This morning the owner dropped off this Spyder replicar. I'm putting one of my headers onto the Massive Type IV engine.

Nice, huh!

Less than 1500mi on the odometer.

Okay, this is the second time I've seen the word "NARP" used...what does it mean? North American Rare Porsche?

not a real porsche....(I have always thought) just like peeps say...the 914 is a narp...

The Spyder replicar is cool, but for the coin I would rather have my buddy's Cobra.

it even has a VW keychain.

i sure like it. how big of a massive powerplant and what does the little black knob next to the shifter control? can you get a few shots of it from the bottom side? what, $35k?

kevin

Is it a Beck?
I love the lines of those cars, and I'd much rather drive a NARP than the real thing (paranoia).

That is sweet!

Visited Chuck Beck's place last year; I think the shop was behind his house, up in the high desert. Went with my friend who had fallen in love with Beck's 911 powered, 904 replica; it sounded great when he fired it up, but cost way too much! There were also a couple of Chevy powered Lister replicas there. Me, I loved the silver-blue Spyders. When I suggested powering one with a Type IV engine, Beck said, "Why would you want to do that? That's a "truck" motor!" He's lucky I didn't have the money to buy one (550) or that remark would have cost him a sale! Yeah right...!

My dad wants/wanted to do one of those. That's why I keep so many 2.0 engines laying about. We saw one years ago that the guy put a 356 engine in. It was kinda cool, but I wasn't all that impressed with it (my dad sure was though).

Oh well, to each his own.

BTW, The little black knob, that I believe is the emergency brakes. You step on the brakes, push the button down and it hydraulically locks the rear brakes until you apply brake pressure with the pedal.

At least that is how the one I saw many years ago was set up.

Very cool Chris! Even if it's NARP.

PK

NARP=Not A Real Porsche

In this case it's true.

Beautiful! I like it. Yeah, I'd be scared to drive a "real" one.

I just met a guy here in Austin that bought a replica just like that one, except he had black seats instead of red...he said it wasn't a beck chassis, but didn't know the real builders name. His was T1 powered 2165 I think? Anyway, he didn't know a whole lot about it, but I have to give him props cause it is his daily driver.

Chris, do you know who builds that chassis? And how much do those run? I know my dad would love to build one of those...That car is screaming for a boxter drivetrain

Tony

cha914

Beck's Spyder is built almost identical to the original design, meaning designed for VW swing axle suspension. I imagine it can be modified for an IRS, though probably at an even greater cost than the standard model. Seems to me I've seen pics of a different manufacturer whose cars can be ordered with an IRS, just can't seem to recall their name. By the way, Beck's Spyders come with type I power.

Now I remember...thunderranch.com

I'm hoping that a 550 replica will be my next NARP. Vintage is another one that makes a 550. I believe that Vintage and Beck are the 2 big names in 550s.

You can buy a turn key Beck for about $23,000, according to their website. A pretty great deal, in my opinion.

It will be mine, oh yes, it will be mine.

So...... beautiful..... Is it wrong that I just want to throw my leg over it and hump it??

Jen

Only if you let me watch!

new site idea... pornoporsche.com

We can start with the orange one posted last month.

saw a real 550 parked on seabright ave in santa cruz a couple weeks back. right across the street from the seabreeze cafe. it was absolutely gorgeous. and had a nice little sign sitting in the passenger seat that read "yes its real. please look all you like, but don't touch!) i think my next car project once my 914 is done is going to be a spyder replica to use as a driver.

That one is RAT powered!

2270cc worth and been in there since 2000!

the drool factor of that car just went up again in my eyes . the more i hear about your engines, the more i want one. time to get myself back on the ramen diet. its all about priorities.

I can't find any identifying badges, but I think it's a Vintage. It is registered as a 1956 Spyder - that's it.
Here's a pic of the engine compartment, with Jake's DTM cooled RAT 2270.

Other than the Porsche lettering and crests, this is the only identification I could find.

huh...well, now that I think about it, the guy here in austin said his was a "vintage" one also...definately the same chassis after looking at your pics...although I would rather have the 2270

Any idea on what one of these would go for? turn key?

Thanks,

Tony

Its a Vintage... Lenny bought the kit and then finished the car with my engine.

Chris, did you drive it yet? whaddya think? how bout that DTM??

Keep in mind that engine was built in 2000, since then the 2270 has gotten 20HP stronger through design and research!

Won't the engine cook without a positive seal between top and bottom???

. . . I know of about a zillion dune buggies that don't have a positive seal between the top and bottom. . .

Not in a 550... In a Bug the heat is scooped up and pushed into the engine bay. In a 550 its all open and sucks air through the vents in the bonnet.

Even the original Spyder had an exposed engine.

The car pictured here would annihilate the original... I tweek on a 4 cam or two from time to time and have driven them, pretty damn lame to cost 75K for a rebuild!

Chris, you get to play with all the cool toys!!!

The 550's and RSK's are my favorite Porsches, but even if I had the bank, I'd be afraid to drive it out here in SUVLand without kilowatt strobes on all 4 corners...

Can't get it out of my shop without getting it all dirty.

The exhaust is finally coated and installed!
I took it for a very short test drive late today.
The engine has great torque and very easy to drive.
I was very nervous taking it on public roads and when I got out I had the same jittery feeling I used to get when I first started racing.
Here's a link to the collection of pics I took during the buildup. Vintage Spyder - Tangerine Header Construction

Torque and a broad powerband is exactly what my traits are!! Thats what I shoot for.

I think that might be your best work yet Chris!! It looks amazing.

What did Lenny say about the power difference? It HAD to be notable...

Thanks Jake,
I was quite impressed with the way the engine pulled as soon as I hit the gas pedal in 3rd gear.
With the minimal bodywork on this car the engine noise is much louder than the exhaust.
Lenny drove it briefly before I had it coated and he said the difference was noticeable, but I know he will be properly impressed once he has a chance to take it for a real ride.
Here's a quick pic of the system before I installed it, for anyone who needs instant gratification :

Wow, that sure is purdy!!!

I'd have to say that's a GREAT 550 replica. From what I've seen the Vintage 550 is more true in looks to the real deal. Something about the Beck just looks off, maybe it's the seats and interior they use. Someone near me used to own a Vintage, it looked very nice, took it to PCA events, had the toneau cover over everything but the driver. Drool, and with a RAT motor in it....double drool.

Those replicas are always cool to look at.
I just have always wondered why after all the checkbook investment in them,why doesn't one put a late model 993 engine in one and have a serious motivational expierience.
I mean,the car oughta go as fast as it looks like it's going standing still.

Still beautiful though.
Ron

The only replacement for displacement is weight reduction!

I build a ton of engines for these cars. It is not uncommon to get a zero-60 time of around 4 seconds out of one.

Add that heavyweight engine, and lose all that, plus having to redesign the entire car to make it fit.

I built a 2165 Type I engine with a EFI Turbo arrangement and stabbed it into one of these cars. It pulled a best of 11.39 in the qtr mile, and was driveable enough for drivers eds and etc, just keep it off boost in the corners and hold on!

I have a proposal out now on a 2701cc (78x105) TIV engine for a 550 replica. This will be one serious engine with Titanium rods, my mack daddy heads, and etc. The customer will not settle for less than a 9,000 RPM redline and 8,000 RPM shift point.

That one will be amazing, and absolutely not cheap!