Vehicle Description
1955 Porsche 550 Spyder Replica by CMI
Designer: Dr. Ferdinand "Ferry" Porsche
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Estimate: $30,000 - $45,000
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Chassis Number: 1113095806 (titled as a 1971 Volkswagen.)
Engine: 1584cc OHV H4
1-barrel carburetor/60 bhp
4-Speed Manual Transmission
Four Wheel Hydraulic Drum Brakes
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Odometer: 76,400 miles
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Solid Fiberglass Construction
Easy and Economical to Maintain VW Running Gear
Excellent Way to Get into Vintage Motorsports
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The Model: One of the most legendary automobiles produced, as least
in post-war history, was the Porsche 550 Spyder. These were not
your average sports car, they were built for those who wanted to be
involved in competition events. Porsche in itself was a
revolutionary vehicle with its unit-chassis and body construction
and rear-engine over the drive-wheels set-up. The 550's body design
was more aerodynamically efficient than the more affordable 356
Speedsters of the day, with very little shared between the two
models. Probably the most famous of all 550's was the �Lil
Bastard", owner by screen legend James Dean. That is the car he was
driving when he was killed in a traffic collision while traveling
to a race in Central California. Porsche would only construct a
total of 90 550 Spyders. If the world wanted more, they would have
to wait for a couple of decades and then settle for a replica.
The Car: One of the first to pull molds from a 550 Spyder so as to
create a fiberglass body was CMI. However, the original car they
took the molds from had some major flaws and body damage. Only
about 10 CMI cars were created and then the molds ended up with
Marvin Simes and Chuck Eiler under their name of Prestige Classics.
Skilled in the restoration of authentic 356 models, they correct
the flaws and set about to produce a perfect clone. However, only a
handful were produced before Simes passed away and production
ceased. This is one of those CMI/Prestige based 550 Spyders. It is
mounted on a Volkswagen chassis and powered by a stock 1584cc
engine. Finished in Alpine White and fitted with a pair of bucket
seats in red, this car appears to be in solid condition and is
reported to run out quite well. Riding on chrome wheels with
Porsche hubcaps, this vehicle can be a lot of fun for not a lot of
money. Agile and nimble with tamed performance, the 550 Spyder
replica could serve as the gateway for better things to come.
