Most likely a Beck 550 Spyder. Awesome little machines. I had the pleasure of meeting Mr Beck years ago in California and driving one of the cars. It lit my hair on fire!
Very cool. Not likely to be original but still cool, like RedTele58 said probably a Beck recreation~ He makes cool cars, my boss just built a transmission for him for his latest 904 replica. Got to drive one of his 904 replicas with a 993 motor in it a few years back too, fun car!
He was here at the shop a few weeks ago when I pulled up in the V8 Boxster and he was like "sounds like you are missing a few cylinders there"... I just explained that it was just the big cam on the LS3 V8, that got his attention
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John or J.J. - But I answer to most anything~
*2000 Honda Accord 4DR V6 - 220K*
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Fun fact: James Dean died 60 years ago today, so that makes this spotting (even as a custom) appropriate and a bit eerie.
That is pretty cool, it probably was because of the 60th anniversary of his death. I read that yesterday some car club met at the site of the former Porsche dealership in LA where he bought the car and traveled the route James Dean drove to where the accident was. I'm sure there were a few Porsches in attendance, that would have been a bittersweet thing to do. Maybe that was James Dean driving that car he would have been 84 now.
I had a Beck replica 550A Spyder like this one in the mid 90's.Owned it about 5 years.Darker Grey with dark red interior. Early chassis # 156.
Absolutely the most unique car I have ever owned.Tremendous go! I'm glad I got the Beck as I felt he was the originator of the best replica.His quality was everywhere on the car.
when I drive my Boxster, I'm reminded of the Beck!
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2000 Boxster S. Factory hardtop. 6 speed. Arctic Silver. Boxster Red leather. IMS/RMS.
A few months back I was passing through a small town and parked was a 550 spyder (Probably a replica). I am still kicking myself for not pulling up in front of it and getting pictures of the Then and Now
Every time I drive through, I'm looking for that picture
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2002 S - old school third pedal
Seal Grey
I had a Beck replica 550A Spyder like this one in the mid 90's.Owned it about 5 years.Darker Grey with dark red interior. Early chassis # 156.
Absolutely the most unique car I have ever owned.Tremendous go! I'm glad I got the Beck as I felt he was the originator of the best replica.His quality was everywhere on the car.
when I drive my Boxster, I'm reminded of the Beck!
Very nice, I always wanted one but never bought one, probably because of the price. I'm glad to hear the Boxster reminds you of it, they do look similar, I know that was the intent. James Dean paid around $7,000 for the car in 1955 that was a lot of money for a car back then, and that's what I paid for my 99 Boxster a few months ago 60 years later. I know the original 550's are worth a fortune now.
While en route to Rennsport IV in 2011 I took a slight detour and went by the site of the traffic accident that claimed Dean's life.
Several years ago, I was driving with fellow Spec Boxster driver Alex Bermudez and he motioned for me to pull over at that exact location. We got out and he explained that this was the location where James Dean died on his way to Laguna Seca to race his 550 Spyder - and we were on our way to Laguna Seca to race our Spec Boxsters (descendents of the 550).
It was creepy.
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1999 996 C2 - sold - bought back - sold for more
1997 Spec Boxster BSR #254
1979 911 SC
POC Licensed DE/TT Instructor
Several years ago, I was driving with fellow Spec Boxster driver Alex Bermudez and he motioned for me to pull over at that exact location. We got out and he explained that this was the location where James Dean died on his way to Laguna Seca to race his 550 Spyder - and we were on our way to Laguna Seca to race our Spec Boxsters (descendents of the 550).
It was creepy.
Yeah... but you guys have rollbars
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Several years ago, I was driving with fellow Spec Boxster driver Alex Bermudez and he motioned for me to pull over at that exact location. We got out and he explained that this was the location where James Dean died on his way to Laguna Seca to race his 550 Spyder - and we were on our way to Laguna Seca to race our Spec Boxsters (descendents of the 550).
Awesome! I've seen one of the Becks up close and was really impressed with the quality and the detail. I'd also love to drive that pass someday in the Boxster with the top down, just to get the feel of that day.
Great pictures!
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"Remember, I'm pulling for ya! We're all in this together."
I've been a fan of these replicas for a long time. The trick is to get one with reinforcements welded into the chassis before the assembly. It makes a huge difference on handling, making it even better than the now ridiculously expensive original which comes with its original structural flaws.
Another thing I've seen which makes me laugh is how much snobbery there is on these replica cars "you have a fake Porsche", "doesn't it bother you that you're fooling everyone into thinking it's the real thing?". Meanwhile they only drive their original cars like the little old lady from Pasadena on days with 110% perfect weather because the car is now the equivalent of a baseball card on wheels.
This was kind of a cool idea, although I would have gone with much smaller wheels.
Here's an original allegedly owned by the Piech's.
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GT3 Recaro Seats - Boxster Red
GT3 Aero / Carrera 18" 5 spoke / Potenza RE-11
Fabspeed Headers & Noise Maker
BORN: March 2000 - FINLAND
IMS#1 REPLACED: April 2010 - NEW JERSEY -- LNE DUAL ROW
Last edited by Perfectlap; 10-01-2015 at 08:06 AM.
"equivalent of a baseball card on wheels."
Too funny & too true.
Put me into the 550 replica bucket list club.
During the economic downturn those things were always on eBay selling in the high teens. Now they are not so common and when they hit ebay, they're in the mid 20's-30's.
I'm saving up for the next fire sale!!
2002 Porsche Boxter S
2001 Porsche Boxster S
1999 Porsche Boxster
1999 Porsche Boxster
1999 Porsche Boxster
1999 Porsche Boxster
2000 Porsche Boxster
1999 Porsche 996 C4
1972 Porsche 914
1984 Porsche 928S
1984 Porsche 928S
1985 BMW 635 Csi
Molly
Yellowbird
Name my car - no
986RS
Long term project...
Fiat 500 Abarth Cabriolet
Hybrid Mode
