Vehicle Description
48th Beck Spyder built in California - circa 1985
The Beck Spyder is built in the image of the famed Porsche Spyder
and comes from Special Edition, Inc., which was formed in the early
1980s and is considered by many to be the Gold Standard in Spyder
replicas. Their engineering and design criteria are regarded as
main factors in providing a superior product. The cars are built
around a 3 inch tubular chassis.
Chassis no. 55C24EA550048
1,750cc 4-Cylinder VW Engine
2 Webber Carburetors
75bhp at 4,800rpm
4-Speed Manual Transmission
4-Wheel Independent Suspension
13,000 km (7,800 miles)
This one owner Beck Spyder was ordered new in 1985 and delivered to
its only owner in Chicago, where it would remain for a brief time
before being relocated to Florida. Beck Spyders were built by hand
in Southern California in the 1980's, before manufacturing was
moved to Brazil. The car sat for about 10 years and has recently
been recommissioned for enjoyment. Over $6,000 was spent over the
past year installing a cable based shifter system that makes a
world of difference in drivability, rebuilding the brake system, a
full tune up and new tires. This car is a blast to drive and sounds
awesome.
From MOTOR TREND - 2002
The Beck Spyder is honestly, but not fanatically, faithful to the
concept and detail of the original. Its chassis is a tube-frame
near-replica of the original Spyder's, though the coachwork is
rendered in fiberglass.
The driving experience is best described as "it is what it was."
Light weight is the Beck Spyder's trump card-one of the reasons the
original was such a successful racer, often against much more
powerful competition.
You hear and feel everything this close-coupled mid-engine roadster
is doing, with that rorty air-cooled VW blatting away just over
your shoulder.
The Spyder is a direct, immediate machine. Its controls require a
lot of input, but return a lot of feedback. Numbers mean little;
it's a sunny-day, go-for-a-drive, just-for-the-helluvit toy.
Depending upon which records you believe, Porsche originally built
approximately 90 similar Spyders. Today, they command
$200,000-$500,000, depending upon condition and race history (this
was 2002, the market is currently $4,000,000 - $5,000,000)
