Beck 550 Sypder - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Perfectlap · 08-15-2007, 10:04 AM

so cool and for not allot of dough...

racer_d · 08-15-2007, 11:29 AM

I was on the Beck website the other day. Looks like "turn-key" examples, in rather "basic" form, are about $32K. That gives you a 125hp 1.9l 4cyl.. pushing about 1200lbs..

The Speedsters are a little cheaper (maybe $25K for turn-key), but a little heavier.

There is a place, I think called JPS, that makes not only speedster "kits" but now also makes early (think '58-59 356A) coupes too.

MNBoxster · 08-15-2007, 12:21 PM

Hi,

I've got a Car Friend who is the original owner of a genuine Porsche 550 Spyder - #47 (bought it at 24, he's 76 now).

At $1.5M+, he cannot afford to have a new driver, or immigrant w/o insurance, etc., hit him, so he can no longer drive it. He does bring it out to several Car Shows annually via covered trailer.

So, he got a Beck Spyder several years ago. He loves it. Says it's actually a much better car than the original - more Power, better Suspension and Brakes, better Handling, much more solid, easier maintenance. He's put over 30k mi. on the Beck. I also got the chance to drive them both, and I have to agree.

I asked him if he should sell #47, that he could then buy both a CGT, GT3, and a Turbo, all of which he could drive, and still realize about a $900k - $1.1M profit. He replied: "Uh, No..."

Happy Motoring!... Jim

waynes986 · 08-15-2007, 12:30 PM

here's a beck for sale if you want it...

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/car/397735892.html

Tool Pants · 08-15-2007, 12:49 PM

There are several companies that make the replicas.

At a car show a few years ago I saw the real thing. Unrestored but all original. Next to it was a Boxster. The Spyder is a tiny car.

As I said in another thread, one of our Boxster owners also has a Beck. This is a front picture of it before we went on the Laguna Seca track for parade laps.

Tool Pants · 08-15-2007, 12:51 PM

Rear shot.

Wish I had room in my garage for one.

Keith Newby · 08-15-2007, 12:41 PM

The September issue of Car and Driver just ran an article on Kit cars and featured the Thunder Ranch 550A. I believe he price quoted in the article was $23K new. Cheap fun boys and girls.

I developed and manage their web site: thunderranch.com and the owner, Tom McBurnie was a bit disappointed when I sold my restored '67S and bought a Boxster instead of a 550. The replicas are nice cars but after early 911 and 912 ownership I wanted air conditioning and refinement. I still have vivid memories of traveling to business meetings during the summer from San Diego to LA and getting out of the air cooled cars dripping with sweat just in time to make a presentation. No Mas!

Keith

Perfectlap · 08-15-2007, 12:59 PM

MN,
so yer friends original 550, what sort of ceiling is there are on an insurance policy for $1.5 million car? That must be some monthly payment!
Reminds me of the Enzo that was recently wrecked when that Hollywood producer guy let Eddie Griffith(?) drive it. The producer actually made a profit on the totaled Enzo. He Paid $1Million but got $2+Million from the insurance which made sense since it was a limited production car.

Interesting about the Beck being faster, I always had this false impression that the 550 James Dean died in was some ultra powerful racing car that was hard to handle.

racer_d · 08-15-2007, 01:21 PM

The potentially uncomfortable part is when you realize a BOXSTER looks large next to one, imagine how easily a Ford Expedition/Excursion could crush you.. yikes!

That said, I agree with the above comments that the originals are simply much to valuable to truly be enjoyed anymore, other than by looking at them. 4-cam motors cost about $100,000 to replace/rebuild.

Dropping 30K on a car that looks quite close to a $1-2million genuine article is a powerful argument and well, the fun factor has to be high!

I think the "base" price is $23, but that doesn't include a motor.. which are speced at $6K-??? (mmm jake raby 2316 with 180hp? about 10K) then, with such a big motor, one might consider 4wheel discs etc.. so I think an OTD price of a completed one is closer to $32K

ChrisZang · 08-15-2007, 02:25 PM

Hmmmmm,

at this time this WAS an ultra powerful race car that was hard to handle.
Porsche actually sent an engineer to train James Dean on how to handle the car. Dean had raced 356es before and that was the first time for him to take a 550 to the race track (It's always referred to as "Salinas", which I guess makes it Laguna Seca). Due to his celebrity he actually got priority in the waiting list for the car.
The engineer was sitting in the passenger seat next to James Dean at the time of the accident but was thrown from the car and survived (I believe with minor injuries).
I think the "hard to handle" part comes from the fact that the suspension that was used on the 550 was, well state of the art in the 50 ies, but had the tendency to snap within split seconds from understeer to severe oversteer and then the car turned into a handful, especially in the hand of an inexperienced driver.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

I always had this false impression that the 550 James Dean died in was some ultra powerful racing car that was hard to handle.

Dr. Kill · 08-15-2007, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keith Newby

The September issue of Car and Driver just ran an article on Kit cars and featured the Thunder Ranch 550A. I believe he price quoted in the article was $23K new. Cheap fun boys and girls.

I developed and manage their web site: thunderranch.com
Keith

I would love to take a spin in their new 904 replica. Have you gotten to see/ drive it?

Keith Newby · 08-15-2007, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Kill

I would love to take a spin in their new 904 replica. Have you gotten to see/ drive it?

Now that would be the car to own (I might even give up on having AC). A fiberglas composite reproduction of an actual fiberglas composite Porsche, and they pulled their molds from an actual 904. A four cam would be wonderful but a PIA to keep running...I have friends who have run them. A 2.0 engine was also fitted which would be ideal if you could find one. A 2.7 would be just fine for my taste.

Thunder Ranch has finished the body and recently completed the frame. As I understand it they will be bonded together within a week or two. Once that's done a complete car can only be a few months away. So to answer your question I haven't ridden in one yet. Can't wait.

Keith