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FM Former Member
Hi gang, I'm new to this forum and to California, having just relocated from the Midwest. I've been thinking about getting a roadster or convertible for day trips along Highway 1 (Pacific Coast Highway to non-Californians). Sort of like a politician forming an "exploratory committee" in anticipation of running for higher office. :-)

Some background - I grew up reading about the exploits of Phil Hill and Dan Gurney in Road & Track. (Henry N. Manney is still one of my favorite writer/journalists.) At that time, Porsche was still a "regular guy's sports car", and their habit of moving up to top-10 finishes in endurance races endeared them to a lot of people.

Also, I previously owned an Alfa Romeo Spyder, which I dearly loved but had to sell as my family grew. So naturally, I started looking at Alfas. But then I stumbled across a 550 Spyder for sale on eBay, and that made me re-think the equasion.

For a day trip on Highway 1, you don't need a lot of creature comforts, so long as you enjoy the sun and the wind and the happy noises of a 4-cylinder engine at work. And Highway 1 is no fun in many big, heavy passenger cars. (Later Alfa Spyders tipped the scales at nearly 3000 lbs.)

Plus, these little 550s remind me of "the good old days", and why I used to appreciate Porsches. I'm attracted to Vintage Spyders because of their space frame, and to using Subaru's flat-4 for propulsion. (For me, the "good old days" does not include endless valve adjustments.)

And yet one can't deny the pleasure that owners get from their Beck and Thunder Ranch Spyders. What are the pluses and minuses of these vendors?
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FM Former Member
Hi gang, I'm new to this forum and to California, having just relocated from the Midwest. I've been thinking about getting a roadster or convertible for day trips along Highway 1 (Pacific Coast Highway to non-Californians). Sort of like a politician forming an "exploratory committee" in anticipation of running for higher office. :-)

Some background - I grew up reading about the exploits of Phil Hill and Dan Gurney in Road & Track. (Henry N. Manney is still one of my favorite writer/journalists.) At that time, Porsche was still a "regular guy's sports car", and their habit of moving up to top-10 finishes in endurance races endeared them to a lot of people.

Also, I previously owned an Alfa Romeo Spyder, which I dearly loved but had to sell as my family grew. So naturally, I started looking at Alfas. But then I stumbled across a 550 Spyder for sale on eBay, and that made me re-think the equasion.

For a day trip on Highway 1, you don't need a lot of creature comforts, so long as you enjoy the sun and the wind and the happy noises of a 4-cylinder engine at work. And Highway 1 is no fun in many big, heavy passenger cars. (Later Alfa Spyders tipped the scales at nearly 3000 lbs.)

Plus, these little 550s remind me of "the good old days", and why I used to appreciate Porsches. I'm attracted to Vintage Spyders because of their space frame, and to using Subaru's flat-4 for propulsion. (For me, the "good old days" does not include endless valve adjustments.)

And yet one can't deny the pleasure that owners get from their Beck and Thunder Ranch Spyders. What are the pluses and minuses of these vendors?
FM Former Member
Currently, Beck is out of business and the car, originally made by Chamonix is sold by various vendors. Thunder Ranch is located in the San Diego area and Vintage Spyders is located in Stanton.

Greg at Vintage has produced many Subaru powered SPyders and in my opinion has that advantage on the other manufacturers.

Needless to say, other manufacturers are capabable of producing Subaru powered vehicles and have done so.

Do some searches on this site as well as www.spyderclub.com for more user input

good luck
FM Former Member
Larry, when I saw your note about Beck being out of business, I was shocked because I had just visited beckspeedster.com. So I went back, and sure enough, Chuch Beck's enterprise was bought out by Special Edition, Inc. Fair enough, I guess. At any rate, thanks for the words of encouragement.
FM Former Member
Chris,

You have the right attitude for a spyder. They are a thowback to the pure sports car era and nothing but fun to drive. Light, quick, and primative.

The suby engine option looks like a great way to go, but don't completely turn away from the VW alternatives. Most spyders have 2.1 - 2.3 liter engines for 140 - 200+ hp in 1450 Lb. cars (compare that to your Alfa). Plus, they are about as reliable as a . . . . well . . . . a VW. Sure, you do have to tinker a little, but it's not that bad.

Anyway, I'll see you "out there".

Mark

edit: Welcome to California. You must be loving it right about now. I live a Windsor, a little north of Santa Rosa.
FM Former Member
Mark, I'm in Concord. My wife has a sister living in Berkeley and a son from a previous marriage living in Rohnert Park. So it's not like we're completely uprooted.

I keep tabs on the weather back where I'm from, and oh my, I'm glad I got out when I did! My daughter attends Concordia College in Moorhead, MN (across the river from Fargo - THAT Fargo). She writes to me about windchill that will "freeze your nose hairs".

I've had two experiences with air-cooled VWs. One was a friend's Bug that I helped "restore". Among other things, the floorboards were rusted out, so we used 3/4" plywood to replace them. Despite our best efforts and intentions, that car did not survive the operation.

The other was a Vanagon, which was great for taking the extended family to grandmother's house for Thanksgiving, but very iffy for anything more ambitious. Despite that, I took the family on a cross-country trip from Minnesota to California and back. Thanks to some electrical quirks, we often had to push start it. When we returned, I took the van in to a VW specialist for electrical troubleshooting. Without being asked, the mechanic performed a compression test. One of the cylinders had no compression at all.

That was the end of the line for the Vanagon. To this day, I marvel at how we survived the trip.
FM Former Member
Chris,

You must do as David says, rent Little Miss Sunshine.

You must believe Anglea, Hwy 1 is some mighty fine spyder driving (especially my stretch N. of the Golden Gate!)

You must stick your nose into this: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Replica-Kit-Makes-Porsche-550-Spyder-replica-1955-Porsche-550-Spyder-replica-Vintage-Spyders-frame_W0QQitemZ320079709250QQihZ011QQcategoryZ7251QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
This would be a higher end example of the 550 replica world, already California smog exempt and licensed (that is a big deal) and ready to go right now. If you ordered this same car from Vintage today you might get delivery in 2 - 3+ years (if the waiting period for cars delivered last year can be of reference).

Mark
FM Former Member
David, I had flashbacks when I saw the trailer (LMS). But it's definitely on the menu for this weekend.

Angela, is that Hurricane Point in the background? Was the picture taken by the Bixby Bridge, perhaps?

Mark, I saw that listing. The seller has *zero* feedback! But I have to say I'm impressed with the attention to detail in that car.
FM Former Member
That IS Hurricane Point in the background! Look at this...

http://www.bsim.org/photos2006/bb5.jpg

The piano is about where Angela parked her Spyder. The occasion is the Big Sur Marathon. They always have someone playing a grand piano along side the road at the Bixby Bridge, which is approximately the halfway point.

I should know, since I ran the Big Sur in 1992. I'm a Hurricane Point Survivor!
FM Former Member
That is the place exactly. What no one is mentioning is that is also where the "squirrel incident" occurred... Hideous little beasts.

That road is on my list of all time favorite drives. Make sure you drive in SB so that you can just whip over when the view takes your fancy.

Clouds parting, eh Mark? Been kissing the old blarney stone?
angela
FM Former Member
Hey folks, I am new to the club and just purchased a spyder. I have a question as far as the firewall. I am 6'3" and 235lbs. and it is a bit of a tight fit. We are talking about refabing the firewall to allow the seat to go back a few more valuable inches, any thoughts? Is this a mistake or a common solution. I was surprised to find that the seats in my 911's are actually closer than the 550 but I have much less leg room.

Thanks for any thought,

MP
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