Vintage Motorcars Porsche 550 Spyder Replica: Visceral

Eric Rothenhaus comes from a family that viewed cars differently than he did. Whereas a six-year-old Eric bought into the idea that cars are living things from watching the adventures of a certain Volkswagen in The Love Bug, his parents simply used their cars to get around. But still, ever since he painted some racing stripes and taped up the headlights of his dad’s Jeep, Eric has been infatuated with cars. A product designer by trade, Eric appreciates beautiful packaging along with a visceral driving experience in his sports cars, and this beautiful replica Porsche 550 Spyder packing 200 horsepower certainly checks those two boxes.
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[@cartunerph4827]

I don’t know why everyone says stuff like “its only a replica your exaggerating” its actually good that its a replica, because it actually benefits the REAL ones. Because these get driven more than real ones, expanding the love for the platform at carmeets/ carshows. :)

[@dougauzene8389]

All Good Points - But ANYONE Can Drive; Only A Few...Can Race - Your Neighbor, Mailman, Gardener Race @ Goodwood, Willow Springs, Pomona, or Laguna Seca? Mine Neither...But l Have Raced @ 1 Track a Few Times(Guess Which)

[@rickc2102]

@@dougauzene8389 Only a few can formulate good syntax flow, apparently.

[@truantray]

Real men don't give AF about what people think about their cars. This only effects losers.

[@bernardmorris9787]

I worked with Eric, knew he was talented and was really into cars. I respected him even more when I learned that he worked hard his whole life to get to where he's at today. This guy is the real deal and it's wonderful to witness his passion for the driving experience. Thank you Petrolicious.

[@marchirsch1647]

"You feel the engineering." Amen.

[@xxxjmgxxx]

I remember as a kid (also around 5-6 yrs old), my grandparents (R.I.P) had this Cars-Calendar hanging on their wall. and every month my granddad used to tear off the passing month and give me the car poster from that calendar month... One of the first ones in that collection was actually this Porsche! Obviously I had no clue what it was back then, but as a kid I remember loving the shape of it! That poster has survived most of my childhood on my walls, even after my immigration from Russia to Israel... Wish I could find it now, almost 30 yrs later... Great VID as always!

[@MrAlekoy]

I understand the feeling this guy is explaining, I feel the same thing when I drive my beach/street buggy, my dad used to hate it until I "forced" him to drive it by sitting in the passenger seat.. when we were finished driving, he had the biggest smile ever and just said; "now I understand"

[@MikeDyer6378]

Oh man, banjo style steering wheel, aluminum dressed interior, "wide-5" brakes, correct VDO style gauges and a proper big-bore dual carb VW engine with 911 style fan shroud! So simple and so tastefully done. I long have loved the 550 and if I ever built one, I don't think it would be much different than this. Kudos to Petrolicious for highlighting a replica 550 owner (period) let alone one with such passion for the marque! Eric, on the odd chance that you read this, Herbie was my gateway to a love of all things automotive also. I've owned my "Herbie" now for half my life and it's never too late to build your own tribute to "The Douglas Special." (o\5!3/o)

[@upfactoryracing4148]

Such a work of art. One of the best vintage sports cars ever!

[@GLHS592]

My dad also, cares very little about cars. He looks at cars kinda like I look at refrigerators and ovens. A car is an appliance to him. I got bitten when I was given a Matchbox car when I was very young. I've been a car guy all my life and my family thinks I'm weird. I helped a friend build a James Dean 550 Spyder replica about 17-18 years ago. He taught me quite a bit about body work and fabrication. it turned out to be a beautiful car which is probably better than the original. This video just took me back in time.

[@Viral__TV]

This car looks like the PETROLICIOUS logo

[@ClassicCarCustodians]

Very Cool Story. Specially the part with the 6 year-old painting your dad's car doors with numbers.

[@magiccar5790]

My dream replica car

[@simonkuderer6071]

My dream Car 😅

[@robertbeirne9813]

Simon Kuderer I gave you a thumbs up on that, but have you ever seen a 904 in person? That’s my dream.

[@simonkuderer6071]

@@robertbeirne9813 omg..auch a Beauty.. i didnt know this Car existet.. but i still love the 550 and the Lotus 30 more..

[@jamesdean8669]

No offense but find " replica/ replicar" something from fiberglass kits in the 70's. These cars are better than the original. Braking, suspension , etc. are better than the originals.

[@magiccar5790]

@@jamesdean8669 James ? 😳 Are you alive ? 😳

[@4wrx013]

Watching the Love Bug is my childhood

[@graemelliott3942]

Wow cool Video. Brings back memories. I had Beck 550 Sypder # 48 built by Greg Leach @ Vintage Spyders in the late 90’s The car was incredibly quick like a motorcycle but with a fiberglass egg shell body for maximum protection. Everything in this video is true about the feelings it gives you when driving it. It defines visceral. I felt completely defenseless driving it. It was so easy to drift with the throttle. Mine had a 2109cc with 170 hp. It only weighed 1200 lbs. it was a four speed with a swing axle, discs all around, silver with maroon leather and maroon rear quarter stripes. Crazy stuff🏁👍. I still wish I had it😀

[@ip_freely]

Wonderful build - I LOVE the RS doors for the carb access; kind of "outlaw" looking but actually period correct and functional.

[@st.k.4528]

This is amazing video and car, I like replicas because people drive them. Like Shelby cobras or old lotus 7 - this is pure feeling of car and road!

[@MerrittW]

I owned a McRae Spyder, very rare, body mould rough from Chuck Beck, light weight hand laid and sculpted glass body in NZ to fit 8" rear and 7" front Z rated race rubber . This was built in New Zealand, by the Graham McRae, ex Indy rookie of the year, F1 Driver for Frank Williams, and F5000 triple gold star champion CanAm road America. A highly respected constructor building his own GM cars and racing them around the world in the 70s. My was built to race car specs for Targa road racing. WRX STI's 2.5-liter Turbo charged engine, or a Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 engine box set up if desired. Custom box, Link race management race tuner 300+ hp. Body weight 450kg, 911 oversize vented rotors all round, Willians multi pot brakes all round. All tube to certified race spec molly. This project was based on bringing the inspiration of the 550A into the modern era.

[@agrippa1234]

I think I saw James Dean smiling next to you...well done sir

[@dougauzene8389]

James Dean...And His 9/30/55 Factory Riding Mechanic, Rolf Wutherlich!

[@Vampirebear13]

Nothing beats blasting around in a analog masterpiece such as this 550 :-)

[@dougauzene8389]

Analog Masterpiece = ORIGINAL 550; Facebook Generation Copy = This Beautiful $100k 550 REPLICA!

[@mereclander]

An amazing car with a loving owner. His explanations madre me like deiving the car. One os the best histories I have ever seen here. Just the car, nothing else matters.

[@dougauzene8389]

Badass, Cool $100k Replicar; Driver Hasn't Actually Owned lt All That Long... Check Back ln 5, 10 Years?

[@Jthuma]

Pure art and craftsmanship. It’s a beauty.

[@AtypicalDriver]

Great video! Love the spare spark plugs located between the seats -- good touch. In fact I remember seeing your car in Monterey and admiring it. Oh and I noticed another go-kart in the garage at the 1:59 mark -- Lotus Exige.

[@PanAmRacer]

Another Great car video from Petrolicious by the very talented Andrea Giacomni! Love it!

[@FouldsLaQuinta]

Beautiful. I had one just last year. same car, same builder. Greg Leach at Vintage builds a great machine. I second everything this owner said and more. Wish I had never sold it.

[@dougauzene8389]

Well Put...IMHO, The Original Beck 550s Compared Favorably To An Original 550 & A Pristine Version Would Be A Excellent Comparable Build To Compare With The Video Subject Car!

[@Retrobeemer]

Beautiful. Always loved the style these things exude. Even the pedals and shifter are so stylish. Love it.

[@dubdaze68]

Beautiful 550 replica.

[@MikeSmith-cy7jw]

Love this video!!! Thanks

[@johnnieguitar5724]

Great refinement and improvement Eric! I'm salivating........ :)

[@FernandoHungaroRufus]

I love this model, what a nice experience for the driver

[@AgrsvMediocrity]

This was a perfect Petrolicious production. Great job capturing the essence and making us feel a part of it.

[@karlhurn]

Another great video. Fantastic replica and car in its own right. Great work! 👍👍👍

[@johnjames77]

Eric is such a good spokesman for the raw attributes of man and a machine "bonded" .

[@TheStevemcqueen68]

As a replica ,the Vintage or becks are the best out there,I like how you have gone the extra mile in putting your mark on it, it is good to see that you have not gone crazy on the build, one of the best I have ever seen ,

[@paulmcdonald9592]

Good story. Narration is great and the vehicle is just wonderful not least the motor. As noted, these 550 replicas are way too much fun because they get driven. Good for you, Eric.

[@jcf7363]

I'd love to see more pictures of that garage/shop. Very cool. He needs a Garage Journal thread to show it off.

[@klm2395rh]

I was drawn to the Massie Harris sign. My grandfather had a 101 Senior when I was a kid and it definitely left an impression on me

[@danknox9986]

Enjoyed that. Thank you.

[@repairitdontreplaceit]

that is exactly how a low car should look .. great work sir

[@garya3056]

Well done. I love his English wheel that he’s using in the shop. 👍

[@ragazzi25]

Saw one today, beautiful car!

[@bubot17]

i thought my karmann ghia is a tiny car, then a 550 spyder parked beside me :)

[@dertechniker8867]

Which Karmann Ghia do you have? I owned a type 14 (50 hp) 30 years ago. Bought it for 2000 Deutsche Mark (1000€).

[@bubot17]

@@dertechniker8867 a type 14 1966 model

[@robertbeirne9813]

gilbert sanchez a little while back I saw a Porsche 914 parked on the street, I’d forgotten how small they are. The 550 is smaller.

[@legend-qw2ec]

whats the market price for a karmann ghia right now ?

[@JosephHowes2003]

@@legend-qw2ec I'd like to see one next to my 1960 Austin Healey Bugeye Sprite.

[@loki7641]

Awesome work well done .......Enjoy !!!

[@michaellorenson2997]

Excellent, excellent, excellent, and outstanding.

[@r3d_ti3_guy]

Excellent narration

[@sergeantsqueaker]

Stunning car.

[@renebaills6168]

from France congratulations!

[@africanindiaspo2895]

What a great video!

[@TheJTM45]

Such a beautiful car!!! In my opinion modern cars, however extreme their performance might be, just don't come anywhere near the best of the classic vintage sports car designs from this era. The 550 Spyder and the 718 are my two favourite Porsche cars ever built.

[@onieljohnson8916]

I wish they never stop Making classic cars

[@alejandramelghem3116]

Love it!

[@MrSaxophoneGamer]

One of my favourite videos yet, I relate heaps to that guy! Come from a non-car family but my first word was car and have been addicted ever since. I love oddball and stripped back cars the same way and I'm a designer as well! Hopefully the Lotus Elise I'm picking up next week is as "visceral" as this 550! P.s. A little more engine noise would have made this even better!

[@mohammadrasoulfard-habibi3066]

Class mate

[@dougauzene8389]

Non - Car Family; You An Actual Car Driver/Racer Yourself, Or Just Picking Up A "Cars & Coffee" Cruiser? 40-Yr. L.A. Driver/Racer/Enthusiast Wants to Know!

[@1101964]

beautiful car mate.

[@cesarocon3401]

Wow que bueno que siguen sacando contenido a pesar del coronavirus.

[@AllTheBestCO]

Great Video

[@ginormousbones]

Very enjoyable. Perfect way to start my day. Thanks for the awesome content.! LUV the porsche brand.

[@dougauzene8389]

As One Who, Sat ln & Started Up A REAL '55 550 Spyder ln 1992 & Worked On Clint Eastwood's 356 Porsche SC, l Agree! VISCERAL!

[@kelvarnsen1749]

I was just looking at these yesterday. For under 100k, these replicas are a bargain for a lightweight driveable spyder. Beautiful scenery as well!

[@dougauzene8389]

For WELL UNDER 100k, With MY OWN 2 HANDS & Farming Out Paint & Interior, l'll Build A NICE 427 S/C Cobra REPLICA! 100k? Repop 550? Must Be Nice, Kid!

[@mattagnew206]

@@dougauzene8389 It's a completely different drive. Your Cobra may be faster and louder, this is more nimble. To each their own.

[@lathropedition]

So gorgeous

[@rodsalvador3608]

Beautiful! Also, any Hodinkee-philes know the watch at 2:49? This guy's my hero.

[@jtso7636]

Looks like an Autodromo Veloce

[@ag4allgood]

Love the replica of the Porsche 550 & see how the owner feels about driving it. The roads in California are so much better to drive in a car like that. The notorious history surrounding the James Dean 550 also adds to the drive I would think.

[@mohammadrasoulfard-habibi3066]

That's one beautiful motor. Oooooosh.

[@surfside75]

Not blue, silver✔️😁👍🍻💙

[@AdrianBond]

Looks fun :)

[@rongreen8485]

I love your video's.

[@seanmcneill8899]

Nice car and very passionate owner. Greetings from Ireland 😉

[@ferdinandhuergas6040]

🙆‍♂️👏absolutely priceless

[@matthiasgross7]

Wonderful story. Sounds like your and my parents viewed cars alike. And then they wondered what happened to their son…. ;-)

[@bpfifa08]

Damn it, now I want one...

[@davidcantrell5098]

I would never drive a real one of these. However, give me a replica and I'm gone... LOL Wonderful car.

[@dougauzene8389]

As One Who Has NEVER Had Things Come Easy, Earning UCLA & WSU (Law) Degrees & Racing Faster, Simpler Race/ Drag Cars For 40 Years = VISCERAL!

[@1080sucks]

Nice!

[@grahamsmith2022]

Nice "lil' bastard"! ,what an awesome raw machine,good enough for Jimmy Dean,good enough for all of us!!✌👍

[@Bobster986]

Life is short, experience it!

[@ryanpanizzoli9850]

The best channel ever, keep up the good work

[@waynemartin2544]

Looks like a car out of Speed Racer. very nice. :)

[@HELLBAG1]

I had a beautiful, well done Beck 550 that I loved. It ticked all the boxes mentioned, but I could not get over the fact that even driving "motorcycle defensive" was not enough. This thing is so small and so low, you don't even have the visibility of being on a motorcycle, where you are sitting *HIGHER* than you are in this car. Driving around trucks in the southwest, I always felt like I was going to be squashed like a grape from someone who "just didn't see" me. Other than that, I miss the car a great deal, and if I had the money, yes, I would buy another.

[@clayfarnet970]

I felt the same way driving my sisters Mazda Miata 20 years ago. Feels like you’re driving a go-cart amongst cars and trucks. 👍👍👍

[@HELLBAG1]

@@clayfarnet970 I also drove a Miata as my daily for 10 years... it feels like a boulevard cruiser compared to the 550. Yeah, it's like THAT

[@rubensflorentino548]

At 1:31, left inside, there is an aluminum intake manifold, with two carbs, for the Ford Flathead V8 engine. Nice touch.

[@lewgoogle5530]

What with the space frame, the head faring, and the louvered doors that access the carburetors without lifting the tail piece, this is MUCH more a 550A replica than a 550 replica. Which is all good.

[@joevanseeters2873]

The view at 1:59 of that incredible garage. I WANT. I WANT. I WANT

[@bibcustom]

I might build a tiny one of this in the future❤

[@mrseaweed5587]

COOL CAR!!! COOL DUDE. LOVE THE OLD PORSCHES!!! REPLICA OR NOT.

[@josephangier9166]

Great video! What is this silver color specifically? Looks lovely

[@ChupalePichon]

To me this is my dream car

[@christurbo951]

I want one so bad!!!

[@uweheinrich6784]

Awesome video...I agree with every word and expressed feeling. This is what EV and Tesla owners will never understand......

[@Brian-os9qj]

I feel ya dude, nice in every respect

[@nigelsmart7187]

Wow, this Petrolicious crew has again upped their film making game. The production value is unreal here, and some of those shots and details. Speechless.

[@aaaaachew]

For some reason, the air cooled Porsches and older BMW stories seem to garner a lot of views🤔

[@rickc2102]

Mechanical things are more visceral than things loaded up with electronics.

[@willmelikyan5689]

What’s the appreciation/depreciation on 550 spyder replicas?

[@radojovic2329]

I’d like to ask him how his Lotus Elise compares to the 550 since both are bare bones...

[@jamesdean8669]

I don't see these as " replica's/ replicars" . These are better than the original. Braking , suspension, motor it's all better. Plus these are drivers not eye candy sitting in a millionaire's garage . Kudos indeed..

[@PeterHatch-mx7zc]

Hello !! Where would one go to buy a good kit for this 550 thank you!!

[@frankiebella7808]

Rich Boy NICE LIFE 👍😆

[@onieljohnson8916]

Man with new modern tech they can still make this All they need is aluminum and the blueprints

[@peterroda4181]

Is it fiberglass?

[@bernhardhauser3798]

where can I get a gear shifter like this. i love it so much. please help me :)

[@cheebuy2003]

fully agree 👍Just like my Leica M4 , fully machinal , you will feel every move you make.

[@GrenvilleMelonseedSkiff496]

Well done Petrolicious! Makes me want to hop in my '99 forest green metalic Boxster, drop the top and blow away the cobwebs!

[@rocketkinger2506]

I don’t know why but this one really appealed to me. Every once in a while petrolicious gets me

[@rodd332]

Manufacturers need to do a recognised replicas, giving top replica cars more credibility. It’s a small thing to give back to the skilled person how crafted and built it.

[@wahid3837]

This guy truly has a passion, mine cant compare to his lol..... I think the car is just amazing, so what if its a replica, that means he can thrash it without feeling bad

[@davidviner4932]

She's gorgeous and faster than the real ones

[@SuperBullyone]

how can I buy one?