Beck 550 spyder, AX Candidate? Options

[Joseph Mills]

Looking at some of the specs on this kit made me start thinking how good a candidate it might be for auto crossing.

As far as I know Beck is the only kit that has a hand made tubular frame instead of a VW frame. Maybe that accounts for it's lightweight?

Something around 1200 pounds total! (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/ohmy.gif)

We all know that light cars turn corners fast, and with even meager HP it's going to scoot in a straight line.

Suspension... well, maybe that is the bugaboo... Volkswagen. VW's on an autocross course are always scary with their positive camber from the swing axles. Maybe limit the amount of travel? Are there after market handling kits for such? Or additional link systems that bolt up?

Would a kit car be up to handling the torque and twisting forces of AX?

Thoughts? (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/idea.gif)

[Jake Raby]

I supply engines for tghem all the time... I used to build many of the kits to resale before I was so swamped with engine work.

Incredible, absolutely the most exhilerating 0-60 I have ever seen from a 200HP vehicle.

I have some ultimate engine/tranny combos for them... The key to those combos is super broad power with mid to upper range power.

The best Spyder I have seen comes from Vintage Spyders... But they are not very good business people, always late on delivery and full of excuses... But it is built on a space frame and is much more rigid than the Beck- I have driven tons of each and the Vintage is a great car.

Here is a pic of a RAT powered 550 at Roebling Road http://www.aircooledtechnology.com/custome...ozzi/index.html

Awesome toy- no doubt.

BTW- The Beck is on a tubular frame- but uses the VW torsion assembly for rear suspension, it looks very close to the original 550 Spyder... But its kinda cheesy. The Beck is made in Brazil and imported into the states mostly assemled when it gets here except for the engine and XMSN. I know where 4 Beck kits are that are brand new and never assembled-

The Vintage is on a space frame much like a modern street rod. These guys have already correctly adapted a 901 sideshift tranny into their cars and I have 5-6 different customers with RAT engines and this combo.... None of them have the balls to stay in the throttle very long, some have admitted they are afraid of full throttle.

None of the 550s are built on VW pans-since they are mid engined it would be very difficult to do.

check these sites
www.spyderclub.com
www.vintagespyders.com
www.spyderowners.com

look on my site for some pics of "The Mighty Spyder". Its a coachbuilt aluminum bodied Spyder with a really sweet custom tubular frame thats also pictured here This is gonna be a 9,000 RPM, destroked, 105mm bored, Titanium rodded, twin plugged beast.