I spent most of today checking out a Beck/Chamonix 550 Spyder bordering on a Barn Find and need some info for the owner.
The car was built (I believe) in the 1990’s (I’ll confirm this with the Beck Boys) and has a silver body with red Spyder interior (looks to be vinyl and in great shape), a Nardi steering wheel, Wide-Five 10 slot rims (gray), and a hard passenger side tonneau.
The engine is a 2,110 with dual 40mm Webers, a stainless steel center-exit exhaust, external oil filter and cooler. It has never been damaged, the paint looks great, the interior needs to be cleaned up, but that’s about it. There did not appear to be any significant rust on the tube frame either from the bottom or looking down into the engine compartment (a lift was not available).
It was driven off and on by the owner on Summer weekend events and the occasional multi-state tour (think of a “foliage tour) with the local club but only sparingly, as the owner also had a 912E that he is selling, too. I never thought to check the mileage, but believe it to be less than 20,000 miles.
It has always been stored in a tucked-away corner of a valet-only parking garage in Charlestown, Massachusetts, about 1/2 mile from where the U.S.S. Constitution (Old Ironsides) is berthed.
The current owner began a battle with Parkinson’s disease a little over 8 years ago and has not touched the car in those 8 years, keeping it covered in the parking garage. During that time, the windshield developed a crack so I was brought in to remove the windshield for replacement through a local glass place. That should be done in the next week or so.
The wheels have been chock blocked, with the e-brake off, and the car sat under a car cover. It rolls forward/back over 6 feet with no issues. The brake pedal was hard on the first pump and stopped the car from being pushed. I cranked it (coil wire off) for about 15 seconds and then the oil light went out (all good, so far) but I did not start it, nor did I turn on gas flow (it has a shut-off in the engine compartment).
So now the big question for you Spyder Guys out there: What is the price range for a running, cleaned up Beck/Chamonix Spyder of late 1990’s vintage that hasn’t been touched for 8 years? The owner intends to sell it through a dealer/broker in the Boston area once he gets it cleaned up, gets some info on current prices and negotiates a sell price with his seller but he needs to know current price ranges.
Help, please! Thanks in advance. Gordon