Not 928 related but wanted to share
#1
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Not 928 related but wanted to share
I now know why I like Porsche's so much. Unfortunately, I never met my grandfather, he died about 3 years before I was born. But, he owned a 1956 Porsche 550 Spyder that he raced at a lot of the Midwest US tracks. When he died, my grandmother ended up selling the car because she didn't know what to do with it...it was just sitting in a friends barn.(If only she had kept it). My father tried to follow the car's whereabouts but lost track of it about 18 years ago.
Fast forward to today. I started asking some of the local Porsche Club members advice about how I might find more information about my grandfather and the car, and was given a few names of people to call who might be able to help . I haven't found the car yet, but I did get a couple of cool pictures(click on the pdf file) sent to me of my grandfather next to the car and it being towed to races behind his VW bus (my grandfather owned a VW dealership in Big Rapids, MI). Thought you guys might enjoy these. Check out the vespa scooter on the trailer right in front of the 550. How cool would it have been to see those cars race back in the day.
I know it's a long shot, but if any of you have any information about my grandfather or the car (his name was Jack Manting) please let me know.
In picture below, my grandfather's car was #54.
Fast forward to today. I started asking some of the local Porsche Club members advice about how I might find more information about my grandfather and the car, and was given a few names of people to call who might be able to help . I haven't found the car yet, but I did get a couple of cool pictures(click on the pdf file) sent to me of my grandfather next to the car and it being towed to races behind his VW bus (my grandfather owned a VW dealership in Big Rapids, MI). Thought you guys might enjoy these. Check out the vespa scooter on the trailer right in front of the 550. How cool would it have been to see those cars race back in the day.
I know it's a long shot, but if any of you have any information about my grandfather or the car (his name was Jack Manting) please let me know.
In picture below, my grandfather's car was #54.
#4
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Magnolia TX, just north of Houston, Red 1984 S
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Eric, you might want to visit http://type550.com/
There is a lot of info there and the site owner is a true 550 enthusist...
There is a lot of info there and the site owner is a true 550 enthusist...
#5
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Thread Starter
Thanks, guys.
Tmpusfugit, thank for the tip. I will head over there and see what I can learn. Looking at your signature, did you have a 550 as well?
Tmpusfugit, thank for the tip. I will head over there and see what I can learn. Looking at your signature, did you have a 550 as well?
#6
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Eric,
Mine was a replica 550. Real ones tend to be a million up these days. Replicas can be had for as little as $20k or so up to over $100k for really nice ones...you can see my old one here http://www.pbase.com/tmpusfugit/jims_550_photos
If you decide you want to see a lot more on the cars, mostly replicas, check out www.spyderclub.com There are many examples that can be seen there, and there is not charge to join at the entry level. Enjoy!
one of the guys goes by the name mightyspyder and he has had an entirely custom aluminum body built, on an accurate frame. He is living in Solvenia these days, formerly out of the UK, but what a car.....really nice!
Mine was a replica 550. Real ones tend to be a million up these days. Replicas can be had for as little as $20k or so up to over $100k for really nice ones...you can see my old one here http://www.pbase.com/tmpusfugit/jims_550_photos
If you decide you want to see a lot more on the cars, mostly replicas, check out www.spyderclub.com There are many examples that can be seen there, and there is not charge to join at the entry level. Enjoy!
one of the guys goes by the name mightyspyder and he has had an entirely custom aluminum body built, on an accurate frame. He is living in Solvenia these days, formerly out of the UK, but what a car.....really nice!