Vintage Porsche 550 Spyder Replica by Beck

Vintage Porsche 550 spyder Replica by Beck built 1990, VIN/Chassis 0039B, odometer: 15,573 original miles, 1,915 cc engine, twin Dell’Orto carburettors, two-passanger, two door, pale blue-silver body paint, tan seats; Nardi steering wheel; Tonneau cover in black Sta-Fast Haartz cloth; deluxe convertible top, black Sta-Fast Haartz cloth; and Porsche badges throughout.

Provenance: Beck Development, 1990

Unidentfied owner

Contemporary Classics International, 1993

Estate of a southern gentleman (1993-2022)

Note: This Spyder built by Beck Development in 1990 for the original owner. It was purchased by the present owner from Contemporary Classics International, Inc., on April 30, 1993. We are selling on behalf of his estate.

Original, copies, and related documents available to purchaser.

Special Notes: By 1995, Chuck Beck had already built about 900 examples of his Beck Spyders, a well-executed replica of the famous Porsche 550 Spyder race car. Still being manufactured today, Beck was so successful with this Spyder that he needed to transfer his production plant from California to Brazil. The relocation gave them better access to new VW engines and parts. The present car is one of the first-ever built in Brazil, indicated by the “B” suffix to the chassis number. Because of its low power to weight ratio, which is better than the original Porsche, a Beck Spyder will accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in less than 6 seconds and has a top speed of over 130 mph. The manufacturer claims that a quarter-mile is covered in 13.6 seconds at 92 mph.

The Porsche Spyder, originally sold in 1955 with a very steep price tag of $7,000. It shot to unhappy fame when film star James Dean was killed in his Spyder in an accident on September 30, 1955, at 5:45 pm. His German mechanic passenger was severely injured but survived the accident. The actual sequence of the events leading up to the accident has never been satisfactorily established, and the Porsche wreck was subsequently stolen when it was shipped back to Hollywood on a railway wagon and vanished.

In 1954, German racing driver Hans Herrmann had a narrow escape during the Mille Miglia Road Race when he high-speed encountered a closed railway barrier. He shouted “duck down” to his navigator Herbert Linge, and they just about managed to squeeze underneath the barrier to finish an excellent first in class and came in 6th place overall.

This particular Beck Spyder has benefited from a major overhaul after having been stored for about ten years. The drive train was serviced, and the brakes were rebuilt. The fuel tank was removed and thoroughly cleaned, and all the fuel pipes were replaced. New tires have been fitted all around.

This Spyder comes complete with its original Haartz rag top, stored in the nose section in front of the fuel tank.