 

 

Race Track Wreck To Show Piece

A racetrack wreck to a show piece

Automotive Reisen in Burr Ridge, Illinois is tackling quite the project!  This 1955 Pre-A Speedster was used as a race car in the Midwest with the SCCA, mostly competing at Road America in Wisconsin.  The new owner wanted to restore it back to "As New" condition and shop's Pat Yanahan was up to the task.  "After we sanded off over two 5-gallon pails of body filler our forensic examination show that the right front had been crushed and the rear had shown signs of a total rollover."

Automotive Reisen assembled a crew of 356 body experts along with fabricators who were up to the challenge for a project that was to last three years.  Here's the first few pictures of the restoration—more to follow! 

After the filler was ground off the outer bodywork, the rear tail skin was removed, revealing quite a mess.  

This is what the rear inner structure looks like after years of racing and sometimes rolling.  

New sheetmetal, sourced from Stoddard, is ready to help put this Speedster back to original. 

Here's a shot of the inner structure coming back together.  Panels are clamped on for fitting before the welding begins.  

From the front, you can see the Speedster shape coming back together.  

Stay tuned for more in a couple of weeks! 

 

Automotive Reisen

7754 S County Line Rd.

Burr Ridge, IL 60527

(630) 395-7000

https://www.facebook.com/Automotive-Reisen-125296761509/

 

2021 Stoddard Swap Meet

2021 Stoddard Swap Meet Dates...

Our 34th Annual Stoddard Swap Meet is scheduled for June 4th and 5th, 2021.  We are planning on having the Friday night literature and toy portion of the event outside. We're renting a second "circus" tent to make this work.  

Scenes from the 2020 Stoddard Swap Meet

Our 33rd Annual Stoddard Swap Meet as held this past Saturday, August 29th.  A wet weather forecast, cancelled car show portion and the current events all effected turn-out, but we were pleased with the attendance.  There were approximately 40 vendors and we saw steady booth traffic throughout the morning.  We were limited by the state of Ohio's limitations on mass gatherings, so the car show portion could not happen--but there certainly were some nice looking Porsches in the parking lot for our "Flea Market."

 

Updates on Stoddard's 2020 All-Porsche Swap Meet

 

Planning for the Stoddard Swap Meet on August 28th and 29th is going well!  

We will be enforcing a strict mask or face-covering policy and will be asking everyone to maintain safe social distancing to maintain the safety of our staff, customers and show attendees.   To that end, we won't be opening up our facility like we normally do.  Activities and sales will all happen outside.  

To make this happen, we had to make a few operational changes to the event. 

A)  The Friday Literature and Toy Show will happen outside.  We will be setting up the normal tables in front of our showroom garage door.   

B)  There will be no dinner provided on Friday night.  We will, however, have our normal sandwich shop as a vendor on Saturday for both breakfast and lunch. 

C) The new parts sales area will be set up outside.  You can talk with a sales rep, let them know what you want, they will take payment and your phone number. We will call you when your parts are available for pick up at our shipping dock.   This should go smoothly enough, but we are encouraging everyone to pre-order your parts for pick up at the swap meet.  All show sales, pre-order or on-site will receive a 10% discount.

D) Our normal scratch-and-dent area will be set up outside, rather than our warehouse.   This will take up the first few normal vendor spots from prior years.  

E) Vendor spots will be spread out with spaces in between each vendor.  This might cause some shifts in where certain vendors are versus where they were last year, but we will make every effort to keep things consistent.  No more than four customers per booth at a time.  

F) The car show has been cancelled.  We are allowing Porsches to park in our normal parking area, but there must be no congregating or mass gatherings of more than 10 people in the area.   

G) There will be no access to inside restrooms.  We will have multiple port-o-potties and a wash station.  

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