Does anyone here know anything about the Porsche 550 spyder kit cars?

Hi this is a little off topic but its still Porsche related I was toying with the idea of picking up a Porsche 550 spyder kit car. Anyone here have any info or input about these cars... I just think they look cool as hell and would like to get one. They weigh like 1200 lbs and the one I am looking at is puttin out about 150hp..should be a fun car I am going to look at it next weekend.

http://www.spyderclub.com/

Go here, this should help...

Take a look at Kit Car magazine's website (kitcarmag.com). They usually have a list of all the replicar vendors out there.

I know there is one for sale near me (in NZ) for about US$20k with a 230hp 3.0SC engine on fuel injection throttle bodies.......it weighs about 1650lbs.

I want (and that is a pretty fair price in NZ).

I suggest reading some of the BBS comments at the spyderclub.com site.

Cam

Hey Automahn: My buddy has a 550 replicar with a very peppy type 1 vw motor. I dont think they are safe. It is kind of tough to set everything up right: shocks, alignment, brakes & etc. All that power and no weight has the ass-end breaking loose all the time. And dont ever, ever get in a fender bender with a real car!

Think about it like a motorcycle - fair weather only, expect any accident to be real messy.

I visited Greg at Vintage Spyders (LA) and Tom McBurnie's shop in San Diego last fall. The VS has coil over rear susp. vs torsion bars like Chuck Beck's "original" Spyder kits that Tom still builds. Also some frame differences and choice of options (4 or 5 lug wheels, engine choices, body options). www.Sypderclub.com has all the info.

The VS I rode in had a moderately souped up Type 1 engine and was VERY quick (and loud). Great driving experience!

go for it!

Kurt

I had a Beck Spyder for several years when I lived in Florida. I would take it out Saturday mornings. Mine had a Type I with some modifications. The problem with mine was that I had to fix all the "half-ass" build quality that the po had performed. The car was very solid and I will most likely get another eventually. Powersliding in curves was a blast. My friend who had a '69 S loved the car, too. Beck had a great synergy with 550. I even drove it to Sebring one weekend to watch some SCCA racing.

Tom

http://www.vintagespyders.com

I bought a '57 Speedster replica from this firm, and the build quality is very good. You can buy them in various states of build: body shell, rolling kit and full turn key.

Originally posted by gaijinda:
Hey Automahn: My buddy has a 550 replicar with a very peppy type 1 vw motor. I dont think they are safe. It is kind of tough to set everything up right: shocks, alignment, brakes & etc. All that power and no weight has the ass-end breaking loose all the time. And dont ever, ever get in a fender bender with a real car!

i second that, just ask James Dean about getting into an accident while in a Spyder. put it this way... in a crash, the car is wearing YOU for protection.

a long time ago, i looked into the Spyder kits. i really think that they are awesome! the real spyders are $$$$$$$$$$ and the Beck kits are dead-on accurate. i saw a Beck kit at Watkins Glen once and when i compared it to a real Spyder they were like clones (at least this Beck kit was). sound was pretty identical (other than noise level from racing mufflers). and it had (don't quote me on this one) a 912 motor in it. it looked like a ton of fun to drive, but i'd suggest desolate back roads and track events and not much more else. as long as it's NOT going to be your primary car, go for it!

good luck!

obin

[This message has been edited by Obin Robinson (edited 04-23-2001).]