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914World.com _ 914World Garage _ Passed this speedster today

Posted by: swood Jun 18 2003, 08:09 AM

What do you guys think of this car? REally caught my eye. It was moving too.

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Posted by: swood Jun 18 2003, 08:10 AM

one more

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Posted by: Mueller Jun 18 2003, 09:11 AM

I'd venture to say Kit Car based on the new California plates. Still nice !!!!

Posted by: seanery Jun 18 2003, 10:00 AM

spyder, by the way, not speedster.

I've really thought about getting one of those. Beck makes a beautiful reproduction, tube chasis, etc...

Posted by: Pnambic Jun 18 2003, 10:18 AM

I love seeing a car like that. Even if it is a kit, it sure looks like it'd be a blast to drive. And kit car or not, thats a really classy look (imho).

Posted by: Scott Jun 18 2003, 11:09 AM

Yep, a kit by Calssic Spyders in SO. Cal.

Posted by: ! Jun 18 2003, 11:22 AM

Could be a Beck Spyder....we have three or four here in town. All are VW powered. They are mighty proud of them things....being a f/g kit car and all....

Posted by: Lawrence914-6 Jun 18 2003, 11:46 AM

I've looked at either a Beck for my next car... or a Ghia convertable.

Anything should be easier than a 914/6. :-)

Posted by: seanery Jun 18 2003, 12:30 PM

The chasis is what sets a beck apart from the rest. Very nice!
I think I'd do a big T IV or a small 6 if I got one.

Posted by: swood Jun 18 2003, 04:23 PM

Spyder...of course. My eyes arent what they used to be...

And on that subject I was at home for lunch yesterday (rarity) and I heard the streetsweeper come by. I asked my wife if she knew what side was today, she didn't know so I went out to look. Sure enough I had to move my truck, around the corner. I went back in and was awfully proud of saving myself from the ticket. Then I started thinking aboust what day the side I just reparked gets swept. I found out alright. $30 to find out.

Posted by: Porsche Rescue Jun 18 2003, 07:56 PM

Don't think the car is a Beck. If I recall, the Beck does not have the "louvers" on the leading edge of the rear fenders.

Posted by: Curvie Roadlover Jun 18 2003, 09:49 PM

swood, Your location says LBC.

?

Posted by: Mike T Jun 19 2003, 12:37 PM

Here's a link to a few 550 based kits. Check out the link on the site to the Spyder club.

http://www.thunderranch.com/

Mike T

Posted by: 72Signal914 Jun 19 2003, 12:46 PM

How many 550 Spyders are there to be had out in this world. My 550 knowledge is low and i forget how many were actually made (like 17 or something?) for the public and how much would they go for if you could get your hands on one.

Posted by: tryan Jun 19 2003, 12:50 PM

beck has been around from the bradley gt days ( some of you may not be that old)

becks are 25k ish turn key with a type I. i believe they only sell complete cars.

the thunder ranch and other companies sell in kit form.

road and track had an article on a beck 15 or 20 years ago. the skinny tires, light weight and mega horsepower scared the piss out of the guy that wrote the article.

Posted by: seanery Jun 19 2003, 02:10 PM

real spyders are easily half million dollar cars.

Posted by: swood Jun 19 2003, 02:20 PM

Curvie - LBC= Long Beach City
Just the slang name for it.

Posted by: GWN7 Jun 19 2003, 02:29 PM

I looked at Becks site when this thread was started....says $16.9K for the car without Engine,
Transaxle and Front suspension.

http://www.chuckbeckmotorsports.com/

Posted by: Curvie Roadlover Jun 19 2003, 02:58 PM

QUOTE(swood @ Jun 19 2003, 12:20 PM)

Curvie - LBC= Long Beach City
Just the slang name for it.

Thanks

Posted by: Scott Jun 19 2003, 03:28 PM

QUOTE

I know a guy that lives just a few blocks from me that was a distributer for Bradlys. Hes got three that just sit there. The guy doesn't drive them (he's in his 80's and wheel chair bound.

From my earlier post it's not Calssic but Vintage Speedsters and Vintage Spyders

Here is the site for the speedsters:

http://www.vintagespeedsters.com/start.htm

Vintage spyders used to have a site but it looks like it's not therer any more. Here is there other info.

Vintage Spyders
735 N. Cypress Street
Orange, California 92867
(Greg Leach)
(714) 538-6550 voice
(714) 538-6558 fax
1955 550 Spyder

No, Beck doesn't have them but Vintage Spyders does/did.

Thunder Ranch has a license from Beck to produce the spyder they sell. They also offer a 6 cyl model based on the Beck design. I think that they also offer "louvers" .

Posted by: andys Jun 19 2003, 05:40 PM

I was at the Knott's AHA where some of the spyder kits were displayed. I don't recall the company (it wasn't Beck), but there was a beautiful 4 cyl turbo displayed. I don't recall the weight, but I remember something very very light. That and turbo HP would probably really surprise you!

Andy