Considering Purchase of Vintage 550 Spyder

I really like the idea of these cars - small, light, cheap and go like stink. I looked at one a while ago but it seems like you can buy a great one with all of the goodies, with a Beck pedigree for about $26k so I think I'd pass on this one

 

how can you tell what he is asking?

 

I believe the one at BJ was a Beck....

Bobert

 

In that past, Beck's were always considered to be the best. Does anyone have knowledge as to whether these are thought of as better then Beck, same as Beck or not as good as Beck?

 

Joe, PM Labcars as he is a local p-car expert. I am sure if he does not know/have insight on these replica's he can steer you in the right direction.
Erik
PS Keep us posted!

 

Joe.

And our friend Jon W. had a beck, I think.

Time to turn up at cars and coffee for a conversation this saturday perhaps?

Dave M/

 

http://automotivelegends.com/ I have seen these in person, I guess not too bad for fakes.

 

I am very familiar with these cars. Beck is the top of the class and will bring the biggest bucks. You can build a Beck 550 spyder for 30k. So you have to discount,discount and then you must discount from there. I sold a Beck speedster in number 10 condition with all Porsche parts and Porsche engine in August with 3000 miles for $22k and that was all the money. It cost $27.5 to build. Non-Beck spyder in number 10 condition....$20K, discount from there. Jon in Delaware

 

I almost bought one before I settled on my 328. There are more options than you think. There are a couple of different engine, brake, tire/wheel, as well as some aesthetic options as well. I've never driven one but I really like them. I don't think you are going to be comfortable driving the car in anything less than perfect weather. I think this is why you see a lot of used cobra replicas on the market. I'd buy one, I bet they are more fun to drive than a lot of production cars. I think Car and Driver (or some other magazine) did a review of them a while ago and was very complementary.

 

I really like the Intermeccanica's. J. Stefano (sp?) sells them in NC (I think of the 356C variety). Light, fun, easy to work on. As long as you don't try and pass it off as an original, I think they are cool.

They are hard to resell and drop like stones in price.

-dsd

 

I can see it now:
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So what your saying is maybe 4 days a year, since I never saw the top of the 360 down.


Well then by all means yes, find the right car and snatch it. The 550 is a pretty car.

Kyle

 

Joe, you really do use them very very very little. Thats why I sold mine. I put 700 miles on mine in two years.You know I drive my cars so that says alot. They are fun. Especially because you feel like your driving on the edge of mechanical grip and you look at the speedo and your doing 60MPH. Tough to get a ticket in one. I would look long and hard before settling on one. Like said previously they drop like rocks in value vs build price until they hit maybe 70% of original value. Then they just dont go down much form there. They NEVER go up in value even when the original versions go through the roof. They dont get dragged along with the momentum. Buy one for 70% of build price. Look long and hard for a good one. Keep it for a few years and have some fun. Plan on taking a year to get someone to buy yours and get most of your money back. They get alot of attention!! Jon in Delaware

 

get a miata.

 

CX7 would look cooler.