Replica 550 Spyder
 

Does anybody know if the Beck 550 and/or the Stuttgart Spyder replicas are legal in Canada? If so, I wonder why there are so few (if any) in Canada. If they are legal, I'd be considering one.

I don't think that you can import them legally into Canada.
There are some turn key cars available and some kits.
If you go to the Gov of Canada website and look for RIV (registry of imported vehicles) there is a list of what is allowable.

Thanks Bill. I was just there and found that any kit car less than 15 years old is not admissible. Well there goes that idea. :(

Can you import the "Kit" and assemble it yourself? Then it will just need to meet the same requirements as any other kit car assembled in Canada, regardless of where the parts were sourced from (I think).

I don't think so. According to the doc, it says anything newer than 15 years (assembled or unassembled). Besides...I'm not a DIYer.

http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/importation/VAFUS/list/VAFUS.pdf

They are sweet, for sure.

I recall seeing some of these cars advertised as registered currently in their USA home state as a 1955 (for example). Wouldn't that 'legal' title date exclude you from RIV requirements? Or would that 1955 title need to have be backed up with a manufacturer VIN plate that matches that build date?... Something to look into.

You aren't interpreting the rules correctly. The parts to build a kit car are just auto parts. They are not a vehicle. Therefore, all the rules in your link are irrelevant.

Good question....I'd have to dig into a bit more....I'd love one. But seeing as I haven't seen one in Canada, the chances don't look too good.

I'm sure I can bring the parts up...but when the car's all assembled, I'd hate to have spent all that time and money just to find out it can' t be registered....I'll dig into a bit more.

Registering a U-build is a provincial matter. Dig into the AB regs.

I wonder what RIV means when they say kit cars under 15 years are inadmissable...assembled or not? I'll check with the provincial rules....see what they have to say.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1212898974.jpg

Now that's interesting, that seems pretty clear about unassembled kits. I still wonder where they draw the line between a kit and just a random collection of auto parts though.

There is a early beck 550 just five houses down from me.. he brought it in from NY in the fall.. I'll ask him what he did... Very cool little car...

I have seen them around too. Did a quick search and didn't turn up anything...

Please and thanks!

Really? I must live in the wrong part of town. I've never seen one in Calgary.

I used to have a Speedster replica and know a guy that had a 550 replica. So there are some around. Also I have seen a dealer out in the maritimes with them for sale now and then. If you do a search for 356's on autotrader they will come up...

Here you go..

http://www.canadatrader.com/result/detailinfo.aspx?ID=27214241&pgno=1&srt=1

Thanks speedracer. Got some pricing info....starting at $50k...not sure the replica is worth that much to me. Especially after seeing next to new ones going for low to mid $20's for a Beck Spyder.

Did you try www.intermeccanica.com out of Vancouver??

That is a lot of money for something that isn't the geniune article.. Think of the 911 you could buy for that amount..

Intermeccanica only sell 356 replica's (speedster and convertible d). My old speedster was a intermeccanica built in 1979. They sell in the 50k range as well...

I still miss her...

Sorry to hijack but here is a few pics of the old girl...

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1213071940.jpg


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1213072043.jpg


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1213072080.jpg

Yeah, $50k buys a lot of things...not only in the Porsche lineup. Intermeccanica makes nice cars....but they too are up there in price. That sort of coin opens up so many doors to not only German cars but also Italian cars too.

That a nice Speedster speedracer.....white is a great colour! Got some interior shots?

Thanks alot. I wish I kept that one..



http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1213149619.jpg


It is not white any longer though... Here is a shot of her after being restored... Apparently now somewhere in Alberta.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1213150176.jpg

Intermeccanica does not build a fake 550. He also does not build or sell kits, only complete cars.

You can get a "kit" or at least a partially assembled one. I looked into it with them a couple of years ago....

Cheers

The Beck my neighbor imported from the US is older than 20 years. He has a nice 73 914 he'll be selling reluctantly.. it however has not been registered in Canada yet. looks like a good straight car...was originally blue now red. it's not actively listed yet. wants 5k. I'd snap it up but have too much on the go right now.

You can import kit cars. The catch is the car must be in kit form. As the RIV site says cars newer than 15 yrs old can not be imported. To be a "car" it has to be compleated or partialy compleat.

I looked into this last year. If you want the full info email Canada Customs and they will send you the link to the regulations. RIV is no help. The kit car cannot have any componants attached. It has to be a bare shell only. If it has wiring it would not be allowed to enter Canada. The basic presumption is a kit car is one you build yourself as a hobbist. Using local parts.

Thanks GWN7....did you go ahead with your order?

There's a guy from Coaldale AB that bought one a couple years ago that looks just like that car.

No, I filled it away with the other "things I'd like to do" list :)

We have had kits imported into Canada, And I do have a way to register these complete cars Legally as a 1955 Porsche Spyder. I would also check out
www.spyderclub.com there is a lot of information on there that will help you out..


Brian
Stuttgart Spyders

FYI

I saw one in Calgary last summer at "Coffee and Cars", it was beautiful! Brought in from Nova Scotia I believe... I'll keep an eye one ( not a real eye) for that car next spring!

Air=cooled Regards,

Bert

There was one here for sale at $25K, he did tell my he had a heck of a time getting insurance for it. I was parked beside it at the concours, you do realize that they are only half the height of a slightly lowered 914.

I had a preA coupe kit for sale a few years back, one of the kit builders bought it as a plug, but I haven't seen them for sale yet.

1955 PORSCHE SPYDER

I've been looking for one of these as a project for a long time. here's the short version, legality-wise.

you can import one as a titled car, no prob, subject to the usual inspections.

you can import a kit only for which you must show paperwork that you bought the kit from a retailer. then assemble and have inspected.

you CANNOT import one as a partially assembled kit. when I spoke to customs they told me this meant if anything is bolted to anything else, no go. doors hung? nope. body bolted to a frame? nope.

he told me 'off the record' that transport canada does not want these cars on the road in canada so customs is directed to not give any leeway in importation.

if it could be done I'd be there. there's a 550 and an RSK sitting in colorado that I've been trying to figure out how to get them into the country. but the bodies are assembled and on the frames. no luck yet.

How about a RSK kit in Ontario....some assembly required;)

1959 Porsche RSK 718 Kit Car - Oshawa / Durham Region Cars & Vehicles For Sale - Kijiji Oshawa / Durham Region Canada.

Factory Five has a kit to build a Cobra kit car for Canada Their website lists the parts which are deleted from their normal kit to make it legal and a letter from Canada Customs explaining the process.

You could go down and buy the car. Then disassemble the car. Make a list of every part and I mean every part by size, nuts, bolts and washers. Import the parts. Hire a broker to do it. "Used Automotive parts". Once those are safely stored in your garage, then import the frame and body shell (this is where Customs gets interested). Then start putting it all back together. You also would need the seller to work with you on the bill of sale. One bill for the parts and one for the body and frame. Don't screw with the price. Customs goes on line and checks what things are advertised for and will phone the sellers and ask them what they sold it for.

I know the owner of that car. Beauty...Subaru drivetrain.