What Makes the Porsche 550 Spyder So Special?! Some Tips on How to Spot The Real Thing!

What Makes the Porsche 550 Spyder So Special?! Some Tips on How to Spot The Real Thing! In this video I have a chance to drive a Vintage Motorcars replica 550 Spyder...my favorite Porsche of all time! And let me tell you it was an absolute blast! We cover a history of the 550 since inspection in 1953 and some of its racing history to what are some of the difference between a real 550 and replica. Such a fun video to film as I stated above this is my favorite Porsche of all time. Hope you enjoy the video! If you have any questions please do not hesitate to reach out. See you in the next one!
550 Resource- type550.com
Spyder Creations- www.spyder550sale.com
Vintage Motorcars Replica - www.vintagemotorcarsinc.com
Beck Replica - beckspeedster.com
Wick Auto Detailing - www.wickedautodetailing.com
FiberSteel - fibersteel.com
✨ Subscribe to the Channel for more Porsche content here:
kzbin.info...
********************
🎥 Welcome to the official KZbin Channel of Pcarwhisperer! ✨
My name is Mason and I am obsessed with Porsche's...hence the name Pcarwhis-perer!
👉 I have been addicted to Porsche since my dad first purchased his first Porsche in 2012... a life long dream of his!
From this day forward I decided against a career in Physical Therapy and started my career with Porsche after graduating from Washington State University...
I have worked for Porsche since 2015 and have only furthered my passion for the most amazing automobile company in the world. Follow me on my journey while I dis-cuss everything Porsche and teach what I have learned about the brand that has be-come such a big part of my life! ✅
My favorite Porsche is a 1955 550 Spyder!
What is yours? 🤔
🔔 Definitely subscribe to the Channel and hit the bell to never miss any Porsche Vid-eos ! 🎬
And please feel free to reach out if you have any questions!
📝 Email- [e-mail]
➡️My Gear:
➡️Canon M50:amzn.to/3ll1Itm
➡️GoPro Hero 8: amzn.to/2KU5EFf
➡️27 Inch IMac: amzn.to/2HSD9GK
➡️
➡️My Porsche Memorabilia Recommendations:
➡️Porsche Carrera: And the Early Years of Porsche Motorsports amzn.to/3679DXd
➡️Porsche 70 Years: There Is No Substitute amzn.to/2RXiPFr
111 Porsche Stories You Should Know Revised & Updated amzn.to/2EAqJ4G
********************
📑 Credits go out to:
Music:
➡️ www.epidemicsound.com/
********************
🔥 Follow Pcarwhisperer and Share The passion on Social Media:
🌟 Facebook: / pcarwhisperer
🌟 Instagram: / pcarwhisperer
🌟 Twitter: / pcarwhisperer
✨ And be sure to subscribe to the Channel here:
kzbin.info...
********************
#Porsche #550spyder #Pcarwhisperer

[@Ch-ui6mw]

How to tell the real thing from a replica? If you see it on the street, it's a replica.

[@swaffstudios]

Love my Beck 550 and I get together with Chuck pretty regularly. He's still working in the shop every day at 85 years old! IMHO, his chassis design is superior to the other makers.

[@Pcarwhisperer]

Thats awesome! Ive heard he's a great guy! 👍🏼

[@miguelcastaneda7257]

Just wondering if it's him or someone else who's making fiberglass bodies...see them every now and then crossing to U.S from bajia early around dawn on trailers

[@EddieClendening]

I spent a day with Chuck at his shop years ago. He was a real character, such a funny guy, and a damned good driver!

[@brucef310]

How much did the Beck cost you?

[@carlfrederick8433]

Great video, so interesting. I would definately want a replica rather than an original so I could drive it and not worry about putting miles on it, or the chance of an accident.

[@slg8063]

You out did yourself on this video! So much great information. I absolutely love your enthusiasm for Porsche and this 550 is beautiful. I’ve been following this channel for awhile you keep getting better keep up the excellent work, and thank you.😊

[@AirborneTrojan]

Loved this video. I've owned a 356 Speedster from Vintage Speedsters since 2016. It's been my daily driver (because I live 10 minutes south of this video). I needed a "family" car so Kurt put seat belts in the back for my girls. 100% of all car reviews are based on unattainable cars that you'll never drive. These cars run with 70 year-old technology. And it's SUPERIOR to anything today. You don't have any of the creature comforts, none of the safety of today's cars and all of the driver engagement that you can stand. It's an E ticket ride every time. I've had work done at Vintage Motorcars and their workmanship is top notch. These cars can be easily maintained if you're handy and your parts are on a Beetle budget. There is NO other car that can beat this value proposition. Porsche drivers don't drive their cars. They never get out of second gear. I put this on the 405, left lane, at 150 kph (my VDO gauge) and it floats and bobs like a 70 year old car would. scary as hell and a blast.

[@marcyleskela1333]

Awesome video! A very special car with a fascinating history. So much to learn about this one. Watched the video twice. Great job!

[@jenny80myles]

Favorite car or not. I really appreciate how much research you have done on the car and sharing them with us.

[@Pcarwhisperer]

You're welcome! Thank you for the support! ☺️

[@raygillies3903]

The owners manual shows the Speedster windshield as an option. I have had a Beck for about 20 years now the paint is getting a little thin and the seats are pretty worn. I put in an aluminum interior in the car,( racecars dent have carpet). The interior is as close as I could get it right down to the manufactures plate and the Auto pulse fuel pump. I think about a repaint but I show it a lot at shows and NO one says it would be a good idea to paint it you can not buy patina it looks like an old race car. The wood steering wheel is a Nardi and it is the same as it was in the 50s. People would use the wood wheel because the banjo wheel was too flexible. Love this car my late wife gave it to me for an anniversary present some more than 20 years ago. I live in the same metro as Chuck he is a treasure. I go to the mountains north of Atl. with a bunch of brand new shiny Porsches - when we stop it is a mini car show - people love to look at the car and take photos, they ignore the state of art cars, it is a guilty pleasure.

[@rikaguilera2]

This is an excellent video, and I have to say Kuddos to you for knowing your history on this car. I see a lot of car videos with people who may "like" cars, but not really know much about them. I love cars and the Porsche 550 spyder is actually my favorite Porsche of all time. So watching you speak fact and historical significance/differences etc. made for an enjoyable video. I actually authenticate classics and exotics for people looking to purchase concourse level or restored cars, so I am glad you showed some true enthusiasm and knowledge for the perfect Porsche. Subscribed after finding this video. Keep up the good work.

[@Pcarwhisperer]

Rik! Woow thank you for the kind words 🙏🏼 Glad to hear you enjoyed the video! The 550 is certainly a special car! No kidding?! How did you get into that?! Thank you for the support!

[@stonerathlete9708]

One thing I have to mention about you saying why James Dean named his Porsche “Little Bastard” it wasn’t because it blew bigger cars out of competition, it was because that’s what Jack Warner the executive of Warner Bros once referred to Dean as a “Little Bastard” and that’s why he named his car that.

[@curbozerboomer1773]

There are other stories about that!

[@ultrablue2]

Also, stuntman Bill Hickman (who later drove the black Charger in Bullitt) was a friend of Dean’s and was driving his Ford wagon and trailer behind on their way to the race that day. Hickman, a racer himself who was quite tall, called Dean “little bastard” while Dean called him “big bastard”.

[@alejandropulgarcambra]

Correct. Also this guy know anything about economic. He thinks 6800 dollars from 1955 are the same 6800 value of today.

[@kamrankazempour4425]

Well done. Exactly what I was looking for.

[@dangilchrist8614]

Great job on this video . Love the old vintage Porsche’s

[@Pcarwhisperer]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed the video ☺️

[@mrbxv]

Awesome video. The 550 is my all time favorite car and I thought I knew a lot about it. You taught me a few new things. 3 year wait on a new one? Better get my order in soon.

[@Pcarwhisperer]

Thank you 🙏🏼 Glad it was helpful! Yes would definitely put your order in!

[@jackjohnsen8506]

I had one in 1987, and found out why they all are back for sale real fast,

[@sharkfin9517]

A 550 or 718 RSK kit is a future goal to build out at the home garage. Great video and I'll be back for future content

[@jockellis]

I got to drive a 550 replica that had a 120 hp 912 engine. It had zero power under 4000 but above that the tach pointer was a blur and it was difficult to keep to about 6000 in second. It was also hard to stop grinning.

[@Pcarwhisperer]

🥰 there are certainly an immense amount of fun that's for sure!!

[@martinpye549]

My favourite car of all time. Terrific video. Subscribed. From the UK.

[@Pcarwhisperer]

Wooow! Thank you Martin! I appreciate it 🙏🏼

[@andrewhosking2461]

Great research and production Mason - balanced and well documented. Thanks also for the link to my site - Andrew

[@Pcarwhisperer]

Thank you Andrew! Greatly appreciated... especially coming the master! 👍🏼 Anytime! I send people to your site as much as possible!

[@Gr8thxAlot]

Awesome car! I'm always amazed how small these are. Love it!

[@Pcarwhisperer]

Right there with you crazy how small they are!

[@energyasylum997]

Back in 2003 when I was 21, I was gonna have Beck build me one! I didn’t go through with it though. I’ve owned muscle cars like Camaros, Mustangs, Chevelles, a few Meyers Manx dune buggies, Harley bobbers/choppers, 1970s Honda cafe racer motorcycles, an MGB roadster, a 911 Targa(briefly), I just finished building a 280z racer, and I’m finishing a replica Lambo Diablo, BUT I WILL EVENTUALLY GET TO A 550 pretty soon!

[@thereisnonebesideshim]

Hi from South Africa! 👋🇿🇦 Great video! Love your passion, enthusiasm, and knowledge 🤩 Really cool to find a channel that treats quality replicas with the respect that they deserve. The "matching-numbers", so-called-purists crowd probably wont get it, seeing these beautiful creations as glorified kits. Oh well, the laugh's on them 😆😂 Thanks again, I've subscribed 😁❤

[@nikp6657]

Great video! There is also a company making these in Greece they call it RCH 550. I know Greece wouldnt be my number one choice either when thinking of car builders but man I saw their cars in Geneva Auto Show and the detail and quality was just insane. They cost about 90k 100k though if I remember correctly.

[@Pcarwhisperer]

Thank you 😊 No kidding that is awesome I will have to look them up. Thank you for letting me know!

[@jackjohnsen8506]

Bought one from the Beck company built by the owners kid. It ran hot all the time, had problems with the electrical. and was too small to be seen by other cars. Most of these cars were up for sale within a year, of purchase, and I sold mine at four years with 4000 miles. It needed a front oil cooler, like the original. Bought it for 18,500, and sold it for 13,000, in four years

[@raygillies3903]

I've put 25000 miles on mine and will never sell it.

[@jackjohnsen8506]

@@raygillies3903 That may be the world record, and records have a habit of being broken...

[@lamontwolverton8959]

Nice review, well done, jealous!

[@Pcarwhisperer]

Thank you Lamont! 🙏🏼

[@edwardericson3738]

Nice vid for sure. Some additional tells, real v replica 550: Original 550s have little upside-down chess pawns sticking out from under the front valence. Those are jack points. If you grab one and it breaks off, it's a replica. The original 550s have ladder chassis made with 3-inch tubes, Vintage uses smaller tubes and triangulates them for strength. The original 550 pedals are very different from VW Bug or dune buggy pedals. The original 550 cowl is flatter than the replica cowl that fits Speedster glass. The originals' fuel filler is five inches closer to the top of the hood lid than most replicas' fillers. The replica firewalls (behind the seats) are not much like the original 550, which was a complicated and unlikely shape. The wheel wells in replicas are usually black truck bed liner for better durability; originals were body color and also show hammer marks. There are other tells, but the biggest one is context: is the 550 Spyder-shaped object before you parked on the lawn at Pebble Beach or Amelia Island? If not, it's almost certainly fake!

[@mikerusznak]

Awesome vid. Mason!

[@Pcarwhisperer]

Thank you Mike! Glad you liked it 👍🏼

[@benmurphy4124]

Beautiful job on this summary!

[@Pcarwhisperer]

Thank you 🙏🏼

[@roddtober8945]

I’ve seen a few clips of various Porsche replicas and the attention to detail is unbelievable. I wish there is something where a Porsche rep assess these types of replicas and gives it some sort of certification meaning Porsche acknowledges them and approves of them being fantastic replicas.

[@Pcarwhisperer]

Agreed! They are very well done! That is a great idea! 😊

[@MrDjh66]

Thanks for the great info now I have some kind of clue which direction to go

[@Pcarwhisperer]

Great! Glad it was helpful 👍🏼

[@MrDjh66]

My favorite car if all time and the miura

[@911aircooled5]

Another brilliant upload by you! Well done! Great research and knowledge. These are one of my favourites too, but just a replica so that I can drive it when I want. Keep up the great work.

[@Pcarwhisperer]

Woow thank you so much for the kind words! ☺️ Very good point you can certainly drive these and enjoy them!

[@user-hi8tk2vc7n]

Thanks good video - stripes were mostly team markings - its likely the car's number was used to denote which car was which or drivers , within the team

[@Pcarwhisperer]

Thank you Eric! Greatly appreciated!

[@energyasylum997]

There’s a company in San Diego Ca that up until last year would sell Speedster and Spyder bodies, kits!!

[@Pcarwhisperer]

Yes I believe thunder ranch?

[@mikepaul396]

liked the video. was hoping you would explain some of the differences between the Beck and Vintage Motorsports 550 replica. you mention that in the beginning of video and if you seen both and what your preference brand wise would be. you also mentioned steering abit sloppy. any improvement on that? thanks alot for the information Mike

[@amgguy4319]

Good job...

[@tankcrazy8513]

Kitman produces those kits as well 👌

[@keithparker4157]

Love your video.. 550 is my all time favorite porsche.. I have a 65-66 912.. love driving it.. is the 550 available in body and chassis?

[@Pcarwhisperer]

Thank you Keith! Same here! Such an awesome car! No kidding... I love 912's as well! Have any photos I would love to see it. Send them to [e-mail] Yes from both Beck and Vintage motorcars you can purchase a complete vehicle "turn key" or a roller with no engine and complete the rest of the vehicle yourself 👍🏼

[@keithparker4157]

@@Pcarwhisperer sweet!! I'll look into that.. love working on these cars.. my 912.. well she ain't puurfect.. but I love er all the same... I'll send photos... Be well my friend..

[@dietcokekid004]

That's the car my brother built!

[@felixtakat]

Yes! That was his build. Then he sold it. 😢

[@Pcarwhisperer]

No kidding? That is so cool! He built the car as a kit? 😊

[@felixtakat]

@@Pcarwhisperer he bought this 550 roller kit from vintage spiders back in 2008. He built the motor and finished assembling it and then sold it in 2015.

[@jackp160]

Hello, how tall are you? I am trying to figure out if I would fit in a Beck spider. Thanks.

[@warthog5562]

Someday, man. Someday, I'll have one.

[@skrillawarlock]

Awesome I wonder if I could put a VTEC Honda engine in one ,use it as a daily

[@Pcarwhisperer]

I am sure you could 👍🏼

[@nateisright]

Heresy!

[@regisbigot]

11'45'', belgian écurie "Li Torai" which means "the bull" in walloon language. Cheers from Liège Belgium.

[@Pcarwhisperer]

☺️ Nice to meet you!

[@jeffchastain2977]

The original Boxster owes a lot of its design styling to the 550 Spyder.

[@Pcarwhisperer]

👍🏼😊

[@georgeford6439]

Could that have been Dr. Porsche himself in the vintage racing clip putting fuel in the the car?

[@arricammarques1955]

550 Spyder classic design & motoring.

[@Pcarwhisperer]

Agreed 😊

[@michaelskowronek6253]

Great video but “little bastard” was deans nick name not the 550s nick name

[@emppowersportsandmarine6270]

The other reason for the fuel tank in the front, is because the engine is in the rear. This was mostly done for weight balancing. I had a vintage Corvette with the fuel fill in the middle of the car and in the rear. That was because the car had a massive V8 up front and they wanted to balance the car. Just saying but otherwise dead on. Good video.

[@Pcarwhisperer]

Thank you for your input! Thank you 🙏🏼

[@emppowersportsandmarine6270]

@@Pcarwhisperer you are more the welcome. Now armed with this knowledge figure out your weight, with the cars weight, the tail happy rear weight (which makes old Porsche’s so unique and special in the right hands or deadly in the wrong hands) along with how much fuel + a little extra to burn off to find your balance on the road of choice. These cars are magical when an engineer or crazy mechanic figures out the right formula.

[@rbslammed6163]

They aren’t doing to it to “keep the weight down” they do it to keep the cost down Fiberglass is much easier to work than hand hammered alloy bodies would be

[@edwardskim0111]

Does anyone know how much the most base level Beck 550 would be if you ordered (and waited) directly? The used prices are insane.

[@Pcarwhisperer]

Hi! From Beck a Deluxe Preassembled Package without engine is just over $40k. The engine pricing will vary drastically if you decide to go with an air-cooled engine or Subaru Water cooled. Please see link to brochure below! docs.google.com/document/d/16XPEHBi8VOCJiVl6R9MKTVYM-t44rxwd/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=113556245104434977940&rtpof=true&sd=true

[@pgreeky]

So bad ass. Looking to buy one pre-owned. Nothing out there. Let me know if anyone is looking to sell!! Thanks

[@Pcarwhisperer]

Agreed! Such a cool car! Is there a particular manufacturer you are looking for?

[@nilsons.v.1409]

THIS PORSCHE REPLICA WAS MADE BY CHAMONIX IN SAO PAULO - BRAZIL ?

[@Pcarwhisperer]

This replica was made by Vintage Motorcars in Hawaiian Gardens!

[@ralphedelbach]

Well done video but the name of the famous race circuit in Germany is the "Nurburgring", not "Nurnburgring." Every auto enthusiast owes it to themselves to drive at least one lap of this incredible 12.9 mile track. I did that the first time the day after my wife and I attended the 1967 German GP.

[@Pcarwhisperer]

Thank you! Thats amazing to hear that you have been around the track and attended the 1967 German GP 🥰

[@kenjarvis4752]

Very well done article, I am very familiar with the Vintage Spyder as I have owned one since jan. 2018. Only a couple discrepancies in his description. The Spyder with the Headrest and fins on the claim shell come from a 1956 550rs. Porsche added those 2 items that year to improve the car. Also a very minor difference in the name Little Bastard on James Dean s spyder. As told by Sir Alec Guinness. It was well known that James Dean drove extremely aggressive on city streets. As well as when he was on the streets in the studio where they both worked. One day the head of the studio witnessed Deans aggressive driving and said tell that little Bastard to knock that shit off. Once Dean heard about the remark he nick named his 550 “ The Little Bastard” and have the pin stripping added to the car.

[@Tiffany.1970]

Great video on the Porsche Spyder 550 .... James dean Spyder back in 1955 to my knowledge cost Jimmy Dean ,,,$7000 thousand dollars....... I still think James Dean should have got bill Hickman to drive as I feel Jimmy didn't have enough experience of driving the 550 Porsche Spyder...

[@ValladolidArde]

GREAT historical knowledge, need to brush up on the drive commentary

[@Pcarwhisperer]

Thank you for the feedback!

[@MarkLRandall]

Vintage told me they’re not even making any for a couple years 😕.

[@Pcarwhisperer]

Woow that's nuts! Are they focusing more on 356's?

[@MarkLRandall]

@@Pcarwhisperer Speedsters I believe, backlog of orders.

[@jonpratt7327]

I almost bought one about 5 years ago when I sold my house, I wish I did..

[@Pcarwhisperer]

😔 They come across BaT from time to time! I would check on there!

[@shaunonig1979]

Originals dont have wipers

[@Pcarwhisperer]

Yes exactly and smaller windshield 👍🏼

[@ceesklumper]

"The reason they were so light was to keep the weight down!"

[@Pcarwhisperer]

😓

[@h3ck774]

Gotta see what a Im pretty sure was somehow the real thing I live in ohio so yea dont get to see shit like this often my jaw dropped. Silver Body red interior. Totally coulda been a spyder creations though gotta talk to who im 90% sure is the owner not many people in my town have that money or any town lmao narrows it down

[@Pcarwhisperer]

No kidding! That is so cool! Very curious to find out and if it is a real one what chassis number it is?

[@stevep4574]

Bathtub deathtrap.

[@slg8063]

I’ve ridden in one, if you pay attention and don’t drive like an idiot it’s fine and very fun.

[@georgeford6439]

AKA "giant killer"......

[@alejandropulgarcambra]

Dude: 6800 dollars back in 1955 were lots of money. 6800 from 1955 in today's money are 78.000 dollars and James Dean didn't put little bastard in the car because the car was small. Little bastard was Dean's nick name.

[@curbozerboomer1773]

Sorry...but the engine sounds not much different from an old school VB Bug engine!

[@Pcarwhisperer]

Yes it certainly does have a VW engine tone to it.

[@marineforces3214]

… cool , but literally a toy ❤️👀

[@altchanel9693]

Only 6800.. ok (1955) $5k = 50k

[@steverobson8827]

The difference between authentic or not is....James Dean. Ouch.

[@yentsloch]

Do you know any other adjective other than cool. Come on. There are a lot of good descriptive words.

[@Pcarwhisperer]

Hi Rick. Could you please share with us your 550 video and how you would describe this Porsche legend?

[@thereisnonebesideshim]

Jeez 😮 Are you for real? Why bleat about perfectly appropriate word-choice, and overlook a very COOL, technically informative, and enthusiastically presented video about a 20th century mecanical- and design icon? 🙄

[@jameshisself9324]

Less talking. More engine sounds.

[@slg8063]

Please share the interesting videos you’ve produced.

[@lewgoogle5530]

The English language is rich in adjectives other than "cool".

[@abee3515]

Nothing really- super light high hp to low weight and good suspension geometry but actually the car was not successful. They only built 90 of them. James Dean died in one that's what made it special.

[@saulespino2510]

Lost me when he said replica and stopped watching.

[@Pcarwhisperer]

😔

[@ronwhittaker6317]

put a mower deck under it and you will find out what it was really meant for