PORSCHE 550 SPYDER FREE

Two and three are already under construction, and the prototype itself is for sale, but Rob actually hopes no one will make an offer for that one. More than 90 cars, and each one currently takes about a year to complete. Rob says that in deference to the original, they'll build no Unfortunately, as with the authentic 550s, it's one that not too many people will get to have. It's a liberating and exhilarating experience. A street-legal go-kart might come close, but riding on relatively tall, but very narrow, tires, the Edwards' faux-550 delivers a surprisingly suppleĪfter a few miles of dicing with crossovers and SUVs, I can't begin to imagine the guts it must've taken to drive one of these at the limit on a racetrack,įighting for position with much larger cars, but I can definitely understand the addictive appeal. An oversized Bakelite-style wheel makes up for the lack of power steering, while the sensation of speed is enhanced by the fact that you'reīasically driving around in an aluminum bikini.īuzzing along the twisting two-lanes that the Nutmeg State is known for, 25 mph is as much of a visceral experience as 100 mph would be a modern sportsĬar. While the engine only makes about 120 horsepower, the car weighs just 1,200 pounds, less than half of the lightest Porsches today, so it feels quick and There aren't even seatbelts, although you can have them installed.

Lever into first, let up on the floor-mounted clutch pedal and head six decades into the past.Įver have a wind in the hair driving experience? This car is more wind in the face, its acrylic windscreen barely chin high, making glasses, and possiblyĪn old-fashioned leather cap with earflaps a must. Legroom in the Spartan cockpit is virtually non-existent, but you quickly forget about that as you hit the start button, shift the pencil thin gear You can literally step into it and slip down into the period-correct vinyl upholstered bucket This one is literally knee-high, if you're 6'1' like me. Those tiny, but potent mills have becomeĬollector items in their own right and now sell for $150,000 or more…without a vehicle attached. The prototype is powered by the 1.7-liter flat-four from a 1969 Porsche 912, similar to the smaller push-rod engines used in the earliest 550s, but SpyderĬreations can source a proper 1950's motor, or one of the much-desired four-cam engines featured in most 550s.

PORSCHE 550 SPYDER FREE

For lack of a better description, the vehicles will be sold as kit cars, clearly identified as suchĪnd with no Porsche badges, although buyers are free to customize them as they like. That's now offering replicas of their replica for sale. Rob says the entire project took four years of insanity, but they've made the most of it by launching an outfit called Spyder Creations In Danbury, Conn., for engine installation and final adjustments. Then shipped to Porsche specialist Speedsport Tuning Nuts about any form of classic motorsport and muscle cars, Ciprian's currently working on a time machine that would take him back to the 1960s for a long vacation alongside Dan Gurney and Jim Hall.Assembly was handled by Alloycars of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., who also had the crucial job of hand hammering the aluminum body panels and fabricating the frame. Don’t let his grumpiness fool you though he’s more than excited to provide the latest news and reviews on the most interesting cars in the industry.

Additionally, he can give you several reasons why there’s still no replacement for displacement. Nothing annoys him more than car electronics, and he just hates it when performance cars lack a third pedal. Ask him to choose between a BMW M4 and an Audi RS5, and he’ll gladly trade both for a beat-up ’Cuda. He's a proud member of the TopSpeed team since early 2014.Īlthough he's into just about any type of vehicle, Ciprian is not your typical car enthusiast. His automotive adventure started reporting on various motorsport events as a sports writer before moving onto a full-time auto career with various sites, including This Week In Motors and Autoevolution.

Porsche 550 spyder