I was just reading through the latest issue of Motor Trend, and there is a two page write-up on Porsche 550 Spyder replicas offered by Chuck Beck development (www.beckcars.com). Has anyone on the board driven one of these?

Key specs:
Weight=1,360 lb.
Engine=2.2L 4 cyl; 155 Hp
Acceleration=0-60 MPH in 5.3 seconds
Braking=60-0 MPH 169 feet (too far!!!)
Price=about $23k turnkey or $15k for just the chassis

It seems like this would be a great Auto-X car and weekend driver.

 

Came close to buying one until I sat in it... need to be an acrobat...(loosing a few pounds should have helped, I guess)...
or change the seats.

In my case, the engine was a VW unit... so it could not be used in the PCA events (requires the engine to be Porsche).

I still have an interest of building one of those things... I suggest you buy KitCar Magazine and look for events near by and take a closer look at them. Sit in them, and if the owner takes you for a ride, even better.

It is a great project to get into, but you will never get all your money back at selling time. (hey!! sounds kind of like the work I am doing with my 951 <img src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" border="0" alt="[hiha]" /> )... anyway, this is all about the experience and the fullfilling of child dreams!!!

Your best bet is to find one already done or from someone who left it mid way... you will be able to save a lot that way...

Have fun!

 

There was a Beck replica, and a real Spyder as well, at this weekends Northern New Jersey PCA Picnic. The Beck was quite nice, and I guarantee it would be a lot less money. Figure 3-400,000 cheaper!

 

above: Chuck's own 550 on El Mirage dry lakebed, California.

From his website:

"We now offer the Beck Spyder only as a turnkey, ready-to-pilot motorcar. So it's not available as a kit. But that's good news: you see, most sportscar enthusiasts are better adapted for driving rather than building fine sports machines...
"

<a href="http://www.kitcar.com/cbm/home.html" target="_blank">http://www.kitcar.com/cbm/home.html</a>

 

I like the phone dials on this one.

 

When I was up at the Road America vintage races (by the way, we have to get more porsches up there for event days; the turnout in Porsche Park was only about 10 cars!!), my dad and I talked with a guy who builds these replicas. He claimed his were the among the best 550 replicas and for his reasons I couldn't disagree with him. He used a hotter engine with a very high quality body fit and finish combined with upgraded brakes and suspension. I seem to remember that his cars were in the low 40k range. I think they were similar weight with more like 175 horsepower. I'll see if I can dig up the info when I get some more time. I'm going to bed... <img src="graemlins/sleep.gif" border="0" alt="[sleep]" />

 

Both of the 550's at the 45th aniversary picnic were Becks. The one at the edge of the field however utilized numerous original early parts, marker lights, steering wheel, drum brakes, coach builder plaque etc. Short of hitting the Mega Million Loto that was twe way to go IMO. Didn't get to see the motor but would be curious to know what he used.

Al P.

 

I didn't know that Al, I just thought it had been through a gizillion dollar restoration.

 

<a href="http://www.spyderclub.com/cgi-bin/Ultimate.cgi?action=intro" target="_blank">spyderclub.com </a>

 

I seem to remember reading an article on the Beck 550 and they commented that Beck will hand build a car to your specifications. That includes any engine you may want to specify, I believe there was mention of a 200HP unit and the possibility of turbocharging.

 

Beck--it's all the German you need to know.


<img src="graemlins/drink.gif" border="0" alt="[cherrsagai]" /> <img src="graemlins/drink.gif" border="0" alt="[cherrsagai]" /> <img src="graemlins/drink.gif" border="0" alt="[cherrsagai]" /> <img src="graemlins/drink.gif" border="0" alt="[cherrsagai]" />

 

ForumulaOne10 was that event in Michigan?

 

That event was in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin at Road America. Great event to watch...Porsche 917's, Mclarens, Formula One Ferraris, Lolas, etc...Bobby Rahal was there too with his team running a vintage car (can't remember what type). I don't think I have ever seen more race cars in a single day than I did there. There were many famous cars there (the actual cars too, not backups). One thing I learned about from these races is how fun racing used to be. I enjoyed watching the later model cars run...but there is nothing like a pack of mustangs, javelins and camaros blowing around Canada Corner or watching the 917/30 dust the Mclarens going up the hill into the main straight. Plus the traffic isn't bad compared to the CART race up there. I highly recommend this event if you are considering it!

 

From all the research I did a few years ago, Beck seemed the way to go unless you really wanted to roll your own.

Also, I have built a few kit cars before and I can tell you that you should buy the most expensive kit you can afford from a company who has been around a while. You should also visit the company and look at a kit and preferably a completed car before you buy it... give it a serious examination and keep an eye on the quality of the fiberglass job, the symmetry of the body, the accuracy of the body, and the stoutness of the fiberglass and framework. Also make sure you understand sources for replacement parts (windshield, hinges, etc...) If you can't afford to purchase a kit that meets those conditions, or can't do such research, don't bother... you will very likely endup with a kit that is too screwed up to complete. Trust me, I've been through it.

Oh, and yes the 550 can be awkward to get in and out of, some say it's just best to ignore the door and just step into it I did take a ride in somebody's 550 kit (non-Beck) and it was well done and pretty cool; however, it didn't do well with a passenger because it scraped when he turned.

Good luck.
Abdul