OT: Any experience with late model Beck Spyder?
08-05-2004, 01:01 PM
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Originally Posted by Jastx
Interesting car. I'd like to know if it's any good. Quality. Performance. Quirks...
We have a fellow PCA member here in Little Rock who is selling his.
Don't know very much about the car, but can put you in touch with him if you are interested.
JoAnne
08-05-2004, 03:14 PM
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Car & Driver tested the Beck several years ago and used some interesting phrases to describe the car's handling. My favorite is: "Looking at it parked in the pits makes it want to swap ends." Apparently the suspension design is very faithful to the original, with all the good and bad that entails. The compete article is located here .
BTW I've never driven one, but have seen a few up close. The workmanship was outstanding.
-John
BTW I've never driven one, but have seen a few up close. The workmanship was outstanding.
-John
08-06-2004, 01:19 AM
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John-
Fwiw...
I've been around Beck Spyders/Speedsters a fair bit. I've driven both and find the quality to be quite good. Your frame of reference MUST be kit-car, however. Don't get me wrong, this is an EXCEPTIONAL car when approached from that frame of reference and I doubt you'll find a better engineered/better built reproduction of this sort. Beck tries hard to be faithful to the original cars and manages MUCH of the thrill and most of the appearance of their authentic brethren. Torsion tube front ends and swing arm rear axles are, well, what they are. Frame is very stiff and over-built in my opinion. The fiberglass bodies and their paint work are exceptional. Fit and finish is really as good as it gets in this type of set-up. (far superior to that of Superformance Cobras, in my opinion) Motors are provided by CB performance and are dual-port VW type 4's with Webers. Horsepower to weight ratio is as outrageous as you'd suspect and performance is accordingly far superior to the originals.
If you're considering a kit car... (Beck must HATE being referred to this way) err... "reproduction", I don't think you can go wrong with a Beck. Hell, you'll never own a real Spyder for <$30k! Good Luck and check out the previously posted C&D review, it's pretty impressive.
As always, ymmv.
Cheers!
Oh, yeah, I almost forgot...
If you're taller than about 5'10" or a large person, in general, forget the Spyder, it's really tight. The Speedster is considerably larger inside.
Fwiw...
I've been around Beck Spyders/Speedsters a fair bit. I've driven both and find the quality to be quite good. Your frame of reference MUST be kit-car, however. Don't get me wrong, this is an EXCEPTIONAL car when approached from that frame of reference and I doubt you'll find a better engineered/better built reproduction of this sort. Beck tries hard to be faithful to the original cars and manages MUCH of the thrill and most of the appearance of their authentic brethren. Torsion tube front ends and swing arm rear axles are, well, what they are. Frame is very stiff and over-built in my opinion. The fiberglass bodies and their paint work are exceptional. Fit and finish is really as good as it gets in this type of set-up. (far superior to that of Superformance Cobras, in my opinion) Motors are provided by CB performance and are dual-port VW type 4's with Webers. Horsepower to weight ratio is as outrageous as you'd suspect and performance is accordingly far superior to the originals.
If you're considering a kit car... (Beck must HATE being referred to this way) err... "reproduction", I don't think you can go wrong with a Beck. Hell, you'll never own a real Spyder for <$30k! Good Luck and check out the previously posted C&D review, it's pretty impressive.
As always, ymmv.
Cheers!
Oh, yeah, I almost forgot...
If you're taller than about 5'10" or a large person, in general, forget the Spyder, it's really tight. The Speedster is considerably larger inside.
