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Terry Watson - 540

Based in Northampton - tpwtds@aol.com - 01604410407 - Beck (Chamonix)

Navigator and picnic provider: Margaret Watson

Car: Factory built Beck (Chamonix) Speedster 356 EPB
SVA tested and registered in October 2007, 9500 miles, so far...
                                               
Car Details:

• Unique 3" steel tube chassis, not cut and shut Beetle chassis pan, lightweight at 725kgs, this also give great interior space, as the chassis sits under the body tub
• High quality hand laid GRP bodywork with tight shutlines, finished in Chamonix Copa Blue metallic
• Leather interior in dark blue, with 'original' styling and instrumentation and Webasto petrol fired heater, fitted in engine bay, using the original vent system through the sills
• Disc / drum braking
• Full weather equipment to original style with drop in side screens and hood that sits inside the bodyline when folded, as on the original cars
• Full toneaux cover,(Most useful option you can fit I recon)
• Engine 1.6 type one Mexican spec with twin single choke 34mm Weber carbs, about 60 bhp, but works well in this lightweight car, hit 100mph at Castle Combe last year
• Swingaxle Gearbox and underpinnings all Type one

Plans for the Future?

Fix the oil leak on the crank nose, there since the car was built, Sand seal pulley should sort this (Thanks Len)

Remove the nasty non period side indicators, just doing this and fitting Pegasus stickers over the marks until respray in done, when the car will probably turned into a 'Carrera'. (Winter 2011/12?), when added power will be sought, along with a camber compensator to allow more spirited use without the concern of swing axle rear wheel tuck under.

Porsche badges, now the car in not used for sales demonstrations etc. 

Fun factor

Makes me smile every time I drive it.

As you will have seen, we have clocked over 9,000 miles in the three season we have owned the car, including trips to Cornwall and France and display at the Goodwood Fesival of Speed and Silverstone Classic.

Other than the oil leak and a faulty coil this has been uneventful fun, especially chasing Len round Castle Combe last summer!

We also belong to the Kettering Area Motor Club, which caters for all interesting classics, kits and replicas and offers added events on the Summer weekends when 'Speedsters' have nothing on or  it is too long a drive for one day out. (Summer evening meets at The Lilacs, Isham, near Kettering, contact me for details)
 
This is a fairly rare car in the UK, probably less than 10 registered, with several importers trying to break in, over recent years, myself included! My own attraction to the car shape was at Newark (2005?), where the club had a display. My choice of the Beck/Chamonix over others available at the time was its external body accuracy and quality of build. No ads here, but contact me if you want info on current availability.

 click on pics to enlarge

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