Spyder

48th Beck Spyder Built in CA - circa 1985, One Owner

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)