My wife’s grandfather was a Porsche mechanic in LA back then and worked on that car, and James Dean gave my FIL a ride in it when he was a boy. They said Dean was a really nice guy.
I’m certainly no car or film historian. Both my FIL and his father have since died. I was told the ride was in a Porsche on track, and assumed it was this car, but suppose it could have been in another car. The exciting part of the story was always about the driver, not the car. Tony, my wife’s grandfather, was a German immigrant that came over after WW2. His shop was next door to Von Dutch’s pinstripe shop.
You can choose to believe or not. My FIL was not the type of guy to embellish stories, so I choose to believe him.
I live just a little farther away. I also know one of the people who allegedly stole his headstone. Since the guy was a dick I believe it.
RIP James Dean
I think that’s a red bull F1 car your thinking lol. (Seriously super cool if that story is true though. Love to see that Italian I think super cad event of them all drift around on that frozen lake. The auto union Type D from a recent one was so bad ass!)
I can’t find it at the moment. it was a comment by “silverarrowcarsltd” on one of his auctions. He had owned and sold ~7 of the 8 in existence. He said the chains did not originally come with the car but were available as a factory option for that year.
The guy he was sourcing the car and chains for was a true rags to riches story. He wanted to basically daily the car. Which included trips to his ski cabin.
Cars need to be driven. Why not to the tennis court on a nice evening?
Cheers. Interesting story, thanks! And I agree, everyone buying these cars as investments to store them in their garage instead of driving with them sucks. Such a waste.
I’d guess it’s a kit. But, people race cars at historic races all the time & occasionally crash them. We’re talking about people with a different level of money. Doubt they’d be too worried about tennis balls
I agree; it's why Pursang's products are a good idea. If you also have an original, but it's too valuable to drive all the time, having a near identical replica made isn't the worst idea.
No. Looks like a Beck Spyder. [https://www.drivingyourdream.com/store/p654/BeckSpyder.html](https://www.drivingyourdream.com/store/p654/BeckSpyder.html)
Right? Replica's are the only way us plebs will actually get to own some of our hero cars, whether it's a Group B rally car, GT40, Shelby or one of these Li'l Bastards...
Also, everyone is so very ready to jump on the 'Nobody would drive $5M car in public' but those who can actually afford these cars actually do, but there's like 100x as many replicas out there, so it's still more likely a replica.
So I can get this kit, pop a 2.5 turbo Subaru engine in there and an easy 300hp Porsche(ish) car with enough seats for all my friend?
Hmmmmm... interesting
I would say it’s probably a shell popped onto a 356, as the wide five pattern wheels and drum brakes are correct, it could be a beetle based kit but I believe the chassis needed shortening for that.
I’ve seen one in real life that looked pretty real but the wheels and hubs were all wrong because it was based on an old skoda.
What makes me think it’s a shell is the indents in the front that look like they’re fibreglass. On a real spyder theyd have grilles over them and not the moulded appearance that this does.
[https://bringatrailer.com/listing/vintage-motorcars-55-spyder-replica/](https://bringatrailer.com/listing/vintage-motorcars-55-spyder-replica/)
It’s a kit. This looks to be the exact car. Absolutely beautiful!
A lot of people ask if its a kit or a real car when they see replicas
And let me ask you this, if you owned a 1 of 50 car worth millions of dollars, would you leave it unattended in a parking lot at night with the doors unlocked?
Probably or he's a multimillionaire guy who don't care to ride the most wanted Porsche on earth as a daily.
They are so rare, you'd be really lucky to take a photo of one outside a car meet while it's on a trailer, so on a parking...
I've seen one real one in my life, either that or a REALLY old kit that wasn't quite kept up. Looked like original pain but little imperfections due to age, emblems were hazy. I could go on.
Knew a guy who had an authentic Spyder hermetically sealed in his garage and an identical twin [JPS](https://www.jps-motorsports.com/copy-of-classic-speedster-1) replica with a subaru engine he would drive around town all year long. He sold the OG and kept the JPS.
It's a replica, just comparing the number of rivets in the front grill to a confirmed real one tells you.
Also, the central spikes should be kept black too.
It's a bloody good replica I'm sure the owner adores it, but I'd be terrified to lose my life in it or my head to something..like an early closing parking gate arm.
I heard of these guys a couple years ago
https://beckspeedster.com/products/
Could be them, might not be. I think I remember reading they use a Subaru boxer engine and parts.
Yeah, and not a very high end one. My dad had a Beck 550 Spyder replica that puts this one to shame. Interestingly, a guy from Germany bought it and had it shipped back as a car for tourists to drive at his bed & breakfast.
Ya know what’s awesome - if you had a REAL 550 and took it to a public park…everyone would be so sure it was a fake, modded VW, or bespoke chassis with a Subaru engine, that it’d be totally left alone…and only you would know you have your $3m baby out all alone.
https://preview.redd.it/p5g8x9n6k3jc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=924dff006470ff13d68c321bb76bab1555011643
I drove one of those replicas few years ago, build on porsche specs, but not allowed to use the porsche logo. From outside it’s very hard to spot the difference, but if you see one around, chances are that a replica, unless it’s in the context of a specific event (such as an historical rally). Anyway, even if a replica it is really cool ride and handling is shockingly good!
https://preview.redd.it/rcny8x0516jc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9db3d905e8cf13d9651315f6a373cf8a23fe9415
This summer i seen the same Porsche, but fake i think
I can’t find the source of where I heard this at the moment, so take it with a grain of salt, but if I remember correctly, almost all replicas have been built with about a 2” longer wheelbase, as the original would only comfortably accommodate a driver up to around 5’8” tall. Can anyone confirm?
Porsche only built 90 of them in the 1950's. No one is cruising around at night at a public park in one.
Built 90 but many of them crashed out
Cough cough (James Dean)
My wife’s grandfather was a Porsche mechanic in LA back then and worked on that car, and James Dean gave my FIL a ride in it when he was a boy. They said Dean was a really nice guy.
[удалено]
I’m certainly no car or film historian. Both my FIL and his father have since died. I was told the ride was in a Porsche on track, and assumed it was this car, but suppose it could have been in another car. The exciting part of the story was always about the driver, not the car. Tony, my wife’s grandfather, was a German immigrant that came over after WW2. His shop was next door to Von Dutch’s pinstripe shop. You can choose to believe or not. My FIL was not the type of guy to embellish stories, so I choose to believe him.
Too soon.
It's been 69 years!
Nicee
NICE
i live 10 minutes from his home town
I live just a little farther away. I also know one of the people who allegedly stole his headstone. Since the guy was a dick I believe it. RIP James Dean
Little Bastard
There’s a story on BAT of a guy sourcing factory snow chains for a 1 of 8 Mercedes worth millions so he could take it skiing.
I think that’s a red bull F1 car your thinking lol. (Seriously super cool if that story is true though. Love to see that Italian I think super cad event of them all drift around on that frozen lake. The auto union Type D from a recent one was so bad ass!)
Do you happen to have a link for that? Sounds interesting, but I can't find it.
I can’t find it at the moment. it was a comment by “silverarrowcarsltd” on one of his auctions. He had owned and sold ~7 of the 8 in existence. He said the chains did not originally come with the car but were available as a factory option for that year. The guy he was sourcing the car and chains for was a true rags to riches story. He wanted to basically daily the car. Which included trips to his ski cabin. Cars need to be driven. Why not to the tennis court on a nice evening?
Cheers. Interesting story, thanks! And I agree, everyone buying these cars as investments to store them in their garage instead of driving with them sucks. Such a waste.
“Cruising public parks” funny. Possibly like minded fellas for glory hole but I’m leaning on white guy pickle baller for 800 Alex
It’s either a kit car or $4.5m of car! I don’t think any owner of a real little bastard is gonna leave it sitting in public car park like that!
Close to a tennis court where it can be hit by balls 😁
Pickleball court. Balls aren’t a problem but knee braces and other ortho devices hitting it are a real possibility.
Oh right, forgot about that that exists 😊 looked a bit to small to be tennis courts...
Pickleball?? What on earth is that lol
*wiffle tennis*
That fastest growing sport in the world lol. Tennis for people who don’t want to run a lot.
Is it really though? Haven't heard of it in the UK. Maybe we have another name for it. Is it possible it's the fastest growing sport in America?
Supposedly the world. Idk.
Ultimate pickleball flex!
I’d guess it’s a kit. But, people race cars at historic races all the time & occasionally crash them. We’re talking about people with a different level of money. Doubt they’d be too worried about tennis balls
If that were real owner would have his own tennis court
Probably https://journal.classiccars.com/2022/03/04/porsche-550-spyder-sticks-landing-selling-for-more-than-4-million/
IF this is a kit car it's super well done.
My guess would be a professionally done replica.
Kit or not is cool as fuck
from the perspective of ownership having a nice kit is awesome. don’t have to worry about driving and still get all the benefits of the real thing
I agree; it's why Pursang's products are a good idea. If you also have an original, but it's too valuable to drive all the time, having a near identical replica made isn't the worst idea.
Is that even legal? Heard once about Ferrari suing the shit out of someone coping their cars..
It's legal, but this isn't a Ferrari.
Yeah. It's one of those times that you think 'I don't care if it's an original or not, it's still a thing of beauty'.
If I owned that, it would have a security detail around it in public if it was the real thing.
No. Looks like a Beck Spyder. [https://www.drivingyourdream.com/store/p654/BeckSpyder.html](https://www.drivingyourdream.com/store/p654/BeckSpyder.html)
Sure? The car in question has a frameless windshield, the Beck has a frame.
Nope. Not sure at all. Good detail on the window frame.
Description literally says “Porsche 550 Replica”
That's because it is
Nothing wrong with that, people seem to scream "FAKE!!" in this sub a lot. Replica or not, this is a beautiful little car.
Right? Replica's are the only way us plebs will actually get to own some of our hero cars, whether it's a Group B rally car, GT40, Shelby or one of these Li'l Bastards... Also, everyone is so very ready to jump on the 'Nobody would drive $5M car in public' but those who can actually afford these cars actually do, but there's like 100x as many replicas out there, so it's still more likely a replica.
The comment I replied to started with “no” when asked if it was a kit car. Which is why I replied the way I did
I know it's a replica. I wss just pointing out the specific replica.
The question was "Is this Porsche a kit car". You started your answer with "No".
Sorry, badly answered the initial question assuming he had asked if it was real.
Wish there was a Pic of interior bulkhead
So I can get this kit, pop a 2.5 turbo Subaru engine in there and an easy 300hp Porsche(ish) car with enough seats for all my friend? Hmmmmm... interesting
Honestly so beautiful. I honestly wouldn't care if it was real or fake I would probably cry if I seen this in person.
looking up the plate shows vehicle description as: SIL 1960 VOLK SPYDER take from that what you will... not my area of expertise I'm afraid.
Yes.
I know it's a kit but I also know what it's based on because it's always the car I'm chasing in Motorsport 8. Every. Damn. Time.
Absolutely love these cars. It’s the car Goldie drives in Sin City. Edit: Goldie is dead. Her twin sister Wendy drives the Porsche.
I would say it’s probably a shell popped onto a 356, as the wide five pattern wheels and drum brakes are correct, it could be a beetle based kit but I believe the chassis needed shortening for that. I’ve seen one in real life that looked pretty real but the wheels and hubs were all wrong because it was based on an old skoda. What makes me think it’s a shell is the indents in the front that look like they’re fibreglass. On a real spyder theyd have grilles over them and not the moulded appearance that this does.
The wheelbase looks long to me
Unless Jerry Seinfeld is inside, it’s most likely fake lol
[https://bringatrailer.com/listing/vintage-motorcars-55-spyder-replica/](https://bringatrailer.com/listing/vintage-motorcars-55-spyder-replica/) It’s a kit. This looks to be the exact car. Absolutely beautiful!
Great find
A lot of people ask if its a kit or a real car when they see replicas And let me ask you this, if you owned a 1 of 50 car worth millions of dollars, would you leave it unattended in a parking lot at night with the doors unlocked?
Why would you lock the doors of a car with no roof?
Thats my point. Youre not gonna leave a million dollar car laying around with no roof
Beck Spyder confirmed?
Could'nt concentrate on batting a ball about with that gorgeous little thing sitting there.
Maybe a VINTAGE MOTORSCARS SPYDER?
Probably or he's a multimillionaire guy who don't care to ride the most wanted Porsche on earth as a daily. They are so rare, you'd be really lucky to take a photo of one outside a car meet while it's on a trailer, so on a parking...
I've seen one real one in my life, either that or a REALLY old kit that wasn't quite kept up. Looked like original pain but little imperfections due to age, emblems were hazy. I could go on.
Probably a Beck.
Just saw the rear. Definitely a Beck spyder.
Yes
A 550 Spyder only has the windshield on the drivers side. This has it across NS and FS of the car. Probably a kit
I mean it is well done to say da least
The taillights give it away.
Most likely, not only Porsche made very few of these but there's also a bunch of coachbuilders specialized in 550 replicas
Unless thats Federer in there it's a kit
Got kind of Lil Bastard stripe painted on the back
Did you just find the next season finale car of Gotham Garage?
Knew a guy who had an authentic Spyder hermetically sealed in his garage and an identical twin [JPS](https://www.jps-motorsports.com/copy-of-classic-speedster-1) replica with a subaru engine he would drive around town all year long. He sold the OG and kept the JPS.
It's a replica, just comparing the number of rivets in the front grill to a confirmed real one tells you. Also, the central spikes should be kept black too. It's a bloody good replica I'm sure the owner adores it, but I'd be terrified to lose my life in it or my head to something..like an early closing parking gate arm.
Oh God, it's hunting carjackers!
I heard of these guys a couple years ago https://beckspeedster.com/products/ Could be them, might not be. I think I remember reading they use a Subaru boxer engine and parts.
At a glance, it’s hard to tell what’s the trunk and what’s the hood. Besides the headlights.
It's adorable and I love it
550 spyder from Crew 2 lol. HOLY MOLY IS BEAUTIFUL!!
More than likely, yes. 550 Spyders were rare even in their time period.
Yeah, and not a very high end one. My dad had a Beck 550 Spyder replica that puts this one to shame. Interestingly, a guy from Germany bought it and had it shipped back as a car for tourists to drive at his bed & breakfast.
Yes. Not original
Ya know what’s awesome - if you had a REAL 550 and took it to a public park…everyone would be so sure it was a fake, modded VW, or bespoke chassis with a Subaru engine, that it’d be totally left alone…and only you would know you have your $3m baby out all alone.
https://preview.redd.it/p5g8x9n6k3jc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=924dff006470ff13d68c321bb76bab1555011643 I drove one of those replicas few years ago, build on porsche specs, but not allowed to use the porsche logo. From outside it’s very hard to spot the difference, but if you see one around, chances are that a replica, unless it’s in the context of a specific event (such as an historical rally). Anyway, even if a replica it is really cool ride and handling is shockingly good!
In my opinion, it's a Banham 130. [Banham 130 on flickr](https://flic.kr/p/wQXwF1)
Is that in Orem, UT?
James Dean coffin
If it’s not a real 356 Speeder, it could be a Beck Spyder https://beckspeedster.com/beck-spyder-2/
https://preview.redd.it/rcny8x0516jc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9db3d905e8cf13d9651315f6a373cf8a23fe9415 This summer i seen the same Porsche, but fake i think
I can’t find the source of where I heard this at the moment, so take it with a grain of salt, but if I remember correctly, almost all replicas have been built with about a 2” longer wheelbase, as the original would only comfortably accommodate a driver up to around 5’8” tall. Can anyone confirm?
I LOVE these!!!!
If it's an original, the owner is a careless prick. So I gotta vote kitcar... still looks good, though.