550 replica
 

Thinking about a speedster replica, and came across a 550 replica.
Anybody have any experience with these guys and/or their cars?

550 STYLES - JDTCARS.COM

New to me.

Not bad.

One of the guy at the Porsche club cruises in Michigan had a 550 replica. Sold it because he got caught in a few of our spontaneous summer thunderstorms and it didn't have a canopy/roof.

Get the top.

Isn't that cheaper than the other guys?


I do not see a top on their website...............found this other source though.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eV1SzejL24
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/1eV1SzejL24/hqdefault.jpg

Another top......

http://www.beckspeedster.com/generalproductinfo/beckspyder.html
http://www.beckspeedster.com/images/...yder_group.gif

And yet another option and source.

http://www.speedsterowners.com/topic/hard-top-for-spyder
http://www.speedsterowners.com/fileS...Hard%20Top.JPG

The six lug wheels are odd .

looks like a Vintage Spyders frame.

If you are interested in Spyders, check out www.spyderclub.com • Index page .

Well first off I will state that I don't know anything about this company. However, I would question the build quality especially based on the stated price. The pictures don't do the car any favors imho.
I think for a glass car that the Beck has a very good reputation and following. The used prices on the Becks are quite favorable for the buyer. I will also state that I'm (very soon) getting in the 18-24 month line for Becks GTS. Happy hunting.

Those cars look terrible.

Did you go to the website or just comment on the cars with tops from other sites I posted?

One of them is a Beck, another Thunder Ranch.

The original site linked to.
550 STYLES - JDTCARS.COM
http://www.jdtcars.com/uploads/3/5/7...26880_orig.jpg
http://www.jdtcars.com/uploads/3/5/7...08805_orig.jpg
http://www.jdtcars.com/uploads/3/5/7...56623_orig.jpg
No doubt they should have ponied up for a professional photographer.

I say it looks like a glass car, but the others do too, not going to be confused with aluminum.

You want aluminum, get your checkbook out.

Alloycars Spyder
http://www.alloycars.com/images/img0033.png
What interests me is the low weight for an electric version of the JTD Cars 550 model.

I don't see the other guys doing electric - yet.

I should note that those 550 prices I quoted are in line with the 356 Speedster prices I recall looking up 10-12 years ago before I bought my 911.

A new company breaking into an established market will often use a lower price, nothing new here.

For example; one cigar manufacturer broke into the market with a good $5.00 stick about a decade ago, they raise their price 5% a year and are now on par cost wise with comparable quality cigars.

Instant 180 lbs of torque that never fades even going up steep hills. Could this be a fair trade for the smells and sounds of an air-cooled engine?

I don't suffer from range anxiety, my weekend joy rides are typically well within the claimed range.

Regarding price, the prices listed by JDT Cars are in line with 356 Speedster prices of 10-12 years ago as I recall prior to purchasing my own 911.

Other products follow the "lower cost" entry into an existing market all the time. For example a cigar manufacturer broke into the market ten years ago with a high value $5.00 stick. Each year they raise the cost by 5% and are now in line with the well established names. When the retail price exceeds what other manufacturer's are charging, I'm sure they will lower their price or go into other markets yet untapped. This is business 101, not a red flag.

With the top is pretty ugly.
But I've owned a 914 For about 10 years now and have had the top on twice.
Doubt I will pull the trigger though, could get another 914 or a ghia vert for less and should hold value better.

I don't think any kit car has ever been considered an investment.

I think they are about suspending disbelief and just having fun.

If you are going to pick a car for investment reasons, stay away from Duesenberg, I read the price is falling as the old guys that lusted for them are dying off.

I think there will always be a day where you'll find someone who cherishes a Duesenberg. But I also think you'll see more and more children inheriting collections that'll have zero interest in holding on to them and encountering difficulty looking for buyers of those collections. Museums may say "We don't need another Duesy (Packard, Cadillac, etc)" or "We just don't have the room for more old cars".

I was reading about one market expert talking with another, younger market expert: "Have you seen the Pierce Arrow market these days?"

"What's a Pierce Arrow?"

I would presume with all the spyder copies out there there is probably a lot of variance in the bodystyles and I doubt that hard top will fit all of them.

Fortunately I'm in SoCal and I don't need no stinkin top!

I also noted this company is in SoCal, may be interesting to drop by and check them out.

I like the looks of the 550, but lately I've begun thinking about either a Speedster replica from maybe Special Edition or Intermeccanica (sp.?). That is if I ever sell my car. I'd just want something fun to drive down here in SoCal and don't care about whether it is the real thing or not. Some of the replicas are high quality with nice options if you want. Plus you wouldn't have to worry about maintaining and taking an expensive original out on the road.

That's exactly my thoughts too, Marv. Just something decent to beat around in. But in mid-20s, you are in NICE 914 territory with some change left.

These 550s, and their 356s, are built on a frame versus ~50 year old bug pans. Would rather have a new one of these than a used bug with a body kit at roughly the same price.

Plus you can order up a speedster replica with all the modern upgrades like disk brakes and such, one company will even install a Subaru motor for you (personally I would go air cooled)