OT - anyone driven a beck spyder?

[Markus30]

curious if anyone has had any experience with one of these - either on the street or track.

thanks,
Markus

[Mrdi]

Markus,
This OC-PCA member has one for sale. The same one that will appear in the James Dean movie.
Mrdi
me@paulkramer.com

[Early_S_Man]

I sure hope that movie breaks the trend of horrendous offerings from Ted Turner's over-funded bunch at TNT! The Pirates of Silicon Valley was about as bad as Sam Elliot's string of embarrassing westerns!
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Warren Hall
1973 911S Targa

[This message has been edited by Early_S_Man (edited 08-01-2001).]

[campbellcj]

Here are a few pics of Paul Kramer's Spyder replica (no affiliation, just an admirer!).








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Chris C.
73 914 2.0
70 911E Targa
campbell.chris@gte.net

[pwd72s]

Hey, don't knock Sam Elliot! He lives...well, not far from me. Nice guy. So I've heard, that is...

[This message has been edited by pwd72s (edited 08-01-2001).]

[Doug Zielke]

That's *very* nice, Chris!
One of the problems with these replicas, is when they're done properly, they cost almost as much as the real thing.

I've had my eye on a local Intermechanica Speedster. It has a genuine (356) S-90 motor in it, and other quality stuff. Let's say I'm in "protracted" negotiations with the owner.



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'81 SC Coupe (aka: "Blue Bomber")
Canada West Region PCA
The Blue Bomber's Website

[Early_S_Man]

pwd,

I wasn't knocking Sam Elliot ... just citing some example of bad production & writing at TNT! The ONLY thing those movies had going for them was Sam Elliot's and his wife's name ... a real shame for both he AND his wife! They deserve better scripts to work with!

Doug,

If that was a REAL SPEEDSTER ... your best bet might be to wait and negotiate with the trustee of the estate! I don't know if Speedster prices have come down much since the peak values of the late '80s, but $50-$75K was fairly common back then! Rather insane levels of stupidity/paranoia ... IMHO!

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Warren Hall
1973 911S Targa

[mwbaum]

50-75K is average today for a nice speedster...more if concours..and waaaaay more if it is a Carrera.

[pwd72s]

Warren...just joking, okay? I'm well aware of the movies you speak of, and I don't have cable. They are available on video...the $1 "bargin rack". Sam & his wife do live not far from me, up here in Orygun. Was the buzz of the small area when they moved in...

[island911]

To answer you question ". . anyone has had any experience with one of these - either on the street or track.
Yeah, on the street experience. It's a very light car. I feel the unsprung weight is disproportionate. That is, it feels like there is not enough car weight to keep the rubber firmly planted. Lightening up the cast-iron drums would likely help. The original MUST have had aluminum. . .I hope.

People really look. I was amazed; people of all 'groups.' If you looking for an attention grabber this car will do it. Take out insurance just for all the neck twisting caused by these cars. Of course nobody will notice you any more than if you were walking down the street arm-in-arm with Pamala Anderson, wearing a Saran-wrap dress.
(that is her 'style' these days, isn't it?)

---

'81 Platinum Metalic SC COUPE

[tommywar]

I had a 1984 Beck Spyder for a number of years. It was #003 (red with black interior). I bought it used and had major work to do to get it the way I wanted. I modified the VW Type 1 (with Webers, of course) to put out about 110 hp. Not bad in a car that weighs about 1200 lbs. I drove it to Sebring for some SCCA racing. You should have seen the crowd that developed. I never had the car on the track, but I did explore its limits on some FL back roads. If it's put together right, it's a great, fun little car. The shift linkage can be a pain with the midengine configuration. Bottom line: strong chassis, good 'glass work, pretty good braking (had 4 drums) when properly adjusted, blows everyone away in corners. I hoped this helped.

[BlueSkyJaunte]

My wife and I (mostly I, though) occasionally toss around the idea of a 550 replica or a Cobra replica as a "for fun" project. We don't have enough room, though. Maybe after we move back east in a few years.

Those pics, though, pretty much put the decision in favor of a Beck. That, and the alarming increase of Cobra replicas driving around here in AZ.

Sehr nett!


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blue
'81 SC Targa

[Roland Kunz]

Hello

The thing is something like the Cobra under the Porsches. Overpowered chassis at 200km/h you feel to poor areodynamic.
It just feels like doing 300 km/h with a 911.
Without helmet your head gets bangled by the wind and you can read out the speed by the force pulling your ears flat. Well dwarf size will help there. Set position is excellent put seats are not to helpfull on hard cornering but you have the big steering wheel to hang on, steering is very sensetive and direct.
The brakes are hard in action but will fade under hard use. The engine doesn´t like wot under 5000/min and the first gear is to long for fast starts. Throttle oversteer is snaping due the axleconstruction.
And the best you can tell everyone its a cheap brasilan made copy.

I´m not sure about the US prices but in europe 50000 $ is a basket case with a single cam engine 100000 is where drivable sound cars start. Add 20 - 50000$ for the Fuhrmann engine version.

In germany people like Albrecht made the J Beck Spyder with 993 engines and 350 HP and passed TÜV. In the 70´s Formula 1 drivers had a similar Power wight ratio but a F1 will not pass TÜV.

Driving the real thing needs skill and instinct for the limits especially driving it fast. The Replicas have more wheel base and the VW steeringbox feels a bit loose and indirect. They came with a 60HP type 1 and thats enought to have safe fun. They also have adjustable seats and the higher speedster windshield taking out the hard parts from driving.

Beside Dean other famous names are Z.A. Duntov. Al Holbert, J.Sheckter, big H.H ,Frere, M. May or even C.Shelby had the hot seat under there feet.

Grüsse

[Markus30]

thanks for the great replies! I think if I ever get one I'll wear a helmet when driving on the street!

Markus

[Doug Zielke]

Hey Marcus...if you get one, I want a ride!!

[Roland Kunz]

http://www.albert1st.com/spyder_sonderwuensche.htm


Grüsse

[Doug Zielke]

Hell, Roland, why did you have to post that link for? Now I want a Beck Spyder with the 4-cam Fuhrmann motor in it (with the Peashooter exhaust pipe). How many DM is this thing gonna cost me again? How many banks do I have to rob? Lust!

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'81 SC Coupe (aka: "Blue Bomber")
Canada West Region PCA
The Blue Bomber's Website

[This message has been edited by Doug Zielke (edited 08-02-2001).]

[cegerer]

Holy Crap! That's a 360HP 993 motor in a 1200lb car. DM250,000 (US$115,000).

You can read Roland's linked site in English by cutting & pasting the Web Address into this:

http://world.altavista.com/

It's not a perfect translation, but understandable. -- Curt

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1971 911T - 2.5L Big Bore

[This message has been edited by cegerer (edited 08-02-2001).]

[Doug Zielke]

Object of my lust:



In this car:



Roland...if I turn from being a solid citizen to a life of crime...It's YOUR fault!



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'81 SC Coupe (aka: "Blue Bomber")
Canada West Region PCA
The Blue Bomber's Website

[CamB]

There was (probably still is) a 1996 McCrae Spyder replica for sale in New Zealand for about US$20k with an SC motor on carbs (reputed 23-240hp). It has had mild competition use a couple of times in our road rally (the Targa) but, when I last saw it, was basically in excellent condition.

It has 15" 550 style wheels and 911 brakes etc too, so is probably up to the task of all that engine. I want it but it is too many $$$ and not enough practicality.

Would be an excellent track car (it has a roll bar).

This is it:



Very cool, very fast (I assume)!

Cam