This is my Thunder Ranch 550 Spyder replica, my first build, which I bought from its second owner as an unstarted kit and decided to assemble with as much authentic-looking detail as possible. I extended the chassis tubes to make the front jack points functional. Cut grill slats with aluminum ducting for a front mounted oil cooler. The horns are frenched in as original.
I relocated the fuel filler to the correct location then hammered out a steel surround to mimic production Spyders’ gas tanks.
[Best Mod]
I made the pedals to mimic 550 items and relocated the headlight dipper switch to the front firewall, which I paneled in aluminum along with the rest of the tub before painting it all French Blue. There’s a floating floor made of rubber-covered white birch. I cosmetically refurbished a pair of Autopulse fuel pumps and made manifolds and brackets for them. The interior is finished in barber pole vinyl which I Velcroed in so it can be quickly removed to show off the riveted aluminum for that “just raced” look. There’s a functional 550-style lever jack slotted in along the passenger rocker box.
[Most Original?]
Fabricated a 547-style diagonal breather tube to dress the Jake Raby 1914 Type 1 engine, with dual coils (one’s just a spare) mounted and an oil accumulator where the dry sump tank would be. I also made a spare tire “seat” along with the leather straps and a (removable) holed steel subframe shaped like the originals. I smoothed the inner clam and pressed an aluminum reinforcement piece with flanged holes.
[Best Maintenance??]
I skinned the undercarriage in aluminum, then fabbed up a louvred underpan to isolate the Sebring style exhaust from the topside air intake.
[DIY]
There are a lot of other details not shown. Now just waiting for the MVA to re-open to begin the titling and registration process.
[Garage]
